Death at First Sight (Spero Heights Book 2) by Angela Roquet Page A

was tied at the back of his head, and though his hair was silver, his face had a youthful glow about it. Light stubble lined his jaw, and dark, gray eyes took her in with curious concern.
    “You had quite an episode. Are you on any medications?” he asked.
    Lia thought of the new drugs Saunders had given her, and then of the safes lining the closet shelf in the rundown apartment she’d fled. The man’s eyes blinked in surprise, and she quickly looked away from him.
    “It’s okay,” he said softly. “You’re safe here, and you can tell me anything. Doctor-patient confidentiality.” He placed a hand over his heart as if making a solemn vow to her.
    “I should go,” Lia said, trying to stand again. Her head throbbed and she sat back down just as quickly.
    “I really shouldn’t release you until I’ve done a proper evaluation.”
    Lia’s heart raced, her childhood memories feuding with the remnants of her vision. “I don’t have insurance,” she rasped in between several deep breaths.
    “You’re going to hyperventilate. You need to relax. Also, Orpheus House is a community-funded facility. No insurance or copay required,” he said with a tender smile. “Why don’t you rest a bit first? I’ll go shower before we begin.”
    Lia’s heart sank. He was going to lock her in there, probably until his shift was over and he could pawn her off on the next doctor. As if he’d read her mind, the man touched her shoulder, squeezing it gently.
    “I’ll be back in half an hour. Cross my heart,” he said.
    A pink flush filled his cheeks as he left the room. He paused at the doorway and turned back to her. “I’m Christian, by the way. Christian Delph. Welcome to Spero Heights, Lia.” He stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind him.
    Lia considered checking to see if it was locked, but even if she wasn’t trapped there, she had no idea where she would go. All she knew about the little town was its name—and that it had its very own little prison for all the crazies like her.
    This new doctor seemed harmless enough. He wouldn’t be able to fix her, but maybe she could humor him until he gave her a clean bill of health and let her out of there. Then maybe she could find someplace to lay low that wasn’t a hospital. It didn’t seem like such an unreasonable goal.
    She looked down at the bed she was sitting on. The sheets smelled fresh. And the mattress was soft and even. When had she last slept? When Saunders transported her across the state in the trunk of his new cruiser?
    The silence in the small room tickled her ears. Mixed with the pounding in her head and the hollow ache in her stomach, she could hardly focus on anything, let alone a realistic escape plan. What she needed was food and rest. The former would have to wait, but she decided she could at least manage the latter.
    She peeled off her grimy hoodie and dropped it to the floor before curling up under the soft bedsheets and closing her eyes. As sleep claimed her, her mind vaguely wrapped around the fact that she hadn’t told the doctor her name. How had he known? She didn’t contemplate it long. She just wanted to get out of there before his death. Witnessing it once had been enough.
    Soon her breath slowed and she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

 
    Chapter Ten
     
     
    Dr. Delph paced his office with his hands on his hips and a deep crease dissecting his brow. He was still in his running clothes, and he could smell himself.
    “Are you sure you don’t want a second opinion?” Zelda asked again. She sat in one of the guest chairs, her legs stretched out before her and ankles crossed.
    Dr. Delph shook his head. “She’s spooked enough, and understandably so after what she’s been through.” He was still trying to sort through the pieces he’d picked from her frantic mind.
    Lia James’ head was like a graveyard. It was full of death and loneliness. Dr. Delph couldn’t decide if she was deranged or had lived the most