Chapter 53
“Well,” Mark said, rising from the table. “I have a job to do. I’ll see you later.”
“Promise?” Laura asked.
Not if I can help it. “You’ve done an excellent job here, Laura, congratulations. But I do have to go.”
Not if I can help it. He joined the hospital crowd. “Mark?” Julia turned away from her colleagues with a tilt of her head. “What’s wrong?”
Mark acknowledged the medical director and others he’d known since he was a child. “Have you seen Annie?”
“Yes,” Julia said. “She and Simone went out to the rest room.
They should be back soon. Did you need . . .”
But Mark had already made it for the double doors that led into the lobby. Annie and Simone weren’t there. Ladies’ room.
He stood outside and waited. No one came out.
He barged into a small group of hospital nurses
