Page 35 of Outlaw Ridge: Ryker
“When was the last time you saw Ethan, Dr. Colvin?”
The woman didn’t blink. “At the wedding reception,” she replied. “Shortly before he disappeared.”
Ryker leaned forward slightly, lacing his fingers on the table in front of him. “And why were you at that reception? Was it part of your regular therapeutic routine to crash personal events?”
There was the slightest hitch in her posture, barely noticeable, but he saw it.
“I wasn’t there as a guest,” she said after a pause. “Ethan had stopped attending his counseling sessions. Without notice. I was concerned.”
“So you tracked him to a wedding?” Ryker asked, letting just enough incredulity edge into his voice.
The doctor’s mouth tightened. Just for a second. That mask of composure cracked, only a hairline fracture, but it was there.
“I recalled him saying he would be attending. I went because I was worried. He’d been… volatile during our last few sessions.”
“Seems above and beyond,” Ryker said smoothly. “Most therapists send a check-in phone call or text. Not many go mingling with the punch and cake.”
Her gaze flicked to his, cool and direct, and there was just the faintest glimmer of irritation in her eyes.
“I wasveryworried about Ethan,” she said, voice clipped.
Emma stepped in then, her tone neutral but sharp enough to draw blood. “How so? Did you think he might harm himself, or someone else?”
Dr. Colvin’s jaw twitched. “I prefer not to answer that.”
Ryker raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“Because that falls under patient-doctor confidentiality,” she said. “Ethan is officially listed as missing. He hasn’t been declared dead and won’t be for another three years. That means unless you have a warrant or Ethan’s consent, I’m not obligated to discuss the details of his sessions.”
Ryker nodded slowly, letting the silence draw out a beat longer than necessary. But in that space, one thing was clear. He was pretty sure she wasn’t just hiding behind her ethics.
She was hidingsomething.
Ryker reached into the folder and carefully slid out the three printed photos Charlotte had given them, each one carefully labeled, timestamped, and damning in its own quiet way.
He eased them across the table, one by one, until they sat neatly in front of Dr. Colvin.
The doctor’s composure didn’t crack completely, but her reaction was unmistakable. Her shoulders tensed. Her lips pressed into a tighter line. And in her eyes, just for a flicker, was something betweendreadandannoyance.
She looked at the photos but didn’t touch them.
Ryker leaned forward slightly, his tone calm but direct. “Tell us about your relationship with Ethan.”
Dr. Colvin opened her mouth, but Ryker held up a hand to stop her.
“Before you answer, I already know Ethan didn’t make a single payment to your practice in the six months before he disappeared. I checked the records.”
That made her blink. It was quick, but Ryker caught it.
There was a long pause. Then finally, she spoke.
“Ethan and I… chose to end our professional relationship.”
Emma tilted her head slightly, arms crossed. “Why?”
Dr. Colvin didn’t answer right away. Her gaze stayed on the photos as if she could will them to disappear.
“Because,” she said slowly, “we developed feelings for one another.”
