“Not so much,” Keeley admitted.
Lacey slid her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “You did great. And I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re both trying to move forward as mother and daughter.”
Keeley shot her a half-smile. “I love Mom.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s any easier to give mercy and grace, Kee.”
“Probably harder,” Keeley sighed. “Hurts even more when someone close to you betrays your trust, or makes you feel like they abandoned you.”
“Yeah, it does. Mom did what she did for us, not to cause more harm.”
“I get that, Lace. But doesn’t change the chain of events that happened as a result.”
“I know. I’m so sorry, Keeley.”
They were at a red light, so she turned toward Lacey. “It’s me who’s sorry. You did not deserve the hell I dragged you through.” Tears were slipping down Lacey’s cheeks Keeley noticed before the light turned green.
“Neither did you deserve to go to hell.”
Keeley wiped at her eyes as the tears blurred her vision. What more could she say? A part of her wanted to argue that she got exactly what she deserved. Yet another part kept telling her that wasn’t the truth. She actually glanced into the rearview mirror expecting to see a devil on her left shoulder and an angel on her right. The voices were that loud.
Lacey interrupted her reverie. “We’re to meet E at the club.”
“When?”
“Now is what the text says.” Lacey held her phone up, showing it to Keeley.
They entered the office to find it full of many familiar faces. Lacey asked E, “What’s goin’ on?”
Nik answered, “Mitch needed us all here.”
Keeley searched for Tar but he was nowhere to be found. Disappointment filled her as she took a seat. Alex reached over and patted her leg. “Maybe he’s coming with Mitch.”
She shot him a smile. “Never know, right?”
Sofie walked in and Keeley got up just as Lacey met her by the door. They were in a huge group hug when Mitch approached the door. The ladies stepped out of his way. Keeley once more turned to see if Tar was there, but he wasn’t. She sighed, and Lacey wrapped her arm around her shoulders. Sofie grabbed her hand.
Mitch addressed them all, “Thank you for meeting me on such short notice.” He opened up his laptop. “I’m hoping at least one of you can shed some light on this video footage we received.”
Everyone crowded around the desk. Keeley observed that Lacey and Sofie were not just hanging onto her but also to their husbands. She also didn’t miss the distraught look on Nik’s face. She nodded to her sister and sister-in-law and then went to stand by Nik. “Hey there, little sister.”
“You doin’ okay?”
He hugged her tight and whispered in her ear, “That noticeable, huh?”
“Only to someone who understands missing the person they love,” Keeley mumbled back to not interrupt Mitch.
Nik gave her a knowing glance before turning his attention to the video playing. Keeley did the same and gasped so loud every eye was on her.
“What is it, Kee?” E queried.
“That woman is Doctor…”
“Thompson,” Mitch finished for her. “But this person right here,” he tapped on the screen to the patient in the background, “is who we can’t identify.”
Alex leaned in closer. “Can we zoom in?”
“Negative. There’s some sort of lock on it.”
Nik reached for the keyboard. “May I?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” Mitch confirmed. He turned his attention to Alex and Sofie while Nik worked at the computer. “Learn anything since I moved you to a different venue?”
Alex blew out a long breath. “Nothing that would hold up in a courtroom.”
“I’m not sure how much help I am,” Sofie admitted.
“You keep me company,” Alex winked at his wife.
Mitch added, “And it looks better to have a couple nosing around in those circles.”
“Well, I’m glad to not be pretending we’re buyers,” Sofie confessed.
“Thank fuck,” Mitch responded. “I’d worry if you enjoyed that.”
“Sick motherfuckers shouldn’t be allowed to breathe,” E spoke what they all were thinking.
“Got it!” Nik exclaimed. Sure enough he’d worked some kind of magic and suddenly they could zoom in.
“Fuckin’ A! That is Chase McNeil!” Mitch was on his phone the next second.
Nik, Alex, E, Lacey and Sofie were engaged in conversation as Keeley studied the video closer. She couldn’t take her eyes off Dr. Carla Thompson. Why were her movements so familiar?