Mantis (K19 Security Solutions 4)

Mantis nodded, even though Doc couldn’t see him do it. This wasn’t the first time Dutch had gone dark during prep for an op. The fact that he was doing it after Doc had left messages that Alegria had been in an accident, pissed him the hell off.

“Let me know when you hear from him.”

“Are you okay?” his mother asked, stepping into the hallway where he stood shaking his head and staring at his phone.

“Yeah. I’d be better if Dutch would return my phone calls.”

“There may be a reason he isn’t.”

Mantis looked up from his phone and at his mother. “What are you talking about?”

“Come with me,” she said, putting her arm through his.

Mantis shook his arm free. “I can’t leave right now. I don’t want to miss hearing what the doctor has to say.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you here, but keep your voice down.” His mother grasped his arm for a second time. “He’s doing it on purpose.”

“Mom,” he sighed. “I can’t do this right now.”

“Dutch wants the two of you to figure things out, and he doesn’t think you can do it with him in the middle. He must’ve sensed you’d invite her to come home with you and that she’d agree.”

“I’m sorry, but there’s no way he ‘sensed’ anything.”

“Maybe he knows you both better than you think.”

“Bottom line this for me. What you’re saying is he’s intentionally not responding?”

“I believe so.”

“Alegria was in a car accident, had emergency surgery, and can’t move her legs, but he’s playing games. Fuck him.”

“Gehring—”

“No, Mom

. This is bullshit.”

Mantis saw the doctor walking past the nurses’ station and went back into Alegria’s room. It was clear by the look on her face that she’d heard at least part of their conversation.

“There’s nothing in the MRI or CT scan that would explain the paralysis, and at this point, I’m hesitant to open you up again until you’ve had a chance to heal.”

Alegria turned her head and looked out the window. The doctor didn’t seem fazed by her lack of response.

“In the meantime, we’re hopeful that things will progress as they should and the paralysis either goes away completely or, at the very least, diminishes.”

“Thank you,” said Mantis, since Alegria had stopped communicating or even acknowledging the man was in the room.

“I’ll check back later in the day,” he said before walking back out to the hallway.

“Talk to me, Flygirl.”

“What were you saying about Dutch?”

“Neither Doc nor I have been able to reach him.”

“From what I could overhear, Dutch is staying away intentionally. Is that right?”

“In theory.” Mantis reached over to touch her face, and she moved away from him. “What’s going on?”