Caged (2 page)

To watch a once violent or repressed person rehabilitate, regain their confidence and begin their lives again, some going on to have families and jobs was the best feeling in the world. Knowing I’d helped them to cope with their demons was worth more than my wages alone.

And, without sounding conceited, I’d achieved just that with all the men and women under my care. To me, failing them wasn’t an option. I couldn’t and wouldn’t let them down. And I’d had some tough cases over the years. Some that had tested me to my very limits.

But none would ever test me like Judd Asher.

B
ETTY SMILED WIDELY AT ME
when I flashed my badge at the security guy and stepped into the hospital room accommodating my newest patient, Judd Asher, the man everyone wanted access to going by the size of the crowd that had gathered outside the hospital.

Judd’s name, face, life story – or what was known of it – and even speculation over his condition was on every TV news show and internet site, and every newspaper and radio station in the country. It was big news, people wanting to know what he was like and what the Dawsons had done to that four-year-old boy for the past twenty-one years. However, when my gaze slowly found the popular man, it wasn’t intrigue or even curiosity I felt. It was anger and grief.

“I’m glad you’re taking him, Kloe,” Betty said, directing my stare away from the sedated man laid peacefully on the hard hospital bed. I had to wonder, though, if he’d ever slept in a bed before. “He needs someone willing to give him patience. You’re the only one I know that handles all their patients with that level of composure.”

I smiled genuinely at the nurse I dealt with often, many of my cases first starting in her care before they moved on to mine. “How’s he doing?”

She blew out a breath, her sad eyes moving back to Judd as she shook her head. “He’s a mess, Kloe. I’ll admit, never seen anything like this one. The poor love.”

I nodded, agreeing with her. “Your initial assessment?”

She handed me some papers to glance over as she shared her observations with me. “Extremely withdrawn but violent, hence why he’s currently under sedation for both his safety and ours.”

I nodded again, grimacing at Judd’s basic obs, his weight especially. The poor man was seriously underweight.

“He’s awfully malnourished. I’d even go so far as to say he’s never had a proper meal in his life. When he was brought in he was struggling to walk. Whether that was due to weak bones from lack of nutrients or just because he’d been locked up we have yet to determine. X-rays show a total of fourteen broken bones that have healed over time without medical attention.”

I hissed out a swear word under my breath, taking a step closer to Judd. Frowning, I gently ran my fingers over the bandages around his wrists, my gaze slipping to identical ones around his ankles.

“He was found chained up, Kloe.”

I shot her a glance. “Wrists and ankles?”

She nodded. “Yeah, skin and flesh is severely infected. As is his back.”

“His back?”

She inhaled deeply through her nose, the faint whistle loud in the silence that had descended around us. “Various welts. Some old, some new.”

“He’s been thrashed?” I couldn’t keep the shock out of my voice and Betty flinched.

“Yeah. We’ve been pushing antibiotics into him, but it’s the deeper wounds I’m more concerned for.”

My stomach twisted with anger. My mind was full of the horrors of what that poor four-year old boy had gone through over the years.

“There’s something else,” Betty whispered, the chilling tone her voice had dropped to making my skin break out with goosebumps.

She came to stand beside me, her fingers curling around my wrist as she looked sorrowfully at her patient. “His anus is severely bruised. There were hints of old semen present as well.”

Closing my eyes I groaned in frustration. “Jesus.”

“I have a feeling his rehabilitation is going to test you, Kloe. But I have every faith now I know you’ll be the one taking his hand and guiding him to the other side.”

“You make me sound like an angel.” I couldn’t help but chuckle as I wrapped an arm around my friend and hugged her with appreciation.

“You are,” she replied with a soft smile. “To so many you really are.”

I wasn’t sure I agreed with her but I returned her smile. “I’ll say something, Betty. If those bastards who had him weren’t already dead, I’d gut them myself.”

“You and me both,” she answered as I placed my bag onto the bed table and rolled up my sleeves.

Knowing what I was doing, Betty proceeded to fill a small bowl with warm water and handed me a washcloth, soap and a towel. I always preferred to wash my patients myself, with Betty’s supervision as was hospital policy. To me, it was the start of my care and the beginning of their recovery. It also allowed me to study any injuries, old or new, that each had.

Yet for some strange reason, seeing Judd dirty and the revolting smell of his body odour saddened me even more. He was a grown man. He would have his pride, battered or not.

His long blonde hair was the first of my careful bathing. Usually, the hospital or clinic hairdresser would come along and cut it, but strangely, I liked Judd’s long, thick hair, even if it was dirty and matted. After washing it twice then brushing through it the best I could, I fixed it on top of his head in a trendy man bun. I had to question if he was even aware of what was fashionable – I doubted it.

I trimmed his long beard, leaving quite a bit still embellishing his extremely handsome face that had been hidden underneath. He had the longest eyelashes I had ever seen. They fell onto prominent cheekbones, of course due to his lack of nourishment. His pale lips were full, and somewhat surprisingly, his teeth were exceptionally white and healthy. Betty said it was due to never having sugar or acidy food and drinks. I understood that, but I couldn’t help smiling at the small positive for him.

Washing his body made my jaw clench in agony when I came across different wounds. His skinny form was covered in bruises, scars and recent injuries, each one trying to tell me his story and bringing out a rage I’d never felt before.

What the hell had those people done to him?

Eventually, with fresh sheets and pyjamas and smelling a whole lot better, Judd looked a damn sight more human.

“Everything is in here, as usual.” Betty passed me the standard file of information for me to familiarise myself with. “I reckon he’ll be here for a good few weeks before he’s transferred to Seven Oaks.”

Seven Oaks was the rehabilitation home my patients resided in while they received therapy and care. It was a private clinic owned by Genesis Convalescence, who I worked for. Usually each case we took on was paid for privately by family, but in rare extreme circumstances, such as with Judd, the local authority contracted out to us, especially if no relatives were able to pay.

“I’ll be back in tomorrow.”

She had expected my answer. My therapy started straight away, not when I started to get paid for it. Betty knew this, and she gave me a knowing smile as I walked out of the door.

B
EN GLARED AT ME WHEN
I rushed up to our table. “Sorry,” I breathed as he stood up to greet me with a barely-there kiss to my cheek. Forcing a smile I turned to our guests. “Hi, I’m so sorry. Big case came up at work.”

Ben harrumphed quietly and I lowered my face, hiding the blush to my cheeks.

Sarah, Ben’s PA, stood and held out her hand, the usual disdain in her eyes glaringly obvious. “Better late than never, Kloe.”

“Large Chardonnay,” I told the waiter when he came to take my order. By the looks of the empty plates on the table it was obvious my dinner companions hadn’t waited for me.

“Anything to eat, madam?”

Shaking my head as I dropped my hand into Ben’s client’s huge hand to shake, I said quietly, “Just a drink, thank you.”

“Mrs Grant.” Ben’s client smiled. “It’s so good to finally meet you.” If his words hadn’t been accompanied by a soft twinkle in his gaze I would have thought he was being sarcastic. Apparently it was only Ben and Sarah who were annoyed with me.

“Ah, we’re used to Kloe’s time keeping.” Ben chuckled as if telling a joke but I could hear the underlying irritation with me. Then turning to me, he finally introduced his client. “Kloe, this is Hugh Barnstable. Hugh, my wife, Kloe.”

“You weren’t kidding when you told me how beautiful she is.”

I laughed, nudging Hugh gently with my elbow. I didn’t miss the fierce glare Sarah shot at Ben. A pain severed my chest, but coughing, I slapped a smile on my face and turned back to Hugh. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr Barnstable.”

“Please, call me Hugh.” He was a typical elder gentleman, his white bushy eyebrows the only hair left on his head and his round body making me see him as a jolly grandfather.

Gesturing for me to sit, Hugh pushed my chair in under me and took the seat beside me. I didn’t fail to miss how Ben and Sarah sat closely at the other side of the square table.

“So, tell me,” Hugh spoke with an enthusiastic voice. “What do you do, Kloe?”

Thanking the waiter when he placed my drink in front of me, I took a large gulp before answering. “I’m a therapist.”

His eyes widened. “Really? In what forte?”

“Post-stress rehabilitation.”

He nodded, giving me more smiles. Usually Ben’s business dinners focussed around his work as a lawyer, and it was refreshing to be included. I liked Hugh instantly. I did notice, too, how his angry glare kept cutting to Ben and Sarah who were engrossed in their own private discussion. Sarah’s frequent giggle made my skin crawl.

“I would garner that a very hard but productive job, Mrs Grant.”

“Please, call me Kloe. And yes, it’s thoroughly hard work, but so worthwhile. To see a once withdrawn and frightened client finally make a home and a family, for them to be able to smile every morning, it then becomes the best job in the world.”

Hugh took a sip of his brandy after giving me the biggest smile. “Are you aware of the man who has been found after twenty-one years?”

Taking another drink, I gave him a nod. “It’s hard not to, really. He’s a popular subject with the media right now.”

“So, is that the kind of client you work with?”

It was nice that Hugh was interested in my work. Ben and I didn’t really talk much about our jobs. We’d both come to the conclusion that neither of us had an inkling what the other was on about. But sometimes it would just be nice to curl up after a hard day and vent to each other.

The evening followed much the same, Hugh and I talking about everything in general, and Ben and Sarah lost in their own little world. Hugh looked ready to launch for Sarah by the end, a bit like me, really. Her never-ending fits of flirty giggles with my husband had given me a damn hernia after all the muscle tension.

“Well, it was lovely to meet you.” Hugh reached in and gave my cheek a lingering kiss. “Please don’t act the fool, Kloe,” he whispered in my ear before he pulled away.

I blinked back the tears and gave him a nod.

“And I hope we can catch up soon.” He handed me his card which I slipped into my bag.

“Me too,” I told him honestly when he gave my hand a soft squeeze.