Chapter Nineteen

Grayce sat at her desk and recorded observations about the aging Golden Retriever she had just treated. Both she and the owner were grateful that acupuncture was relieving the pain of Blue’s arthritic spine.

She heard a male voice and the sound of canine nails on the wood floor. She glanced at her schedule to make sure she had no more appointments. She was blocked out for the afternoon since she was holding a clinic for veterinarians on the use of acupuncture in the emergency room setting.

She had developed different training sessions to keep her clinical skills current and to interact with her colleagues. She had no idea how in demand she would become. Her clinics were immediately filled. Everyone wanted her to do more, but she had limited the clinics to every three months. Now, with Davis leaving, she’d have more time to run clinics. The thought depressed her.

She heard Hollie’s laughter. James must have appeared, although he avoided coming to the office. Intrigued by the mystery guest, she walked to the door. Sergeant Welby leaned over Hollie’s computer. Hollie didn’t allow anyone behind her desk, and no one touched her computer.

“I had no idea that this site existed,” Sergeant Welby said, resting one bronzed hand on Hollie’s shoulder as they both gazed at her computer screen

Mitzi was stretched on her side, her long body pressed against Talley, who had positioned herself in front of Hollie’s desk. Grayce was always impressed by Mitzi’s intuitive healing of the wounded animals who came to the office.

Sergeant Welby whipped around quickly when Grayce opened the door. The hyper-vigilant solider moved closer to Hollie as if to protect her from the intruder.

“Sergeant Welby?” Grayce couldn’t contain her surprise.

The young soldier, dressed in a white t-shirt that hugged his muscular body and snug blue jeans, was a very attractive man. He had a tattoo of blue stars across his upper arm. Grayce intuitively recognized the sergeant’s loss.

“You don’t have an appointment today, do you?”

A flush of color crept up the young man’s weather-beaten neck into his face. He came around from behind the desk. “Talley and I were in the neighborhood and thought we’d stop by. I hope that isn’t a problem, ma’am.”

Grayce felt like the ogre in a fairy tale about star-crossed lovers. “You and Talley are always welcome. I hope you’ll come whenever you’re in the neighborhood.” Sergeant Welby lived a good hour’s drive from Seattle.

Hollie stood, almost bumping into the sergeant. They both moved at the same time to avoid each other.

Grayce wanted to laugh at their comic discomfort, but she wouldn’t embarrass Hollie.

“Sergeant Welby…” Hollie looked at Grayce. Patches of color shone through her pale make-up.

“You’re to call me Nick,” he said, his voice lowered. Nick stared at Hollie, who was dressed in her feminine white dress, without her usual combat boots. The choice might have been practical since the temperature was hitting 85 degrees—absolutely sweltering for Seattleites.

Hollie turned her face, her dark lashes covering her eyes and her feelings. “Nick plays World of Warfare. I was showing him a site a friend of mine developed. I’m sorry if we disturbed you. I know you have to teach this afternoon.”

Nick was a very virile young man, and that combined with his obvious love for Talley and skill at World of Warfare had sealed the deal. He was allowed into Hollie’s space.

“You didn’t interrupt me.” As if her office didn’t have endless interruptions. “I was worried that I missed someone on the schedule.”

Mitzi continued to lean against Talley who had sat up attentively when Grayce came into the outer office. Grayce bent and petted Talley. “How’s my girl? You look rested.”

With her owner enjoying a courtly interaction with a beautiful young woman, Talley had relaxed.

“We swim after our run in the morning. And we swim in the evening. Seems to help both of us sleep better.’

Nick’s face flushed bright red. She watched him watch Hollie. It didn’t take an intuitive to see that he had been fantasizing about Hollie at night.

“I’m glad that you’re both enjoying the swimming.” Nick and Talley needed a disciplined regimen.

Hollie said, “I didn’t want to disturb you when you were preparing your notes. I’ve a brilliant idea about Maddy’s t-shirt.”

Hollie angled her head toward Nick, asking whether she should share.

Grayce turned toward Nick. “We’re trying to help locate a missing Marine and her friend.” Nick might have a new perspective, since he had been a solider in Afghanistan.

“Are you talking about the Teen Feed t-shirt?”

“I can enlarge it and do a Google reverse search,” Hollie said.

Nick’s smile widened. His eyes fixed on Hollie’s animated face. Seen through Nick’s appreciative eyes, Hollie was a stunning beauty, as James had said the first time he met her.

“Back up. What picture?”

Like a sunflower in search of sunshine, Nick leaned toward Hollie and her vibrant glow.

It was going to be a long summer watching these two fall in love, especially with Davis leaving. “Hollie, what picture?” Grayce asked.

“Remember when James was disgusted with Maddy’s t-shirt. It’s a World of Warfare customized t-shirt.”

Unaware of Nick’s total absorption, Hollie excitedly explained to Grayce. When she looked at Nick, whatever she saw in his face, made her stopped midsentence.

“So?”

“It’s brilliant.” Nick’s voice was filled with wonder as if Hollie had just discovered the rules of gravity.

Hollie’s almond eyes grew round, and she touched her tongue to her lip.

Grayce heard the hitch in Nick’s breathing.

A really long summer.

“Hollie might be able to find the person who designed the t-shirt by downloading the image to Google.” Nick looked at Grayce.

“I didn’t know you could do such a thing,” Grayce said.

“It’s alright, boss, you know a lot of other things.”

Now she definitely felt like an old, fifth wheel.

“Can you give me the picture from Angie’s mom? I can take it over to Kinko’s to enlarge and then download the image while you’re teaching.”

“Talley and I can walk with you to copy the picture.” Nick looked longingly at Hollie.

Hollie looked shyly down at her non-booted feet and shrugged. “If you want to.”

“Once we identify the designer of the t-shirt, we could look for her or him on the World of Warfare chat rooms—monitor their chatter,” Nick said.

“That’s brilliant, Nick.” Hollie smiled, her whole face gleaming.

“You would’ve thought of it eventually.” Nick gave a wide grin, looking very young and very handsome.

Hollie turned with a gasp. “Boss, you’ve got to get going or you’ll be late.”

Grayce couldn’t remember exactly when Hollie had taken total charge of her schedule. Grayce, not gifted with punctuality, now relied completely on the young woman to manage her time.

“You never know what traffic will be like on I-5.”

“You’re right. I’d better go.”

“I forgot…” Hollie looked at Nick and stammered. “I forgot in all the excitement.” Hollie never stammered. She looked young and hesitant. Grayce’s heart expanded with joy for the young woman.

“Louise Marley called you. She hopes you can come down and see Frank.”

“Louise Marley, the movie star?” Nick looked at Grayce with a new appreciation. Maybe he thought she was hip after all.

“Dr. Walters treats her schnauzer. She wanted Dr. Walters to become a Hollywood vet, but she wouldn’t leave Seattle.” Grayce was always touched by Hollie’s admiration.

“Is Frank sick?”

“She told me she was tempted to lie, but Frank isn’t sick. She just wants you to come down and visit.”

Grayce had been thinking of a trip to LA after Davis left. She had a special connection with Louise Marley. She felt as close to her as a sister. She and Louise could discuss the men who left them. According to the tabloids, Louise was dating a bad boy musician. She hoped not. The guy was known for the string of heartbreaks he left in his wake.

* * *

Grayce returned to her desk to finish one last note before she left for the clinic. She missed not having Mitzi in the office. Her companion was spending the day with Davis because of Grayce’s afternoon teaching commitment. Grayce loved Mitzi’s calm presence and even breathing in the background as she completed her charting.

A woman’s voice called from the outer office. “Anyone here? Dr. Walters?”

Grayce didn’t recognized the voice. She stood and walked to the door.

A tall, muscular woman with jet-black hair, in blue jeans and a dark blue t-shirt, held a large bouquet of red roses. “Dr. Walters?”

The woman looked familiar to Grayce. With the Marine Corp’s motto, “Semper Fidelis,” written in bold white letters across her t-shirt, Grayce recognized her surprise visitor.

“Angie? Angie Hines?” Grayce clasped her hands together in delight.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Grayce curbed the urge to wrap her arms around the somber woman. Angie Hines, like Hollie, wouldn’t be open to uninvited touch or hugs.

“I’m so glad you’re back.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“Did your brother find you?”

“A woman identified my picture from the posters that Hunter had put up in the University District and notified the police. The police found me on Brooklyn Street.”

“This makes my day.” Grayce repressed all the questions she wanted to ask. The biggest question was what had prevented Angie from returning to her family.

“I wanted to come and thank you in person. My mom told me that your help was huge. Hunter and the police were able to focus their search in the University District because of you.”

“I didn’t do that much. It was Ossie. She wouldn’t leave your Teen Feed t-shirt alone.”

“The crazy part—that-shirt isn’t mine. It belongs to my friend.”

“Well, no matter. I’m glad you’re safely back. Your mother must be so relieved.”

“She is.” She handed Grayce the bouquet of vibrant roses. “These are for you.”

The price tag was still on the plastic wrap.

“They’re beautiful. You didn’t have to get me anything, but thank you.” Grayce gestured to the open door. “Please come into my office.”

“I don’t want to disturb you.”

“Not at all. I’ve got to leave in a few minutes, but let’s chat.”

Angie nodded and followed Grayce into her office.

Grayce found a vase under the sink and filled it with water. She carried the vase with the flowers to her desk.

“Please sit down.” Grayce pointed to the chair across from her desk. “I’m sorry your mom didn’t come.”

“I needed to do a lot of fast talking to convince her not to come today.” Angie rubbed her face then crossed her arms in an anxious, tic-like manner. “I didn’t want my mom here, because I needed to talk with you alone.” Angie shifted to one side of the chair. “My mother will be upset when she learns about my plans. I’m going to continue to look for my friend.”

“For Maddy?” Grayce tried to keep her tone neutral, but knew she had an edge of pique. Did Angie not realize what she had put her mother through?

“You know about Maddy?”

“Yes, your mom shared that you were looking for Maddy when you disappeared. Do you have any idea where she might be?”

“No, I’m not sure, but I know I was close to finding her when I blanked out.”

“Blanked out?” Grayce asked.

“I hit my head. I still have a big bump.” Angie rubbed her hand along the base of her skull. “My psychiatrist believes the head trauma triggered my PTSD and my subsequent loss of memory. I don’t remember where I was during the entire time I was missing.”

Grayce caught herself, pressing her lips into a tight line in an effort to control her response. “How absolutely frightening. Does your doctor think it’s wise to resume your search?” With dark circles and a nervous twitch above her eyes, Angie didn’t look ready to go back on the street.

Angie’s long eyelashes fluttered shut. She gnawed her lower lip, looking a great deal less certain. “I haven’t told anyone about my plans. I have a vague memory, more like a sensation, that I was very close to finding Maddy before I was injured. I hoped that you would use your skills to help me.”

Grayce felt as if someone raked their nails down her spine or she had run into an electric fence. “I’m a veterinarian, not a detective. I don’t really know how to locate missing people.”

“But look how you helped to find me.”

“Why not get the police involved? They’re the ones who found you.” Grayce wanted to say why not your brother, but this wasn’t the time to go off on that mystery.

“I can’t go to the police. If Maddy is back using and is found by the police…” Angie shook her head. “It would ruin her military career. Maddy has fought against all odds to succeed as a Marine, and I don’t want her career destroyed.”

“I really respect your commitment to finding your friend. I know you served together in Afghanistan.”

“Marines don’t give up on each other. Maddy is trying to numb herself from her demons from the war. I’ve got to help her, get her back to our treatment group.”

“Why don’t you ask your brother? He’s seems very skilled at this kind of thing.”

“My step-brother and I aren’t close. I want to protect Maddy’s privacy after all she’s been through. I don’t know what condition I’ll find her in.”

Grayce didn’t miss that Angie avoided sharing any further information about Hunter.

“Ma’am. I wouldn’t ask if it were for me, but Maddy is one hell of a Marine.”

How could Grayce say no to a Marine who wanted to save another battle-scarred veteran? Angie had to be terrified that, back on the street, she might relapse. Grayce couldn’t let her go alone on the dangerous streets.

“My mom told me that you solved your last case with the help of a French Poodle. I’m hoping you and your poodle could help me search the jungle in Seattle.”

Grayce’s stomach felt like she’d done a belly flop smack off a high board. “The jungle?” Her recurring nightmares of being lost in the jungle zoomed though her mind.

“The jungle is the green belt on the west slope of Beacon Hill.”

Alarm galloped into her stomach.

“Is there a reason why you specifically want to look there?”

“Before I got amnesia, I had been searching in the homeless encampments and I never made it there. And with Maddy’s ranger skills, I think it’d be an easy place for her to hide.”

“Mitzi and I’ll help you look for Maddy. I want to help. I appreciate what you both did for our country. I need to leave for my course, but call me tomorrow and we’ll work out when Mitzi and I can go with you.”

Angie stood. Her lips curved in the first smile of the visit. “Thank you, Dr. Walters. I knew I could depend on you.”

Grayce wished she could be as happy as Angie about her decision. Her sixth sense was humming and not in a good way.