The Lady Vanishes (27 page)

“It’s not your fault, Cindy,” he said sharply and waited until the woman nodded. “Okay, now wipe your face. I’m sure Dr. Burke wants to talk to you privately.”

“Okay,” the woman whispered, and wiped her face. When she was finished, she tried to hand him back the handkerchief.

He waved her off. “You keep it. And if you need anything else, just let Jackie know, and I’ll take care of it.”

Cindy shook her head, almost crying again. “You’ve done so much.”

Milton stood and collected his hat from the end of the bed. He set it decisively on his dark hair. “He’s a good kid. I’m happy to help.”

He turned to Regina, and she inhaled deeply without exactly knowing why.

“I’ll be waiting at the nurses’ station. I’d like to talk to you,” he said simply.

Regina swallowed and nodded curtly.

A small smile quirked at the corner of his mouth, just a hint of a smile really, and then it was gone. Regina wondered if maybe she had imagined it.

She did speak with Mrs. Carter briefly, explaining that they’d already started the chemo, and that George would likely be extremely tired for a few days. Mrs. Carter already knew most of it, having gone through it before, but she listened dully, and then Regina went to meet Milton, who was indeed at the nurses’ station, speaking to Jackie Keen. She caught his eye and gestured down a nearby hall, the one that led to the garden.

He nodded, but he continued talking to the nurses, so Regina headed that way herself. It was a popular spot in the winter since it was warm, but she thought they’d be able to talk in relative peace and quiet. There was a bench to sit on and a fountain.

She made her way to the glass doors that opened to the garden and took a deep breath of the warm, moist air. The sun was out, sparkling on the glass and snow overhead. There was a path from the entrance that split in two directions, circling around the garden for those who liked to walk. It did continue straight, though, into the center, where there were several benches interspersed among tropical palms and flowers.

Selecting the bench partially obscured by an enormous elephant ear plant, Regina took a seat and stretched out her legs in front of her.

Milton joined her a couple minutes later, removing his hat and mask and setting them on the bench. He sat down silently, his body vibrating with tension.

“What can you tell me?”

Regina was certain then, even if he never spoke about it, that Milton had lost someone to cancer. Only people who’d lost someone had that particular look, that tone, the depth of understanding that came with deep and abiding sorrow. She would also bet, based on where he chose to perform his magic, that he’d lost someone who’d been a child, maybe a sibling.

“I can’t tell you anything,” she told him gently. “You know I can’t.”

“Yeah.” He looked at the ground between his feet.

Regina wanted to comfort him, but she barely knew this man, for all that she’d given her body to him. She couldn’t offer him platitudes like he was a stranger, couldn’t reassure him. She laid a hand on his shoulder and remained silent.

“This sucks,” he muttered.

“Yeah,” she agreed, rubbing slow circles on his shoulder.

He turned to look at her, and his blue eyes were burning. “How do you do this all the time? Why did you choose this?”

Regina swallowed. She could put him off; she doubted he would push, but she was so bad at this comforting thing that she wanted to give him something. “I lost my grandmother to cancer. I visited with her in the hospital when I could, but I had Celeste to worry about back then and I had to take care of her. One time, while I was there, I had to wait outside while they performed some tests. I started wandering around and I saw how respected all the doctors were, how much people looked up to them. I was just about to go to college, my father had disappeared, and we’d lost everything. I wanted to be respected again. I wanted people to look at me and know that I was a decent person, that I was . . .” She searched for the word she wanted. “Worthy.”

“That’s why you became a children’s oncologist? For respect?”

“Well, that’s why I wanted to become a doctor. Stupid, huh?”

“Seems like a lot of work. So what made you want to help children with cancer?”

“One of my professors. I took care of his daughter between classes for a little extra cash. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor my junior year.”

His eyes darkened. “Did she make it?”

Regina nodded. “Yeah, she did, but it was a long fight. She had to learn how to walk again after the surgery. It was the bravest thing I’d ever seen.” She laughed, but not like anything was funny. “It put my problems in perspective, you know?”

He was quiet for a moment, looking down at his hands again. She thought—maybe—he was going to tell her about whomever he’d lost.

“So what did you want to be before your father disappeared? What were you going to do?”

Regina sat back, startled. What had she wanted to do? “I don’t remember. I may not have known. I liked math and science. I liked knowing how things worked. I might have been an engineer, maybe.”

She glanced at him. “What about you? Why do you do what you do?”

He tapped his fingers together restlessly. “Computers? I’ve always been into them. Video games. Anything with a screen and a monitor. My mom used to make me go play outside, play sports. She was worried I’d get sick if I stayed in the house all the time.”

“So I have her to thank for that body?” Regina tried to lighten the mood a little. There was nothing they could do to help Saint George except treat him and pray.

“Yeah,” he said, giving her a smile. “She’d get a kick out of it if you did actually thank her. I should take you to meet her.”

Okay. Now they were swimming in seriously dangerous waters. He was talking about her meeting his mom.

“Well, Shaw the Magician, I don’t think she’d approve of what I have planned for that body.”

“Oh, yeah?” The worry lines around his eyes relaxed, and he straightened on the bench. “You coming over tonight to do bad things to me?”

Regina had actually planned to go home tonight. She wanted some space to gather her thoughts while they weren’t clouded with lust, but he looked so hopeful that she laughed. “Yeah. Sure. Why don’t we grab a bite?”

WALKING BACK TO THE LOCKER ROOM
to change out of her scrubs, Regina thought the rehearsals had gone well; at least the kids had certainly enjoyed seeing her tied up. She’d had to trade shifts with Charlie to get the afternoon covered so she could practice with everyone, which meant she was working Saturday morning, but that was all right.

The kids had practiced their tricks while Milton or Blake helped them with their gestures and finger position. Saint George had stopped by for an hour or so, but had to leave because he’d gotten tired.

Regina had read her script and studied the diagram Milton had drawn for her of how she would be tied, how the container he was going to build for her would have a latch that she could reach with her teeth. They’d practiced in his attic, but somehow she hadn’t quite been paying attention.

The MRI-like contraption she would step into wasn’t finished yet—so they’d practiced her moves with a huge person-size box that someone from maintenance had located for them. More of the staff had indeed shown up—practically all the nurses. Regina thought they’d mostly just wanted to catch a glimpse of the magician without his mask on. Well, they’d glimpsed, and several of them had taken pictures. The whole world was going to know that billionaire Milton Shaw played magician at Boston Children’s very, very soon.

The thought unnerved her. What did that mean? There would be photographers, looky-loos, fortune hunters like her sister hanging around the hospital. As if to underscore her worry, her phone dinged. A message from Celeste.
You coming home tonight?

Celeste. Regina grimaced. She hadn’t really seen her sister in days, but she’d promised Milton that she would go out with him again. She thought she should at least call and make sure her sister hadn’t gotten kidnapped and shipped to Uzbekistan or something.

Celeste answered on the first ring. “Hey, Reggie, how’s the sex-fest going?”

“Awesome. Thanks for asking.”

“Oh, anytime.”

“I was just calling to check on you. I haven’t seen you in a couple days.”

Celeste sighed tragically. “I’m not a teenager anymore, Reggie. You don’t have to babysit me.”

If only that were true. “All right. I just wanted to make sure.”

“Of course, if you wanted to bring home dinner, that would be great. There’s like zero food in the house.”

“Well, that’s the thing. I’m going out with Milton again tonight.”

“I see,” Celeste said knowingly. “Tell me something. When you guys are doing it, do you scream his name? Mil-ton! Mil-ton! I mean, it’s not exactly sexy, is it?”

“Celeste, grow up. Order a pizza or something.”

“Sure thing, big sis. Oh, and El Greco needs cat food.” She hung up.

Cat food. Damn.

Her phone dinged. Celeste had sent a picture of El Greco looking pissed.

It dinged again, only this time it was a link. When she touched it, it opened to a small article on the
Boston Globe
website. It showed Milton helping Chuck with one of his tricks. The caption read, “Software billionaire plays magician for sick kids.”

“Oh, shit,” she muttered. She’d known it was bound to happen, but she hadn’t expected it to be quite this soon. She was enjoying spending time with him, and now she’d have to be even more careful not to be connected to him, especially at the hospital. The article was on the local gossip page, and simply said that it was rumored that billionaire Milton Shaw was helping with a magic show on behalf of Boston Children’s Hospital. The article went on to review the many charitable organizations that received funds from Accendo or Milton Shaw in particular. He, Roland, and Nick were to be honored by the
Boston Business Journal
for their corporate philanthropy at a banquet a week from Saturday.

Regina chewed on her lower lip. She hoped he wouldn’t ask her to go to that. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but she wasn’t about to go to something public like that, not as his date.

Still thinking about it, she texted him to meet her outside again and hurried to change out of her scrubs. She’d told him she’d stay with him tonight, but maybe he could stay with her instead, just in case any bored reporters decided to hang around outside his house.

Several minutes later, she went out to the parking area where he usually picked her up, and nearly ran into Blake Webster as she came outside, her long blond hair streaming from underneath a knitted cap.

“Hi,” Blake greeted her cheerfully, as if they hadn’t just spent the afternoon together with the kids.

“Hey,” Regina replied. “Are you getting a ride home from Milton?” He hadn’t mentioned it, but that didn’t mean anything.

“Oh, no”—Blake waved in the general direction of the parking lot—“I borrowed Nick’s car.”

“Oh.”

Blake was looking at her, her face curious, as if she wanted to say something.

Regina waited, wary. This woman was Milton’s friend, had known him a long time. Who knew what he’d told her?

“This is none of my business, and I really shouldn’t tell you this, but Milton really likes you.”

Regina blinked. “Yeah, he’s mentioned it. He’s not exactly subtle.”

“No.” Blake shook her head, making her blond hair slide over her shoulders, and smiled. “I’ve never seen him like this with anyone.”

“Well, thanks for telling me,” Regina allowed. “I appreciate it.”

Blake leaned a little closer. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t break his heart. He’s got a big one.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Great,” Blake said, grinning. “I’d hate to rip your hair out. It’s really pretty.”

Regina raised an eyebrow. “You could try,” she said calmly, quite certain that she could hold her own against the blonde.

“Ha. I like you, too. Have a fun night!” Blake said cheerfully and headed out among the parked cars.

Regina didn’t know quite what to make of that exchange and was still frowning slightly when the limo pulled up to the curb. Milton opened the door from inside and Regina ducked down and let Milton tug her into his lap.

He closed the door with his free hand. “Can you still come over?”

“Actually,” Regina said, letting her arms fall around his neck. “Can we stay at my place tonight? I need to get groceries, feed the cat, do some laundry.” Regina listened to herself and realized that none of that sounded very exciting, or sexy. He was a billionaire used to calling in for dinner every night, sending out his laundry, and having a housekeeper clean his bathroom. Not to mention no little sisters to get in the way.

“Cool,” he said, sounding pleased. “That sounds like fun. I don’t remember the last time I went grocery shopping.”

He wasn’t lying. He looked genuinely interested. Regina sighed. “Okay, great. We can have Shane drop us off at the grocery store near my house.”

“Hey, Shane,” Milton called to the front. “We’re going to the grocery store near Dr. Burke’s place.”