Free Seeking Asylum by Mallory Kane

symptoms?”
    Rachel shrugged. “I was bound most of the time. I encouraged him to lie down and to breathe slowly and deeply. Luckily, the FBI had EMTs on the scene.”

    “Luckily.” Metzger rose, sending a look toward Dr. Patel. “I will make arrangements to talk with you later, Dr. Harper. I have rounds.” He left the office.
    “Dr. Patel? May I see Caleb?”
    “Dr. Harper—Rachel.” Patel shook his head regretfully. “If it weren’t for Dr. Metzger’s vehement defense of you, you would be facing termination. This is the first incident of patient violence involving a psychiatrist at our facility. It is grounds for immediate dismissal. However—” he shrugged and plucked a tissue from a box on his desk to blot his upper lip “—Dr. Metzger stepped in on your behalf. He apparently believes that you are a good doctor. He thinks you have a certain fascination for Caleb Baldwyn right now—because he kidnapped you and because you spent so much time alone with him.”
    Rachel stood, straightening her back and lifting her chin. “I’m not fascinated with him. I am a physician. The moment Caleb Baldwyn took me hostage, I became responsible for him. I took care of him. I know him now, and I should be with him. I’m a familiar face. He responds to me.”
    Patel’s eyes shuttered and his expression turned stony. “The issue is closed.”
    “Issue?” she broke in. Her relationship with Caleb was viewed as an issue. “So you’re telling me you don’t trust my judgment?”
    The chief medical director’s face reflected his irritation. “The next two weeks, while we wait for Mr. Baldwyn’s arraignment, will determine that.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “How extensively were you questioned by the FBI? You have hardly mentioned that aspect of your kidnapping.”

    Rachel spread her hands. “Not very. The Special Agent in Charge was Mitchell Decker, who worked with the local agent as well as the county sheriff. They asked me about the shooting and about Caleb’s illness.”
    “How much talking did Caleb do?”
    “Caleb hardly spoke. He was in severe distress.” Rachel’s guard went up immediately. She’d been briefed by Mitch and Eric about what questions to expect. So far they were right on target. “What he did say was largely nonsensical. You know, talking about evil doctors and conspiracies and experiments.” She smiled conspiratorially. “The usual paranoid delusions.”
    Patel nodded and Rachel saw a careful loosening of his tense facial muscles. She’d allayed his concerns. They would have been suspicious if she hadn’t mentioned Caleb’s accusations.
    She suppressed a relieved sigh.
    “Thank you, Dr. Harper. It sounds like you represented the Meadows in a favorable light. Until we can assess Mr. Baldwyn’s state of mind, and find out what the charges against him will be, we don’t feel it is in your best interests to be near him. You will be assigned elsewhere, for your own protection, of course.”
    Her relief changed to panic. “Elsewhere? W-where are you assigning me?”
    “The Women’s Dependency Center.”
    “Oh, no!”
    The women’s drug treatment facility was on the other side of the grounds from the acute neurological unit, near her apartment.
    They were cutting her off from any contact with Eric.
     
    LATE THAT NIGHT, Rachel walked across the grounds and into the main hospital. She’d checked the duty roster earlier. The security guard who’d taken the night shift after Darrell’s shooting was new. She’d never met him.
    She strode past him with a scant nod, keeping her expression carefully preoccupied, as if she were concerned about a difficult patient. As soon as she was past the security desk, she headed straight for the service hall.
    When the Meadows was renovated and turned into a mental facility back in 1917, the builder had kept the aristocratic elegance of the original house. The carved mahogany woodwork had been stripped of years of paint and refinished. The