Page 2 of Agent of the Heart (Hearts in Hawthorne #3)

“Any family?”

“None.”

They had that in common. Jace worked long hours, rarely taking any time off.

Vacation wasn’t in his vocabulary. Sure, he dated.

It was important at times to have a beautiful woman on his arm at different events he attended, but he had never been seriously involved with any woman.

Something had started to nag at him recently, and he knew he wanted more than the business life he led.

It was what had urged him to seek out Eli.

And a little voice kept whispering in his ear how much he’d like a wife and family.

“You haven’t spoken to Eli, though, have you?”

“No. Your instructions were clear on that, Jace. Find your brother. Find out all I could about him.” He passed the manila folder to Jace.

“Everything I’ve learned is in here. I followed him around for a few days to see what his habits are like.

From all appearances, he’s a good guy. I think you’ll hit it off if you contact him. ”

Jace flipped through the file, looking at Crawford’s notes. Checking the DNA test. Skimming interviews with several people.

“I know you asked those you spoke with to keep things confidential, but someone is bound to say something to him.”

“True. Which is why you should talk to him. I’ve listed his cell phone number so you can do that.”

He couldn’t call. Already, he knew he was going to be tongue-tied around his big brother. And to have to tell Eli that he got adopted when Eli had spent years in foster care would be a hard pill for his brother to swallow. He might not want anything to do with Jace.

But he could go see him. Talk face-to-face.

Standing, he offered his hand. “Thank you, Crawford. You’ve done a really thorough job. You had very little to go on, and yet you found Eli.”

“I told you I would do it. It just took time.” The investigator stood and took Jace’s hand, shaking it. “You’ll be receiving my bill. If you have a heart attack when you see the number owed, tell that pretty admin to pay it before you kick the bucket.”

He laughed. “I’ll do that.”

After Crawford left, Jace got on his computer. He looked up the Houston hospital where Eli worked. He was right. The staff picture was the one Crawford had first showed him. A restless feeling passed over him, causing him to make an instant decision.

Buzzing Elena, she came in. “What’s up?”

“Book me on the next available flight to Houston.”

Without asking what he was up to, she asked, “And your return?”

“Open. I’ll probably fly back tonight.”

She looked at her watch. “I’ll have your car service pick you up downstairs. Head to Love Field. I’ll text you your details.”

He left the office before he lost his courage. By the time he got downstairs, his car and driver were waiting for him.

“No luggage, Mr. Tanner?”

“Not this trip.”

Before they reached the airport, Elena sent him his flight number and time.

He checked in and went through security and to his gate.

While he waited for his plane to arrive and its passengers to disembark, he spent his time on his phone, answering emails.

Elena had sent one, outlining the meetings she’d rescheduled for the rest of the day.

She’d also cancelled all his meetings for tomorrow on the off-chance he wouldn’t make it back tonight.

His admin was worth every penny he paid her—and then some.

After he boarded, he turned off his cell and closed his eyes. Jace had the uncanny ability to fall asleep anywhere. He napped for the forty-five minutes they were in the air and awoke refreshed. When he reached the front entrance, Jace spied his name on a card a driver was holding.

“I’m Jace Tanner.”

“Right this way, Mr. Tanner.”

Once in the car, he gave the driver the name of the hospital.

“We should be there in about forty minutes, Mr. Tanner, barring any traffic accidents.”

“It’s Houston,” he said. “There’ll be accidents. I’ve never been here when there weren’t any.”

He worked his phone again, wondering how sports agents in the previous generation had been able to do their jobs without a cell phone.

Lost in thought, it startled him when the driver announced, “This is it, Mr. Tanner.”

Looking up, he saw they were pulling up to the front of the hospital. “Take me around to the ER.”

The driver did as he requested, and they weaved their way through construction in the parking lot to get there.

“Thank you,” he said.

“Ms. Arturo told me to wait for you, wherever I took you, whether it was ten minutes or ten hours.”

Nodding, Jace said, “Thank you. I’m not sure how long I’ll be inside.”

“I’ll be here when you’re done.”

When he entered the emergency room, he could feel the electric buzz.

Everyone was in hurry-up mode, something he understood.

He headed to the desk. Ahead of him was a crying boy, about three, holding his arm.

His mother held the boy, and she was crying, too.

Other patients were waiting in chairs, some looking worse for the wear.

The doors opened, and two paramedics rushed in, wheeling a stretcher. A doctor in a white coat met them as one EMT quickly gave a status report on the incoming patient. Within seconds, the patient was wheeled away.

Others in scrubs and white coats were moving from place to place, taking care of the injured. He could feel the rush of excitement and wondered if that was what Eli might be addicted to. Then again, he could simply be an excellent physician who preferred practicing emergency medicine.

The mother and son in front of him were led away, and the receptionist turned to him.

“How may I help you?” she asked.

“Nothing is wrong with me,” he assured her. “I just need to see Dr. Eli Carson if he’s available.”

She looked at him sympathetically. “I’m sorry. Dr. Carson is no longer with us.”

“What?”

He had just gotten Crawford’s report. How could his brother’s job status have changed in a few hours’ time?

“Dr. Carson left for another job opportunity,” she informed him.

“His final shift was last night. Frankly, I think it’ll be good for him.

Dr. Carson was universally loved, but he also burned the candle at both ends, if you know what I mean.

I think he was headed for burnout. A lot of ER physicians experience it. ”

“Can you tell me where he’s gone?”

She frowned. “I’m not really sure I should?—”

“He’s my brother,” Jace blurted out. “I haven’t seen him since we were kids. Our mom had to give us up, and we were separated. I just now tracked him down. To here.”

Jace had never given out as much personal information about himself as he did in those few seconds. Apparently, what he shared worked.

“Dr. Carson has taken a job as the medical director of a new regional hospital in Montague County. I don’t know the name, but it’s supposed to open in the next few months. I’m sure you can find it online.”

“Thank you.”

He wandered back outside, stunned by what he’d just learned. To have come this far and be so close to reuniting with Eli.

His car pulled up, and the driver got out, opening the rear door for Jace. “Where to, Mr. Tanner?”

“The airport.”

First, he texted Elena and asked her to book him a return flight ASAP.

Next, he began searching for the new hospital.

He found a Hogan Health medical facility in Montague County was scheduled to open in early June, and the town was called Hawthorne.

Pulling up a map of cities in North Texas, he found Hawthorne was located between Gainesville and Decatur, right on the southeastern edge of Montague County.

Probably eighty miles or so from his office in downtown Dallas.

With traffic—and no direct interstate—it could be anywhere from ninety minutes to two hours away.

Jace closed his eyes. Maybe doing a face-to-face with Eli wasn’t the way to go. He couldn’t be rash about this and blow his one chance to get to know his brother after so many years apart. Maybe he could go to Hawthorne and observe Eli. Meet him in some casual way.

He decided to put Erasmus Crawford back on the job and texted him to call him right away.

Seconds later, his phone rang.

“He wasn’t there,” Jace said. “He just left for a new job. Yesterday was his last day at the ER.”

“Where is he? What do you need?”

He shared the name of the new hospital and its location. “Find out everything you can about him. What he’s doing. Where he’s living. I mean everything. And then come to my office.”

“I assume this is a rush job.”

“You assume correctly.”

Jace ended the connection. He would be more circumspect this second time. Find out as much as he could about Eli and his new place of employment.

But now that he knew his brother was alive and in Texas, nothing was going to stop him from reuniting with all he had left of his family.