“Okay.” Book hesitated. “They have no home to return to.”

“I’m aware.” He hung up, taking one of the Jeeps parked outside of Security.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“What do you mean, Missy is gone?” Kat shrewdly assessed Dr. Ted Treadmont. He had a gruff personality, was obnoxiously direct and did not have a good bedside manner.

“Darkness checked her out a few hours ago.”

“Where did he take her?”

“You need to answer my questions before I answer yours.” He tried to shove a light in her eyes again.

She blocked him by grabbing the mini light and snatching it out of his hand. “Where did he take her?”

“I don’t know. He doesn’t answer to me. That’s one rude Species. I reminded him that I hadn’t officially released her but he told me he’d put me in one of the beds if I didn’t get out of his way. He wouldn’t even wait for a wheelchair. He snarled something about how her legs weren’t broken and she could walk just fine on her own. Now behave before I call in a nurse to hold you down.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she warned. “I feel fine.”

“You suffered a closed head injury. I’d like you to answer some of my questions and I need to check the dilation of your pupils. You could have suffered brain damage.”

“I’m starting to see why Darkness snarls at you. I’m good.”

“You’re testy. That’s an indication that you could have neurological problems.”

“My only problem is that you keep annoying me. You think Darkness is rude? I just want to know where my best friend is.”

“I don’t know. He probably drove her to the front gates.”

“Shit.” She shoved at the blankets over her lap and reached over the side bar to release it. “Move.”

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“I have to find Missy. She’ll be freaking out.” My emergency kit is in the trunk. I have enough clothes for both of us. We’ll need to get a hotel room and figure out our next move.

She got the side rail down and slid out of bed. The doctor tried to stop her but Kat pushed him back. She felt stronger as she stood there. No dizziness.

“Get back in that bed, young lady.”

“I need something to wear. I’m not going to exit your gates with my ass exposed.” I’ll sweet-talk the taxi driver into taking us home. I can pay him after I bust into my trunk. I’m sure he’ll do it if I promise him a fifty-dollar tip.

“Get back in that bed or I’m calling a nurse.”

“You do that. Maybe he or she will find me some scrubs or something else to wear.”

Dr. Treadmont muttered a curse and turned toward the door. Kat made it to the bathroom and stared at her reflection. She was still unusually pale but splashing water on her face helped. She found a toothbrush in the cabinet, unsealed it, brushed her teeth and used her fingers to comb her hair. Voices in the other room assured her the doctor had made good on his threat. She walked out, prepared to do verbal battle.

Darkness and Dr. Treadmont faced off against each other. Field, the New Species she’d spoken to before, hovered by the door. She paused, taking in the scene.

“You don’t threaten Kat,” Darkness growled.

“She’s not released from my care,” Treadmont shot back. “Field? Make him leave this room.”

Field’s eyes widened and he backed up closer to the hallway. “No way.”

“Hey,” Kat interrupted. “Darkness, where is Missy? You didn’t just leave her outside the front gates, did you?”

He turned to look at her. “No. She’s safe.”

Kat leaned against the door. “Thank you. I was imagining her out there with those protestors.”

He frowned. “You believe I’d put her at risk?”

“Dr. Treadmont implied you might have. You left, I took a nap and woke up to him trying to play twenty questions. I’m not in the best mood. Then I wanted to see Missy and he said you’d taken her away. You weren’t exactly thrilled with what I did to protect her from Mason.” Suspicion hit. “She’s not locked up or something, is she?”

He growled. “No. She’s with her pets. Some female Species are looking out for her.”

Kat blew out a relieved breath. “I’d like to be taken to her.” She looked at Field. “Can you find me something to wear? Scrubs, whatever. Just something that isn’t open along the back.”

He nodded and fled out the door. Dr. Treadmont threw up his arms and spun, following him out of the room.

“Nobody listens to me. I’m just the damn doctor who stayed up all night and most of the day to look after my patient.”

“Thank you,” Kat called out after him. She lowered her voice, stared up at Darkness. “He’s kind of pushy.”

“He’s good at what he does.”

“Obviously. I’m still here and you told me I was in bad shape. I just didn’t like the bright lights he tried to flash in my eyes and his attitude. What paperwork do I have to sign to get released? I need to get Missy and myself home. Well, to what is left of our house. To my car. It should have survived. I have to get the suitcase out of the trunk and check us into a hotel.”

Darkness blinked but said nothing. Kat inched around him, walked to the door and peered down the hallway. Field carried a small stack of folded clothing. He paused in front of her.