Edge of Mercy (A Kate Reid Novel Book 11), Robin Mahle [freenovel24 .txt] 📗

“We got it from here. Thank you again for your help.” He nodded for Kate to move on.

She was reluctant but played along until they were out of earshot of the doctor. “What was that about?”

“We don’t need him right now. The patient he was talking about obviously survived the incident. But what this does is establish that pattern we were talking about. I think we have enough, don’t you?”

“I suppose so. Are we going back then?”

“Unless I’m missing something. We need to get moving on tracking down Bishop and having a chat with him.”

The wrongful death lawsuit was a problem; however, Bishop would need to see how it would play out. He’d covered his tracks just as he had with his previous victims but there was a chance that he missed something. Something stupid.

Becoming Eli Parnell had been useful in order to leave the country. No one could possibly find out his real identity there which would give him the cover he needed. Now that he was back, it became clear there was no scenario in which he could continue his way of life without being Dr. Theodore Bishop. The National Registry for EMTs was a nationwide database that required fingerprints. Those prints were kept in the FBI’s database. Eli Parnell would be his go-to in the event he was forced to leave the country again.

For now, he would return to Charlotte and ask for forgiveness in missing the five days from work. It had been for a good cause, he would insist. And the suit? Well, that was all just a misunderstanding.

The sun fell below the horizon meaning Bishop’s shift was due to start. He walked into the station and straight to his supervisor.

“Well, you’re back,” the man said. “I wasn’t sure if we would see you again. Did you even look at your phone for my messages?”

“I am so sorry for the trouble. I was called away on a family emergency, but I’ve taken care of everything now and would like to ask for a second chance.”

“You worked here for what, a day? And you want a second chance?” He eyed Bishop. “Your hair is different. Did you dye it or something?” He brushed off the remark. “Never mind. You really put me in a bind, Bishop. You get that, right?”

“I do, sir. I’ll take on any extra shifts you need me to. I’ll cover for whoever needs it. Please. I can’t afford to lose this job. It was truly a family emergency. I swear it.”

“Fine.” He sat up. “But this will be the only time this will happen. Look, Bishop, I know about the wrongful death suit. I’m sure you’re on edge about that, but it happens, okay? I don’t know the whole story and I haven’t been contacted by anyone, but sometimes the things we do out there go south. It can’t be helped. You just need to push through it and do your damn job.”

“I understand.” Bishop started to leave. “Thank you, sir, for giving me a second chance.”

“You won’t get a third, Bishop. Don’t screw this up.”

He nodded and made his way to the locker room and dropped his bag onto the bench. A few of the other EMTs prepared for their shifts. It became clear he’d been singled out and those around him maintained silence. That was, until Bishop opened his locker door. A hand-drawn image depicting a stick-figure leaning over another stick-figure on a gurney. It was supposed to be him, and he held what looked like a defibrillator in his hands. A bubble caption read, “This won’t hurt at all, but it will kill you.”

Bishop slammed the metal door and shot a look around. The other techs chuckled under their breaths and looked away. They’d found out about the lawsuit.

“Bishop, glad to see you’re back. They all thought you took off because of the lawsuit. Ran scared.” Desmond Brown glared at the others. “If it was them, they would’ve done the same thing. They’re just screwing around with you, man. Don’t take it personally. Come on, you ready to roll out of here, or what?”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t mind getting the hell out of here.” Bishop followed him as they headed to the truck.

As Kate and Walsh returned to the office, the elevator doors opened and inside was almost deserted. It was 9pm and the place had cleared out.

“You want to meet with Fisher before heading home?” Walsh asked.

“Let me make a pit stop at my office and then I’ll meet you at his in ten minutes?”

“Sure thing.” Walsh headed to his office.

Kate started into the corridor when she spotted Nick emerge from the kitchen. “You’re back, too?”

“Just got in about 30 minutes ago, actually. Fisher said you and Walsh were on the plane, so I didn’t bother making a call to you. How’d it go?” Nick asked.

“Better than I expected. You?” Kate asked.

“We got what we needed. You were right about this guy, Kate. He’s the one,” Nick replied.

“I hope so. Listen, Levi and I are going to brief Fisher. Have you and Eva sat down with him yet?”

“No, not yet. We figured we would wait for all of us to get here. So, now that we have, we should meet up. I’ll let Fisher know we’re all here.” Nick smiled and ran his hand down her arm. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“Same here.” Kate continued on.

Nick had always been a sounding board for her and offered his take on things. It was one thing she loved about their relationship, the back and forth. Bouncing ideas off one another. They thrived on it and it often brought great results. It couldn’t be dismissed. Nick had been a reliable resource, a confidant, and a lover. But Fisher’s words resonated. Could she separate the two and find that resource from another?

“Hey,” Duncan leaned into Kate’s doorway. “Welcome back.”

“Same to you,” Kate replied.

“Fisher’s ready. We’re meeting in the conference room.”

“Right behind you.” Kate gathered her files and followed Duncan.

“Okay,