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“Ms Carson calledabout you”
“Yeah, she looked a little freaked out when I poked o”
“When will she be out of surgery?”
“In about two hours”
“I’ll be there in two hours, and I’d also like to talk to you”
“Does it have to do with that guy I went out with last night? I know Leah thinks it’s her ex-husband, but that’s just crazy His nauy’s name was Brian Lawrence”
“Brian Lawrence” Shit That was the guy who ordered flowers for Leah
“Is so,” she asked
“I’ll explain when I get there”
“Yeah, sure”
He hung up “Leah and Gail are at the clinic”
“Then why do you look angry?”
“Brian Lawrence Gail went out with the sauy who sent Leah flowers”
Frowning, Deke reached for a notebook and pen “Are you sure about that name?”
“Yes”
Deke’s expression darkened as he rounded a corner and slowed for a yellow light “Remember what Dad used to say about coincidence?”
“Yeah No such thing”
“You hear about those hands and feet we found by the river?”
Alex shook his head “Vaguely Didn’t pay too close attention”
“That guy’s name was Brian Lawrence”
“Gail,” Leah said She hadn’t been out of surgery five seconds before she went looking for the receptionist “What’s the deal with texting ht?”
Gail yawned, not see the least concerned “I didn’t text you a picture”
Leah got her phone and showed it to Gail “You did”
She frowned as she studied the picture “I don’t reested taking the picture”
“But that’s you The text came from your phone”
“Yeah, so? What’s the big deal? We had a few drinks after we got back to my place Maybe he sent it” She reached for a patient for deal?”
Leah uy?”
Gail looked up, her face flushed with irritation “I’m sorry if the text bothered you, but why do you care who I spend the evening with?” She dropped her voice a notch “It’s none of your business”
Leah o “He looks like my ex-husband”
Gail cocked her head, as if she expected a punch line “Really?”
“Yes, really!”
She dropped her gaze and straightened a stack of invoices “We ran into each other at a diner It went from there”
Leah could feel the earth shift under her as she struggled to keep her voice caluy I think he is, he’s pure evil”
Shaking her head, Gail held up a hand “He was very sweet and nice I haven’t had such a good time in forever”
Leah glanced one last time at the picture and then shut off the phone
Gail leaned back in her chair, regarding Leah with a weary gaze “You really think this guy is your ex-husband, and he came back from the dead to take me out?”
“I think he faked his death I think he’s been waiting to return” Even as she spoke the words, she understood how crazy she sounded
“To do what?”
“Wreck my life and everyone I know”
“That sounds pretty weird, don’t you think?”
“I don’t care if it sounds weird or not” Hands fisted, she clung to control “We need to assume that Philip is alive and be careful”
Gail folded her arms over her chest “You sound insane”
She dragged a shaking hand over her hair “I know I know But you have to trusts to say to ood”
“I think you’re losing it I think the death of your friend Deidre has really upset you, and you’re seeing trouble when there is none Maybe it’s like one of those flashbacks, the kind soldiers get when a car backfires They hear a loud noise and think so at them”