The Survivors Read Online Free PDF

doesn’t have anything to do with your patient. I’m sure he won’t mind waiting.”
    She must have noticed the trembling hands. She probably got that a lot in her work.
    Denton nodded gratefully at her. “Sure, go ahead, Cal. I can wait.”
    I showed them into my office.
    They introduced themselves—he was Tyson Cade and she was Jamie Weston—and handed me business cards. She was four inches taller than he was. When they stood side by side, he puffed himself up to compensate.
    I told them to have a seat and took my own chair behind the desk. Cade stayed where he was, while she made herself at home, pulling one of the leather chairs close and leaning her elbow on the desk.
    â€œDo you have a patient named Scott Douglas Glass?” Cade said.
    Another surprise, and this one I didn’t cover well.
    â€œLet me rephrase that,” Weston said cheerfully. “You have a patient named Scott Glass. Was he here today?”
    That was a tricky question. All patient information was confidential. Did that include the mere fact that Scottie had been to see me? “What makes you think this Mr. Glass is a patient of mine?”
    Cade shook his head. He wasn’t interested in what I wanted to know. “We need some background. It won’t go any farther than this room.”
    Doctor-patient ethics aside, I didn’t like this guy. He got way too much enjoyment out of being a bully. “I can’t talk about—”
    â€œDoctor, don’t go there,” Cade said. “Answer the question. Was Glass here today?”
    I stared at him.
    â€œA bit of advice. It wouldn’t be smart for you to waste our time.”
    Weston rolled her eyes. “Tyson, keep the decibel level down, OK? Now, to answer you, Doctor, Mr. Glass had to sign out of his work, leaving in the middle of the day like he did. He said he’d be here—your name and address.”
    If they already knew, there wasn’t much harm in admitting it. “He was here. His appointment was at two o’clock.”
    â€œWhen did he leave?” she said.
    With Cade I could stonewall all day, but she had an air about her—we were just friends talking. No problems here.
    â€œWe didn’t finish the session. He left around two fifteen.”
    â€œWhy so early?” she asked.
    â€œA lot of people have trouble when they start to see someone like me. It’s a big step. It often takes a few sessions to develop a connection.”
    â€œSo this was his first visit?” Cade said.
    I nodded, wishing I hadn’t been boxed into admitting that.
    â€œWhy did he come to see you?” Cade asked.
    â€œWe really didn’t have a chance to get into it.”
    â€œDid he mention anything about a company called Braeder Design Systems?”
    â€œNo, he—” I caught myself. “I’m not going to tell you anything he said. I can’t be clearer than that. Now what’s this about?”
    Weston said, “We can’t give out details, but there’s an investigation—”
    Cade broke in, “Weston, don’t.”
    â€œHe’s his doctor. He’ll want to help.” She stared at me, drumming her fingers on the desktop. Her hands were long and elegant; the nails were chewed to nubs. “Mr. Glass’s name came up, and all we need right now is to speak to him. Did he say where he was going to be for the rest of the day?”
    â€œNo. In fact, he left here so fast, I went out after him. He was already gone by the time I got downstairs.”
    â€œNot a good session was it, Doc?” Cade said, smirking.
    He didn’t realize that I fielded sarcasm for a living. I shrugged and stood up. “I don’t see how I can help you any more than I have, and I’ve got someone waiting.”
    I walked them to the door, and Weston motioned for Cade to go on without her. “If you hear from him, please let us know.”
    â€œHow serious is