13
The weather was the perfect accompaniment to Neela's mood as she entered the hospital behind Ray and Emily. The sky was dark with the promise of more snow and the wind seemed to cut right through the heavy coat she had pulled tight around her. She shivered involuntarily as the doors closed with a soft sigh behind her. The sudden silence was a relief after the screaming wind. Her ears rang with the aftermath.
She scurried to catch up with Ray as he made his way through the ER with single-minded concentration. He was making her nervous with the way he was acting. She had never seen him so tense, so on edge that everything faded before it. It was a little frightening how intense he was. If he was behaving like this when it was only one of his father's peons, then she was almost afraid to see what would happen if his father actually showed up.
She caught up with them at the elevator and only managed to make it inside before the doors closed behind her.
"Thanks for waiting," she said, only half teasing.
"Sorry," he answered absently, running his hand over his hair. "I just want to get this over with."
She touched his arm, giving it a light squeeze, and he shot her a grateful half smile. Neela turned to look at Emily who had been unusually quiet all morning.
"How are you holding up, Emily?"
"Fine," she mumbled around her knuckle. The skin of her first finger was red and raw from gnawing on it; the only outward appearance of her nervousness other than her pale face. Neela smiled sympathetically. The girl had been through hell in her life and still wasn't completely free of it. The lawyer's visit that morning had pushed to the fore just what a precarious position they were still in.
"Does Wendell know we're coming?" Neela asked as the doors opened.
"I called her while you were in the shower," Ray answered, stepping from the lift. "The lawyer that Carter wanted me to call said he'd be here by the time we were."
Neela raised her eyebrows but said nothing. Lawyers usually didn't make "house calls" unless the situation or the money called for it. Carter's family was very influential indeed.
They started down the hall toward Wendell's office when Ray's beeper went off. He cursed and glanced down at the display.
"Who is it?" Neela asked when he frowned.
"It's Dr. Weaver," he said, his voice bewildered. "What the hell does she want?"
"If she's paging you personally, then it can't be good," Neela remarked. "You'd better go find out what it is."
He glanced at Emily uncertainly.
"I'll take her in and stay with her until you come back," Neela assured him. When he still hesitated, she gave him a gentle shove back toward the elevators. "You can't lose your position here, Ray. Go on, we'll be fine."
"It's ok, Ray," Emily said softly. "I can do this."
He blew out a breath and kissed her forehead as he passed.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," he promised.
She nodded and turned back toward Wendell's office. Neela gave him a small smile.
"Good luck."
He forced a smile as he entered the lift and punched the button that would take him to Dr. Weaver's floor. What the hell did she want now? He'd toned down his look. He didn't wear black nail polish to work anymore. So he didn't dress in a suit anymore. So he wore jeans and tee shirts at all times. With the cases he regularly got, it was better to wear something that would clean up easily. His mind buzzing with speculation, he exited the lift as the doors opened and headed to Kerri's office.
The door was already ajar when he arrived. He knocked and stuck his head inside without waiting for an invitation. Dr. Weaver was at her desk and glanced up at his knock. By the look on her face, all was not right with the world, and somehow it was all Ray's fault. Ray was surprised to see Carter there, and his face was no less grim. Of course, Ray was used to that from her, but not from Carter. Not after Carter had offered to help him.
"You paged me?" he asked managing to keep the sudden worry he felt from his voice. Carter glanced to his left, his eyes dark with anger. Ray followed his gaze and froze in place. His heart plummeted to somewhere around his knees when the other occupant of the room turned to look at him with a smug expression of triumph. Ray stiffened and wished suddenly that he had taken Brett's suggestion and beaten the man to a pulp.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he growled, relishing the shadow of fear that crossed Randly's face as his smile faded.
"Have a seat, Dr. Barnett," Kerry said in a tone that brooked no argument. Ray opened his mouth, but changed his mind. She didn't look like she was in the mood for anything but total cooperation. Without a word, he sat, resting his ankle on his knee in an indolent pose. He sure as hell didn't feel laid-back at the moment. He felt as if he was about to snap. He glanced at the attorney and his stomach turned. So now it starts, he thought as he looked away. Kerri was watching him with an expression of cool expectation. He sighed and sat up a little straighter in his seat.
"Perhaps you can explain to me why Mr. Randly is here," she said tightly, coming right to the point. Ray looked at Carter, who nodded shortly.
"He wants to know where my sister is," he said quietly.
"And do you know where she is?"
Ray nodded, meeting her gaze without flinching.
"I knew you were lying," Randly said smugly. He looked at Dr. Weaver and rose to his feet. "If he delivers her to me before five this afternoon, then his father won't file charges of kidnapping…"
"Sit down, Mr. Randly," Weaver said sharply, her eyes boring into the man until he reluctantly sat. Ray suppressed a smile. She was playing the Chief of Staff to the hilt. This was the woman that had half the hospital living in fear of her. It made him feel better that she was in all things at least fair. If she hadn't been, he knew that he would have been gone by now. She wasn't just going to take this little ferret's word and call it good.
"What I would like to know, Mr. Randly, is why are you coming to me with this? This is a personal matter that should have been discussed either with Dr. Barnett or with the police department."
"As I explained to you, Dr. Weaver, I was attempting to give Mr. Barnett this information earlier at his apartment, but was shoved and told to leave."
Kerri narrowed her eyes and reclined in her seat, staring at the attorney coldly. Without taking her eyes from Randly, she spoke to Ray.
"Did you shove him, Dr. Barnett?"
"When someone tries to come into my apartment uninvited, I have the right to shove them," Ray answered heatedly. "He's lucky…"
"Ray," Carter said in warning before giving the attorney a hard look. "Did you try to go into his apartment?"
"Of course! I have the authority from his father to search…"
"You do not have the authority to go into his home without his consent," Carter said sharply. "You as well as anyone should know that, Mr. Randly."
Randly colored and looked away.
"And furthermore, I would be very careful about what you do and do not say, Mr. Randly. There are three witnesses here that I'm sure will testify in a court of law that you broke into Dr. Barnett's apartment, and that he was justified in escorting you out the door in any way he felt necessary."
Randly turned an interesting shade of plum before his lips thinned in anger.
"This matter does not concern you, Dr…."
"Carter. Dr. John Carter. I'm the Head Attending in the ER."
"This matter really doesn't concern…"
"Oh, but it does, Mr. Randly," Dr. Weaver broke in. "Anything that effects the physicians in the ER is Dr. Carter's concern, just as it's my concern."
"Just what is it you're after, Mr. Randly?" Carter asked.
The attorney pulled himself up, sitting ramrod stiff in the seat.
"Mr. Barnett, my employer, wants his daughter back home where she belongs. He believes that his son took her from their home and is hiding her here. He's willing to be generous and keep this matter private if Mr. Barnett returns the girl by five o'clock this afternoon."
Carter glared at him.
"And if he doesn't?" he asked mildly, his tone belying the animosity in his eyes.
"Then charges will be filed with the Chicago Police Department for kidnapping."
Ray felt his heart stop in his chest and thought he just might get it over with and die right there. Kidnapping. Prison for the rest of his life. In that instant, he could see the future he'd dreamed of with Neela suddenly crumble to dust. And what would happen to Emily? His father would follow through with the threat. He had no doubt about that. Ray had only narrowly escaped that when he'd tried to take Emily before, but there was no way he was going to just hand his sister over to his father again. Not without a fight. He glanced at Carter, who was staring at Randly with a small, cold smile.
"Are you making threats, Mr. Randly?" Dr. Weaver asked, her tone equally cold.
"I'm merely stating a fact," the man said, suddenly wary of the chill in the air.
Carter stood slowly to loom over him. Randly stood as well, and though he was taller than Carter, it still seemed that Carter had the upper hand.
"This meeting is over, Mr. Randly."
The attorney frowned. "Excuse me?"
Carter pulled a business card from the pocket of his lab coat and handed it over.
"You may inform, Mr. Barnett that his daughter is under the protection of Chicago Children's Services and any inquiries he has can be to them. This is the name of Dr. Barnett's attorney. Any further contact with Dr. Barnett can be made through him."
Randly's lips thinned as he slipped the card into the breast pocket of his suit jacket.
"You are making a mistake, Dr. Carter," he said tightly. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."
"Good day, Mr. Randly," Kerri snapped. "You know your way out."
He glanced at Kerri and forced a smile. "Consider the offer, Dr. Weaver. Just remember that it's contingent…"
"I said good-bye, Mr. Randly."
He stooped to pick up his briefcase and left the room with a confident swagger that was at odds with what had just happened. Ray could only sit in the seat, absolutely stunned by it all. He would never have expected that both Carter and Dr. Weaver would defend him.
"Can someone please tell me what the hell that was all about?" Kerri asked sharply.
Ray glanced at Carter in surprise.
"You didn't tell her?" he asked.
"You should know better than that," Carter said tightly. "I don't disclose personal information about those under my supervision."
"Well someone had better tell me what's going on," Kerri said, her tone harsh with anger. She turned her glare on Ray. "Well, Barnett? Explain to me why I have an attorney offering to donate an insane amount of money to the hospital if I fire you."
Ray could only gape at her, sickened by the lows to which his father had sunk. He thought of Emily, just a couple of floors down in Wendell's office. This would scare her beyond reason if she found out about it.
"And what did you tell him?" he asked warily.
"I didn't give him an answer," she said, her expression hardening further. "I don't like threats, and I don't like feeling like a pawn in someone's twisted little game. Now what in God's name is going on?"
Ray glanced at Carter and pushed from his chair.
"Emily's down in Wendell's office," he said. "I have to be there."
Carter nodded.
"Go on down. I'll fill Dr. Weaver in on the situation and be there shortly."
Ray nodded his thanks and, with an apology to Kerri, left the office.
His stomach was rolling as he took the elevator down to Wendell's floor. What if Randly had found out that she was at the hospital? What if his father made good on his threat? Those questions haunted Ray, but not as much as the final question; what if the man just decided to come to Chicago and take care of things himself? Ray hadn't fared well against him the last time they had gone toe to toe. Ray had come a long way since then and could take care of himself, but he had more than himself to worry about. Emily couldn't defend herself like he could. She was still just a child. Then there was Neela to think about. The thought of his father laying a hand on her made his blood go cold and then hot as a bonfire. If anything should happen to her…
He nearly ran down the hall toward Wendell's office, suddenly needing to assure himself that they were safe. The scene in Weaver's office had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. He couldn't get the sight of Randly's face out of his mind when he'd told Carter that they had no idea who they were dealing with. He was wrong. Ray knew all too well who they were going up against, and it wasn't comforting.
He barely knocked as he entered Wendell's office. The relief he felt at finding Emily and Neela both there and safe left him exhausted. He leaned against the door, trying to catch his breath. Neela frowned with concern and stood to cross the room.
"What's wrong?" she asked under her breath, taking his hands in hers.
"Nothing now," he told her as he gave in to his impulse to just hold her. She melted against him without reservation, easing the tension he'd been feeling since Weaver's office.
"Are you all right?" she asked softly, her concern shining in her eyes as she pulled back to look at his face.
Neela narrowed her eyes when he just nodded. She didn't like the look in his eyes. It was more the startled look of a cornered animal than the confident man that she knew. Something had happened in Dr. Weaver's office that had thrown him. She could feel it in the air around him, but it would do no good to question him on it now. He'd tell her when he was ready.
"Everything's all right." He let his eyes wander to the other people in the room. Heat flooded his face when he saw Wendell smiling behind her hand and Emily rolling her eyes.
"Dr. Barnett?"
Ray glanced to his right to find a well-dressed man coming toward him with his hand outstretched. Ray frowned; sure he'd never met the man before. His severe crew cut was so short that the scalp showed through. Blue eyes, alive with sharp intelligence seemed to miss nothing as he met Ray's frown directly.
"We spoke earlier on the phone. I'm William Ramsey."
Ray nodded, suddenly reassured. More than anything, he was grateful. It was rare in his experience to meet an attorney that actually kept his word. He took the man's hand in a handshake that nearly broke his fingers.
"Good to meet you, sir. Thanks for…"
"Don't thank me," the man laughed. "After what you told me this morning, it's my pleasure. I really do love a good fight."
Ray smiled uncertainly, but couldn't help but grin when he saw the twinkle in Ramsey's eyes. The lawyer had been absolutely livid when he'd discovered that Ray's father was a lawyer using his connections to cover up his crimes.
"And this," Ramsey said moving to the side, "Is Detective Ramirez of the Chicago PD. She'll be investigating the case."
The woman that came forward didn't look like she could stand against a hard breeze let alone the biggest shark in Philadelphia's waters. She was smaller than Neela with a short pixie haircut. Her hand was nearly swallowed up in Ray's when he shook it and felt as frail as a bird's wing. There was no mistaking the bright fervor in her dark eyes, though her face gave away nothing.
"I've just been taking Emily's statement," she said quietly, her voice calm and even. It was a lower timbre than Ray had expected, and he hid his surprise by looking at Emily. "She's told me some fascinating things, I must say."
"Yes?" Ray glanced back to the detective, alerted by her tone.
"Yes," she said. "I would be very interested in seeing the police logs in Philly." Her lips thinned, the first sign in her stoic expression of her inner feelings. "I've already been in contact with Internal Affairs here in Chicago to see what can be done."
He looked at Emily in shock, and she shrugged.
"I'm young, but I'm not stupid, Ray. I knew that there was something wrong the night you tried to take me away."
Ray swallowed, grateful that Neela was there or he would have just sunk to his knees. He'd hoped that she would never know the full extent of what had happened that night, but it seemed that she did. He glanced back at the detective.
"Do you think we have a case?" he asked hoarsely.
"Oh, yes," she said with a predatory grin. "I'd say that this case would be the end all be all of cases."
Ramsey laughed heartily, and Ray gave him a bewildered look. This wasn't really the time for laughter.
"Detective Ramirez lives for this sort of thing," he explained. He grinned at the tiny woman beside him. "She's like a bulldog. Small, but deadly."
A knock on the door cut short any retort that the detective was about to launch into. Carter stuck his head in the door, his gaze taking in everyone in the room. He smiled at Ramsey and entered with his hand out.
"Good to see you, Will."
"No problem, John. It's been a long time since I've had a case I could really sink my teeth into."
Carter smiled and went through the introduction to the detective before turning to Ray and Neela.
"Can I see you both in the hall?"
They glanced at each other warily and nodded, following him into the hall. Neela couldn't help but look at Ray, a thousand questions milling about in her mind. She wondered again, just what had happened in Weaver's office to put him in such a state? It was as if he were fraying at the edges without a hope of coming together again. What disturbed her most of all, was the white look of shock when he'd looked at Emily. He had never come out and said what exactly had happened that night, but now she wondered if he hadn't, yet again, downplayed the incident.
"You have problems, Ray."
She snapped out of her reverie at Carter's words.
"What now?"
She flinched at the deadened tone in Ray's voice.
"There was a call to your apartment building. Someone broke in and trashed the place."
"And how do you know this?" Neela asked, ignoring the pounding in her heart and the sudden feeling of wavering unreality that flowed through her.
"The building super was brought in to the ER with some minor contusions and a concussion. Whoever it was knocked him out and just went right in."
Ray glanced down at Neela and his grip on her hand tightened to the point of pain. She could see the bright hatred in his eyes and could almost hear what he was thinking. What if Emily had been there? What if you had been there?
"Do they know who it was?" Ray asked tightly.
"The super didn't get a look. He was hit from behind." Carter glanced at the door behind them and back again. "The fact is, Ray, that you should all find a place to stay until this is under control."
Ray's jaw tightened, and he dropped Neela's hand to pace.
"I don't have anywhere…" He stopped pacing to look at Neela. She was watching him with an expression of awe. He wondered if she had ever seen him this scattered. He doubted it. Even when the balcony had collapsed and half of his friends had been hurt; he'd still kept his composure. But this was different. This was his family they were talking about; Neela and Emily, and that changed everything. All bets were off when it came to their safety. And he didn't have a damn clue as to what to do.
"Then come to my place," Carter said. "I have plenty of room and a security system that rivals Ft. Knox. Will has a key card and can come and go whenever he needs to."
"I can't do that, John."
Carter's expression tightened.
"You can, Barnett. Your father isn't playing by the rules and you damn well know it." He looked at Neela. "I don't want to lose two of my best doctors because you want to be stubborn."
"He's right, Ray," she said quietly. "We need to worry about Emily's safety. After all that's happened, we can't afford to say no."
He closed his eyes and turned away with his hands on his hips. Neela waited, unsure of what he would say. He was not behaving as she had expected, but she had never experienced what he had. She didn't know what lengths he had gone to in order to stay sane. She moved to stand beside him, touching his arm as she tried to reach him.
"Think of Emily," she whispered.
He glanced at her, his eyes burning with some dark emotion she couldn't begin to fathom.
"I'm trying to think about both of you," he said harshly. His tone startled her, but she refused to back off. She wasn't so much afraid of him as she was for him. What was this doing to him inside?
"Then say yes," she told him, sliding her arms around him. He was rigid against her for a moment before he suddenly relaxed and wrapped his arms around her in a fierce hug. He lifted his head to look at Carter.
"We'll have to pack some things up," he said tonelessly. "When would be the best time..?"
"I've already got a car ready," Carter said. "And I have your shifts covered for a while."
"And how did you manage that?" Ray asked bitterly, earning a frown from Neela.
"I have my ways," Carter said cryptically and offered a small smile. "I'll go in and acquaint Will with the situation. When the detective is finished with Emily, you can go to the apartment and get whatever you'll need."
"Thank you, Dr. Carter," Neela said. He nodded and disappeared inside the office, leaving them alone. She waited until the door was closed before she turned on Ray.
"What is wrong with you?" she asked harshly. "He's offering to help, and you're acting like he just spit on you."
"You don't understand, Neela," he shot back, equally irritated. "This isn't about Carter."
"Then what is it about? Talk to me!" she cried out when he turned away from her. She grabbed his arm and made him look at her. "What is this about?"
He shook his head, the muscles in his jaw clenching over and over.
"I can't talk about this right now," he said finally. "I have to make sure that Emily…"
"She's fine, Ray. She's handling herself ruddy well better than you are at the moment." She paused. "It's you that I'm worried about."
His expression softened as he turned back to her, searching her eyes. He brushed his thumb over her eyebrow and down her face to cup her cheek in his palm. She placed her hand over his and could only wait breathlessly for what he would say. He leaned toward her, pressing his lips lightly to hers.
"I don't deserve you," he whispered, resting his forehead against hers and closing his eyes. "I don't deserve you at all," he said again, before pulling away and following Carter into the office.
Neela stood there, staring at the door, feeling dazed. Her heart was pounding in her ears until she couldn't hear. She could still feel the warmth of his hand on her cheek where he'd touched her. She swallowed back the tears she felt burning her eyes. She could barely breathe for the emotions that rolled through her chest. She wasn't sure what he had meant by what he had said, but she didn't like what she had felt from him the moment he'd said them. It was as if he was saying good-bye.
She clenched her fists, suddenly hating his father as she had never hated anyone in her life. This was his bloody fault. He'd done all he could to destroy two lives and was not finished yet. She knew instinctively that Ray was struggling. The look of fear in his eyes when he'd come to Wendell's office was enough to convince her. That was not like him at all, and it infuriated her that the man could do that to him. She took a deep breath, trying to pull herself together. She wouldn't do him any good by having a meltdown. He needed her to hold it together.
When she felt as if she could hide the worry she was feeling, she pulled open the door and went inside where Ray waited. She would help him through this whether he wanted her to or not. It was about time that he learned just how stubborn Neela Rasgotra could really be.