Unexpected Encounter (Singleton) Read Free

himself. Since you know him, maybe you can find out the truth.”
    Spencer stared at her then laughed hysterically. Lila frowned, not sure why he’d reacted like that.
    Spencer wiped his eyes then shook his head. “Dris would never kill himself. And even if he was to try, he wouldn’t do it in a car.”
    “He said something similar.” Lila tilted her head to the side, studying Spencer. “How would you even know what he would do? How do you know him?”
    “I know him. Have all my life.” Spencer grinned. “He’s my brother. We’ll talk later. I need to go check on him and make some calls before people start finding out then all hell breaks loose.”
    Shock filled Lila at his words. Spencer gently disentangled his arm from her grip then loped into the emergency room. She knew that Spencer had a brother and he’d said he’d introduce her. It had been supposed to happen over Thanksgiving, but at the last minute Lila had had to cancel, having had to cover for one of her employees whose wife had gone into labor early.
    Lila followed behind him slowly then stopped just inside the emergency room. The bustling room had an organized chaos as the personnel went about their various jobs. She spotted Spencer coming from behind a closed curtain and he still had the kitten. Lila, knowing what she needed to do, made a call. As it rang, she made her way closer to the curtain Spencer had come from behind. She leaned against the wall near it.
    “Hullo, Lila. Don’t tell me you are calling to cancel our plans for tomorrow,” her friend said.
    “No, Aja, I need a favor.” She glanced at the curtain. “I’m downstairs in the emergency room. Can you come examine someone for me? I will fill you in when you get here.”
    “Okay. I’ll be there in a few.” Aja disconnected the call.
    Lila slid her phone into her pocket.
    “Can you hang onto the kitten for Dris?” Spencer said to her right.
    She glanced at him, nodding. “Sure.” She accepted the kitten and it snuggled into her, purring.
    “I want to talk with you, but another emergency is coming in. Don’t leave before we catch up.”
    “Okay.” Lila didn’t think he’d want to talk with her after Aja had proved what she thought—that his brother had indeed tried to hurt himself.
    Spencer hurried away then out of the door again. Lila rested her head back on the wall, closing her eyes.
    “Lila,” Aja called softly in a melodious voice.
    She opened her eyes and smiled at one of her best friends. “Aja, thanks for coming.”
    “Of course.” Doctor Aja Baker touched her on the shoulder. “What happened?”
    Lila quickly explained about the accident and the pertinent parts of the conversation with Driscoll then what she suspected, as well as Spencer being his brother.
    “So you think he’s a danger to himself. And Spencer won’t see it since he is his brother.” Aja had experienced the same thing many times in her profession as a psychologist. She shrugged. “It’s something I’ve seen many times before. Let me have a talk with him.”
    “Thanks,” Lila said. “Oh, this is the kitten he said he was swerving to avoid.”
    “I’m surprised they let you bring it here,” Aja said.
    Lila frowned—she was right. No one had questioned the kitten and Spencer had been carrying it around.
    “Let me take it with me. Possibly as a way to get him comfortable.”
    She gave the kitten to Aja, who disappeared behind the curtain. Lila moved a little distance away, not wanting to overhear anything private they might discuss. She leaned again then waited. The sound of laughter made her straighten and frown, since she recognized it as Aja and it came from behind the curtain. When it subsided, she resumed her place, glancing at the curtain as every so often more laughter came. Lila wondered what he was telling her. She knew that Driscoll wouldn’t be able to fool Aja if he did need help and was hiding it. At the sound of the curtain opening, Lila straightened and waited