A Bounty of Pictures

Chapter 13

Parker pulls the metal door open to a typical office building. A woman behind a front desk finishes shoving papers into a file when she looks up.

"If you're here to visit Dr. Douglass, he's not accepting any more patients for the rest of the month." She pushes her red glasses up her nose and picks up another file.

"Um, I'm not sure if we're meeting a Dr. Douglass. We were told to meet someone here." Parker says confused.

"So did everyone else." Me and Parker look at each other. The woman looks back up, "look, the office closed at five thirty. You can come back tomorrow. Or leave a message."

"Can we have a piece of paper and a pen?" I ask. The woman throws a pad of paper and a pen on top the desk. I write a note and sign it. The woman looks at my name.

"Chloe Jansen and Parker Wright?" The woman finally looks at us. We both nod and she straightens up before walking around the counter. "I'm Barbara. Follow me." She hustles away in her high heels, not even Parker's long legs could keep up with her. She opens a door to a doctor's type office.

"Dr. Novak." Barbara states to a man sitting behind the reception desk. "Chloe Jansen and Parker Wright are here."

Dr. Novak scratches his chin and stands up from the chair. We shake hands and he puts his hands in his lab jacket pockets.

"We've met. Haven't we?" I ask. Something sparks my recognition.

"Yes. That day I spilled the coffee at Stars Cafe." He almost smirks.

Parker touches my shoulder, "wait. That's the guy you gave your name to?"

"Yes, I am. I had to make sure she's was the Chloe Jansen."

"Why are we here?" Parker asks.

Dr. Novak opens a door leading to a hallway of examination rooms. We follow him a small office with framed diplomas hanging on the walls.

"Please take a seat." He gestures to two chairs. He opens a drawer and places a federal agent badge on the desk.

"So you're a federal agent? Like the FBI?" I ask.

"Not exactly. I'm a bounty hunter for the state."
Parker and I look at each other.

"But you're a doctor?" Parker asks confused.

"Yes, I am. Bounty hunting is kind of like a side job. I was a marine medic in college. Bounty hunting jobs are not common here so I depend on my patients for income."

"And how does it affect us?" I ask.

"I was on a job that night on September nineteenth. Me and a colleague were in the car opposite of the shooter." Dr. Novak stretches with a yawn, "sorry, long day. But what happened in September is a long story that you need to know."

We sit in silence waiting for him to continue.
"Richard Myers was to appear in court on September seventeenth. But he ran out of town and he was last sighted with some high school friends here. I was asked to join the search for him. The friends asked for money in exchange for the bail money and they'll turn him over. As bounty hunters, our best weapon is surprise. We also cannot turn people into the authorities with even the smallest scratch. So we gave them a piece of paper with a bank account number. Then one of the friends shot my colleague, he well in the hospital as of now, but it was a close hit to the heart. I lost my wedding ring that night. It's worth over ten thousand dollars because it is my great grandfather's ring."

"We found the ring!" I exclaim.

Dr. Novak's hazel brown eyes light up, "really? Do you have it?"

"No, Peyton had it and it wasn't found in the car. We thought you had it because you said you had something to give us."

"I'm terribly sorry, but I had to lie to pull you in. I knew you wouldn't come if I just said you to. My work is serious business and I don't want many people knowing I'm a bounty hunter."

We nod, not completely understanding.

"I am terribly sorry for your loss too. I assume Peyton's murder hit you hard."

"I'm sorry, what? You said Peyton's murder. You don't believe he committed suicide either?" Parker asks.

"No, I know the friends of Myer's killed him. Myer's friends are dangerous."

"So then why don't you talk to Sergeant Harlow?" I ask.

"Because Harlow is one of Myer's friends."

*Insert dramatic music*. I always pictured Dr. Novak as Alaric from Vampire Diaries. Honestly don't know why. I promised a new chapter every Saturday and here it is!! Don't forget to vote! And comment! I love knowing what you think!
Angela