“Where’s my lunch?” Layla thumped the table and raised her voice to a shout. “I’m hungry.” She swept a hand over the tablecloth, knocking the stained cutlery and paper napkins to the floor.

Salman and his bodyguards stared at her in stunned silence. And then Salman smiled. “I like a woman with passion.” He gestured to the nearest bodyguard. “You. Go to the kitchen. Bring poppadums and samosas. Tell Freida she’ll have to cook with one hand, and make sure she doesn’t get blood in the food.”

Unable to contain her horror, Layla sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes going wide. “Blood?”

“Joking. I’m just joking.” Salman patted her hand. “The meal will be out shortly. Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’ll have a pint of whatever you’ve got on tap.” Layla put one leg up on the chair beside her, draping her arm over the back of Imaginary Sam’s seat. “And you.” She pointed at the nearest bodyguard. “Turn on the TV. The Padres are playing the Diamondbacks. I want to see the score. They’re both leading the Giants right now on wins.”

“Do as the lady asks,” Salman said to the guard. “Put on the game and get her a drink. It seems Layla and I have something else in common.”

No. No. No. She could just imagine Sam smirking in the chair beside her. Bracing herself for the lightning that would undoubtedly strike when she betrayed her beloved team, she took a deep breath and sank to the ultimate low. “Actually, I’m an A’s fan.” She punched the air. “Go, A’s.”

Salman stood so quickly his chair toppled over. “I’m sorry. You’ll have to go. I can’t be with an A’s supporter. When I did my time in San Quentin, it was A’s fans who . . .” He tugged on his shirt collar, as if he couldn’t get enough air. “Let’s just say they took rivalry to a whole new level.”

“So . . .” Layla struggled to hide her delight. “You don’t want me?”

“No.” He shook his head, turning away as if she were a bad smell. “Please leave.”

Layla made a quick escape and texted Daisy to let her know she was safe.

I’m never going to let you live that down. Imaginary Sam smirked.

“I miss you, Sam,” she whispered. “Blind dates aren’t much fun without you.”

• 26 •

“I’M afraid we have to let you go, Diane. On behalf of St. Vincent’s Hospital, thank you for your service.”

Sam handed the bewildered woman a termination package. St. Vincent’s Hospital was the first Alpha Health Care facility to face redundancies. The company had started the layoffs almost immediately after the press release was issued, and Sam was now in the unfortunate position of having to fire some of his former colleagues and friends.

“But I’m the longest-serving employee here,” she protested, pushing back her silver hair. “I was the first cook they hired. I know everybody. I even remember you, Sam. I just got my thirty-year pin. Who’s going to want someone my age?”

Karen gave her a tight smile. She had been assigned to St. Vincent’s Hospital and was delighted to work with Sam again so soon. “You’ve seen a lot of changes in those thirty years, Diane. Changes that have made the hospital more efficient and better able to serve the needs of our patients. The automation of the restaurant is just another way we can save costs and pass those on to patient care. You do want the best for the sick and injured, don’t you?”

“Yes, but—”

“And I know you wouldn’t want to stand in the way of progress . . .”

Sam had to hand it to Karen. She had that rare skill of appearing sympathetic while being utterly brutal underneath. Royce would have loved her technique.

“Well, no . . . But . . .”

Sam tried to tune out her story, but his usual tricks didn’t work. The walls he’d built to protect himself had come down. He felt deeply for this woman who had tried to cheer him up on the hardest days of his residency, and he couldn’t hide his compassion behind platitudes and lies.

Karen segued into the paperwork, handing over Diane’s final check and the termination contract. She explained the details and then looked at Sam expectantly.

Sam opened his mouth, but nothing came out. How could he tell her how to fix her life when he hadn’t figured out how to fix his own?

“Sam has a little speech,” Karen prompted.

“Actually, I don’t.”

Karen snickered. “You’re supposed to tell her to think of it as an opportunity, try something new, put the past behind her, blah blah blah.”

Blah. Blah. Blah. Karen had hit the nail on the head. His speech was nothing but air.

Sam handed Diane one of Layla’s EXCELLENT RECRUITMENT SOLUTIONS cards. She’d left them in the trash after clearing her stuff out of the office. He wasn’t sure if that meant she’d decided to close up her business or if she was starting something new, but he’d kept them and tucked some into his wallet for no reason other than that he liked seeing her name. “If you are looking for work, try Layla Patel. She’s the best. Very caring and supportive. She has a good roster of corporate employers and she’ll make sure you find something worthy of your talents. She might not be at that address, but her social media and phone details will be the same.”

“You’ve lost your edge,” Karen said when he returned from seeing Diane out.

“I have a lot on my mind.”

“Well, you’d better get focused because the board agreed to include medical professionals in the layoffs. Dealing with surgeons who think they’re gods is a totally different ball game.”

“I think I can handle it.”

“I almost forgot to give you this.” She handed him a computer access token. “Royce told Peter you would need access to the employee database to flag any high-profile employees who might prove difficult if they’re targeted for redundancy. No one wants a lawsuit or a PR nightmare.”

Sam’s hand shook when he took the token. Either Royce felt guilty for what he had done to the Patels or he finally understood Sam’s need to avenge his sister. In any event, he was finally holding the key to his redemption.

“Are you okay?” Karen asked. “You kinda look like Charlie when he found the Golden Ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

When Sam gave her a puzzled stare, she shook her head. “Never mind. You don’t have kids.”

“When is our next meeting?”

“After lunch.” She licked her lips. “You want to christen the boardroom in our special way?”