Chapter 18
I get shocked all the time, not because I expect too much, but because I expect nothing at all. From things. From events. From people. Still, betrayal stings every single time.
Like now.
Watching the cheerful, almost flirty conversation between my boss and Dr. Quist felt like someone yanking life support from my last shred of hope. I always try to look on the bright side, but disappointment has a way of slipping through the cracks, seeping into every corner. Growing up with parents who exploited my sister's fame and drained her dry taught me not to trust appearances. Not people. Not smiles. Especially not smiles.
The air in my lungs thinned, panic clamping down on my chest. Before I could spiral, Russel placed a comforting hand on my back, gently rubbing. I tried to steady myself, pushing aside the weight of Cole's unrelenting gaze burning into me. I focused instead on the two chatter-buddies in front of me.
The Chief spotted us and waved us over. "This is Team Leader Hanks and Detective Jules," he said, introducing us to the woman who wore a polished, professional smile, too polished.
Dr. Lucy Quist.
The impression she gave me this morning was clinical and detached, like she barely knew Nick Cole. But the familiarity in her demeanor now? That painted an entirely different story.
"She's Nick Cole's therapist," the Chief added.
We shook hands.
"I visited your office earlier," I said, keeping my voice pleasant. "The impression you gave me of Nick Cole is… very different from what I'm seeing now."
"There's such a thing as patient confidentiality," she replied, smile still plastered on. "And as I said, I'm exercising it."
I scoffed. "He must mean a lot to you," I said, watching the cracks appear in her composure. "Big-shot lawyer, charges dropped, the victim recanting... It's impressive."
"Detective," she said, her tone sharpening. "I know you're frustrated, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't treat him like a murderer."
My jaw dropped slightly. Murderer? I hadn't said that aloud, though yes, I'd thought it. But she was the one who spoke the word.
"Apologies on her behalf," the Chief cut in, glaring at me. "She's just back from suspension and has a debriefing on her conduct pending."
I raised my hands in surrender and turned to Russel, hoping for backup, but he was absorbed in his phone, brow furrowed. Curious, I peeked over and saw the message on his screen. My stomach clenched.
"Guys," the Chief said, "the Doctor's taking her leave."
We nodded in acknowledgement.
"You two. Office. Now." The Chief turned and strode off.
We stood frozen for a beat. Russel ran a hand through his hair. "We have to get him back in," he muttered, heading after the Chief.
I watched Dr. Quist and her entourage disappear. Why all this fuss over an assault case? Cole had never answered when I asked if he was following my niece. That silence kept scratching at me.
"Stacy!" Russel called from the doorway. I followed him in.
"The file's locked," the Chief said as soon as I entered.
"What do you mean locked?" I asked. "We had a copy when I asked Derrick to pull it."
"That was just a shell file. There's restricted information not even I can access. Remember the blacked-out sections?"
I nodded slowly.
This was getting stranger by the minute.
The Chief exhaled. "Dr. Quist has the Commissioner on speed dial. He personally requested we drop the investigation into Cole and look elsewhere."
"The Commissioner?" I echoed in disbelief. "He just let our strongest lead walk? We're at a dead-end."
"Not entirely," the Chief said. "Keep him on your radar. Just don't be obvious. I'll try to access the sealed file. Don't cause trouble, Stacy. Don't make me regret this."
He left the office, leaving a silence that stretched for several moments.
"I think we should go see the Oldman," I said, finally.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
"Hello, Detective," Kyle's voice greeted me.
"Hey, Kyle."
"I wanted to let you know the Oldman's been transferred to a private hospital. Section Chief says our protection is no longer required."
I sighed. Of course. "Do you know where?"
"No, ma'am."
"Didn't think so. Thanks. Oh, one more thing, can you keep tabs on the shops across from the station? Let me know if anything strange pops up."
"Will do. Take care."
I hung up and turned to Russel. "Another roadblock. They moved him."
Russel slammed a fist against the table in frustration. Our leads were thinning fast. I checked the time, 7 p.m., and called my sister.
"What's up?" she answered.
"Work stuff," I said, leaning against the wall. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. Stop asking me that. Your pitying tone is annoying."
She was right, I needed to stop babying her.
"Sorry. I'm just worried."
"I know. But I'll be fine. It's not the end of the world."
I smiled faintly. It will be fine… right?
"Is Jamie home?" I asked.
"Yeah. JAMIE! Stace's on the phone!"
"Hello?" Jamie's voice was soft, with a spark of life that eased my tension.
"Heyyy, we didn't finish our talk this morning. Can we now?"
"Um… yeah."
"Why'd you go to the Doctor's office? It wasn't your appointment day."
"I want to stop going to her." Her voice cracked.
My heart sank. "Go to your room. Let's talk."
A pause. Then, "I'm here."
"Tell me everything."
"I told her about school. About home. She was helpful at first. But when I said I didn't like David, everything changed. She started asking about him constantly. Our sessions became all about David."
Then she paused.
"Then she said she could make him go away."
The world tilted beneath me.
"What do you mean… go away, Jamie?"
"I don't know. I didn't ask her to kill him. I swear! But then… David died."
She started to cry.
"Hey, hey. You didn't do anything wrong. Okay? You didn't kill anyone. Have you told anyone?"
"No one."
"Good. Don't go back to her. When's your next session?"
"Monday."
"You're not going. Don't tell your mom either. This isn't your fault. Trust me."
"Okay."
"Stay with people, okay? Use the emergency app if you feel in danger."
"Okay… Bye."
She hung up. I stood frozen. My thoughts were a blur.
Suddenly, Sam burst in, nearly knocking into me. He slammed papers and a flash drive onto the table.
"Gerald Hayes," he panted, "was killed last year. Pushed off the third floor of his office building."
He handed us crime scene photos. Blood. Shattered glass.
"Dr. Lucy was his wife," Russel muttered.
"They were married for three years. The marriage was abusive. She always had bruises, always hiding behind makeup," Sam said.
"CCTV caught a hooded man dragging Hayes before shoving him over the banister. His son was in the basement, he was cleared. But a witness saw the suspect and denied everything. It was the security guard. He was fired. Name: John Finn."
"Mr. Finn?" Russel looked at me. Same thought.
"We could go talk to him," Sam suggested.
"No," Russel replied flatly.
Sam frowned.
"He was attacked. By Nick Cole. The same Cole whose charges were dropped. He's a potential witness, but now a dead-end."
"What the hell," Sam muttered.
"There's a bigger link," I said. "We're missing something. The Commissioner might just be the messenger. There's someone higher pulling strings."
The phone rang. Sam picked up, then hit the speaker.
"It's Jake," he said.
"Jake," Russel greeted. "What's going on?"
"All the victims had kids in therapy."
"That's not enough to link them," I said.
"The kids all expressed wanting the victims gone. A week or two later, the victims were dead. All of them."
"What are you saying?"
"Every kid was in high school. Most were abused. The government placed them in a therapy program, partnered with a private hospital."
"And?"
"The moment they expressed hatred or fear… the victim died."
I felt cold. "Which hospital?"
A pause. Then: "Dr. Lucy Quist's. She owns it."
"She got to Jamie," I whispered.
"What?" Jake asked.
"She's connected to all of this."
"There's more. The hospital's never been investigated. The deaths started late November last year."
"Her husband died last May," Sam added.
"Gerald?" Jake asked. "I have his file. I sent it to your email."
Russel opened the document. We all leaned in.
"He had someone's blood under his nails. A guy in his twenties. Only one match: Nick Cole."
"Then why wasn't he arrested?"
"He was. But something… unexplainable happened."
I braced myself.
"He disappeared. No breakout. No struggle. Just… gone."
We opened the video. Cole sat in his cell all night, staring directly at the CCTV. In the morning, he collapsed. Medics rushed him to the infirmary. But when the camera cut to the room, the man lying there looked… older.
He got up, looked directly at the camera, and walked out. No one stopped him.
"Are you saying he shapeshifted?" Russel shouted.
The final frame showed him leaving the precinct. As he exited, a car pulled up. He got in.
We hit pause.
The driver?
Dr. Lucy Quist