Remember Me (10 page)

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Brett stood outside Cassandra’s room, and his fists clenched tightly at the sound of laughter inside. He recognized Cassandra’s voice, and he himself had never heard her laugh like that, it sounded almost angelic.
I’m supposed to be the only one who can make her laugh like that, her happiness should be because of me!
Opening the cracked door a little wider, he froze as all three women inside turned and looked at him, their laughter subsiding. Clearing his throat self-consciously, he put on his best smile and stepped inside. “Hello, Karen. I understand you had rough time while I was away.” he said, not liking the way the older black woman was looking at him, as if she could see all his carefully hidden secrets. His eyes darted over to Cynne’, who’s face wore a similar expression.
I ought to kill you, you meddling little bitch…
he thought.
Unaware of her mother’s distrust of Brett, Cassandra smiled brightly, stretching her hand out to him. “Brett! Hi, come in and meet my mother, Jocelyn Ames.”
With the false smile still in place, he nodded at Jocelyn and mumbled, “Nice to meet you.” and extended his hand.
“Doctor..” was all she said as she shook his hand quickly.
Walking to the head of the bed, he leaned down and gave Cassandra a hug, and had to struggle to keep from releasing a moan of pleasure at feeling her warm body in his arms.
“Mom, Brett’s the one who has been taking care of me ever since I was injured.” she said as she smiled up at him brightly and warmly.
As Jocelyn watched the two of them it was clear to her that the man had more than just professional concern for her daughter. T
his man is not helping her…
she thought automatically. “Well, I suppose I should be thankful to you…” she replied slowly with a neutral expression.
His thin lips twisted into a cynical smile, knowing the woman wasn’t the least bit thankful. “You’re welcome, it‘s been my pleasure. Uhhh, ladies, could you please give me a few minutes with Karen, alone?” he asked briskly as he opened her chart, making it seem more of an order than a request. He was also legitimately checking to see what had been done with her in his absence. He had gotten rid of the blood, erased the orders for the lab tests from the computer, and he wanted to make sure nothing was documented that could possibly show the drugs he was giving her.
“Cassandra!” Jocelyn snapped, discarding all pretenses of false civility. “Her name is Cassandra,
DOCTOR
. She’ll be twenty-nine years old in two weeks, she has a son whose name is Regan, he is six years of age, and she’s married to Granger
Mortenson
. ”
Putting the chart back in place, he turned around and looked at her. From the look on his face, it was evident to everyone in the room he wasn’t used to being addressed in such a manner.
Narrowing her eyes, she openly glared at him. She knew all about people like him and Grace Mortenson. Always putting on a show of respectability, while in reality their hearts were as black as coal and cold as a December morning in the mountains. He wasn’t what he appeared to be, she was certain of that. His good looks and dapper dress was covering for something very bad….very evil. “There’s so much more about MY baby I’m going to tell her.” she said as she rose to feet and kissed her daughter on the forehead. That done, she shot him one last withering glare and left the room.
Smirking in silence, Cynne’ followed suit and left.
Finally!!! Finally someone else sees right through that sneaky bastard!
She
thought, wanting to do the Homer Simpson
“Woo-hoo!".
The tension was too thick for Cassandra not to have noticed, and her own smile disappeared at the way Brett was looking at her friend as she left the room. As his jaw continued to tick, she touched his hand and softly said, “Brett, can you believe it? I belong to a family! I have a son, the detective you hired was wrong all along.”
Instantly, his heart sank with misery at hearing the happiness in her voice. Managing a small smile with great effort, he touched her cheek as she smiled up at him with those beautiful, trusting brown eyes.
Not all is lost, she still trusts me.
I’ve still got that going for me, at least…
he thought."
Yes, it seems you aren’t the person we thought you were. And you know what else? It boggles my mind that you, of all people, are married to Granger Mortenson. You’re so kind, gentle, and loving, and he’s so… powerful and ruthless. I wonder too why he claims he just started looking for you? What could he be trying to hide?”
Suddenly confused, the inner voice began again, conflicting with everything her mother had told her about her husband Granger.
Brett is the only one I can trust. Granger, he wants to hurt you…
the voice echoed.
“Now, don’t you worry my dear, we’ll get you out of the hospital the day after tomorrow, and together we’ll work thought this. You do want that, don’t you, for us to work through it together?”
Nodding dutifully, she said, “I know you’ll help me. I was so afraid before all this happened, and you weren’t there for me.
I felt so alone, confused, and frightened, all I could think to do was run."
Hearing the need in her voice gave him a charge like nothing else could, and he thought
She’ll always need me.
She ran from him, and wanted ME.
“Brett the doctors were asking me about the medication. I told them I didn’t know the names, and they seemed surprised.” she said innocently.
Trying to remain calm, he immediately thought of Granger. The man was a complication, and he hated complications.
Things would have been so much easier if that fool had played the game with Martina and me. All the oaf had to do was marry Martina, and I would have Cassandra all to myself.
Pulling two syringes from his lab coat, he slowly injected them into her IV, and her body instantly relaxed. Reaching out to the light switch, he dimmed the lights and said in a soothing voice, “Don’t worry about that right now, what matters is I’m here, and I’ll take good care of you, as always.
You do trust me, don’t you, Karen?"
As her body slumped back into the pillows a dazed look came over her face.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he caressed each side of her lovely face almost reverently. Taking one of her hands in his, he brushed his lips against her knuckles. Knowing she was now in a deep suggestive state, he murmured, “Cassandra. Is that what you really want me to call you?”
Dazed and in a dreamlike state, she simply nodded and gave him a lopsided grin.
Using the back of his hand to smooth her hair back, he thought,
She’s so beautiful, and soon she’ll be mine, completely.
“Very well, Cassandra…I want you to remember that I’m the only one you truly trust. I want you to block out any other thoughts or false memories you may have, about being happy as Mrs. Cassandra Mortenson. Trust my word when I tell you Granger was the one who hurt you. Do you understand?”
For a moment she seemed to hesitate, as if struggling, but finally nodded her head reluctantly.
Startled, he thought..
That’s never happened before….
but just as quickly dismissed his own growing sense of unease.
So much is being thrown at her at one time, it’s confusing her…
he reminded himself, then spoke aloud. “Cassandra, you have to be very careful, Granger is using people around you to get to you, just so he can harm you again. Stay away from them, they aren’t your real friends.” he finished as he gently wiped perspiration from her brow.
A light knock on the door caught his attention, and he jumped up from the bed quickly. Turning, he saw the door swing open, and without invitation, a rather plain looking brunette woman stepped inside.
“Excuse me, I’m Detective Rhodes, I would like to speak to Mrs. Mortenson, if that’s possible.” Looking closely at the doctor, she immediately got the feeling she had interrupted something, but dismissed the thought. She glanced at the woman in the bed, who seemed to be in a deep sleep, and was surprised to see she was African American.
Disposing of the two syringes nonchalantly, he picked up her chart and pretended to make several notes. “Sorry detective, but now is not a good time, I just gave her something to help her rest and ease the physical discomfort. Right now what she needs more than anything is rest, this whole matter has caused her a great deal of emotional and physical distress. To be honest, she’s in a very fragile state, and it’s my professional opinion that if she’s pushed too hard or too fast, she could suffer a psychotic break.” he finished as he put the chart back in its proper place. He had hoped he would have more time before someone came in, and it had been a close call. The only drawback of his drug was that it required frequent doses in order to reinforce hypnotic suggestion.
“That’s fine, I can come back and see her some other time. However..” her voice trailed off as she looked at him evenly, “…if you don’t mind, I would like a word with you. There are questions I have about your patient’s disappearance. And at the moment, you seem to be the only person who may have answers.”
Stay cool, this is standard operating procedure in her line of work..
He
thought. “Of course detective, but can we meet me in my office after I’ve finished my rounds? I have to do an intake and must be going.” Turning to Cassandra, he once again took her hand in his, gently rousing her from sleep. Almost immediately, her eyes began closing again. “I’ll return tonight. If you need me, just have the nurse page me,” he said softly, knowing full well she would be out like a light until the following morning. Which was just as well, it meant her mother and that nosy, bitchy little friend of hers wouldn’t be trying to fill her mind with doubts concerning him.
A little more alert now, she carefully studied every move the doctor made, the way he touched the woman, the look in his eyes, and the softening of his voice. Suddenly she positive there was more going on here than the standard doctor-patient relationship. She would have bet money the doctor was in love with this patient. “Ok, doctor, I’ll see you at your office in about, oh…an hour.
Be there, I have important things of my own to attend to." she said, making it clear it wasn’t a request.
Giving her a condescending look, he gave her a curt nod. “
Fine! Now I suggest we both leave. Like I said, she needs her rest.” Gazing one last time at his sleeping beauty, he suddenly knew he must find ways of dealing with people who could possibly take her away from him, including inquisitive detectives.

                          
        
Chapter 10

“Sorry, doctor, but the lab said the blood samples were either misplaced or completely lost. Strange thing, too, they can’t even find your order for the tests in the computer.”
Without replying, Joy snapped her cell phone shut and looked at her lunch companions in
silence.
“Damn! Yeah, I heard it, sis
.”
Raidon said. “Look, you HAVE to find a way to get more blood from her without Doctor Parker finding out. Listen, I did some checking up on this guy. He moved to Virginia six years ago, leaving a lucrative practice behind, and under a cloud of suspicion. A young woman, actually, an eighteen -year-old black female who was his patient, claimed he drugged her and took advantage of her. The investigation ended when the girl was found dead of an apparent overdose.” he finished as he showed them the file that had been forwarded to him by authorities in Mendocino California.
With a heavy grunt, Malcolm spoke. “I did some checking myself. I haven’t told Mr. Mortenson yet, but you’re right, this guy has a shady past, dating all the way back to his years in college. Several young women accused him of drugging them with something similar to Ketmine, something that seemed to affect their memories. Well, the clarity of their memories, I should say. They were positive he had drugged them, but could recall no particular details. In the end, every last complaint went nowhere, since no drug could be detected in their systems either. And I’ll give him this, the bastard was smart enough to not leave any biological evidence behind. This was while attending the University of Tennessee. And get this. There‘s a woman who filed a complaint against him as recently as two years ago. Said she took her sister to see him, and she said the same thing the other young women had been saying. Three days after she confided in her sister, she takes a nose dive off a cliff in a state park, not far from here.”
Completely shocked, Joy’s voice was one of moral outrage. “All that, and…and he’s still practicing? Why the hell hasn’t his license been at least suspended until a thorough investigation was carried out? The state medical board should be all over him.”
Raidon shrugged. “I wouldn’t doubt some of those woman were paid off, others may have been afraid to push the complaints. I believe this ‘Karen Washington’ is the one who can give us some answers. The good doctor didn’t just open a phone book and pick a name at random. I’m convinced he has a link to the real Karen Washington. I’m also checking out this private detective who told Cassandra she was orphaned, and provided the papers to supposedly prove it. I know the guy anyway, and he’s a real dirt bag.”
Finishing her drink, she asked, “You think Doctor Parker has been drugging her with something, don’t you? Drugging her to do… what, exactly? Are you suggesting he was the one who attacked her? That doesn’t add up. I mean, why attack her like that, then nurse her back to health, give her care, and protect her?”
Raidon had been asking himself that same question. Sighing, he shook his head. “Baby girl, I really don’t have the answer to that, yet. But I think this man’s shady past is reason enough to look more closely into his… treatment methods concerning Cassandra. Another thing, if or when you can manage to get a blood sample from her, have it sent to a private lab. It would be best if no one on the hospital staff knows what we‘re doing.”
Uncomfortable with the underhanded things her brother wanted her to do, she thought,
I
could really get nailed if the hospital board found out. You know its taboo to interfere in the care of another physician’s patient! Even if you had Cassandra’s consent behind his back, they would still hang you.
“Maybe we’re letting our imaginations get the best of us. He couldn’t get away with all this without someone knowing about it, reporting it to the authorities. The system has checks and balances in place to protect patients. If he had had legitimate complaints filed against him in the past, the hospital would never have risked hiring him! I mean, that would make them liable for possible malpractice cases.”
Malcolm shook his head sadly at the woman’s naivety when it came to people. It seemed odd, especially in light of the fact that her job was dealing with people who had every kind of disorder known to man. “Well, what about the fact he never reported Mrs. Mortenson’s attack? Matter of fact, he went out of his way to hide her, by changing her name. Now you tell me,
Doctor,
would you do that? Is that ethical?” he asked cynically, laying the facts out as he knew them.
“Well, I never said I don’t have my own doubts." she said hesitantly.
“Alright.
And….?"
Raidon said, letting the question hang as he looked at her hopefully.
Against her better judgment, she relented. With a heavy sigh she said, “Well, I’m pretty sure I can figure out a way to get blood and urine samples, and I also have a friend who runs a private lab. He does testing for the police, and is very discreet. There’s just one caveat, you two, if we find something disturbing, we report it immediately.”
Both men nodded, relieved to have enlisted her help.
“Just one more thing.” Raidon said. “I think what we’ve discussed here shouldn’t be mentioned to Granger, not until we have some solid proof. He’s walking on the edge as it is, and he’s about ready to blow.”
Malcolm agreed, knowing how fiercely loyal and protective his boss was of his family. He recalled a business deal that had turned sour once, and the man Granger had been doing business with had gotten nasty with him, and even went as far as to make a snide remark about Regan’s bi-racial heritage. It had taken six grown, strapping men to pull Granger off the man, but not before he had beaten him to a bloody pulp. And afterwards, not happy with just the beating, he had gunned after the man’s own business, and never stopped until the company went bankrupt.
Everyone in agreement, Raidon motioned for the check from the waiter. As they waited, he said, “Oh, I almost forgot, there’s someone else I need to talk to. I believe Cynne’ Barns can help with the background on the good doctor, I get the distinct feeling the little lady doesn’t like him, and will be more than happy to help.” Smiling to himself, he thought,
Yeah, I wouldn’t mind seeing the little militant midget again…..