Clayton

 

When I try one last time to call Lacy back, it goes to voicemail—again. I hit end and shake my head. Running our conversation back through my mind, I can’t think of what I said that might have upset her. An unusual sense of pain tinges my chest and the need to hear her voice is overwhelming, but at this very moment, it’s impossible. I tuck my phone in my pocket and open the rear doors of an ambulance, where my eyes are met with those of Oren Demetri.

Oren Demetri is the father of Mr. Lennox Demetri, Deloris’ boss, and is part of the reason Deloris and I are here in Savannah, standing on the tarmac of an airport.  

The woman I’ve been working as bodyguard and driver for back in New York, Miss Collins, is the girlfriend of Mr. Lennox Demetri, and both she and her mother are mixed up in a family battle with Miss Collins’ stepfather over who will be the rightful heir to the Montague Corporation—a highly successful tobacco business.

When Miss Collins received word that her mother, Mrs. Fitzgerald, was ill and had been admitted to Magnolia Woods, she was on a plane to Savannah almost immediately, with Deloris and I in tow.  Once we arrived at Magnolia Woods and were advised visiting privileges for Mrs. Fitzgerald had been denied, it was then that Miss Collins had taken it upon herself to confront her stepfather…on the sidewalk in front of Magnolia Woods. The next few moments happened in a blur. Miss Collins moved toward her stepfather’s limo, and Deloris and I rushed to stop her, but we were too late. The door had shut, and the limo sped away. That was the last day I’d seen or talked to her.

In the days following, the weight of guilt was heavy on my shoulders. I shouldn’t have let her get out of the SUV. It was my job to protect her. Had I done my job, Miss Collins would be safe, and we would’ve found another way to retrieve Mrs. Fitzgerald from the grasp of her husband and Magnolia Woods.

But now…Oren and I are secretly moving the gurney, carrying Mrs. Fitzgerald’s frail body from an ambulance to the private jet, where she’ll be in route to New York and well on her way to getting the care she needs.

I don’t know the story between Oren and Mrs. Fitzgerald, and I haven’t asked, instead, I wait for Deloris’s instructions, which she’s quick to provide. “Get the ambulance back to Magnolia Woods as soon as you can. Be sure the inside is clean.”

I nod, then take one last look at Mrs. Fitzgerald. “Is she going to make it?”

“Yes,” Oren utters, but that response is full of doubt and it’s apparent they are more than just acquaintances.

I don’t linger any longer than necessary. I get the gurney loaded back in the ambulance, slide into the driver’s seat, then let out a deep breath, relieved our mission is almost complete.

***

Once I’m back at Magnolia Woods and the ambulance has been returned—clean and without incident—I climb into my SUV, and I’m at the gates of Montague Manor, where Miss Collins has been held captive, in record time.

The engine of my vehicle idles in front of massive wrought iron gates; ready to surge forward once they swing open. I don’t need to wait long. When the opening is wide enough, I pull through and my gaze drifts to either side of the road. The pathway is dimly lit with lanterns, and it’s difficult to make out anything past the edge of the gravel drive.  As I get closer, the large mansion along with Mr. Demetri, Miss Collins, and Mr. Demetri’s bodyguard, Isaac, come in to view.

My pulse races at the sight, and a surge of adrenaline warms my skin as I pull up to the front door, throw the SUV in park, and step out, fisting my hands and flexing my muscles. When Miss Collins approaches the SUV, of her own free will, I know I’ve already missed all the action. 

Once everyone is safe in the large vehicle, I take off, weaving down the long lane, armed and on high alert. When we pass the gates and we’re back on the main road headed for the airport, the tension in the air begins to recede, but its short-lived.

When I pull in front of the private plane, gassed and ready to take us to New York, we find the Savannah P.D. waiting.

I wait in the vehicle with Miss Collins while the police confront Mr. Demetri, where they explain they need to detain him for an incident that occurred at Montague Manor before I had arrived.

It’s not until we’re in the air, minus Mr. Demetri, that Deloris explains why he’s being detained. Apparently, he had punched Mr. Fitzgerald in the face. My lips curve up in a smile as I play out how the scene must have gone down. I’m disappointed I wasn’t there to witness it in person.

Once the plane lands in New York, there’s a black SUV waiting for us. The traffic is light due to the late hour, and I have Miss Collins home safely within an hour. With plenty of security detail surrounding the property, there’s no need for Deloris or myself to stay. With my adrenaline running close to empty, I feel driving Deloris home will be my last task of the night.

We’re both on the edge of exhaustion and the cab of the vehicle is quiet until a ding draws our attention to my phone.

Deloris picks it up and reads the screen. “It’s a text from Martin.” She lets out a breath and pauses for a moment before she reads the rest aloud.  “His text indicates it’s an emergency and Dr. Ackerman is dangerous. He wants you to call him as soon as you get his text.”

Working the muscles in my jaw, I press the phone button on my steering wheel. “Call Martin.”

A robotic voice filters through the speakers. “Calling Martin.”

“Clayton?” he answers, his voice frazzled.

“Yeah, I’m here. You’re on speaker. Deloris is here as well.”

“I’ll make this quick. Your instincts were correct. There was a connection between Harrison James and Dr. Ackerman. The doctor was writing out prescriptions and Harrison was doing the deals, but Harrison wanted more, so he had some jobs on the side. When the doctor found out, he alerted the authorities. We’ve been looking for the doctor for at least five years. The reason we couldn’t find him is because he’s been practicing under the alias of Ackerman, but the name he was using for his practice in Colorado was his official documented name: Dr. Logan Alderman.”

“Do you know where he is now?”

“I contacted the local authorities in Savannah, as well as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and they have eyes on him.  He was still at his office when I talked to them last. They were waiting on a warrant.” He clears his throat before adding, “That was an hour ago.”

“Fuck!” I clench my jaw tight, grinding my teeth.