COUNTERPOINT
An original romantic serialFrom Alina Adams the author of "When a Man Loves a Woman" (DELL 4/00), "Annie's Wild Ride" (AVON 8/98), "Inside Figure Skating" (METROBOOKS 11/00 & 9/99), "Thieves at Heart" (AVON 12/95) and "The Fictitious Marquis" (AVON 6/95)
Available weekly by e-mail from http://www.AlinaAdams.com
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CHAPTER 29
Robin dropped Victoria off at the police-station, telling her to call him if she needed anything, but adding, "I'm sure you know by now that I am basically useless."
She leaned in to kiss him good-by. "Oh, I wouldn't say that."
He unfolded a handkerchief to dab Victoria's lipstick from his mouth, then returned it to his pocket, winking. "It's true. I do have one skill. And it has served me well."
"Not only you."
He blew her a kiss as he drove away. "See you tonight, love."
Bracing herself as if for battle, Victoria gathered her nerve to enter the police station and, with the help of Douglas' lawyer, demanded to see Gabriel.
A uniformed sergeant led her into an interrogation room, where the walls were as gray as the floor, and a metal conference table with matching folding-chairs, the only furniture.
Gabriel paced the perimeter, dressed in jeans and a white T- shirt. They'd taken his belt and the laces from his sneakers. His fingers twitched nervously by his sides, and every few moments, he ran both hands through his hair. Turbid circles muddied his eyes, and sweat dripped down his neck, darkening the collar of his shirt.
When he saw Victoria walk in, Gabriel stopped pacing. But, he didn't approach her. He simply stood where he was, and raised both arms in the air, shaking his head sadly, a combination apology for the trouble he'd caused, and wonder that he was back behind bars.
She sensed his frustration, his fear, and his fury. Unable to think of one platitude to make things better, Victoria didn't speak a word. Instead, she crossed the chamber and hugged him tightly.
Gabriel broke their embrace first, and held Victoria at arm's length. He sighed, "I messed up big-time, Vicky."
She shook her head. "I don't believe that. Whatever you did, you must have had your reasons. I'm sure this is all a mistake."
"It's no mistake." He gestured for her to take a seat, then continued with his own pacing.
"What did you do, Gabriel?"
He bit his lower lip, drawing blood, then, seeing the concern on Victoria's face, quickly wiped it away with his palm, and, in as few words as possible, told her everything, concluding with, "I've fudged a lot of paperwork over the years, Vicky."
"And now you've been caught?"
"Yes." He actually stopped pacing for a moment. "The police got copies of falsified records I sent to the insurance companies, and the authentic ones I kept for the patients."
"And they didn't match?"
"Not all of them."
"I see."
"Thing is, they've only got photocopies, and photocopies can be doctored. My lawyer says what they need to make the case stick, are my originals. As of this morning, they've got a search warrant for my clinic. They'll find the insurance originals there, but not the patient ones. I keep those in my apartment. The way I figure, we've got a couple of hours before they realize they need a warrant for there, too. But, in the meantime, someone can get over there, and remove the evidence."
"Someone," Victoria repeated. "Might I know them?"
Gabriel slapped both palms against the metal table, rattling it. "I know I have no right to ask you this. I know I'm making you an accessory, and God-knows what else. But, I'm out of ideas. I committed a crime. For virtuous reasons, and with the noblest of intentions, but, I committed a crime. Now, they are going to bulldoze my clinic, prevent me from practicing medicine, and then lock me up. I don't know if I'll be able to survive that again. And I know my patients won't."
She stood up. "Tell me where the records are."
She thought he'd be pleased by her agreement, but Gabriel only looked saddened. "Fireproof box under my desk in the living room. It's not locked.... I am so sorry, Vicky."
She waved away his remorse. They had no time for it, now.
Victoria picked up her purse, and turned to leave. She was halfway out the door when Gabriel asked, "Why is Douglas Cooper so concerned if I fry or not? Protecting his investment?"
"Robin asked him to help you."
"You're kidding? Hades, himself, came to my rescue?"
Victoria snapped, "Don't look a gift-God in the mouth, okay, Gabriel? We've got more important concerns."
"Right. I'm sorry." He scrubbed the blood from the palm of his hand with his thumb, and softly told her, "Thank the Prince of Darkness for me, would you?"
Victoria knew her brother's schedule didn't allow him enough time to clean his apartment. Yet, it also didn't really allow him enough time to get it dirty, either. As a result, the one-bedroom flat looked lived-in, but tidy. His clothes were all hung in the closet, yet he hadn't bothered to close the door. He'd dusted his desk, his bookshelves, and his prized possession, his stereo, next to his waist-high collection of first edition Motown records, but had overlooked the tops of picture-frames and under the couch. His plates were stacked in the dishwasher, clean but not put-away.
Figuring they could consider interior-decorating another time, Victoria headed straight for his desk, in the corner by the window. It's surface was covered with journal articles, grant applications, and various ads from pharmaceutical companies hawking new products and offering free introductory samples. Money was so tight at the clinic, complimentary drugs were sometimes all Gabriel had to give out, and he was constantly juggling his suppliers to keep a steady stock coming in.
Victoria sunk to her knees, diving under the desk, and feeling around in the dimly lit recesses, until her fingers wrapped around the corner of a fireproof, strongbox. She locked her grasp, and hauled it out into the light, noting that she'd found another spot Gabriel had forgotten to dust. Victoria covered her mouth with one hand while she coughed and, with the other, flipped open the lid to make sure she'd found what she was looking for.
The box was empty.