Cam was sitting on her couch in her office, her second glass of water in her hand. She was holding it together better than most Ian had seen.
Her complexion was still mirroring a sticky marshmallow, but she had a strength inside of her that was pushing through.
“What can you do about this?” he asked his captain, Gary Taylor.
“I can send it to the labs. I’ll have it checked for prints. My guess is there won’t be any. But between this and Dr. Mason’s tires this week, there is something we need to address.”
He looked over at Cam, saw she was watching them with keen eyes. “What is it that you can do? I can’t release any clients’ or patients’ names.”
Ian understood that, but it didn’t stop him from asking, “Even in a situation like this? Where you’re being threatened?”
“I told you,” Cam said. “I’ve been threatened before. I’m not in any danger. My life isn’t in danger.”
What was wrong with her? “Really. Your tires were slashed. Now a decapitated snake is delivered to your office. You know as well as I do there is a meaning behind that.”
“I’m not a snitch on anything or for anyone. I’ve never been a snitch and never will be. I get the reference with the snake. But I’m telling you I don’t see any reason for it other than to scare the crap out of me.”
“That’s enough,” Ian said, wondering why he was feeling so protective all of a sudden. Not like he normally felt when it was his job. But something more. Something directed at her. Maybe even for her?
“We’ll put some men on this and see what we can find out. There’s nothing you can tell us at all?” Gary asked.
“I’ll tell you what I can, but at the moment I can’t think of anything. Maybe tonight I’ll be able to come up with something more.”
“Sign me off,” Ian told her.
“I already told you I would. I don’t understand why you’re bringing that up now.”
He turned away from her. “Captain, put me on undercover.”
“Wait a minute,” Cam said. “There is no reason for anyone to go undercover. I’m not releasing any confidential information. And if I sign your release papers right now, you’re still under investigation. Even I know there isn’t anything you can do. You’re on administrative leave.”
He held back the snarl and turned to Gary, only to have him say, “Just a technicality.”
“Release me, Doc. Sign it right now and hand it to Gary. I’ll keep your appointments. It’s the best cover we’ve got. It will look like I’m still your patient when I’m not.”
“I don’t see how that will be a cover at all. No. So you come in here a few times a month and we talk for thirty minutes. Why? Because my tires were slashed and a dead snake is delivered. Forget it. You’re overreacting.”
Was he? He didn’t think he was. But he was remembering her face when she saw what was in that box. How she swayed and sat down fast so she didn’t fall flat on her face. He’d do anything to not see that again.
“Listen, Dr. Mason,” Gary said. “You’re a member of my department, of sorts. It’s my job to protect you. I’ll be going right to the chief of police with this once we leave here. He’ll agree that we’ll have to take precautions.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I get the need for protection or the precaution, I suppose. But why do you need to involve the chief?”
“Because until we know who is doing this, we are going to assume it has to do with the Arrow case. His parents have too much money and too much reach. They could be trying to sway your testimony through fear. It’s not unheard of. Or they could be trying to scare you enough to back off. It’s public knowledge they are bringing in their own psychologist to testify. If you back out, that only leaves theirs with not enough time to find another for the prosecution.”
“I haven’t met with David yet. I haven’t given my final assessment.”
“The DA knows what your assessment is going to be. That’s why you were called on. You’ve had the files for some time now. You know this case well. The Arrows will do anything to minimize their son’s sentence. It’s a matter of whether he was insane or not.”
“I’ve had no contact with anyone on the Arrow defense team. Or the Arrow family. There is no reason to believe this is from them.”
“And no reason not to,” Ian said.
Cam stood up and started to pace, her long legs eating up the carpet. She’d kicked her shoes off already and he was shocked to see black nail polish on her toes. She had a little bit of a hidden wild side. It shouldn’t have turned him on, but there it was, making him want to kneel down and pick up her foot, rub those toes, kiss her ankles and see some more of those legs she had.
“Even if you wanted to protect me, if you thought it had to do with the Arrows, which I don’t think it does, I think this whole thing is ridiculous. It would never work having Ian as my patient. He’d be here a few times a month,” she repeated. “You can’t protect me that way. And if you had someone watching my house or my office, officers or whatnot, whoever was doing this would know. They’d stop. How would you even get away with it? Wouldn’t you rather catch them?”
She had a backbone for sure. “So you want to be the bait?” Ian asked, not surprised she’d say that, but not liking it either.
“If it’s them, then I want them caught and charged too. If it’s not them, then this person needs help and I want to be able to do that.”
“What about if you and Ian were dating?” Gary asked suddenly.
Ian smiled, Cam gasped. “He’s my patient.”
“Not once you sign the release,” Gary said. “I hear what you’re saying. I like your sense of justice. If you want to do this. If you want to catch this person, then Ian is your man. It’s a risk to put yourself in the position though. I should make that clear. Come on, Dr. Mason. Cam. Don’t make me go to the chief and say you aren’t cooperating. You know what he’ll do. You know who he’ll call.”
“Who?” Ian asked, watching the eye contact between the two of them.
She stomped to her desk and sat at her computer, hit a few buttons, then printed something out and signed her name. “Here, sign it. This better work, but I’m telling you it’s a long shot and to just let it drop. Let it go for now.”
Ian reached over to take the paper out of her hand, but she blocked him. Gary laughed and grabbed it, signed his name, folded it and stuck it in his pocket “Keep an eye on her.”
“He’s still on leave,” Cam said.
“Not anymore,” Gary said, smirking. “Now that I’ve got this, I can officially call you back.”
“Since when?” Ian said.
“Since the final report came across my desk about an hour ago. I was going to call you tonight. I’ve been swamped with you out.”
The relief he felt hearing that was short-lived, but it was off his shoulders now. Not his conscience, but he figured that might never happen. He’d have to learn to live with it. It wasn’t the first time he’d shot someone. It wouldn’t be the last.
“This is going to look horrible for me. Most will think he is still my patient.”
“No, they won’t. We’ll put a press release out in the morning that Ian and Mick were both cleared in the death. Ian is back to work and Mick is still recovering. I’ve got the piece of paper right here that Ian is no longer your patient. We know he never really was. Be honest. There’s nothing wrong with him.”
Cam looked over and frowned. “It’s not the point.”
“The point,” Ian said, “is that until we know who is doing this, or until this case is over, you need protection. You don’t want a bodyguard. Then you’ve got me. So what do you say, Doc? Where should our first date be?”
***
Cam was thinking she should have fought harder. Should have been tougher. But the truth of it was, she was rattled for someone that didn’t rattle much in life.
She’d been cursed at. Had things thrown at her. Had her life threatened. But none of those had ever materialized, until now.
She couldn’t believe the Arrow case was going to turn into this, but she honestly couldn’t think of anything else. And if it wasn’t someone related to the Arrow case, then it was someone that needed her help. That made her honor bound to find out who it was.
But deep down, she’d heard Ian say the word “bait” and felt a little bit of that thrill and excitement from so many years ago that she’d blocked out before she’d changed her ways.
The fact that Ian was making her have thoughts she didn’t want anymore wasn’t good for her peace of mind. Having him around her even more would only make matters worse. Right?
While Gary and Ian were talking, she’d sat there drinking her water, running all her patients through her head, past and present. None of them would have done this. None that she could think of, and right now she needed to think of anything other than Ian standing there in jeans that fit him way too well.
For once she was at a loss.
And when Captain Taylor mentioned that he would go to the chief and say she wasn’t cooperating, she knew she had no choice. Her grandfather—her mother’s father—was a highly respected federal judge. Not many people knew, but enough did. And if it got back to him, she’d have all sorts of other backup and bodyguards stuck on her like glue. She’d had that most of her life and hated it. The last thing she wanted was anything drawing her back to that time in her life.
Everyone in her family had security systems in their house. No one wanted to take the chance that someone would come after a family member.
It wasn’t just that, but her father came from a very wealthy family. Real estate developers. Shopping malls and building complexes. There were always enough people in her family’s history that could threaten another family member if they wanted to.
She didn’t want Ian to know that. She didn’t like many to know at all, not wanting everyone to think she got where she was because of her family.
She was good at what she did. She didn’t need her family name to get her there. Which was why she no longer used her family name.
Mason was her grandmother’s maiden name. She legally changed it over when she graduated from college. Everyone supported the decision, knowing that she might come into some questionable patients at times and it was best to not have any trial go back to her family.
But now here she was, having Ian forced on her. As her boyfriend, no less. Talk about embarrassing. As if she couldn’t find someone herself.
Why was there a bit of excitement with it all though? That she’d be spending more time with him? That she’d get to know him on a personal level?
She ran her hands through her hair. This was not a good situation for someone who strived for control in their life now, having all the things that were weaknesses to her back then coming together at once.
“How is anyone going to believe this?” Cam said, thinking she should put up some kind of a fuss even though she knew it was smart to have the protection right now.
“I’ll start the ball rolling tomorrow,” Gary said.
“How’s that?” Ian asked.
“Simple. I’ll come to your desk and ask if you think it’s wise to ask Dr. Mason on a date now that you’re released. There will be plenty of witnesses to the conversation.”
“Great. Just what I need,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Relax, Doc. I’ll tell them you turned me down twice, but I’m not giving up. I can be a persistent suitor if it makes you feel better.”
She didn’t care for the grin he was sporting. Like this was all some kind of a game. “I’m sure it won’t matter what I think at this stage.”
Gary laughed and turned to Ian. “You should take her home. Check her house out for the night.”
“And what’s the reason for that?” she asked. “If anyone is watching me, which I’m sure they aren’t, they’re going to wonder why my car is here.”
“She has a point,” Ian said. “I’ll just follow behind you a few minutes. I know where you live. Is there a back way into your house where no one would see me?”
She thought for a second. She didn’t see a way out of this. Not without her family getting involved and if that happened it would only get worse.
“You can park on the street behind me. Go through the backyards. If anyone shouts at you to stop, just say you’re a cop,” she said smirking. “I’ll pull in the garage and then meet you out back before I go in the house. Does that make everyone feel better?”
Her little revenge for this situation, making him cross through the yards in secret.
“It sure does,” Ian said. “What’s for dinner?”
She slipped her shoes on and grabbed her purse. “Are we ready to leave now?” So much for thinking she was getting one up on him.