Page 70 of Enigma
Jason and Olive exchanged a look. They were trapped in Chelsea’s driveway with a man who might be part of the criminal network they were investigating, and now Chelsea and her child were potentially in the line of fire.
It wasn’t supposed to play out this way.
But Olive knew she’d sacrifice herself if that was what it took to protect Chelsea and Henry. However, she hoped it didn’t come down to that.
Silence stretched as everyone seemed to try to figure out what to say next.
Finally, Dr. Schmitt broke the stalemate. “Perhaps we should all go inside and discuss this privately. I believe there are some things about your father’s situation that you need to understand, Mr. Stewart. Things that might surprise you.”
Chelsea looked between them, confusion and growing alarm evident on her face. “What situation? What’s wrong with Dad?”
Jason’s jaw tightened, and Olive knew he’d realized there was no way to protect his sister from this conversation any longer.
“Dad’s missing, Chelsea,” he said. “And it’s complicated.”
Henry chose that moment to drop his sippy cup, and it clattered on the concrete driveway. The sound seemed to break whatever spell had been holding them all frozen in place.
“Maybe weshouldtake this inside.” Chelsea’s voice sounded steady despite the worry in her eyes. “Before the whole neighborhood starts wondering what’s going on.”
Dr. Schmitt’s smile widened. “What an excellent idea.”
CHAPTER 46
Chelsea’s living room was decorated in warm earth tones, with family photos covering every available surface. Henry had been deposited in a playpen with a collection of toy cars, where he proceeded to make vrooming sounds that provided an oddly normal soundtrack to their tense conversation.
Dr. Schmitt settled into an armchair across from the couch where Jason and Olive sat, while Chelsea remained standing near the kitchen doorway—close enough to hear everything but positioned to grab her son and run if necessary.
“I want to be clear about something from the start,” Dr. Schmitt began, his hands folded in his lap. “I’m not involved in whatever criminal activity you think is happening in this town. I bought a legitimate medical practice from a retiring doctor, and I’ve been running it as a legitimate business for two years.”
“But?” Jason prompted, as if he sensed there was more.
“But I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t noticed some . . . irregularities . . . connected to Lloyd’s time there.” Dr. Schmitt glanced at Chelsea, then back to Jason. “Things that made me wonder what exactly had been going on before I took over.”
“What kind of irregularities?” Olive asked.
“People stopping by the office asking for Lloyd. These were people who seemed surprised when I told them he’d retired. They’d ask when he’d be back, if I had a forwarding address, that sort of thing.”
Chelsea shifted uncomfortably. “What kind of people?”
“Professional types mostly. Well-dressed, drove expensive cars. But there was something about them . . .” Dr. Schmitt paused, searching for the right words. “They didn’t seem like the kind of people who would normally be patients at a small-town family practice.”
“How many times did this happen?” Jason asked.
“Regularly for the first six months after I took over. Maybe once or twice a month. Then it just stopped.” Dr. Schmitt rubbed his jaw. “The other thing that struck me as odd was how quickly Lloyd retired. I contacted him about buying the practice, and in less than two weeks he’d accepted my offer and was packing up his office. Most doctors take months to transition their patient files, to make sure continuity of care is maintained. Lloyd was gone in ten days.”
“Like he was in a hurry to get out,” Olive exchanged a glance with Jason as she said the words. She hadn’t realized he’d left so quickly.
“Exactly. It was almost like he just wanted to cut all ties as quickly as possible.”
Chelsea looked between them, her expression growing more concerned. “Are you saying Dad was involved in something illegal?”
Dr. Schmitt held up his hands. “I’m not saying anything definitive. I’m just telling you what I observed.”
Olive leaned forward, cutting through the diplomatic language. “Dr. Schmitt, why are you here? Why did you follow us to Jason’s sister’s house to tell us this?”
She’d been wanting to ask him that question from the moment he’d pulled up.
The doctor’s composure slipped slightly. “Because after your visit to my office last night, I started getting phone calls. People asking questions about what you might have found, whether you’d taken anything, if I’d spoken to the police about you.”
