Critical Diagnosis (Love Inspired Suspense)

by Alison Stone

  A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Tell me what happened.”

  “He came from there.” She pointed at the trees. Reality was settling in behind her eyes, pulsing, throbbing, aching. “I had the back door propped open so I could take out the trash. But I got it closed just in time.”

  James ran a hand over her shoulder. “Why would you slam the door shut?” A line creased his forehead.

  “I was afraid of what would happen if he got inside. I saw you with Mrs. Benson and her granddaughter. I was afraid of what he might do.” Her knees bent, then straightened. “I’ve heard so many stories of crazed druggies....” The memory of the thug’s sour breath made her nauseous. Blinking, she inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the smell of summer and clean. James always smelled so clean.

  “My only thought was to keep him outside. Away from the clinic,” she said.

  He smoothed her hair and tucked a strand behind her ear. “You should have never tried to take him on yourself.”

  Lowering her gaze, she bit her bottom lip. A new feeling, one she didn’t want to acknowledge, softened the shield around her heart.

  He leaned back to look at the hole in her pant leg. “Let’s go inside so I can take a look at your knee.” Unexpected embarrassment heated her cheeks at the thought of James tending her injury. She had been so stupid. She should have never gone out back by herself. Even though they were in Orchard Gardens, she knew the buddy system was safer. She had heard the horror stories on the news about thugs and their desperate drug addictions.

  Drugs didn’t care about zip codes.

  Shaking her head, Lily held up her hands. “I’m fine, really.” She took a few steps, stifling a grimace. “See? Perfectly fine.”

  He eyed her skeptically. “Let’s call the police.”

  He unlocked the door and guided her inside with a hand to the small of her back.

  Lily glanced up at him. “I’m sorry. Now we’re going to be late for your grandfather’s birthday party.”

  James waved his hand in dismissal. “I’ll deal with him. He’ll understand.” He leaned in close, his breath whispering across her cheek. “I can’t let anything happen to his star researcher.”

  TWO

  James weaved through the crowd gathered at O’Reilly Manor, his grandmother’s gauche name for her oversize home sitting on the escarpment overlooking the town of Orchard Gardens, New York. Every single person associated with Medlink Pharmaceutical, his grandfather’s company and the largest employer for sixty miles, had to be crammed into this room. It didn’t take long before James spotted Lily standing in the corner, her long brown hair loose around her bare shoulders.

  Lily looked up, their eyes connected, and a smile touched her pink lips.

  James made his way over to her. “You look...” He searched for the right word.

  “Like I’d rather be somewhere else?” She tilted her head, a sparkle in her brown eyes.

  “I was going to say ‘beautiful.’”

  Her fingers fluttered at the hollow of her neck. “This cocktail dress is a far cry from my lab coat.”

  “The color suits you.” He glanced down. A hint of a bandage poked out from under the hem of the lavender dress. The bandage he had secured around her scraped knee. “Are you okay?”

  “I’ll feel better once I identify the guy who attacked me. I wish I didn’t have to wait until Monday morning to check out the photo array Chief Farley’s putting together. I can’t believe he thinks gangs from Buffalo are targeting small towns.” She shifted her weight and sighed. “I’m grateful the police chief was able to make it to the clinic so quickly even though he didn’t have the most reassuring news.”

  “We’re old friends. We went to high school together.”

  “Really? I didn’t see him as a wearing-a-suit-coat-with-a-crest kind of guy.”

  “Oh, he isn’t.” James took a step closer to avoid getting bumped by the waiter carrying some kind of hors d’oeuvre wrapped in bacon. His stomach rumbled. “I went to public school for the first two years of high school.” The words while my parents were alive got caught in his throat.

  “I had no idea.... Public school.” She said the words as though she was trying them on for size.

  “My grandparents forced me to go to boarding school for the last two years.” He tried to keep the derision out of his tone, but realized he failed miserably.

  A hand brushed his shoulder. “And we were such horrible grandparents.” His grandmother hooked her hand around his elbow and leaned toward Lily. “You’d think his grandfather and I were sending him off to the state penitentiary, he put up such a fuss.”

  “I didn’t see you there, Grandmother.” James patted her hand. “Wonderful party for Grandfather.”

  “I’m a foolish old lady for throwing a surprise party for an eighty-year-old man with a heart condition.” His grandmother lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers at a guest walking nearby.

  “My grandfather’s a tough old coot.” James forced a laugh.

  His grandmother shook her head in disapproval. “That tough old coot is ready to slow down and travel with me. We’re both glad you’re home. Six years was far too long to give to the army.”

  James bit back a retort. Serving as a physician in the army had been fulfilling, far more than being a suit at a corporate job ever would. He cut his gaze toward Lily. The smile had slipped from her face.

  “I’m glad to see you two together.” His grandmother glanced over her shoulder at the guests milling around her home, her attention already waning. “It gives me hope. I so dearly want great-grandbabies.”

  Next to him, Lily covered her mouth with her napkin and coughed.

  “I need to go. I don’t want to be rude to my guests.” And with that, his grandmother strolled away.

  “Elinor’s always been something else,” Lily said, coughing a few more times.

  “Don’t mind her. She likes to assert her authority in all things.” James gently touched the small of Lily’s back. “Let’s step outside and get some fresh air.”

  They stepped through the French doors to a deserted patio. “Finally, peace and quiet.”

  A faraway look descended into Lily’s eyes as she gazed toward the twinkling lights surrounding the pool area. “The first time I walked into O’Reilly Manor, I think I was eight. My mother had just gotten this great new job as a housekeeper for some really rich people who lived on the escarpment. Neither one of us had ever been in a house this big.”

  “My grandmother definitely likes showy things.”

  “I loved this yard.” Lily took a few tentative steps and traced a groove in the top of the low stone wall. “I couldn’t figure out why someone didn’t put a tire swing on the beautiful oak tree out back. You know, the one next to the carriage house.”

  James smiled at her. “I guess I never thought about it. Growing up, I was hardly here. Explains why we never met until you were much older. I traveled with my parents as they did missionary work and brought health care to the underserved around the world.”

  Lily seemed to smile to herself. “It makes sense that you decided to be a physician in the army.”

  “Yes, I wanted to honor my parents’ memory.”

  “How are you, dear cousin?” James’s cousin, Stephanie, stepped out onto the patio and disturbed the tranquil mood. She hoisted her wineglass in a pseudo toast, seeming to regard him for a moment much like an alpha dog determined to protect its territory.

  “I figured you’d be in there schmoozing with the investors since you’re the new head of Medlink.”

  “Grandfather’s still running the show, last I checked.” James didn’t bother to hide his amusement. He and his cousin, the only grandchildren, shared a siblinglike rivalry—and a lopsided one at that. James had always been the favored grandchild, such as it w
as.

  Stephanie waved her hand in dismissal. “That’s simply a formality.” She pursed her lips and shook her head. “The old glass ceiling still applies even when it comes to family.” Stephanie took a quick breath and continued, “Can you believe this, Lily? Dr. James O’Reilly here is gone for years and—” Stephanie snapped her fingers “—just like that, he’s back and Grandfather passes the baton. I don’t—”

  James caught his cousin’s hand midgesture. Stephanie narrowed her gaze. Her mouth froze with an unspoken word on her lips.

  “Don’t ruin the party by discussing business,” James said, releasing his cousin’s hand.

  Lily wandered a few feet away to put her empty glass on a serving tray and perhaps to distance herself from the mounting tension.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Stephanie’s eyes grew hard. Her gaze shifted and she seemed to zero in on Lily’s feet. “Dear,” she called, “you seem to be limping a bit. Is something wrong?”

  James’s gaze locked with Lily’s, silently imploring her to not bring up the disturbance at the clinic. If Stephanie knew, she might mention it to their grandparents, spoiling their evening.

  Lily lifted her foot and brushed her fingers across the strap of her shoe. “My shoes are killing me,” she said without missing a beat.

  Stephanie tipped her head toward the pool. “Why don’t you soak them in the hot tub? No one would be the wiser.”

  “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

  Stephanie lifted her hands, her polished nails dark against her fair skin. “Go for it.” She nodded at James. “I better mingle.” She turned and strolled inside. Her red gown popped in a sea of muted colors. Slowing by a group of male partygoers, she made a comment and tossed her long blond hair over her shoulder. They all laughed politely, probably hoping to attract her attention. Unfortunately for them, his cousin had her eye on only one thing: running Medlink.

  James turned his attention back to Lily. “Stephanie’s well suited for this. She really knows how to work a crowd.” She’d have potential investors clamoring to take their money in the hopes of catching her eye.

  “Why do you suppose your grandfather chose you over your cousin, then?”

  James stared into her brown eyes. He made it a habit to never bash family, but he trusted Lily not to betray his confidence. “Stephanie may be an O’Reilly, but her mother is the black sheep of the family. My aunt Tiffany had Stephanie when she was only sixteen. My grandparents disowned their daughter.”

  Lily’s eyes widened. “I had no idea.”

  “Stephanie had a rough upbringing. My grandparents only came back into Stephanie’s life when it was time for college. Stephanie worked hard, went to graduate school and was welcomed back into the fold.” He rubbed his brow. “But she always seems to be trying to prove she belongs.” He caught a hint of Stephanie’s red dress in the crowd. “Grandfather never made it easy. Stephanie looks just like her mother. It’s a constant reminder.”

  Lily closed her eyes briefly, her long lashes sweeping against her cheeks. “Everyone has a skeleton in their closet.”

  James’s gaze landed squarely on her. “Yes, they do.”

  Lily leaned on the stone wall and lifted her foot, tugging on the strap of her shoe. “Do you think Stephanie will give you a hard time when you take over as CEO?”

  “I don’t plan to take over as CEO.”

  Lily put her foot down and tilted her head. “What are you talking about?”

  “I plan to reenlist, but wanted to wait until after my grandfather’s celebration to tell my grandparents.”

  “But why not tell Stephanie? It’s clearly making her miserable.”

  “Stephanie likes a challenge. If things were handed to her, she wouldn’t appreciate it.”

  “Really?” Lily put some weight on her foot and grimaced. She obviously wasn’t buying it.

  “Maybe.” A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “But it’s more fun this way. I’m meeting with Grandfather and Stephanie on Monday. I’ll put her out of her misery then. Stephanie will be so grateful, she’ll be sure to continue funding the free health-care clinic.”

  “You can be persuasive.”

  “When it’s something I want, yes.”

  Lily rolled her eyes. “I already agreed to work next Saturday at the clinic.”

  “I’m honored. I’m surprised you can make the time, considering how high profile your research has become.” He paused a moment. “The Garden Gazette did a nice feature on you.”

  Lily sliced her hand through the air. “I hated doing that interview. It was your grandmother’s idea.”

  “Anything to shine a bright spotlight on my grandfather. I’m sure my grandmother was thrilled when it came out this morning, the same day as Grandfather’s birthday celebration.”

  “I don’t like the attention.” A soft breeze blew Lily’s long brown hair back off her bare shoulders, releasing a flowery scent mixed with the chlorine from the pool. “I prefer staying in the lab or, when I get a chance, treating patients. I’ve never been comfortable on display.”

  “That surprises me. Someone as beautiful as you.”

  She eyed him skeptically. “Ah, you underestimated yourself. You can schmooze with the best of them.”

  He tilted his head to meet her gaze. “You should be proud. Your research stands to make Medlink a lot of money.”

  “That’s secondary to finding a cure for the disease that killed my mother and now my poor niece....” Lily cleared her throat. “I’m determined to make sure Emily lives a long life.” She brushed her fingers through her hair. Lily glanced toward the people socializing in his grandparents’ great room. “The party’s in full swing.”

  “Let’s go wish my grandfather a happy birthday.” He held out his elbow, but she didn’t take it.

  Lily pouted. “I don’t think I can walk another step between my bruised knee and these killer shoes.” She leaned on the wall again and slipped one shoe off, then the other. “I don’t want to go traipsing through the party barefoot.” She glanced toward the backyard. “I’m going to soak my feet in the hot tub for a few minutes. Maybe then I’ll be able to slip on my shoes long enough to wish Dr. O’Reilly a happy birthday.”

  James frowned. The lights on the pool fence provided enough illumination to indicate the gate, but otherwise, the area was cast in heavy shadows. “I’ll go with you, then.”

  Lily waved him off, dangling her fancy shoes in her hand. “No, you go ahead. I know where everything is. Remember, I lived in the carriage house off and on when I was going to college.” She patted his chest. “Give me ten minutes.”

  “Okay, not a minute longer.”

  James watched Lily walk to the pool gate on tiptoes. She fumbled with the latch for a minute before finding the release. She gave him a quick wave and disappeared behind the hedges.

  * * *

  Lily strolled over to the control box on the wall and set the dial on the hot-tub timer for ten minutes. Just ten minutes and she’d rejoin the party. The stamped concrete felt warm on her bare toes. She dropped her shoulders and sighed. The mere thought of submerging her aching feet into the hot, bubbling water was delicious. She glanced toward the house. Only the second story of the stately home was visible over the perfectly manicured shrubs bordering the pool area.

  The hot-tub jets roared to life. She set her shoes on top of a glass table nearby. A dim blue light glowed under the rolling water. Tugging her cocktail dress, she hiked it to just above her knees and sat by the step, careful not to dip the hem into the water. She examined her bandaged knee for a second before extending her legs into the tepid water.

  She glanced back at the control panel. Maybe turning on the jets wasn’t such a good idea. The gurgling water spit at her, leaving tiny dark dots on her lavender cocktail dress. But once she had he
r feet submerged, it would have taken a fork truck to move her. Leaning back, she braced her arms against the smooth concrete and closed her eyes. Ten minutes.

  Just ten minutes.

  Lily’s thoughts drifted to when she’d first noticed James among the party guests. His strong profile, short cropped hair and dress army uniform would have made any woman proud to be escorted by him. But he hadn’t arrived with anyone. She folded the hem of her dress and scooted back a fraction from the edge of the hot tub, distracting herself from thoughts of handsome James O’Reilly. Despite Elinor O’Reilly’s musings, neither of them was in a position to settle down. He planned to reenlist. She never planned to marry. Work was her life. It had to be. Too much was at stake.

  A rustling behind her made her bolt upright. She snapped her head in the direction of the noise, but didn’t see anything amiss. Her heart jackhammered, a steady beat above the hum of the hot-tub jets. Her gaze ping-ponged around the pool area, trying to decipher the shadows. A few deck chairs. A table. A folded umbrella flapping in the breeze.

  Tamping down her unease, she swooshed her feet in the water. But she couldn’t relax. Grabbing on to the metal railing, she pulled herself to her feet and stepped out of the hot tub. She scooped up her shoes from the table and glared at them with contempt. She’d have to slip them on and suck it up for as long as it took to find Dr. O’Reilly, wish him well and make her excuses to call it a night.

  Plopping down on the nearest lounge chair, she smoothed the hem of her dress and slipped her foot into her shoe. She was struggling with the delicate buckle when a clammy hand seized her shoulder. She froze and gasped. The distinct whiff of alcohol mixed with chlorine sent icy shards of fear shooting through her veins. Glancing up, she met the beady eyes of the man who had attacked her in the parking lot of the clinic.

  She opened her mouth to scream, but he was quicker. He clamped his callused hand over her mouth. She bit back the urge to retch.