Page 90 of Mercy
“New York with my family, but I don’t want Dr. L to know, okay?”
I know that asking a child to keep secrets is wrong. But I can’t just leave her without a word.
“Will I see you again?”
“Definitely,” I smile.
I show her how to call me and how to accept my calls. Liam walks in, and I stare at him a little too long and touch Ivy’s hand, “I’ll talk to you soon, sweet girl.”
Liam watches me leave, and it’s almost as if I can physically feel his pain. But even if the shit with my dad hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t drag him through this. Cancer has taken so many people from him. I couldn’t do that to him, even if things were different besides, they aren’t.
Thirty-Two
LIAM
Three weeks later…
It’s been three fucking weeks since she’s been here. I ask Gloria about it, but she doesn’t know much other than, “Mercy doesn’t work here anymore.”
I found out from HR that she resigned, but they are tight-lipped as to why. Maybe they don’t even know why. It’s not like you have to give a reason, but I feel sick in my gut.
I call my buddy, Javiar, a computer genius.
“Javvy, you’ve got to help me find her.”
“It’s only been three hours since you called me asking for help. It’s gonna take a little time, Doc.”
“So, you have nothing?”
I pace back and forth. I’m losing my fucking mind. Somehow, I know that something is wrong, very wrong. Where the fuck is she? I checked with her apartment building, but they said she moved, and of course, they have no forwarding address.
“Not yet, no. I called Jeff to get his help.”
Jeff is a private investigator that we both know.
“Fine. Call me when you know something, I don’t care what time it is.”
“You got it, doc.”
I hang up the call. Where the fuck are you, Mercy?
I text her for the millionth time.
Me: Baby girl, please respond. I just need to know that you’re okay.
I try to work, but I’m having trouble focusing when all I do is worry about Mercy.
Gloria stops me on my way out of the building, “Doctor, Gilbert Madison has called six times to talk to you. He’s here now, he wants to see you.”
“Why?”
“He wouldn’t say, but said it was urgent.”
I nod, “That’s Mercy’s dad. Set him up in the consultation room, I’ll be there in a moment.”
“Yes, doctor. I hope everything is okay.”
“Me too,” I say as I run a hand through my hair.
