KAYLAN FINISHED UP her meeting with Mr. Armitage. With his invasive surgery looming, she would need to take care and plan his diet accordingly. The hospital dietician continually taught her how to keep track of each patient’s medical chart and diet. It could be an overwhelming task at times, but Kaylan decided to adopt the SEAL mentality of never giving up. She would learn this and be better for it.
Kelly, one of the nurses, stuck her head in the room as Kaylan rose to leave. “Kaylan, two guys are out in the hall making a fuss looking for you. Can you please make them shut up so the patients can get some peace and quiet?”
“That’s weird. Yeah, I’m coming.” She waved at Mr. Armitage and hurried from the room, following the loud voices coming from near the nurse’s station.
“If you won’t tell us where she is, we’ll find her ourselves.”
“Sir, if you don’t calm down I’m calling security.”
“Ma’am, this is an emergency.”
Kaylan began to jog, recognizing her brother’s voice. Micah never showed up at work. And he never yelled unless something had happened, usually something bad. She entered the open area around the desk and immediately spotted Micah and Nick. Kaylan rushed forward.
“Micah, calm down. I’m right here. What is going on?”
Micah immediately grabbed her arm and pulled her down the hallway out of earshot of the nurses.
“Micah, that kinda hurts. Let go.”
“Bulldog, you need to calm down.”
Micah released Kaylan’s arm and took a deep breath. “Kayles, I’m sorry. We just couldn’t find you, and it was like Haiti all over again and I panicked.”
“Oh, Micah.” She stepped into her brother’s arms, kicking herself for never realizing the toll their trip to Haiti must have cost him as well. She wasn’t the only one who’d been hurt. He’d tried to find her for days, only to locate the ghost of the girl she used to be.
She pulled away from her brother. “Okay, now what is the big deal? Is the family okay? Pap, he didn’t have another stroke.” She fought fear and panic in equal measure as she battled to stay calm. “No, it’s not the family, Kayles.”
Kaylan couldn’t think of what else could possibly warrant a work invasion. She glanced at the clock. She could go home in two hours. What was so urgent?
Nick held up his smart phone, a grainy photo displayed on his screen. “Do you recognize this?”
She took the phone from him, squinting at the pixelated shot. “Yeah. It’s that picture of us after playing beach volleyball the first week I moved here.” She smiled. “It’s one of my favorites. That’s funny, though. I meant to ask you about that.”
“Ask me about what?” His guarded tone sent her heart fluttering.
“Well, it was in a frame sitting on my dresser, but I can’t find it. I assumed you took it on your trip with you and would give it back when you got home.”
His eyes widened.
“I’m guessing that’s not what happened?” She looked from one to the other, annoyance building like a geyser. “Look, you two. Enough of the SEAL code of secrecy. Why are you here, and what’s the big deal with this photo?”
Nick leaned in closer. “Kaylan, this picture showed up in a letter mailed to me this morning. A letter that has the name written on my birth certificate that no one knows or uses. The letter contained a threat with the photo. Babe, I need you to ask to leave early and come home. We’ve got to figure this out, but we can’t talk here.”
A thousand thoughts raced through her head. Who sent the letter? How in the world did they get the picture? Did that mean . . . “Does that mean someone’s been in my house?”
Nick and Micah looked at one another, and she knew. “No way. Someone’s been in my house. Someone you’re trying to catch? I’ve got to tell Megan. We’ve got to get Megan.” She fumbled for her phone in the pocket of her scrubs.
Nick stilled her hands. “We called the FBI and looped in our superiors. The FBI will send agents who will keep a low profile. We’ll take care of Megan. We don’t know for sure they’ve been in your house.”
“How else would they get that picture, Nick? They didn’t bother to hide the empty frame. Obviously they wanted me to notice. I just thought I was losing things.”
“Things? Things plural, Kayles? What else have you lost?” Micah’s voice rose again.
Her eyes darted to Nick. “Please don’t be mad. I’m sure it’s in my room somewhere.”
“Kaylan.”
“I can’t find the necklace you gave me. I know I took it off in my room. But I haven’t been able to find it since. But don’t worry. I got sidetracked, but I’ll tear my room apart this weekend and find it.” The blood drained from Nick’s face and Micah’s eyes grew wide.
They looked at one another. “Please don’t tell me . . . ”
“We don’t know that yet, Bulldog.”
“Wait, you don’t think whoever took the picture took my necklace, too?”
Nick placed his hands on her shoulders. “Kaylan, please go tell them there is an emergency and you need to leave.”
She shook free and took a step back towards the station. “No. I have less than two hours left, and I want to finish.”
“Kaylan Richards, do not make me swing you over my shoulder. Get your tail in the car.”
“No, Micah.” She gritted her teeth. “I am going to finish. Whoever this person is, they are not going to walk into my home and violate that space, then steal my opportunity here too. No way.”
“Kaylan, please.”
“No, Nick.” Her voice shook, but she refused to waver. After a few moments of a silent standoff, resignation and a hint of pride flashed across his face. “I would never ask you to play it safe or to give up something, mostly because you wouldn’t want me to. It goes against your very nature to give up. Please. Let me finish.”
He slowly nodded and pulled her into a quick hug. “We aren’t leaving until you are in your car and on the way to the house.”
“Fine. But go somewhere and be quiet, will you? I want my coworkers to like me, and you aren’t helping.” With a small smile their way, she left them looking a little lost as she set her sights on finishing the day strong, no matter how much her hands shook.