it couldn’t hurt.”
“Do you think this could be some radical animal-rights group?” Sarah tipped her head toward the rats. “Someone left a rat on your doorstep.” She paused to let that sink in. “Once we had problems at the university I was working at. Some psycho started harassing all the researchers.”
Lily focused on buttoning her lab coat. “I don’t think that’s the case here.” She cleared her throat. “Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time at the clinic. I believe it has more to do with a druggie looking for a fix. Now he wants to make sure he doesn’t get caught.” And the jerk made sure she knew that he knew exactly who she was, making her feel vulnerable every minute of every day. Once again she cursed the stupid feature article in the newspaper profiling her research. Revealing her identity.
A new surge of fear swept over her. The news should be broadcasting the composite image soon. Had she done the right thing by pushing for the release of the image?
“This is crazy.” Sarah shook her head, muttering something. She bent over the microscope, indicating she was done discussing this.
A nagging feeling haunted Lily. “I’m going to walk down to HR and see if Talia called in.”
Her assistant’s head snapped up. “Wait. Do you think Talia’s in some kind of trouble?” Sarah fingered the top button on her lab coat. “I thought you said I’m not in any danger.”
Placing her hand on Sarah’s forearm, Lily said, “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Maybe she called in sick.” Fear radiated from Sarah’s dark eyes. “Unless you know of anything else that might be going on.”
Her assistant glanced down, then back up. She tapped a pen on the edge of the counter. “Talia’s absence probably has nothing to do with her being sick.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She told me not to tell you, but—” she hesitated a moment longer and tossed the pen onto the counter “—she didn’t get into the Ph.D. program.”
“Really?” Lily rubbed her forehead, confusion clouding her brain. “No wonder she seemed quieter than usual. She must have been devastated.”
“You could say that.” Sarah rolled her eyes. The two assistants had been known to butt heads. Sarah was well liked and had a quiet confidence. Talia was eager to please and boastful of her accomplishments. “Talia wanted to go to the state school so she could stay close by. Her mom’s not in the best health.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t get in. She had good grades. I wrote her a strong letter of recommendation. I wonder what happened,” Lily mused out loud. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Talia was worried you’d fire her. And I think she might have been embarrassed. She told everyone she was a shoo-in for the program.” Sarah picked up the pen and put on its cap. “You know what they say about counting your chickens before they’re hatched and all.”
“True, but she didn’t have to worry. She doesn’t need a Ph.D. to do the work she’s doing.” Lily’s gaze drifted to the spot where Talia normally worked. Maybe Lily’s letter of recommendation for Talia hadn’t held as much weight with the admission counselors as she had thought.
Sarah folded her arms over her white lab coat. “She doesn’t want to be an assistant forever. No one does.”
* * *
In the middle of the day, the halls of Medlink’s complex were bright and filled with people, a pleasant change from the gloomy atmosphere at night. Lily smiled and nodded at all the familiar faces, but kept her pace brisk. The employees didn’t bat an eyelash as she breezed past. She was never known for her idle chitchat.
“Hey there.”
Lily spun around to find Kara standing in the small kitchen nook in the front office. Her friend waved her over frantically. “Come here. I heard that guy who crashed the party has been relentlessly stalking you.”
Lily pulled her arms against her body. Stalked seemed like such
“Do you think this could be some radical animal-rights group?” Sarah tipped her head toward the rats. “Someone left a rat on your doorstep.” She paused to let that sink in. “Once we had problems at the university I was working at. Some psycho started harassing all the researchers.”
Lily focused on buttoning her lab coat. “I don’t think that’s the case here.” She cleared her throat. “Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time at the clinic. I believe it has more to do with a druggie looking for a fix. Now he wants to make sure he doesn’t get caught.” And the jerk made sure she knew that he knew exactly who she was, making her feel vulnerable every minute of every day. Once again she cursed the stupid feature article in the newspaper profiling her research. Revealing her identity.
A new surge of fear swept over her. The news should be broadcasting the composite image soon. Had she done the right thing by pushing for the release of the image?
“This is crazy.” Sarah shook her head, muttering something. She bent over the microscope, indicating she was done discussing this.
A nagging feeling haunted Lily. “I’m going to walk down to HR and see if Talia called in.”
Her assistant’s head snapped up. “Wait. Do you think Talia’s in some kind of trouble?” Sarah fingered the top button on her lab coat. “I thought you said I’m not in any danger.”
Placing her hand on Sarah’s forearm, Lily said, “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Maybe she called in sick.” Fear radiated from Sarah’s dark eyes. “Unless you know of anything else that might be going on.”
Her assistant glanced down, then back up. She tapped a pen on the edge of the counter. “Talia’s absence probably has nothing to do with her being sick.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She told me not to tell you, but—” she hesitated a moment longer and tossed the pen onto the counter “—she didn’t get into the Ph.D. program.”
“Really?” Lily rubbed her forehead, confusion clouding her brain. “No wonder she seemed quieter than usual. She must have been devastated.”
“You could say that.” Sarah rolled her eyes. The two assistants had been known to butt heads. Sarah was well liked and had a quiet confidence. Talia was eager to please and boastful of her accomplishments. “Talia wanted to go to the state school so she could stay close by. Her mom’s not in the best health.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t get in. She had good grades. I wrote her a strong letter of recommendation. I wonder what happened,” Lily mused out loud. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Talia was worried you’d fire her. And I think she might have been embarrassed. She told everyone she was a shoo-in for the program.” Sarah picked up the pen and put on its cap. “You know what they say about counting your chickens before they’re hatched and all.”
“True, but she didn’t have to worry. She doesn’t need a Ph.D. to do the work she’s doing.” Lily’s gaze drifted to the spot where Talia normally worked. Maybe Lily’s letter of recommendation for Talia hadn’t held as much weight with the admission counselors as she had thought.
Sarah folded her arms over her white lab coat. “She doesn’t want to be an assistant forever. No one does.”
* * *
In the middle of the day, the halls of Medlink’s complex were bright and filled with people, a pleasant change from the gloomy atmosphere at night. Lily smiled and nodded at all the familiar faces, but kept her pace brisk. The employees didn’t bat an eyelash as she breezed past. She was never known for her idle chitchat.
“Hey there.”
Lily spun around to find Kara standing in the small kitchen nook in the front office. Her friend waved her over frantically. “Come here. I heard that guy who crashed the party has been relentlessly stalking you.”
Lily pulled her arms against her body. Stalked seemed like such
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