Free Proof by Jordyn Redwood Page A

hospitals. She’s Lilly’s regular doctor anyway.”
    “Did the police interview you yet?”
    “At her house.”
    “Have they found any evidence?”
    “I’m not sure. They were still working when I left. Do you remember when I covered for you a while back … that pregnant trauma patient came in?”
    “Vaguely.”
    “I think they were attacked by the same man.”
    Drake stopped rattling his coins. “Why do you say that?”
    “Lilly suspected Torrence was among several victims. She accused the cop of not releasing the information to the public. There was something odd about the detective that interviewed me—like he was wounded over Lilly’s attack.”
    “Great, just what she needs. A weepy detective on the case.” Drake reached down and grabbed his pager from the small of his back. He looked at the blank screen, hoping Kadin would be duped by his ruse. “Looks like I need to check a patient.”
    “One of mine?”
    “No, no … one of mine. She’s in all the time with false labor.”
    “You mean early labor.”
    Drake leaned forward and tapped his chest. “Kadin, not everyone wants to be politically correct.”

Chapter 9
    September 4
    L ILLY SWAM IN a sea of fog, registering only a few sensations. Thick cotton had replaced her tongue. Every inch of her ached, but the sharp pain in her pelvis caused worry to creep into her waking mind—worry that she’d been raped.
    Slowly, the haze lifted, and she felt comforting warmth surrounding her left hand. She could hear a voice.
    First as a whisper.
    Then as fervent pleading.
    Her eyes opened, blinking against the bright lights. She felt dripping water cascade down her arm and felt her skin with her free hand to see if it was IV fluid. Her fingers traced the thin river to a rough cheek instead. Kadin stopped speaking. As Lilly shifted to her side, he clutched her hand until the pain of that grip brought all her senses into focus.
    The memory of the attack became clear and unrelenting.
    Lilly curled into a fetal position and wept. She felt Kadin lean over and bury his face in her hair.
    “Lilly, it’s going to be all right.” He lifted his face up, running his fingers through the tangles in her hair.
    She didn’t know how long they sat in silence. Turning over on her back, she pulled her hand free from Kadin’s and pushed the hair from her eyes.
    “What day is it?” Lilly asked.
    “It’s Monday morning.”
    Lilly reached up, feeling the area around her right eye. She was unable to open it.
    “Careful. It’s fractured.” Kadin stood from the chair and sat on the edge of her bed.
    “You were supposed to be there last night.”
    “I was there … I found you.” Kadin’s voice broke.
    “You were late.” She turned her left eye in a dead stare.
    “Lilly—”
    She stopped him. “Whatever you say will not make a difference. What did he drug me with?”
    “Ketamine.”
    “That’s not the easiest thing to get your hands on.” The bed jiggled as Kadin adjusted his weight. “I need to talk to the police.” Lilly struggled to a sitting position. She pushed Kadin’s offered assistance away. He stood and returned to the bedside chair.
    “A detective’s been waiting here since you were brought in.”
    “How many people know I’m here?”
    “You’re not at Sage. They brought you to Blue Ridge. I talked to Dr. Anderson. He said he’ll personally cover your shifts until you call him. I begged him for secrecy.”
    The thought brought new tears. “He’s never like that.”
    “He’s the one who offered. Drake’s covering the practice. I can stay as long as you want.”
    “I’m not sure I want you to.”
    “Lilly, you can blame me, but I’m not sure my presence would have made a difference.”
    The silence was a wide cavern between them.
    “The police think he was hiding inside.”
    “Hiding? For how long? Dana was there with me. We came home together.”
    “Likely before that.”
    “How do they think he got in? I never heard