“I don’t have secrets from Chloe.”
“But does Chloe have secrets from you?” Gordo threw right back.
Joel schooled his expression, but he could tell by the satisfied look in Gordo’s eyes that the man thought he’d scored a hit on Joel. “Move the hand.”
Gordo slowly let his hand drop. But he kept looking all smug.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake…” Chloe rose. “Have you ever treated Lucia Rossi?”
Gordo squinted as he angled his head back toward her. “Are you asking me about my patients? My interaction with any patient would be strictly confidential.”
“Truly? You wish to play the doctor-patient confidentiality card now?” She didn’t sound impressed. Didn’t look it, either. “What about Kelly Addams? Did you treat her, as well?”
“First, I never said that I treated Lucia. I said that my interaction with any patient would be confidential—”
“Why did they come to you?” Chloe asked. “And when? You haven’t been in town that long.”
“I never said that I had treated—”
“After Joel came to see you yesterday, what did you do?” Chloe’s questions fired one right after the other.
Gordo exhaled. “Are you interrogating me?”
“She is,” Joel told him. “Glad you noticed.” It had sure taken the guy long enough.
Gordo stepped toward Joel. “I tried to catch you when you stormed out yesterday. I was concerned about you—about what you might do. To yourself or to others. But you didn’t wait, and I had other patients that I had to treat.” His gaze was steady. “I was at my office until almost five p.m. If you suspect me of something, if you are looking for an alibi, then I can assure you, I have one. My office manager Wendy can vouch for me, and so can my patients, though, of course, you understand that I do not want them pulled into any kind of circus.”
“It’s not a circus.” Is that what Gordo thought? Joel should clarify for him. “It’s a murder investigation.”
Now Gordo retreated. “Wh-what?”
“Murder investigation,” Joel repeated.
Alarm flared on Gordo’s face. “I have certainly not been involved in any murder! Now, if that’s all you both wanted, then I shall kindly ask that you leave.”
Gordo seemed to have an alibi, so it didn’t appear likely that he’d headed to the hospital and shoved a pillow over Kelly Addams’s face.
“I have one more question.” Chloe had come to Joel’s side. “If you answer it for me—honestly—I will answer any question about myself that you would like to know.”
Gordo raked her with a hard glare. “What makes you think I want to know anything at all about you?”
“Call it a guess,” Chloe returned.
But she never guesses. She’d told Joel that on more than one occasion.
Gordo inclined his head. “Fine. One question each, then you leave.”
“Would you like to go first?” Chloe waved one hand casually toward him. “That way, you can see that I will be completely honest. In return, I’ll expect complete honesty from you.”
Joel didn’t like the way Gordo was suddenly studying Chloe. Not with a physical attraction. But with an avid stare that made alarm bells ring in his head.
“What is the greatest regret that you have, Ms. Hastings?”
“Not saving my brother.” An immediate response.
“Your brother?” Gordo frowned. “But what does he need saving from—”
“We all need saving from something. By the way, you asked two questions, not one, so it’s now my turn to ask a question.”
He jerked his head in agreement.
“Nature or nurture?”
“Excuse me?”
“Come now. You know what I mean. You’re a psychiatrist, after all. When it comes down to the behavior that people exhibit, do you believe that behavior is due more to nature or nurture?”
“It’s a mix, of course. We are who we are born to be…and also who the world molds us into being.”
“Um.” She looked at Joel. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
He reached for her hand. Threaded his fingers with hers and stalked for the door with her.
“But what about you, Ms. Hastings?” Gordo’s voice drifted after them. “Nature or nurture?”
“That’s three questions,” Chloe responded without looking back. “Sorry, but you’ve passed your allotment for the day.” With her free hand, Chloe reached for the door.
“Joel!” Alarm flared in Gordo’s voice.
Real alarm. That was new. Joel glanced back at him.
“I would like to talk with you, privately, for five minutes.”
Not gonna happen. “Whatever you have to say to me, you can say to—”
“Just you, Joel. We need this talk. After yesterday, we need it more than ever.”
Chloe rose onto her toes and brushed her lips across Joel’s cheek. “Do it,” she urged. “It will give me a chance to question the touchy office manager while he isn’t watching.” Her words whispered into Joel’s ear.
His hold on her hand tightened. He didn’t want her out of his sight.
“I’ll just be beyond the door,” she said, as if reading his thoughts. “Five minutes?”
No, he wasn’t down for this plan. Not one damn bit.
“He’ll reveal more to you without me here.” Another low whisper. Her breath teased him, and she slid another quick kiss against his cheek.
Then she let him go. “I’ll be right outside,” Chloe said loudly.
The door shut.
For a moment, Joel stood, unmoving. Then he squared his shoulders and faced the man who’d told Joel that he would become a monster.
***
The office manager wasn’t at her desk. Chloe tip-toed around the outer office and small lobby. She didn’t see any other patients. When she peeked through the blinds on the window, she was given a great view of the street below. Ah. There. The redhead who’d tried to bar the door was down there, taking a smoking break.
Chloe glanced at the computer. Yes, what she wanted to do wasn’t legal but…
She sat in front of the computer. Her fingers flew over the screen. Legality had never stopped her before.
Password required.
Now, that was going to be the tricky part. She fumbled around the desk, looking for something that would help her. She didn’t know a whole lot about Wendy Hyde. There was a framed picture of a cat on the woman’s desk. A hidden stash of chocolate bars.
Chloe helped herself to a chocolate bar.
Then she kept searching.
And just as she opened the bottom desk drawer, she remembered why Gordo’s client had seemed familiar to her.
Chloe sucked in a breath and jumped to her feet. She flew toward the blinds to look out on the street below.
Oh, no.
***
“You want my help.” Gordo had taken a seat behind his desk.
Joel remained standing, and he laughed. “No.”
“You came to me yesterday because—deep down—you know that I am one of the few people in this world that you can count on. You might not like me, but you know I have always been straight with you.”