Page 150 of The Ampersand Effect

His words hit her only milliseconds before her understanding. But Haleigh’s own understanding was quicker—measured in the length of heartbeats—her hand squeezing Grier’s shoulder in preventive intervention.

Grier’s heart plummeted to her gut, then rebounded to her throat, where it lodged uncomfortably. She shook her head, tears already starting to fall despite her efforts to not give Vanders that satisfaction. She was beyond her own control now.

“You didn’t…”

Vanders’s smile intensified. Grier could feel the vibration of his satisfaction radiate in the room. He was gloating.

“CPS was notified of this egregious case of child neglect a few hours ago,” he said, glancing at his watch—performing. “A caseworker should be arriving any minute to complete their evaluation. Once that’s complete, medical decision-making will be transferred to the assigned Healthcare Provider Authority.”

He looked up, eyes locking with hers. “To me.” “Victor…”

Haleigh’s normally confident voice was hushed and broken. Grier felt their shoulders brush as Haleigh stepped forward, approaching Vanders for her own confrontation.

“This is too far. Even for you.”

Haleigh walked right up to Vanders, her steps measured and unflinching. He stood to meet her and exert his entire six-foot frame over her in a show of physical power.

“I hope you’re prepared to face Dr. Miles and the Peer Review Committee,” Haleigh said, her voice calm by razor-edged.

“Dr. Miles isn’t here, Haleigh.” Vanders’s voice was low and smug. “In case you haven’t noticed, the old dodger is off his game. He’s on his way out. And I’m taking over. I suggest—and I’ll only offer this courtesy once—you get behind me where you belong. Or I’ll get you out of my way.”

Grier watched through watery eyes as Haleigh drew herself up to her full height and looked Vanders directly in his hollow eyes.

“If you haven’t figured it out by now, Victor,” Haleigh said evenly, “you don’t scare me. But you should be scaredofme.”

At that, she turned on the balls of her feet and ushered Grier out of the room.

Grier was silent as Haleigh basically herded her into her office and shut the door behind them. She felt the weight of the conversation, and the gravity of what Haleigh’s defiance would mean for the surgeon. Haleigh had risked her career in defense of Jonah, and in solidarity with Grier. Her shoulders were heavy with the burden of that responsibility.

“Haleigh—”

“No, Grier. Don’t even say it,” Haleigh’s voice was clipped, controlling her anger. “He went too far.”

She picked up her phone and began dialing a number by heart. Grier waited patiently while the line connected, hearing the faint ringing through the earpiece pressed against herfriend’s ear. Their eyes connected, and she felt a rush of resolve wash over her, seeing the intensity of determination in Haleigh’s eyes. Whatever was about to happen, Haleigh was in charge now.

“Mrs. Miles, it’s Haleigh Rhodes.”

Haleigh smiled at Grier while Mrs. Miles offered her greeting on the other end of the line. “We’ve got a situation at the hospital I’m certain your husband would want to be made aware of. I’m coming to visit—and I’m bringing a friend.”

Twenty-Seven

“This really was a brilliant idea,” Anchor confessed, squatting beside a cooler as she filled it with bottles of water for the campers. It was the final day of the final camp session, and everyone—campers and volunteers alike—buzzed with jittery excitement as they unpacked the van and set up their station at the farmer’s market.

Tobin scanned the bustling setup, noting how it had evolved over the summer. Suggestions from volunteers and campers had shaped meaningful improvements for the humans and dogs alike. The dog pen now had a variety of activities for the dogs, from pools to tunnels. The booth itself had a new canopy emblazoned with a customFetch a Friendlogo and QR codes for easy access to mobile adoption applications. For the past several weeks, the rescue had adopted out at least three dogs at each Saturday farmers market event.

This new success had allowed them to postpone the fundraiser at Vinny’s. The money from the camps and adoptions had provided the cushion they needed, giving them time to plan a less rushed event. And they hoped moving the fundraiser to winter—in the absence of the camps and farmers market—would create an opportunity for funding when they’d need it more.

“You think you’ll do the camps again next summer?” Tobin asked, her eyes fixed over the lake, noting the colors of the changing sky above.

Anchor followed her gaze, hands on her hips as she scrutinized the cloud formations gathering over Lake Aetheridge. Her brows furrowed. “Definitely. Maybe with the extra notice we’ll be able to add a few sessions, too.” Her voice drifted, distracted by the sky. “You think we’ll get anything?” she asked, nodding toward the distant thunderheads, a dubious expression in her eyes.

Tobin shivered as a gust of wind cut through the humid morning. The summer had been unusually dry. They hadn’t seen real rain in weeks—nothing substantial since the storm that rushed her and Grier off the hiking trail—and into each other’s arms.

“I hope so,” she responded solemnly.

They needed it. The mayor had issued fire warnings, and everyone knew the forest was basically a tinder box awaiting ignition. One misplaced flame and the forest—and Aetheridge proper—would be at risk of a Pompeii-like incineration.

Tobin’s eyes shifted to the dog pen, scanning the attachment points with practiced precision. Satisfied, she and Anchor walked to the van to start unloading the dogs. The pups were whining for attention, and Tobin was eager to dole out some scritches before everyone arrived, including Delta and Grier.