Page 91 of Crash
Quynh nodded in understanding, though she still wasn’t sure why she was brought into the office. This was all mentioned in the article she found.
“Ms. Le, I want to be frank with you. During our investigation, we found evidence that Mr. Perry had been manipulating the charts after you signed off on them for a higher payout. As you are a nurse practitioner, the rate of payout from insurance companies is lower than that of your physician colleagues. Mr. Perry was changing the billing codes after you locked yourcharts. In doing so, the clinic was paid out more than the services rendered.”
Quynh sank back into her chair in shock. She had no idea Jared was changing her charts. It was a violation to alter her notes in such a way. He committed a crime for personal gain at her expense. She wasn’t even aware anyone could unlock her notes besides her, but apparently, it was happening for a while.
Detective Callahan cleared his throat.
“We worked extensively with the IT department to determine who had been changing the charts. I want it to be clear that you are not under investigation. I’ll escort you down to the evidence room so you can retrieve your belongings.” He stood up from his desk, offering her a sympathetic glance.
She mentally shook herself out of her shock and followed Detective Callahan on shaky legs. While she was relieved she was not under investigation, it made rage boil inside of her at the thought of Jared violating her trust. She didn’t think it had been worth losing his life over, but it made her wonder how deep his deceit went. She wondered belatedly if he was pocketing the money since the clinic didn’t see any of the funds. If anything, he used to complain about how they were barely keeping the lights on and trying to cram more patients in her already jam-packed schedule.
All this time, she was running herself ragged, only tohave Jared steal money from insurance companies and the clinic. Come to think of it, she always wondered how he could afford his luxury condo on the Upper East Side and his fancy car while she struggled to take care of Shelly despite having her apartment fully paid for. Sure, she was probably more frugal than most and kept most of her paychecks in her savings, but she could still never afford to spend it on a car worth more than her entire year’s salary.
Whatever the case may be, she was so done with this part of her life. It couldn’t have come at a better time. If anything, it only validated her decision to leave all of this behind her. She had so many wonderful things to look forward to in her future.
One of which was a grumpy mechanic who was impatiently waiting for her to get her act together. Suddenly, she was desperate to get back to him.
There was nothing holding her back here anymore. She didn’t need to take anything besides the clothes she packed, Pickles, and herself. She planned on getting a good night’s sleep and driving back to Willowbrook in the morning but fuck it.
What am I waiting for?
She quickened her steps to match those of the detective and hurriedly signed the paperwork to retrieve her belongings. The box was light and held nothing sheabsolutely couldn’t live without, except her stethoscope and tools.
She thanked Detective Callahan as he walked her back out to the main lobby. Her hurried steps echoed on the linoleum floor as she left the sterile building behind.
Once outside, she took a deep breath of the city air and ran to her car.
She had a long ride ahead of her.
forty-three
GRIFFIN
Griffin tossed and turned on his bed. A bed which seemed much too large now without Quynh by his side. The anxiety was eating him up inside. By this time tomorrow, he’d have her back in his arms. Once she came back, he would make sure she never had a reason to leave him again. If it meant he had to chain her to his bed, then so be it. He would never let her go for the rest of their lives together.
He’d talked to her on the phone a few hours ago, though she seemed distracted. He chalked it up to her being busy packing up the rest of her apartment for the road trip. Griffin was tempted to fly down there to drive back with her to make sure she didn’t have cold feet. Unfortunately, Quynh merely laughed at his suggestion, thinking he was joking.
He was completely serious about needing her back in Willowbrook. Back in bed with him and by his side again.
Every second he spent without her here made him restless. His barely suppressed agitation was obvious to everyone in town who made a more concerted effort to avoid being around him this past week. Even Sean kept to himself, and Julio avoided making any of his usual jokes at Griffin’s expense.
He was an insufferable asshole all week. He could at least acknowledge it, but with every passing moment without her being here meant she could change her mind.
He wouldn’t be able to handle it if she changed her mind about coming back. He knew she would return eventually to see her father and sister, but it didn’t mean she’d come back for him. Even though they loved each other, it didn’t make the fear any less real. He could still lose her at any moment.
Growling, Griffin rolled over in bed onto his stomach. He snatched the pillow Quynh typically used and hugged it tightly to his chest. He ignored his semi-hard-on. The damn thing has been unsatisfied with all the times he’d jerked off with Quynh during their video calls. There was no use until he saw her again. Then it would be an act of sheer willpower to not explode as soon as he was buried deep inside her warm pussy again.
Fuck!
He couldn’t wait until she was here. Griffin shut his eyes and tried to think of sheep jumping over a fence. He’dtried every breathing technique he could think of to fall asleep, but none worked. Just when he thought he was in for a long night, he heard Rover stir at the bottom of the bed. Rover had been sleeping in his bed more often since Quynh left. He didn’t mind it since it made him less lonely.
“What is it, buddy?” he asked Rover as the dog perked up. Rover’s ears twitched as if he heard something before leaping out of bed with his tail wagging.
Frowning, Griffin untangled his legs from the comforter and followed the excited puppy down the hallway, where he sat staring at the front door expectantly.
“Is someone here, buddy?” Griffin asked, voice gruff.
In answer, there was a timid knock at the door. Griffin frowned. He wasn’t expecting anyone this late. He padded toward the front door on bare feet and unlocked it. Griffin was not prepared for what greeted him on his front step.
