Finding Kassie, page 3
“I’m sorry, Rachel. Truly I am. I’ll go down and let them know the wedding is canceled. I think you need to rest. Who was your doctor? Which hospital did you go to? I want to call them and ensure we follow all their instructions; we don’t want complications later.”
“No! I’m upset, but I can rest for a while longer. Then I’ll get dressed. We can rest on the honeymoon.”
“I booked a honeymoon suite here in Seattle away from the bridal party, so I guess that would work.” He waited for her to tell him about the plans she had made without his consent.
Rachel straightened, her confidence seemed to come back slightly. “No! Daddy took care of the arrangements. We’re taking his jet to an unknown location. We can rest there. He’s already set up nursing care for your mom.”
His jaw ticked, as he seethed. “Do you think I’m that stupid?” Unable to hold back his fury. “I saw the flight plan. I told you I’m not leaving my mother for an extensive honeymoon! Were you going to wait until we were in the air to inform me?”
She jumped up from the couch and doubled over in pain. Chase was instantly by her side, regretting yelling at her. “What hospital did you go to last night? I’m taking you back!”
Her face was white as a sheet as he picked her up and carried her toward the door. “Take me to Seattle Health.” He weaved through the traffic and parked the car at the curb. Two nurses met him at the entrance with a wheelchair. He parked the car, ran back into the hospital, and was led back to the triage room where Rachel was getting treated. He started to pull back the curtain when he heard the doctor ask her, “So, how far along were you when the abortion was performed?”
She responded, “Ten and a half weeks.”
Outrage rose that she would abort a child to still go through the wedding ceremony. She had lied. He pulled back the curtain and made certain she saw him. “The wedding is off. I’ll leave it to you to inform the guests.” He left the hospital, got in his car, and headed home to the mountain.
Picking up his phone, he dialed Leo’s number.
“Leo.” The SEAL answered on the first ring.
“It’s Chase. My mom’s dying. I want to spend what time I have left with her. After that, I’m in.”
“Of course, take what time you need.”
Chase disconnected the call and grabbed the bottle of whiskey at the bar. He’d deal with the fallout tomorrow. Right now, he just wanted to drown his sorrows at the bottom of the bottle...
Chapter Four
Chase
A year later, Chase entered the well-known military bar, Sharkey’s, and found a seat at the bar. He checked his watch for the third time and waited for Michael to appear.
Chase convinced Michael to move into his parents’ cabin. Michael had come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t going to find his wife. He started his practice and was a well-sought-after pediatrician. The only downfall was that he was always late. He couldn’t say no to a sick kid, no matter the time or office hours.
A half-hour later, Michael slid onto the stool and took a long sip of the beer before him, sighing deeply. “Sorry, I’m late.”
Chase rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You’re always late. I had long rounds, so no worries. I need a burger and a beer.” Chase flagged down the bartender.
“I’m not always late, man. My office hours are just flexible.” He tiredly smiled at his joke.
Chase frowned at his buddy. The man was good at what he did, but the dark circles and the haggard appearance, despite being dressed in a nice shirt and jeans, told him that his friend was working himself ragged.
A group of young sailors sitting a few tables away caught their attention. Unfortunately, they had one too many and decided the waitress would be their next form of amusement. A petite woman with dark brown hair pulled tightly into a bun with the ugliest pair of oversized glasses he had ever seen approached the table and took the men’s orders.
As she leaned over the table to pick up the empty bottles, one of them grabbed her ass. She wrenched her arm back and stared coldly into the man’s face. “Do not grab me again!”
The man went to pull her into his lap when she took the tray she held in her hand and bashed him squarely on top of his head. The young men howled in laughter at their friend as the little spitfire looked him dead in the eye. “I said do not touch me.”
The man held his hands to his head. “Damn, that girls got some fire in her!” The other men at the table cheered loudly to see what the waitress would do next.
The group of men sitting with their backs to the wall stood up. A large black man caught Chase’s attention. It was then he realized who it was. Carter “Saint” Johnson grabbed the man by the neck. “Where I come from, we don’t treat hard-workin’ ladies like that. Now you best sit back in that chair and keep your mouth shut. When she comes back over, you apologize to that little missy and act like you got some manners in that damn fool’s head.”
The drunk looked at their table and realized he and his friends were outnumbered, so he turned and sat quietly in his seat. The table suddenly became more subdued.
Saint slowly sat back down while giving the young men his stink eye. Leo took it in stride as his teammate slid his chair closer to the drunk, letting him know he’d be listening.
Chase turned to Michael. “I’ll be damned. Look who’s sitting over there.” It seemed that they had also captured the team’s attention. They hadn’t seen them for three months because the team had left on a mission.
Leo gave them a chin lift, indicating that the two men should join them. Michael and Chase grabbed their beers and pulled two chairs to their table across from Leo. Chase quickly scanned each man and noted scars, bruises, and cuts. Aiden “Shadow” Walker, Noah “Taco” Latham, and Carter “Saint” Johnson gave Chase a chin lift in recognition. Leo was the first of the men to speak. “Don’t worry, Doc. We’re all safe and sound.”
“How did everything go?”
“I think we made some headway. But we just got in two days ago. I’m working on another job. I’ll be in Serenity tomorrow. Will you be around?” Leo asked as he leaned back in his chair and observed the room.
“I have a meeting with a couple of contractors in the morning and late afternoon. I should be done by dinner. After that, I think we can throw something on the grill.”
“Sounds like a plan. See you then.” Leo’s attention focused again on the server.
The waitress returned and dropped off plates of burgers, fries, and hot sandwiches in front of them. She didn’t flirt or even smile like most women working in a military bar for tips. The men thanked her individually as she set their plates before them, picking up the empty beer bottles as she went.
She took Chase and Michael’s order and returned to the kitchen. A few minutes later, she popped out with their food and grabbed their empty bottles.
Chase tried to figure out what held Leo’s attention on the girl. She hadn’t smiled, was quiet, and did her work efficiently. Her clothes hung loose from her body as if she had lost weight. Her dark hair was pulled tightly from her face, but a few curly wisps had escaped. It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with her hair, but it didn’t look as if it genuinely suited her.
She reached across the table, grabbed Leo’s empty bottle, and was suddenly pushed from behind. She lost her balance and fell into Chase’s lap. His plate had skidded along the table with her and dumped all over his chest, covering him with ketchup and tartar sauce. Coleslaw slid from his shoulder. He had gripped her arms to steady her, and as she pulled herself up, the top half of the sandwich bun fell off her chest. Horror showed on her face as she turned four shades of red, and her mouth hung open like a gapping fish. “I’m so…sorry!”
She grabbed a rag out of her pocket and tried wiping off his chest, which smeared the tarter/ketchup combo. Her mouth formed into a big “O” as she realized her mistake. She stood up quickly, and her nose crinkled as she grimaced at the mess she had created. He took her hand to reassure her when she snatched it back and brought her hands to her side.
Then he noticed the laughter from the table that had caused problems earlier. One of the troublemakers had tripped her on purpose. The team at once stood up, and their gazes focused on the men that had embarrassed the young woman.
Sharkey came running out from the back with two men, and the troublesome group was immediately escorted to the door. “At ease, boys. Ole Sharkey has this under control. How about a drink on the house while I care for my girl?”
The men sat down and watched Sharkey pull the girl into the kitchen and order the bartender to cover their table. The bartender brought out towels and another round for the group. “Sharkey said he’ll bring you a clean shirt in a moment.”
“No need. I have a set of fresh clothes in my car.” He nodded to the group and excused himself to grab his extra clothes from his go bag.
He made his way to the back of the bar to the restrooms. Just as he approached the woman’s bathroom, the door swung open, and the waitress flew into him. She bounced off his chest like she had run into a brick wall and fell straight on her butt. She looked so startled that he couldn’t help but laugh. What were the odds?
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s not funny. Did you follow me back here?” Her voice was accusing as she pushed the glasses back onto her nose.
He shook his head, “No, I just grabbed my spare set of clothes so I don’t have to wear half your menu.”
Trying to make the awkward moment a little more lighthearted, he reached out a hand to help her. She promptly ignored him as she pushed herself up from the floor, rubbing her wrist. He gently grabbed her hand, and she started to pull it back when he softly said, “Let me look at it. I’m a doctor.”
“Yeah, and I’m a princess just waiting tables for the fun of it.” She jerked her hand back and quickly made her way out of the narrow hallway. Sharkey came around the corner and gestured toward the stage. She nodded and disappeared around the corner.
A few minutes later, the lights went down, and Sharkey climbed up the small setup in the back of the room. He wiped his hands on the greasy apron just below his overflowing belly. He grabbed the microphone. “All right, we got some new squids in the joint. My girls are here to earn a paycheck. So, keep your hands to yourself, your comments behind your teeth, and act like the respectful assholes I know you are, or I’ll personally escort your asses outta here.”
The curtain opened, and the little waitress sat with an overly large Sharkey’s t-shirt and jeans. A band behind her started to play. She began softly singing Craig Morgan’s “What Matters Most.” The bar quieted as the tiny mouse of a woman belted out the sentimental military song. When she finished, she transitioned from country to pop and jazz. The crowd returned to talking, and Sharkey grabbed a bucket and put it at the end of the stage. Leo and his team placed a tip in the metal bucket at various times.
As they stood up to leave the songstress was finishing her last song for the night. He approached the stage and suppressed a grin as she narrowed her eyes and squished her glasses further up her nose. He stuffed a twenty in the bucket and walked away.
On the way home, his thoughts lingered on the waitress. Women hadn’t held any appeal since his breakup with Rachel. Anyone he dated, he made it clear that he wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship. It had been a year for him to reconcile how he had been manipulated and willingly fell for it. His thoughts drifted back to the night he proposed to Rachel...
“Three more years! You want me to wait and twiddle my thumbs while you go gallivanting all over the country?” Rachel’s voice held a sharp edge.
“I am serving my country. I have an obligation to the Navy for three years. When I finish my active duty we’ll decide if staying another four years would benefit us. Then when I come home and we get married, we’ll have our home built. We can discuss when we want to start a family. I prefer to wait so we have time together and travel a bit, but if you want to start a family immediately, I’m open to the discussion.”
“Chase, I’ve patiently waited while you finished medical school, and I’m beginning to think you don’t have the same feelings about this relationship as I do. Of course, I love you, but I feel like I’m constantly the one to sacrifice.” Rachel pouted.
“I’m sorry you feel that way.” He stepped back from her and waited for her to continue. “I just want to do right by you and me. We need to have a plan for our lives.”
“Well, Chase Winters,” Rachel sauntered over and put her arms around Chase. “I expect a big ole diamond that I can show my friends so they can see that you truly mean you’re serious about us getting married. Daddy says I should start dating other men because you don’t seem to want to marry me.” She peeked up from under her eyelashes.
He studied the hurt look on her face, he also saw the carefully curated appearance she put so much work into. As he took in her expensively dyed blond hair, perfectly manicured nails, and designer clothes. His grandmother’s engagement ring weighed heavily in his pocket. She had sixty-two years of a happy marriage and Chase had hoped to pass on her ring. Knowing Rachael wouldn’t accept the antique sapphire stone framed in smaller diamonds, he decided to leave it in his pocket.
Marriage was about compromise, he suggested, “Why don’t we go this weekend, and you can help pick out the ring?”
Sighing in relief at his narrow mistake in marrying her, he promised himself that he would never be caught in a situation like that again.
Chapter Five
Chase
Pulling into the drive, Chase frowned as he thought about his meetings with the contractors. He would have to cut corners or hold off a little longer. He watched as Leo pulled in the drive behind him. Michael arrived an hour later. The men sat around the deck with the firepit glowing. A cold beer in hand, enjoying the sounds of the night.
“Chase, you have privileges at Seattle Health. There’s a situation with a nurse that works the Med Surg floor. A friend of mine contacted me asking for help with her friend. She’s got a sick kid and is afraid of her own shadow. Kit Kat, I’m sorry, Catherine thinks she needs help, possibly running from an abusive ex. I promised her I’d check in on it.”
“Yes, I’m taking a shift there tomorrow.” He took another draw of his beer.
“Mayor Thorton’s son has been admitted to the floor. Apparently hit by a drunk driver, but I think there’s more to the story. It seems Thorton’s got his hands in many pies these days, and his son is following in his footsteps. They run drugs through the port and rumors of human trafficking. He’s been in critical condition. Could you possibly wiggle your way on his team or the floor?”
“I know they’ve been shorthanded lately. I don’t think they’d complain if I picked up a few shifts.”
Leo nodded, “Great. I want to get started on this job right away.”
“What do you know about the nurse? Maybe I’ve already worked with her?” He sat back to admire the view from the deck.
“Not much, unfortunately. She showed up in Seattle two years ago. Goes by the name Kassie Smith. She has a kid, three years old, who has some chronic illness. I’m hoping Catherine can convince her to come to see Michael. The address on her employment record is fake. We’ve tried to figure out where she lives twice, and she’s managed to dodge Shadow like a pro. She never takes the same route home, even uses different buses.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever met her at the hospital.” Chase tried to recollect if he had ever heard a nurse by that name.
“You met her the other night at Sharkey’s.” He grinned as Chase realized it was the fiery waitress he was talking about.
“I talked to Sharkey. He says he offered her a job when he heard her singing at the hospital while visiting one of his buddies. He says she’s quiet, keeps to herself, and when the little girl is sick, she sleeps in his office while he’s back there so she can sing. He thinks she’s hurting for money. Customers love her. He pays her cash under the table for two nights a week. He works around her schedule to help her out. The band’s there every night, so he doesn’t care when she comes in. She helps him out if they’re short of servers.”
“Looks like you got your work cut out for you. She didn’t want to have anything to do with you after those jerks pushed her into your lap.” Leo nodded toward Chase.
Michael picked up the folder and flipped it open, extremely curious to read what little information they had on the child.
“She thought I followed her to the back. I imagine it’s an occupational hazard. Will her friend be there? Maybe if she thinks I’m a friend of her friend, she’ll trust me a bit more.”
“I can call Kit Kat and let her know. She’s indicated that she’ll help in any way possible.” Leo added a note to his phone to make the request later.
Chase sat at the kitchen table and reviewed the paperwork Leo had left. Finally, he picked up the pictures of the young nurse Leo had captured at the bar the night before. Looking more closely at them, it did seem as if she was trying to disguise herself. He wondered what she would do when she saw him again.
“Well Kassie Smith, I guess we’ll soon find out who you are and what you’re hiding.” He closed the folder and got his bag ready for the next day.
Chapter Six
Kassie
Kassie rounded the corner and made a beeline for the elevator. The sick room had called again because Em had started throwing up. She had two hours left in her shift and was already exhausted. The last two nights she had been up cleaning vomit from the bucket and administering IV fluids. Emma seemed fine this morning. She couldn’t be late returning to the floor, or Mrs. Jones would have her written up again.
She ran through the medication office and grabbed what she needed for Paul. She didn’t even look up, knowing her way to the room as she was sure she had made a grooved path on the floor. Paul Thorton, the entitled son of the prominent mayor of Seattle had been admitted for a car accident. The story printed in the papers was of Paul being injured by a drunk driver. The truth was Paul was the one impaired. His father appeared daily but spent less than ten minutes with his son. It was all a publicity stunt for the news and cameras lurking outside the hospital. All hoped to get a picture of the distraught mayor supporting his son. Of course, the platform for the mayor’s reelection included stiffer penalties for criminals, especially drunk drivers. He required several surgeries and Kassie wondered why he hadn’t been discharged and then readmitted after each procedure. Her suspicion was that Dr. Hart and the mayor had some sort of an agreement. The longer Paul’s hospital stay, the more publicity and media attention was given to the mayor.
