Strictly Business (20 page)

Nina narrowed her eyes, a niggling thought gaining momentum in her brain. “
I know, but WMH is a large hospital with many senior attendings. Only a few can print radiology films, but they could each deny it or point the finger at each other, especially if there’s no other evidence to link the culprit to the case. There must be a reason they would kill to get these films back?”

Wade’s features sharpened; his blue eyes were steady
and thoughtful. “You mean if the films pointed to a specific individual.”

“Yes.”
She turned abruptly to him, ignoring the jolt of pain in her head. “Every test or lab we order in the hospital has the ordering doctor’s computer signature on it. I wonder if it’s the same for printed radiologic films.”

Joe
took a step towards her, shaking his head. “We’ve gone over these films a million times. The only thing stamped on them is the RL on the bottom corner.”

“Do you have the films here?” Nina asked Wade.

“Yeah.” He nodded, turning away.

She
sat silently and awaited Wade’s return. Detective Sullivan sank into a chair beside her. His bored sigh echoed through the large living room. A few seconds later Wade walked into the room carrying a two-by-three manila case. He extracted a flexible radiographic sheet and handed it to Nina. She studied it intently for several minutes, then squinting thoughtfully, headed over to a nearby lamp and switched it on. She held the film up so the light penetrated through the sheet and frowned as the letters ERMD came into focus under the illumination.

“I bet you those letters are the signature for who
ever printed out these films.”

Nina turned and was surprised to see W
ade standing closely behind her. He was staring with surprise and fascination at the lighted letters. Quickly he pointed them out to Joe who shook his head in wonder. The letters could only be seen, like the anatomic details on the film, when flooded with light.

“So who’s
ERMD?” Detective Sullivan asked, his interest now perking up.

“
Ethan Reynolds, Medical Doctor,” Nina said flatly.

“I think it’s time we spoke with the hospital
,” Joe said to Wade. “We need confirmation on those initials.”

Wade nodded, still reeling from the new discovery.
He’d always thought they were on the cusp of a huge revelation in the case, especially as the search for the films had become so frantic. That’s also why he and his partners had decided to keep the films here in his apartment instead of at his office where evidence was usually locked up.

Was this the reason Ben had been shot?
Had he figured out it was Dr. Reynolds who’d printed the films? Did he find finger prints on the films?
Wade sighed, frustrated with their impotence in this case. He couldn’t deny his awe and admiration for Nina. Even with the terror she’d endured that morning she was still willing to offer her knowledge and assistance. He’d been deranged with fear and worry when he’d found out about her attack, and fit to commit murder at the thought of her being harmed. His heart ached when he realized how close he’d come to losing her.

She’d barely had time to change and put ice on the swollen lump at her temple before the detective had shown up at the door
demanding answers. Now he could see the events of the morning weighing on her. He could just imagine what she’d been through. The lids shielding her eyes were almost closed, and her shoulders bowed heavily as she leaned back against the couch that dwarfed her slender frame.

“O
kay, gentleman. Let’s wrap this up.” Wade’s voice rang with finality.

“I’ll talk to the hospital. They should be able to tell me the meaning of those letters without putting up much of a fight. I’ll let you know what I find.”

“Bank records might be helpful too. Nina mentioned something she heard about him throwing around a lot of money, new house, large expenses and such,” Wade suggested.

Joe
scribbled notes in a small spiraled book in his palm.

“I’ll run a background check on this Reynolds and see what I can come up with
,” Detective Sullivan reiterated.

Wade nodded stoically as the gentlemen left. His mind was still focused on the beautiful redhead now asleep on his couch.
He allowed his eyes to leisurely rove over her. She resembled a delicate treasure curled up with her palms tucked under her cheek.

Her lips were
pushed into a vulnerable pout, and an errant curl strayed unto her forehead, revealing the angry discolored bump on her temple. The sight made his anger bloom and his gut clench. He hated the fact that he’d gotten her mixed up with this. He considered moving her to his bedroom, but the sight of her was so angelic that he instead brought a pillow and blanket from her room and cocooned her on the couch.

Several hours later
Nina’s eyes fluttered open and her brain glided sluggishly through the murky cloud it languished in. Words were deciphered in broken fragments as she became increasingly cognizant of her surroundings. Long muscular jean clad legs came into view as Wade paced back and forth a few feet away from her. A fitted black tee tested the strength of his brawny chest and rippled with his every move. She enjoyed secretly watching him. For someone so tall and broad, he was surprisingly graceful.

As his voice became clearer
she realized he was conversing on his cell phone. He was reassuring whoever was on the other end that they should have some answers soon. She guessed it was one of his law partners. Wade turned abruptly, and upon seeing her awake, a handsome smile split his face. The brilliance of that smile, along with the warmth in his eyes, reduced her insides to jelly. She was almost breathless. It was then she realized she was in deep trouble emotionally.
There is absolutely no way you’re in love with him!
She rebuked herself sternly.
Stupid, stupid girl!
She pushed the undesired emotion down and looked away, afraid he’d see the evidence in her eyes.

Wade
signed off the phone and joined her on the couch. Strong arms embraced her and automatically she sank into the warm comfort of his body.

“How are you feeling?
How’s your head?”

“A lot better
,” she replied truthfully. The throbbing headache that had hammered through her skull earlier had subsided, and she actually felt a sense of satisfaction as she remembered the progress they’d made in the case.

A loud
indecorous rumble came from her stomach, and she smiled sheepishly when he grinned down at her.

“
Your stomach disagrees.”

She
shrugged then shifted to get off the couch.

“Whoa…Where’re you going?”
His hands instantly halted her progress. They landed around her waist to pull her unto his lap. She felt her body’s instant response. The tee shirt he wore was thin, and she could feel every hard contour of his chest as her tingly palms rested there. The solid hardness of his thighs as well as a distinct bulge registered in every synapse of her brain.

She
uncoiled in a long stretch then replied, “I’ve been a couch potato long enough. I’ll make some lunch…” She wrinkled her nose with dread and sighed. “And then I guess I’ll call my parents. They must be worried. I haven’t spoken to them in a while.”

He
leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers, sending a fission of heat clamoring through her. She tasted his tongue as she leaned into the kiss, her body yearning for more. Her hips involuntarily churned against his growing erection. He suckled her bottom lip then reluctantly pulled away with a groan.

“You’ve been through a lot today. You need to rest
. Stay here while I make lunch.” He picked his cell phone up from the table and handed it to her. “Feel free to call your parents if it’ll make you feel better.”

She
smirked at his comment, but nodded mutely. He ran a finger over her injured temple and issued a low curse. His soft lips brushed the area right above it, then he scooted her off his lap and strode towards the kitchen.

“Rest,” he threw over his shoulder.

Taking a deep breath, she dialed the number to her parents. Her father answered on the second ring.

“Dad?”

“Nina! How are you?”

“Fine
Dad. How are you and mom?”

“Doing well. We left you
several messages.”

“Oh. I …
haven’t been home. I’m staying with a…ah…friend. I’ll be here for a few days.”  She closed her eyes and prayed that that would be sufficient for her father.

“A friend?”

Nina could hear her mother in the background badgering her dad to hand over the phone.

“Yeah. Just for a little while.”

“Sally?”

“No
Dad.” Nina swallowed.

“Which girlfriend?”

“Not a…girlfriend exactly.”

“Then
who
exactly?”

“A ‘boy’ friend exactly.”

“A
boyfriend
?”

“No! Not a boyfriend. Just a boy…ah…man…who is a friend
,” she explained with exasperation.
What was she in high school?
She could feel her headache returning with a vengeance.

A muffled sound was heard on the other end as Robert
relayed the situation to Beth. Nina rolled her eyes and braced herself. There was a series of shuffles and thumps on the other end causing her to wince.
Were they having a physical fight over the phone?

“Nina
, dear?” Her mother’s pitchy voice rang through the phone and Nina couldn’t suppress the image of her father doubled over in pain from an upper-cut.

“Hi
, Mom.”

“What’s this about you shacking up with some guy?
Do we know him? How long has this been going on?”

“I’m just staying at a friend’s apartment for a little while. I’m fine.
Gotta go. Call you later. Love you.”

“Wait, we have to discuss your birthday plans!” Beth s
houted.

Nina groaned inwardly
. She needed to end this conversation.

“Bye
, Mom,” she said as she searched frantically through a series of touch screens on Wade’s phone for the off screen. Her fingers halted when she saw two missed calls from Marie Deluse.
Her mother was saying something about a theme.

“Yeah,
fine, Mom. Gotta go,” she murmured, still distracted by her recent discovery. She signed off the phone and sat nibbling her bottom lip. Her heart felt like it was caught in a giant fist that was determined to wring every ounce of anguish from her.
Stupid. Stupid girl!
She mentally scolded again.
What did she expect?
Wade was obviously still cavorting with Marie Deluse.

What
she and Wade had together was as brittle and capricious as dried leaves in the wind. She obviously meant nothing to him. She sighed, stubbornly holding back tears. She wanted to march right into the kitchen and…and…she inhaled deeply.
And what
?
Pound on his chest? Demand that he forsake every other woman for her? Demand his love?

She knew such actions would be ridiculous. She had no claim to Wade. He’d made no promises to her. That mumbled declaration of love made in post coital bliss had been a lie meant to keep her cooperative. Going all possessive-screaming-banshee on him now was unwarranted. She would only seem like a raving shrew if she were to confront him.

She had
to remember her resolve. Even though she was never good at separating her head from her heart she was determined to do so. She was determined to stay emotionally detached. Their living arrangement was one of necessity.
While they were together she’d enjoy their relationship for what it was. She’d be stupid to expect more. A tear escaped to roll down her cheek as pain and longing washed through her. She didn’t know how she could feel so betrayed and so sensually exhilarated at the same time. He was like a drug flowing in her veins.

“Everything okay with your parents?” he inquired moments later as he approached the couch with a tray. She had taken the time to stiffen her resolve and salve her bruised emotions.

“They think I’m shacking up with you.”

He smiled, placing items from the tray in front of her. “Are they upset?”

“Are you kidding? My mom’s probably
already having the banns read.”

No sooner had her words
spilled out than she wished she could retract them. She groped mentally for a change of topic, but sensing his silence she looked up. He shot her a crooked grin, the dimple in his cheek deepening.

“I always did like your mother.”
His wink was teasing, but she ignored the tumult his nonchalance created.

“When
will Joe be in touch?” she asked, biting into a sandwich.

Wade cleared his throat, following her lead. “As soon as he finds out anything. He’s as tenacious as Ben
,” he said sadly.