A Doctor-Nurse Encounter

“What does your brother have to do with any of this?” She crossed her arms over her chest, as if creating a barrier to her heart, as if to guard her sympathy from phony sob stories.

He rubbed her unyielding shoulder, resisting an urge to take her in his arms again. It felt good having her there…too good. It had been years since he’d experienced any real emotion with a woman. He couldn’t afford it ever since his brother went on the run. And even before that.

“Let’s discuss this elsewhere.” Although Lacey’s feet seemed rooted to the carpet, Nick propelled her out of the bedroom and into Jill’s Spartan living room. The woman lived as if ready to take flight at a moment’s notice.

“Start discussing—” Lacey plucked a cell phone out of the purse hanging from her shoulder and smacked it against her palm “—because I’m about thirty seconds away from calling the cops.”

Charm definitely wouldn’t work with Lacey. He rubbed his chin. “My brother’s the real target. Dr. Buonfoglio did some work on him. I think this killer is after the doctor’s files to get information on my brother’s changed identity and his whereabouts.”

“I take it your brother isn’t some actor who wants to keep his face-lift a secret, is he?” With her green eyes narrowed to slits, she resembled that cat washing itself in the bathroom.

“No.” He planned to keep this short and simple.

“Why did Dr. B change your brother’s face? Is your brother a bad person, a criminal?”

“He’s made some bad choices, but he doesn’t deserve to die for them. The people after him are worse.”

“Does he owe them money?”

“Something like that.” His brother’s involvement with the De Luca Family went deeper than money, but the less she knew the better. He didn’t want to explain how much he owed his brother, how his brother had saved his life and what it cost him to do it.

She turned and paced, but at least she no longer seemed poised for flight and she’d dropped the cell phone back in her purse.

He held his breath, waiting for the next question. Lacey had too much intelligence and integrity to accept his explanation at face value without further interrogation. He could almost hear her brain clicking as she worked through his story.

Hooking her thumbs in the pockets of her jeans, she stopped in front of him. “You’re a cosmetic surgeon, why didn’t your brother come to you?”

“He did come to me…for a referral. He didn’t want to involve me.” He’d begged T.J. to let him do the surgery, but his brother refused. Maybe T.J. knew the day would come when the De Lucas discovered he’d altered his face, and he didn’t want his kid brother in the line of fire…even though T.J. had stepped into the line of fire for him.

“So you referred him to Dr. B? You dragged Dr. B into this mess?” She hunched her shoulders, her eyes shooting daggers at him. “You killed him.”

Combing his hands through his hair, he sighed. He didn’t want to get into all this. They didn’t have time, but before he enlisted Lacey’s help he had to convince her he deserved it.

“Lacey, Dr. B was already involved in this mess.” He plucked her hand out of her pocket and rubbed his thumb in the center of her palm. “I referred my brother to Dr. Buonfoglio precisely because I knew he did that kind of work.”

Her hand jerked in his. “Dr. B changed criminals’ faces? Why? Why would he do something like that?”

“For Abby. He did it for Abby.” He felt like scum playing the sympathy card, but he had to get through to her. One thing he’d discovered about Lacey Kirk was if she deemed you worthy, she’d brave the fires of hell to help you.

Shaking her head, she blinked her eyes. “What do you know about Dr. B’s daughter?”

“I know it’s expensive to keep her in that group home.”

“Oh, my God, he did do it for the money.”

“He did it for his daughter.” He grabbed her other hand and pulled her toward him, a sharp pain lancing his chest. “A man will do just about anything for his child. Don’t judge him, Lacey.”

“In the end, how did Dr. B’s criminal behavior help Abby? He’s dead.” Her mouth formed a thin, obstinate line.

She’d just appointed herself judge, jury and executioner, although someone else had handled that last job for her. She may have a boatload of sympathy, but she reserved it for those who earned it, like her patients. Could he earn her sympathy?

He squeezed her hands. “Look, we could debate this all night, but there’s a dead woman in the bedroom and we have to call the cops.”

“I’m glad you recognize that.” She shrugged out of his grasp and reached into her purse for her cell phone.

He snatched the phone from her hand. “But first I’m asking for your help.”

Her jaw hardened as she made a grab for her phone, but he held it above his head out of her reach.

“Who the hell do you think you are, Dr. Perfect?” Her brows snapped together, an angry flush rushing into her cheeks.

The phone almost slid from his grip. So that’s what she thought of him. “That’s just it, Lacey. I’m not perfect, and neither are you or Dr. B or anyone. Even if you won’t help me, just give me a few minutes to search Jill’s place.”

“Search for what?” She waved her arms around the room. “The bad guys already did that, and if they found what they wanted, your brother’s toast, anyway.”

He dropped the phone, shoulders slumping under the heavy weight he’d been carrying more years than he cared to remember. Was he too late? Had the situation already slipped out of his control?

Lacey gasped and took his face in her hands. “Nick, I’m so sorry. What a stupid, insensitive thing to say, and I’m supposed to be the caring hospice nurse. If my teachers heard me, they’d cashier me right out of the program. I know all about hauling brothers who make bad choices out of trouble. Search away. Let me know when you’re done, and we’ll call the police. There’s nothing anyone can do for Jill now, anyway.”

And just like that, he got Lacey Kirk, crusader for justice, on his side without even trying. He kissed her mouth and pulled out a pair of rubber gloves from his pocket. He ignored her wide eyes, not bothering to determine if her shock came from the kiss or the gloves, and skirted the sofa to search through the papers on the floor.

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