54

Rand and Andy had split up the afternoon home calls, which also gave them time to go by the hospital first before heading out. Rand had checked on his three inpatients and gone to his car. He drove back through the downtown area. His first patient lived about fifteen miles away in that direction. When he saw Chelsea waving, he pulled over and parked.

“What’s up?”

“Marian called and said she’d meet me here fifteen minutes ago. The druggist and Abby at the cash register said she never came in.”

“It’s a small town. Did you check around? She may have decided to go in one of the other shops.”

“Marian’s reliable. If she did, she’d never leave me waiting this long.” He glanced down both sides of the street. “Where did she call from?”

“Your office, I think. She said she was going to leave toys she’d bought there and go to the drugstore to get magazines to bring in tomorrow.”

“I can’t imagine what would hold her up this long at the office