Rescuing Ryder (Serenity Securities, Team Hawk #1)

Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Claire hung up the phone. Dr. Klein didn’t return and her calls to Detective Stewart remained unanswered. After her next appointment, she planned to drive to Seattle and demand some answers. Claire briefly considered asking Chase and the SEAL team leader, Leo, for some advice. Knowing the protective men, they’d help her, which became the crux of her problem.

David Kilner didn’t care who he hurt; a couple of the team’s wives announced their pregnancy. Recently, Kassie and Chase adopted Tori and Catherine gave birth to Grace. She refused to put them in jeopardy, especially when the last communication from the detective stated Mr. Kilner remained locked up tight and she worried for no reason.

Claire absently rubbed her back, thinking the couch in her office needed replacing. Over the last couple of weeks, the thing tortured her relentlessly. The purchase wasn’t meant to become a bed, she bought it for the comfort of her patients who used it for an hour at a time. Claire decided it sucked as a nightly retreat and as soon as she got her act together, she vowed to buy a more comfortable sofa.

A slight knock made her glance up to see her new patient. A young woman, who lost her arm. Sara struggled with the loss of her limb and nothing Claire tried worked to get through to her.

“Come in, Sara,” she greeted her. “Did you help with the service dogs today?”

The quiet young woman shook her head. “I didn’t feel like working with the puppies. I went to the library instead.”

Claire sat down opposite Sara. “Honey, you need to socialize. Dr. Winters informed me he talked to you about the prosthetic arm. Did you give it any thought? I’m happy to stay with you while you ask any questions or while you’re fitted.”

“I haven’t decided anything yet. Kassie said to take my time and ask as many questions as I need. Did my dad call yet? He promised to come visit, but I haven’t seen him since the accident,” Sara told her.

“It’s important for you to feel comfortable. It’s a big decision. Your dad remains at the rehabilitation facility. Once he heals, we’ll ensure you two see each other. We can video call him later if you want. I’ll set up a time with his care team.”

Sara smiled and nodded.

“How about we set a list of goals for next week? Do you think if we list three items, you can finish them before our next session?” Claire encouraged her. “Then we’ll call your dad and you can discuss your options with him this evening.”

“I wish he lived here with us on the mountain. With my mom gone, I can tell he’s lonely and sad,” Sara confessed.

“Sara, your dad needs time to heal, like you. Losing your mom in the accident was traumatic for both of you. How about I see if we can find someone to take you to Seattle to visit him?”

The young woman beamed. “Thank you, Claire. I miss him. Maybe I’ll go see the therapist and she can show me how everything works.”

“Why don’t we make it a goal and you can tell me about it on Monday? I heard one of the veterans searching for some teens to accompany him and Whiskey for a nature walk. Why don’t you join them? I’m sure Kim and Noah will chomp at the bit and I’m worried Kim will tire out. Can you keep an eye on her for me?” Claire used Sara’s need for helping to push her out of her comfort zone.

“Sure, I better see if I can find them.” Excited to walk outdoors, Sara jumped up and exited the office. Claire made some notes and wrote down a list of Sara's goals. Later this evening, she’d place them on the back of her door. She called the rehab center and scheduled a video call with Sara’s dad’s team for 1700.

Finishing the afternoon, her thoughts turned to Ryder. Claire knew she made progress with him because of his reaction to her questions, but it hit him too fast. Ryder faltered and bailed when pushed too soon. From his records, she read the comments from other medical professionals and guessed where they went wrong. Determined to get him past the hurdle, she needed to gain his trust so he would accept what he already knew.

Ryder needed to face the facts. He did everything possible to save the men on the fateful day of his team’s demise. Ryder loved fixing people and things. His need to make everything better was part of his core personality and she noticed it in his actions, from fixing the items she bungled to rendering first aid and his unconscious efforts to support his fellow veterans, especially the young man Scott.

When the attack occurred, Ryder felt helpless for the first time in his life. With his limited resources and overwhelmed by the number of wounded needing immediate attention, he couldn’t save them. If only he understood he did everything right and nothing wrong.

Leaving the hospital, she drove into Seattle to meet with Detective Stewart’s supervisor. Hopefully, he’d take things more seriously than his subordinate.

Entering the building, she insisted upon seeing the captain. The officer at the desk requested she take a seat.

A few minutes later, he returned. “I’m sorry ma’am. Captain Greene’s holding a meeting and can’t be disturbed. Detective Stewart can talk to you in a few minutes.”

Claire pursed her lips and shook her head. “No, sergeant. I want to speak with Captain Greene. I’ll wait until his meeting concludes. Can you let him know I’m waiting?”

The sergeant nodded even though he didn’t seem pleased with her demand and went to inform his boss.

Half an hour later, the officer led her back to the captain’s office.

“Hello, I’m Captain Greene. I understand you’ve worked with one of my detectives, Detective Stewart. I’ve seen his notes and follow-up calls. What can I do for you, Dr. Meyers?”

Claire shook his hand and sat across from his desk. “I received a card.” She pulled out the plastic baggy with the contents sealed inside. “Detective Stewart says he called the facility and ensured David Kilner still resides there. I’m sorry if I sound pushy. This person continues to threaten me. The letter says it’s mailed from Seattle. There’s no one else who holds a grudge against me. I testified against David Kilner before taking the position with Seattle Health. Can you please send someone over to make sure he’s there? He’s dangerous to society,” she spoke desperately.

“I understand. I’ll ask Detective Stewart to go over personally to allay your fears. I’ll take this evidence to the lab and ask them to put a rush on it. I’m afraid the package you brought didn’t contain fingerprints other than yours,” Captain Greene informed her.

She sighed and pursed her lips, “I’ve tried reaching Dr. Gregory Klein. His mother suffers from dementia, and I’m guessing he took some time off to spend it with her. We testified against this man, and if I’m receiving threats, he may be in danger, too. Can you check his mail for any suspicious packages?”

The captain shook his head. “I can’t search his belongings without a warrant or just cause. The facility confirmed that David Kilner resides there over the phone, safely tucked away. I’ll see if Detective Stewart can track down Dr. Klein and ask him if he received anything odd. I feel you’re getting pranked, Dr. Meyers, and from your appearance, I believe they’re succeeding. Why don’t you return home and let us do our job? If I discover anything, I’ll send someone to you.”

“I appreciate your help and don’t want to become a bother. Frankly, I’ll feel relieved if you discover a couple of teens pranking me at this point. These notes feel sinister,” she explained.

The captain chuckled. “I imagine they do. Detective Stewart said you recently moved to Serenity. A new place, a new person to scare over the hot, summer months. We see this all the time,” he assured her.

“Thank you for your time.” Feeling brushed off again, she rose and left his office.

The security people called and explained they experienced a delay, and as soon as the equipment showed up, they promised to reschedule. She returned to the house and packed a suitcase to bring to her office, praying Chase and Kassie didn’t discover her little secret of spending nights in her office.

Claire felt like an unprofessional nightmare. Not to mention, she maced one of her bosses. Slapping herself on the forehead, she attempted to stay quietly in her office and read one of her books, thinking how she felt off-kilter lately.

Ryder entered her thoughts. She failed to see him over the last couple of days. Giving him the weekend to reconcile his feelings, she decided to approach him on Monday. Aware the button in his closet set off an alarm the day she pushed him, she wanted to rush to his cabin. Instead, she sent Whiskey, who promised he and the team kept Ryder within their sites.

They grew comfortable with one another during their morning jogs and the time he spent fixing things in her home. Unlike her past patients, Ryder grew too close for her comfort. The desire to help him burned deep, but butterflies moved in her stomach when she thought of him as a man. His thick chest and massive arms made her feel safe, especially now.

Shaking her head, she reasoned her feelings for Ryder would never exist if she weren’t concerned over David Kilner. Somehow, she must keep Ryder at a distance to help him. The thought of doing so made her chest feel heavy, and sadness floated over her. Ryder deserved her professional expertise to heal, not her personal feelings.