Smoked (The Invincibles 5)
I told him about the conversation I’d overheard between Smoke and Decker. “The last thing I heard him say was that he was waiting for me to get my memory back. Once that happened, I could return to IMI’s employ and he’d ensure the two of us never saw each other again.”
The doctor brushed his lower lip with his finger and leaned back in his chair. “I was aware your relationship with Mr. Torcher wasn’t the way you remembered it. However, I do believe he cares for you, Siobhan. A great deal, in fact.”
“You would think differently if you’d overheard the same conversation I did.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“You are not permitted
to tell anyone the things we say while in session.”
“That is correct.”
“My intention is to fly to Washington, DC, and go straight to the Irish Embassy. I will explain who I am and that I need to return to Ireland as soon as possible.”
Dr. Mansfield opened a desk drawer and pulled out a large envelope. “This may prove useful,” he said, handing it to me.
“What is this?”
“A complete dossier on Siobhan ‘Siren’ Gallagher.”
I opened the envelope, pulled out a few of the pages, and looked through them. “You know everything about my life? I don’t understand why you didn’t tell me.”
“Because you needed to remember on your own, Siobhan. Not reconstruct your memory based on things I told you. Do you understand the difference?”
The fact that I did, did not diminish the rage I was feeling at that moment.
“I do not want Smoke to know any of this. That I was here, where I’m going. Nothing.”
“There is an easy solution to that.”
“What?”
He opened a different desk drawer. “This form removes Mr. Torcher currently from your medical power of attorney. Once you’ve completed it, he has no legal means by which to access your medical records.”
“He could trace my whereabouts that way,” I mumbled.
“That is correct.”
“Please.”
“There’s one more thing,” Dr. Mansfield said when I stood to leave. “I want you to know that I truly do believe Smoke cares about you, Siobhan. I wouldn’t say so otherwise.”
“It doesn’t matter whether he does or not, because I do not care about him.”
“I hope you’ll keep in touch,” he said as he walked me to the door.
“When I can, I will.”
“Best of luck to you, Miss Gallagher.”
* * *
Before I left his office, I placed a call to another car service and then dismantled my phone. I tucked part of it under the cushion of the sofa in the waiting room. The other part, I dropped in the trash can near the hospital’s entrance.
I returned to the courtyard where Maureen sat waiting with her suitcase and asked her to remove the small bag I’d given her earlier.
“Follow me,” I said, leading her back out to where the car service I’d called was waiting.