“I’m sorry, sir, but if you don’t leave now, I’m going to have to call the police. No one is allowed in the ICU unless they’re a relative and certainly not in the middle of the night,” the security guard said, his hand up stopping the man in the suit by the double doors.

“Don’t manhandle me, boy! I am a goddamned relative! I’m her father!” He shoved the guard’s hand away. “Don’t you know who I am?”

Paxton got off the elevator and saw the scuffle, and rushed toward where the two argued. “Excuse me, is there a problem?”

The man snorted, giving Pax a once over. “And who are you? The chief security guard?”

“You really are an arrogant piece of work. How’d you get in here anyway?” The guard took a step toward the man, but Pax held up his hand.

“I’m Dr. Paxton Noble, and unless you have clearance from me, you do not enter the ICU. So, we can start again, or my friend here will make do on his promise and call the police. You can explain to them why you chose to disrupt my Intensive Care Unit at this ungodly hour.”

The man in the suit cleared his throat and stepped back from both Pax and the guard. “I’m Senator Ward Grisham. I believe you have my daughter in your care.”

Pax raised an eyebrow. “You believe?”

The man seemed edgy and his scent screamed apprehension. For a state senator, he certainly didn’t look the part. Not at three a.m. in a creased suit. Pax eyed him, noting the scar along his left temple. It was silvery white, which meant it was old, but the coloration told him shifter. Still, there was nothing of Evelyn in the man’s scent, even if there was something about him that sparked familiar. Maybe that had something to do with the dreams, too, though this man was not her attacker. At least, that much he knew for sure.

The man straightened his tie. “Evelyn Louise Grisham. She’s been missing for four days.”

“Four days? And you’re just showing up? The police have been scoring the missing persons boards and every hospital in the city for anyone looking for a woman fitting Evelyn’s description. Where have you been, Senator? On the campaign trail?”

The man’s face flushed a mottled red. “How dare you!”

Pax lifted a hand, shutting him up. “Come back in the morning, Senator, and bring the correct identification or you’re not getting through those doors. Because of the nature of the case and since you’re claiming to be my patient’s father, I’m going to have to alert the police. I’m sure they will be interested to know your whereabouts over the past couple of days.”

“Look, Doctor. Evelyn and I haven’t seen each other for a while. Her aunts called me this morning to tell me she hasn’t been home. At first, they didn’t think much of it, but when she didn’t return their calls, they got nervous and called her school.”

“School?” Pax asked. He assumed Evelyn was in her early thirties.

“My daughter is a teacher. Jefferson Middle School.”

Paxton eyed the man. “Just how long has it been since you last saw your daughter, Senator? If you’re putting her in danger or if you’re estranged from her because you are that danger, I can’t let you see her. Perhaps I should speak with one of her aunts since they clearly know her better than you.”

“Who do you think you are? You think because you’ve got a stethoscope around your neck you can call the shots?” he blustered.

Pax laughed, motioning to the guard with a chin pop. “Pretty much. Especially when it comes to my patients. Since Evelyn is not a minor, and you clearly have no tangible proof of relationship at the moment, I’m not inclined to let you see her until I know for certain you’re not a threat.”

Grisham tugged on his wrinkled jacket, one hand smoothing his lapel. “We’ll see about that. I’ll slap a court injunction on you and this hospital faster than you can spit.”

Pax shrugged. “Be my guest. Visiting hours are between eleven a.m. and two p.m.”

The man stormed off with Pax staring him down every second. When the elevator doors closed, he turned to the security guard. “Contact Jefferson Middle School. See if you can get the names of the aunts. That guy was lying through his capped teeth and his scent reeked of fear and a steaming helping of cover his ass.”

The guard nodded. “I’ll get on it now, Doc.” He paused. “What about the cops? You gonna call them?”

Pax looked at the elevator again. “I don’t think I have a choice, but my gut tells me that guy is as crooked as a barrel of fishhooks.”

Noble waited another moment before sliding his ID badge through the card reader on the sliding doors to the ICU. He gowned up and moved to the far bed where Evelyn slept so soundly. He glanced at her in the refracted light from the monitors. She actually looked better than he expected. Her color was still pale, but not the ashen Carol described.

He inhaled, cocking his head before gently rolling her onto her side to check her wounds. The jagged edges were less red and they didn’t smell as much like rot. He nodded to himself. Either the antibiotics were finally starting to work or her shifter traits were kicking in. Either bought them a little more time.

Paxton sat in the chair across from her bed and leaned back. He’d catch a quick nap here just in case the senator bribed a member of the overnight security staff and found his way back to the ICU.