Page 43 of Intersect
“Unfortunately, she took off before we could get it, but we just got results from her blood work, and there is a very serious issue we need to discuss with her. We’re hoping you can help usout.”
“So you just need a phone number?” he asks slowly,uncertainly.
I take a quick breath and try to rein in my eagerness. “Yes. That or an address. If you can even give us a name, we might be able to find her fromthat.”
“Look,” he says, “I don’t know if I should just be giving out a customer’s information. How do I even know you’re adoctor?”
“You can look me up online.” I spell my name, direct him to the Georgetown website. “You can send the information there if you’re morecomfortable.”
He takes the order number off the receipt and then tells me he’s only the assistant manager. “I’ll have to talk to my boss when she comes in and let you know.” Which is precisely what I heard from the person I spoke toyesterday.
“And when will that be?” I ask, straining to keep frustration out of myvoice.
“She’s at the beach this week,” he replies. “She’s back nextFriday.”
Six days from now. He wants me to wait six fuckingdays.
I’ve always thought of myself as an honest person. It’s funny how the qualities you value in yourself go out the window when you really need something. “Look,” I reply, “I don’t want to pressure you, but this might be a bit of a public health hazard, so the sooner the better. And if any of your employees came into contact with her I think they’re going to need to bequarantined.”
I wait, holding my breath, until the guy gives a long, exaggerated sigh. “1649 Avon Lane,” he says quietly. “But it didn’t come fromme.”
“Okay. And what’s hername?”
He tells me, and the pen falls from myhand.
I expected a name. I just didn’t think it would be a familiarone.
* * *
Quinn isawake when I return to the room, showered and grinning at me. “Nowcan we leave? Look how healthy I am. I could go run a marathon right now. That’s how good Ifeel.”
My mouth curves despite myself. “I didn’t know you were arunner.”
“Well,” she says, “I could go run a marathon if running didn’tsuck.”
My hand clasps hers and I pull her toward the end of the bed and have her sit. “I called the nursery. They told me who placed theorder.”
She freezes, her face gone pale beneath her tan. “That should be good news, but it obviously isn’t,” she says, watching my facecarefully.
I flinch and then open my eyes to meet hers. “Quinn…her name is SarahStewart.”
Her mouth opens. Closes. Opens again. “That’s impossible,” she finally says. “Myaunt? The woman in here wasn’t old enough to my aunt. She barely looked older thanme.”
I press my mouth to her forehead. “Rose told us they age slowly,remember?”
“But—” she begins, swallowing, and trails off as she comes to terms with the possibility that the hero of her childhood—the woman who exchanged a dreary life on the farm for a glamorous one in Paris—is the same person who now wants her dead. “Why? Why would my own aunt want to kill me? She’s never evenmetme.”
“It must be the Rule of Threes. She doesn’t want you to have a child because that child would be the fourth in theline.”
Her shoulders sag. “It can’t be that. I’m not pregnant, obviously. She knows how unlikely it is that I everwillbe. It must be the spark thing. She wantsmine.”
“I’ll stop her before that happens,” I reply. Though God knows I’ve got no fucking idea how. “I’ve got her address. I’ll get you home and go check itout.”
She springs to her feet. “I’ll come withyou.”
“Not a fucking chance are you getting anywhere near her,” I say, grinding my teeth. “She’s already tried to kill you once that we know of, Quinn. I’m a big guy, but even I can’t be sure you’re safe around someone who can vanish in midair and reappear anywhere shewants.”
“Well, you’re sure as hell not goingalone,” shesnaps.