If the Dark Wins (Finley Creek Book 4) Read online

  “You and me, both. Minus the hands, thank goodness. What side effects?”

  “Erectile dysfunction. Rage. Shakes. Violent outbursts, trouble sleeping. Nothing that couldn’t be a hundred other things, but…When I had a patient in the ER a while back, I was going to run further blood tests, and he was yanked from my care. I didn’t get to see if there were any findings. I don’t like that. And Lanning was pushing it. My patient was not a good candidate for Solpalmitraln, even with Claireson’s own guidelines. I just couldn’t do it.”

  He nodded. “I’m keeping this complaint. I won’t file it with Human Resources. But McGareth? Watch your back, and your mouth on this. If something is going on with that drug, I need quiet to find it. And get me anything you do have on it, by the end of day, ok?”

  “Gotcha.”

  “Good. Now get out of here, I’m going to get coffee with my brother.” He leveled a look at her. “Since he’s here so early, after all.”

  Lacy felt heat hit her cheeks. It wasn’t any of his business, after all. “He gave me a ride to work. The bridge by my place was washed out from the storm and he had to pick up a part for his truck. That was all it was.”

  He held up a hand. “Hey, that’s your business. But I have to give him a difficult time. It’s a brother’s job, after all. And Travis is so much fun to rattle. Now, go. I’ve made you late enough as it is.”

  39

  Lacy stopped off next to the tiny pharmacy that was responsible for distributing all medications to the trauma ward more than five hours after she’d clocked in that morning. She'd seen Fin heading that way and she needed to speak with the other woman.

  Holden-Deane needed those files. But for the life of her Lacy did not feel like dealing with Travis' brother. Not now.

  Looking at Holden-Deane reminded her too much of Travis. And that man had her all confused. She needed just focus on what she had to do this weekend, for Mel, and for Ari. That was what mattered. Ari was a nervous wreck and she needed Lacy and Jillian right now more than ever.

  Lacy wasn’t certain she’d be able to pull off her part well enough at all.

  The benefit for Ari’s charity was going to be difficult all around. But she would do it.

  Fin was speaking with Jessica, the pharmacy tech, when Lacy poked her head in the room. "Hey Fin, got some paperwork that Holden-Deane needed tonight. I don't have time to deliver it. And he scares me. He glowers at me just because of Jillian, I think."

  "He may appear a little grumbly now and then, but he’s a good guy at heart. A real sweetheart.”

  "Yeah I've heard that before. Still not sure I believe it. But you, Susie Sunshine, go on thinking that. I need to get going, I’m meeting Jilly and Ari to practice for this weekend. It’s our final chance to get it right.”

  Fin nodded. "I wish I could be there. But that other commitment, it’s a big one. But I'm sure you'll knock them dead."

  "Ari’s all churned up. We have the routine nailed, just got to pray she doesn’t pass out up there on us." Talk about stage fright—Ari was almost clinical. And getting worse.

  "I'm sure everything will be fine," Fin said. She looked at the third woman in the room, the pharmacy tech Jessica. "Jess, I need those final two boxes of Solpalmitraln for Dr. Holden-Deane right away."

  "Yes ma'am,” the young woman Lacy didn’t know well said. She seemed the nervous sort, intimidated easily.

  "Good. Lacy, I'll walk back with you."

  "Great. I'll get the paperwork."

  The two women walked down the long corridor toward the entrance to the trauma word. Fin waited until they were just outside the bank of private offices that ran the back wall. “These are those files Rafe is looking into, aren’t they?”

  Lacy didn't want to say much. But Fin was Holden-Deane’s right-hand-woman. And Lacy trusted her. "Yes, they are. You pulled the Solpalmitraln?” She hesitated for a moment before saying anything else.

  “Yes. Rafe has halted all prescriptions of it for the next week. To buy the hospital some time to consider any…problems.”

  “You think that will be long enough?”

  “I think that’s about as long as he can get without the board finding out and pitching a fit.” Fin frowned for a moment, then stared at her. "Tell me something, what do you think of Solpalmitraln? Its efficacy? Side effects?”

  "To be honest, I don’t like to prescribe it. I think we have far more effective, well-studied medications on the market. I know it’s a local company that’s developed it and the hospital wants to support Claireson Pharm, but… I don't know.” She didn’t mention Virat. What he’d told her had been in total confidence. Even though she trusted Fin—she didn’t trust the Chief of Medicine. Not fully. Not yet.

  She wasn’t about to stir up trouble for Virat.

  Fin took the hospital, and all its research, all its teaching capabilities, very, very seriously. If she questioned a drug developed and tested at Finley Creek, there was damned good reason for it.

  Combined with that little chat with Holden-Deane, Lacy had to admit something in the hospital felt a little hinky at the moment. She shivered. The hospital had always meant safety to her. To have that threatened, even so lightly…especially after what had happened to her in that parking garage…

  She and Fin rounded the last corner in the hallway and entered the ER lobby. There was a small redhead waving at her from the front doors. It was time to go. They had to get one more practice in, before tomorrow night.

  Lacy’s focus had to be on that. Ari, Jillian, and Mel were depending on her.

  If they could keep Ari from running off screaming into the night, that was…

  40

  Logan’s office was near the entrance to the trauma ward. He heard Lacy and Dr. Coulter discussing Solpalmitraln. It was interesting to hear Lacy’s opinion on a drug that Logan found highly effective. He’d been on it for weeks now, since the shooting, and other than the shaking and a bit more difficulty controlling his temper—and some horrible bathroom trips that he was able to treat with additional medication—he found it more effective than other pain management drugs.

  He’d have to help her see how effective it was eventually. Their previous discussion on the drug’s efficacy had happened at a very bad time. He hadn’t been in control of himself at the time. But he was better now.

  And he was thrilled with Solpalmitraln, no question about it.

  It was also making him a very wealthy man. Logan would soon be able to buy anything he wanted thanks to that drug and the incentives he’d been given by the manufacturer to recommend it. He was responsible for bringing it to FCGH during his tenure as COM, after all. It had its benefits. Benefits he’d be more than willing to share with the right woman.

  Maybe in a cottage next to the Gulf?

  Would Lacy like to vacation at the beach? He’d bet she’d look beautiful in a green bikini. They’d lay in the sun and just absorb the rays and each other. Forget the hospital and that damned Deane family for a while. Eventually, he’d erase that damned cowhand from her memory. Replace the feel of his filthy hands with Logan’s own.

  Lacy had such soft, soft skin. No Deane deserved to touch it.

  He had friends responsible for the drug’s very creation, and its distribution. That he had been prescribed it after he had nearly died was just coincidence.

  In fact, it was time for him to take another dose. His hands were shaking. No foreign chemical substance that was added to a body was ever without side effects. Even caffeine, when taken in too deep of a dosage could prove fatal. Even those damned energy drinks, consumed in rapid succession, could be deadly.

  Logan stood, and moved to the open office door. He just wanted to watch her for a moment. He heard Finley Coulter wishing her good luck at the benefit. He wasn't certain entirely what that meant. But he figured it had something to do with that fool Houghton Barratt, and the Beck family.

  Logan watched her walk away, noticing once again how graceful she moved. Then he returned to his
desk, and googled the billionaire to see just what exactly it was Lacy was up to.

  41

  Ariella lost her lunch. Twice.

  It wasn’t anything Lacy wasn’t expecting to happen, of course. Ari was remarkably talented in a lot of ways, but showing those talents to the world—especially with such high stakes riding on it—would never be something her friend would ever be able to do easily. If the W4HAV cause wasn’t one that was so dear to her friend’s heart, Ari would have never given in to Mel’s badgering.

  Mel wanted everyone to see those who had been affected by the violence perpetuated by Justin Albright and his men personally. Mel thought it would honestly get people more likely to open their wallets.

  Lacy didn’t know how she, Jilly, and Ari were going to accomplish that more than a famous band. And it wasn’t as if Houghton didn’t have access to some of the top in the industry. His cousin ran one of the biggest music labels in the country—all from South Finley Creek.

  But Mel wanted them.

  And as far as Houghton was concerned, Mel got what Mel wanted.

  It was quite annoying at times.

  The guy was pitiful.

  They’d rehearsed the songs with the band over and over. They had them nailed. They were damned good, too. Ari and her sister Paige had written all six songs they were performing. Two for Lacy, two for Jillian, and two for Ari—though she and Jillian were prepared to split Ari’s if her friend just couldn’t do it.

  But she thought Ari would be just fine. The problem was going to be getting Ari up there.

  And that was going to take some ingenuity.

  42

  Travis had to admit, limos had their advantages—especially when it meant hanging with his brother. Marcus was in and out of Finley Creek and he didn’t get to see him as much as he’d like.

  “So…that girl? You make any progress yet?”

  Progress. Not exactly. Since the night of the storm over a week ago he hadn’t managed to catch her anywhere—not even once.

  He strongly suspected Lacy wanted to play a version of Hide and Seek—where she did all the hiding. “Not exactly. Why are you so concerned with my love life?”

  ‘Living vicariously. I can barely go to the restroom by myself, let alone meet attractive women. It’s been more than four years, Trav. Four years since I’ve even kissed a beautiful woman. Think about that. So…you, or Rafe are my only hope. You two should some and bring a friend home to me. That’s the only plan I got, and Rafe frightens them all away. I’m depending on you, little brother.”

  “Well, apparently I do the same thing. Came on a bit too strong the other night, even when I knew better. Now I think she’s hiding from me. She’s a bit skittish already.”

  “Good one. You’re rushing her, aren’t you? That’s your way. Travis sees, Travis wants, Travis gets.”

  Marcus wasn’t wrong, but boiling it down to those terms didn’t exactly sound right. Was he that pushy? “I’m not giving up, I’m strategizing.” And he wasn’t. Not yet. It could be good between him and Lacy. For however long it lasted.

  If she’d just give him a chance—but that was for another time.

  When his brother had called earlier and said be ready at a certain time wearing a tux, Travis had complied. Sometimes Marc needed a visible family presence at some shin-dig or another. That meant him, and occasionally their mother. And Rafe. Rafe, who did not do people very well. Still, since Carissa had died, Travis had tried to do what he could to help his brother—both with his career, and his kids.

  “So why am I going again? Who do I need to smooze?”

  “No smoozing on your end. But you can donate a portion of that complex you own across from the hospital to a new charity coming to Finley Creek to be their headquarters. It would be some good PR for you.”

  Travis settled back into his seat and considered. “What if I don’t want to donate it?”

  “I think you’ll change your mind after tonight, after you see who is involved. The reason for tonight, it’s chilling.”

  Marcus had rarely steered him wrong. It was an old multi-building brick complex—and not one he had any immediate plans for. Other than to rent out to businesses wanting to be closer to the hospital. He had one building already renter-ready, with two physicians already practicing from the first floor. He could donate office space without losing too much. He thought so, anyway. He’d have to have his accountant take a closer look. He wasn’t as well off as Houghton Barratt, but thanks to his collecting of properties over the last dozen years he did ok.

  Travis’ bulk assets were in properties, including his ranch. But he had others, many others.

  He could spare half of one floor for a good cause. If it was a good enough cause—and he trusted the people involved.

  The limo came to a stop. Travis took a look out the window and whistled. Talk about ostentatious. “Where are we?”

  ‘’Welcome to the home of Houghton Barratt. This charity is a passion of his wife’s.”

  “Nice. Although the ramp seems a bit oddly placed.”

  “His wife has mobility challenges. The ramps are for her. Wait until you meet her, she’s a fun person to be around. We knew her as children, through Sara and Slade. She reminds me of Rissa, actually. In attitude. Perseverance.”

  The pain was still there in his brother’s eyes—even four years later. All joking aside, maybe Marcus wasn’t ready for another woman in his life. He’d loved Carissa so much.

  A slightly frazzled Houghton Barratt met them just inside. “Welcome. It’s still a bit early. Family dinner that way. Marc—your brother is inside. Chance and Elliot, their ladies, all that way.”

  Travis felt for the guy—he obviously had his hands full. Or was he just naturally that frazzled? “Thanks. We’ll find our own way.”

  “Great. In the meantime, I need to find tonight’s entertainers. Melody has a question and I think they are hiding from me. I’d bet a million dollars that’s exactly what those three little demons are doing.”

  “Good luck,” Travis said. The guy was obviously flipping out over something. Travis felt a rush of sympathy for the missing entertainers.

  “Yeah.”

  Five minutes later he was following Marc into a large banquet hall. Rafe was right there next to Elliot and a breezy little blue-eyed blonde who smiled prettily at Marcus and Travis when they walked in. He liked her immediately, and after she’d been introduced he was almost certain he’d met her before when he’d been a teenager. She’d spent some time at his aunt and uncle’s, if he recalled correctly. So had Travis and his brothers. And apparently three-quarters of the rest of the room. Or at least the redheads.

  He remembered the older man near the head of the table, too. The guy had been one of his uncle’s closest friends. He’d shown Travis how to hold a baseball bat when he’d been around eleven and missing his brother when Rafe had been staying with their uncle.

  Rafe sat glowering at everyone.

  Nice to see some things didn’t change.

  Houghton Barratt finally returned, a beautiful redhead walking at his side.

  “Find them?” Marc asked from beside Travis.

  “Sure did. But the three of them are naturally difficult.” Barratt looked over his shoulder at the trio of women who’d entered behind him. “I think they live to drive me nuts at times. It seems to entertain them.”

  There was a small redhead in white and a stunning brunette in a simple black dress. They looked familiar, but he didn’t place them until he caught a look at the gorgeous blonde walking just behind them.

  Lacy McGareth in sexy red silk. Travis immediately went on alert.

  Lacy. His night just got a whole lot better.

  Travis straightened in his chair. He heard Rafe curse next to him.

  The women slipped into the three empty chairs across from him and his brothers.

  She hadn’t noticed him yet, intent on the brunette next to her. The brunette who looked more than a little green around the g
ills.

  Travis took the moment to just watch Lacy. Damn, she was beautiful.

  The blonde hair curled even more than usual. It made a man—especially this man—want to touch. The red silk that flirted with her curves just made everything better.

  Green eyes turned in his direction. Widened.

  Travis leaned back in his chair…and waited.

  43

  Three ridiculously gorgeous Deane brothers in tuxedos were looking right at them. Staring right at them.

  But there was only one that caught her attention. Had the nerves already running through her coalescing into one large lump in her throat. Well. She hadn’t expected him. Not tonight, of all nights.

  He grinned and leaned forward.

  “Well, well, well. McGareth, nice to see you again.”

  Did anyone else hear the pure wickedness in the man’s tone? Lacy fought a shiver. His eyes told her exactly what he thought about the bit of silk nothing she wore. Told her exactly what he was imagining. “Worthington, you clean up nice.”

  Jillian leaned forward slightly. “Wow. Cute Cowboy Deane sure is pretty, isn’t he? He almost looks fake. Can we poke him with a needle, see if he deflates? He is so much prettier than Dick-tater Doctor Deane, even prettier than Perfect Politician Deane. Who would have thought?”

  Travis turned toward Jillian slightly and grinned. “Well, lookie here—it is baby Jillian the Villy-un in that pretty dress, all grown up, isn’t it? And looking almost girly in there.”

  Jillian, as always, had a clever retort. “You do remember me, don’t you? Ah, check it out, Ari. Cowboy here can take his eyes off Lacy. I was beginning to wonder.”

  Leave it to Jillian to break the tension that had gripped her.

  She had too much to do tonight to let herself get distracted by him. The nerves were tightening in her gut as it was. But Lacy forced herself to keep her cool. Ari was already on the verge of heading for the hills.