“Yeah.”
Clove seemed to know where to go, so we followed without complaint. When we walked into a wide conference room with a rectangular table in the center, I knew things were about to get interesting.
Three people – three women, in fact – sat behind the table. All of them wore doctor’s coats and looked stern as they stared at Sam. For his part, Sam’s color was back, but he looked oddly uncomfortable as he sat in a chair in the middle of the room.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my eyes drifting to the doctors. “Why are Mom, Marnie and Twila here?”
“I don’t think it’s really them,” Sam replied. “They keep asking me about being a brain surgeon on weekends and whether it’s fulfilling. They’re also interested in free legal advice, because it seems Winnie is a beauty company executive on the side and she’s looking to incorporate.”
“And I’m a ventriloquist,” Twila added.
“Oh, well, that seems to fit,” I muttered.
“I’m also a mime.” As if to demonstrate, Twila started moving her hands while she pretended to be trapped in an invisible box.
“Very authentic,” Thistle noted. “What are we doing here?”
“We’re here to see if Dr. Wharton will be allowed to keep his medical license,” Marnie said gravely. “He made several errors in surgery and a man died. We can’t simply overlook that.”
“Oh, well, that makes sense.” I shook my head. “I’m sure Sam – I mean Dr. Wharton – is willing to give up his medical license if it means he can get out of here.” I looked to Sam for confirmation. “Right?”
Sam nodded vigorously. “Absolutely!”
“Now, don’t be hasty,” Clove countered. “I’ve always wanted to have sex with a doctor.”
“He’s not really a doctor,” I pointed out.
“Close enough.”
“I’m starting to feel unloved, Clove,” Sam snapped. “I thought you were happy with our life together.”
Clove balked. “I am. It’s just … haven’t you ever had a certain fantasy? I want to play doctor before we leave. Sue me.”
“Fine. Then you have to dress up like a naughty nurse.”
“Done.”
Apparently Sam wasn’t expecting Clove to capitulate so easily, because his eyebrows practically flew up his forehead. “Okay. Well … um … what were we talking about again?” He flicked his eyes to the table and found Winnie, Marnie and Twila glaring at him. “Why does this feel so familiar?”
“Because Aunt Tillie enjoys having fun at our expense,” Landon replied. “As for this … meeting … we need to get through it. I guarantee we won’t find that diamond in this room.”
“I can mime being a diamond,” Twila offered. “I’m really good at it.”
Landon opened his mouth to comment, but snapped his mouth shut, instead flashing an enthusiastic thumbs-up to Twila.
“Let’s just get this over with,” I suggested. “What does Dr. Wharton need to do to keep his medical license?”
“He needs to tell us exactly what happened in that surgery,” Mom replied. “Then we’ll vote on the outcome. That’s it.”
“That sounds easy,” Sam said, exhaling heavily.
Yeah, it sounded a little too easy. “Dr. Wharton isn’t going to face any other repercussions besides losing his medical license if he’s found guilty, right?”
Landon slid me a sidelong look. “Why did you ask that?”
I lifted a finger to still him. “Just wait.”
“Of course not,” Mom scoffed. “We handle his medical license. She handles the rest of it.” Mom jerked her thumb to the door over her shoulder, which opened to allow Eden entrance. Thankfully she wasn’t rubbing Landon’s shirt against her face any longer, but that didn’t make her look any saner. “Eden will decide if Dr. Wharton is being brought up on criminal charges.”
“Of course she will.” I looked to Landon. “This one is on you, big guy.”
“You’re going to owe me an entire weekend of naked bacon wrestling when this is over,” Landon grumbled, taking a step forward. “I’m going to make you sign a contract and everything.”
“Do I even want to know what naked bacon wrestling is?” Thistle asked.
“I’m kind of intrigued,” Marcus said.
“I’m grossed out,” Clove added.
“We’re not talking about this,” I argued. “Focus on the problem in front of us. We need to keep Sam out of … whatever crazy web that nutbag is going to weave.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Eden adopted an innocent fa?ade. “I’m simply here to do my job. I’m a diligent employee. Jericho knows that better than anyone.”
“You’re up, Jericho,” I prodded, bowing a bit as I held out my hand.
Landon ignored my tone and forced a smile. “It’s good to see you, Eden. I’ve been worried about you after our … breakup.”
“Oh, don’t play coy with me,” Eden hissed as she strode forward, not stopping until she was directly in front of Landon. “I know what kind of game you’re playing.”
“I simply want to make sure that an innocent doctor isn’t punished for something that wasn’t his fault.”
“Why? What’s in it for you?”
“Nothing.”
“What’s in it for her?” Eden inclined her chin toward me. “I know you’re only doing this to protect her.”
I thought Landon might argue – he had that sort of look on his face – but instead he changed tactics. “I’m not trying to protect her,” Landon whispered. I could hear him, but just barely. “I’m undercover and I have to use her for information. I can’t talk about this in front of her.”
Eden’s eyes widened. “But you said … .”
“I have to maintain cover in front of her at all costs. The fate of the entire investigation rests on it.”
I did my best to maintain a neutral expression, but it wasn’t easy.
“So you’re still in love with me?” Eden asked hopefully.
“I’m … very fond of you and hopeful you’ll do the right thing,” Landon gritted out, being careful not to make eye contact with me. I think he was afraid what he would find, but I knew he was simply doing his best to speed things along.
Eden studied Landon’s face for what felt like forever. Finally, she offered a curt nod and turned to Mom, Winnie and Twila. “I’ve heard enough. There will be no criminal charges filed against Dr. Wharton.”
Thistle leaned closer to me. “We didn’t present any evidence.”
“Who cares? This has already gone on far too long.”
“Yeah, we’re in a boring part,” Thistle agreed. “In fact … .”
When she didn’t finish her sentence, I turned to face her and found her eyes glued toward a window near the ceiling. I followed her gaze, frowning when I realized we were looking at an observation room of sorts.
“Why would that be there?” I asked, confused. “This isn’t an operating room.”
“No, but look who’s standing at the far end down there.”
I gasped when I saw Aunt Tillie prancing in front of the window. She wore a loud evening gown with a peacock pattern, and one of those ostentatious hats with netting that covered her right eye. She waved with her right hand and held up the fake-looking diamond with her left.
“Son of a … !”
“What?” Landon turned in that direction, swearing under his breath when he saw her. “I guess we know where the diamond is.”
Aunt Tillie waited until she was sure everyone saw her before turning on her heel and disappearing.
“We have to chase her,” Marcus said. “We need that diamond. That’s why she has it.”
“I know.” Landon made a growling sound in the back of his throat. “She’s officially on my last nerve.”
“Welcome to my world,” Thistle said. “It sucks sometimes.”
THE HOSPITAL WAS A virtual maze. We did our best to follow Aunt Tillie, even though we kept losing sight of her. When that happened, she let loose a creepy giggle that allowed us to give chase. By the fifth time it happened, we were flustered, and annoyance threatened to overtake our group.
“I’m going to rip her throat out if she doesn’t stop making that noise,” Thistle groused. “I’m not joking. Between that and the music, it’s too much.”