I’m Watching You (Richmond Novels #1)

Chapter Five

Monday, July 7, 11:02 A.M.

On the way to the hospital, Lindsay called Jordan Turner twice. The first time she got her voice mail. She didn’t bother to leave a message. What was she going to say? Mrs Turner, did you murder your husband?

Thanks to light midday traffic, Lindsay made good time driving downtown. Still, the Mercy Hospital parking deck was crammed with cars, forcing her to drive to the bottom level, where she found an open spot in a darkened corner.

She shut off the car engine, waited until it shuttered off, got out, and locked the car. Her sandals clicked against concrete as she moved along the line of parked cars. A horn honked, the sound echoing from the level above. A car door closed.

She’d parked on this deck a thousand times before, always cautious but never afraid. However, today, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. She scanned the rows of parked cars around her. The air-conditioning system whirred overhead and condensation dripped from the ductwork.

The deck appeared deserted. On a deck below, a car horn honked again. There was no need to be nervous yet her nerves tightened, as if someone were close.

Watching.

She tightened her hold on her purse. ‘Is anyone there?’

No answer.

It wasn’t like her to be so jumpy. Crossing quickly to the elevator, she punched the button, careful to keep her back to the doors. She dug in her purse fishing for her mace and cursed when she couldn’t find it in all the clutter. When the elevator doors whooshed open, she rushed into the empty car. Her heart pounded in her chest.

As the doors closed, a nearby car door slammed shut, the sound echoing from an unseen corner.

Lindsay punched level four, the lobby level. She dragged a shaking hand through her hair. ‘Get a grip.’

Within seconds the elevator doors opened to the muted sounds of gurneys rolling past, carts clattering, and telephones ringing. The smell of antiseptic cleaner blended with the bright hospital lights. Her nerves settled and the parking garage was forgotten.

She walked up to the nurses station and smiled at the familiar face behind the counter. ‘Hey, Jennifer.’

Jennifer Watkins glanced up from a chart and grinned. Red hair scraped back in a tight bun accentuated green eyes that sparkled behind wire-rimmed glasses. ‘What’s shaking, Lindsay?’

‘I missed you at yoga on Friday night.’ She didn’t want to talk about the murder. It would be headlines soon enough.

‘I know. I’m sorry I missed your class. It had been a long day and I was beat.’

Lindsay taught yoga at a small studio near her town house. She’d gained a reputation as a patient but exacting instructor. ‘You’ll be better for it if you make the time.’

‘I know, I know. If anyone needs yoga, baby, it’s me. I’m about as flexible as a piece of plywood.’

Lindsay smiled. ‘You carry too much stress in your shoulders, but if you keep at it, your body will open.’

Jennifer held up her hands in mock surrender. ‘Okay, okay, I promise to be there Wednesday night.’

‘Good. Hey, I’m here to see Sam.’

‘He’s just finishing up rounds. He should be passing by in just a second.’

‘Great.’

Jennifer leaned forward. ‘I hear you and Sam had a date last week.’

Color rose in Lindsay’s face. Jennifer knew everyone and their business. Hospital staff jokingly called her ‘Jenni-dot-net.’ ‘I wouldn’t call it a date at all.’ The idea that Jennifer and likely now everyone else was calling her evening with Sam a date didn’t sit well.

Jennifer wagged thin eyebrows. ‘What would you call it?’

Lindsay shoved fingers through her hair. ‘A friendly night out.’

‘Friendly?’ A smile twitched the edges of Jennifer’s full lips, made her eyes spark. ‘I’ve seen the way Sam looks at you.’

Since Lindsay was a child, she’d been careful to keep her private life private. Her home life shamed her and she didn’t want anyone to know about it. But the days of hiding a violent home life had long passed and there was no need to keep secrets. Yet the habit of hiding persisted.

Her evening out with Sam wasn’t shameful or dark, just fun, and it had been exactly as she’d described it – friendly. ‘Movies. Dinner at a burger joint. Home by nine. Very pleasant.’

Jennifer looked disappointed. ‘That can’t be it.’

‘It is.’

‘Ah, come on, there must be more details,’ Jennifer said.

‘Nope. Sorry.’

Sam’s voice drifted down the hallway as he gave orders to a nurse.

Lindsay sighed her relief.

Jennifer laughed. ‘The cavalry has arrived.’

‘See you around. I’ve got to run.’ Lindsay tossed Jennifer a grin and hurried down the hallway toward Sam.

Sam stood in front of a curtained cubicle wearing his green scrubs, a patient’s chart in hand. An inch taller than her, Sam was trim but not muscular. He looked like a tennis player who belonged at a country club. Blond hair curled at the edges above his ears. Horn-rimmed glasses accentuated intelligent brown eyes.

‘Sam.’

He peered over his glasses and smiled warmly as he closed the chart. ‘I was beginning to think you’d forgotten me.’

Her smile came easily. ‘Sorry, we had some trouble at the shelter.’

Worry creased his forehead. ‘What?’

She lowered her voice and leaned close to him. ‘This is not for anyone else to hear right now, but Harold Turner’s body was found in the shelter’s alley this morning.’

‘What?!’ His voice raised in shock.

Lindsay glanced around and noticed several nurses staring at them. ‘I don’t have many more details than that. The cops were at the shelter this morning interviewing me. In fact, they’ll be there for days.’

‘No one else was hurt?’

‘We’re all fine.’

He let out a long breath. ‘Damn. Harold Turner. His wife came through here two months ago with a sprained arm and bruised ribs.’

‘I know. She cornered me at a charity party two weeks ago and told me about her marriage. I offered her a bed at Sanctuary but she refused.’

Sam shook his head. ‘Sanctuary is a big step down from a mansion on River Road.’

‘Yeah.’ I can handle Harold. Jordan’s words replayed in Lindsay’s head. ‘I can’t imagine her sleeping in a bunk bed or sharing kitchen duties.’

‘I’d say your morning ranks high on the stress meter.’

‘You’ve no idea.’

Sam laid his hand on her shoulder. ‘You look like hell.’

Lindsay couldn’t help but smile as she leaned into him. ‘You know how to make a girl feel good.’

He grinned. ‘It’s a talent.’

She rubbed the back of her neck.

Sam studied her closely. ‘What gives with your neck?’

‘I fell asleep on my couch last night. I must have slept crooked.’

Sam captured her elbow in his hand. ‘Exam room three is open.’

‘I don’t need to be checked out. And I need to see that woman you called me about.’

‘You’ve got a minute or two to spare.’

Aware Jennifer hadn’t missed a second of their exchange, she hesitated. ‘Sam, we are quickly becoming grist for the rumor mill.’

He didn’t look worried. ‘Since when do you care what people think?’

She glanced at the nurses. Their eyes gleamed with laughter. ‘Let’s just say I’ve been gossiped about enough in my life. I don’t like it.’

‘It’s harmless.’ He pushed her toward the exam room and nodded toward the table. ‘Sit.’

She stood stock straight. ‘I just need to talk to that woman and get back to the office. I’ve got cops crawling all over the shelter.’

‘For a moment, take the advice you give your yoga students and the women you counsel. Sit. Take a deep breath.’

He was right. She’d been running on adrenaline since she’d been startled awake. She climbed up on the table as he closed the curtains behind them.

He moved behind her and began to massage the muscles around her neck. ‘My God, you’re tense. It’s a wonder you haven’t collapsed yet. Your schedule is more insane than an intern’s.’

‘I’m fine.’ His gentle touch soothed but didn’t excite, like Zack’s, which was a good thing. Excitement was overrated.

‘So you’re the doctor now?’

‘I know my own body.’ She took several deep breaths.

His fingers worked up the back of her neck. God, it felt good. She closed her eyes. She could let her defenses down, if only for just a moment. ‘I’m so tired of holding it together all the time.’

‘You want to talk about it?’ He leaned a little closer. His breath felt warm on her cheek. ‘I’ve been told I’m easy to talk to.’

‘Maybe another time.’

Sam’s fingers stilled and she feared this would turn into a tug-of-war. When she’d first met Zack, he hadn’t been content until he’d known everything about her present and past. To her surprise, Sam leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the side of her neck. ‘Have dinner with me tonight.’

Awkwardness replaced worry. Nearly thirty and she still turned knock-kneed when a man got romantic. ‘Uh, Sam, we’ve been through this. I’ll be working late tonight.’

‘So we’ll have breakfast at the diner. We’ll grab coffee.’ When she hesitated, he added, ‘It wouldn’t kill you to live a little.’

Something she’d done very little of since she and Zack had separated. ‘I suppose not.’

‘That’s a yes?’

She nodded. ‘Yes to dinner tomorrow night.’

‘What time?’

‘Six.’

‘Done. I’ll pick you up at the shelter.’

‘Better make that my town house. The cops sealed the area off.’

‘Will do.’

Sam’s cell phone vibrated on his hip. Groaning, he yanked it off and flipped it open. ‘Dr Begley.’

Immediately, his light expression darkened. He glanced at Lindsay and cupped his hand over the phone. ‘I’ve got to take this, Lindsay. See you tomorrow night?’

‘Right.’ Lindsay slid off the table, thankful for the interruption.

He managed a strained smile.

‘Where is that woman you told me about?’ she whispered.

‘Number six.’ Already he was turning from her.

‘Thanks.’ She scooted around the curtain.

‘Yes, damn it, I’m still here.’ Sam’s angry whisper caught her attention and made her stop.

In the few months she’d known Sam, he’d never uttered a harsh word. He seemed to be the nicest guy on the planet.

‘I told you I’d do it and I will,’ Sam said. ‘I’ve got to go.’

Lindsay hurried down the hallway toward room six, surprised that there was something more to Dr Sam Begley than just his quick smile and great bedside manner.