Authors: Priscilla Poole Rainwater
Chapter 7
“Mrs. Mortenson, can you open your eyes?” a voice buzzed annoyingly in Cassandra’s already ringing ears. Turning her head in an attempt to look away from the beam of light shining directly into her eye, she licked her dry lips. “Hurts….” she managed to croak. Trying to raise her hands in order to shield her eyes, she realized she had been restrained. With growing alarm she glanced down and saw her wrists had been strapped down on the bed. In spite of the tremendous pain she was in, she tried to sit up and began struggling, which caused the straps to tighten even more.
Trying to reassure her, the doctor patted her on the shoulder and gently pushed her back. “
There, there
, don’t be upset, just relax. These are just precautionary. We’re just concerned you may try to hurt yourself, that‘s all.”
As the doctor tried to calm her, a nurse quietly stepped close to the bed and injected Valium into her IV.
“You’re actually very fortunate dear, considering the nature of your accident. It could have easily been fatal, but you managed to escape with just a few deep bruises and a minor concussion. You’ll be plenty sore for several days, and you’ve got a little road rash on your face and arms, but that is the extent of your injuries. I would say your guardian angel put in a little overtime today.” the doctor chuckled. “Right now, I just want you to get some rest, Mrs. Mortenson.”
I need to get out of here! I need Brett! Where is he?
she thought hazily. Feeling the effects of the Valium already, her voice began to slur. “My name…is Karen Washington, not this Cass…andra. Please get in touch with..Dr. Brett… Parker…he’s my…my…“ her voice trailed off as her eyes closed momentarily, then snapped back open as she frantically fought the effects of the medication. Licking her still-dry lips once again, she mumbled loudly enough for everyone to hear. “I want these restraints off…. didn’t try to hurt myself…that man…one chasing me…Granger… was going to hurt me.” she finished as her eyes closed, her body no longer able to fight the sedation.
Brett please, please come help me!
W
as her last coherent thought before she slipped into blissful unawareness.
A short time later, a very concerned Dr. Joy Bishop, Raidon’s sister, walked into the room. She had already contacted Doctor Parker’s office, informing them of the accident. Fifteen minutes later she had received a call from Dr. Parker himself, who made it clear that Ms. Washington (as he still called her) was to receive no further treatment from her. It also seemed a bit odd to her that he hadn’t seemed surprised at Cassandra’s reaction to seeing her husband. Not only that, but he had been tight-lipped about her past treatment as well. When she had told him Granger had questions he would like answered, he had completely blew her off. Looking at the intern, then at Cassandra’s chart, she spoke in a brisk voice. “Dr. Parker has informed me that he’ll be here as soon as he can, he’s out of town. He wants the restraints removed. When he arrives, he’ll issue any further treatment orders, just have the nurse come in and check on her in the meantime.” she instructed. Making a couple of more notes, she closed the chart. “I did recommend she should remain for observation, because of the concussion.”
“Very well, doctor.” he replied, and began unbuckling the restraints. “She should be out for quite
a while
anyway.” Looking back at her suddenly, he said, “Oh, almost forgot! What about the labs you had ordered?”
Looking at Cassandra, a cloud of uneasiness crossed her face.
Something is off-kilter here, but damned if I can figure it out. Maybe he just has…radical treatment methods that are out of the norm. It’s been done before, by very competent physicians. Oh well, I don’t know her complete history, and he does…
she thought, trying to convince herself that her colleague would never do anything to harm his patient. And he had been adamant about not wanting anyone else to treat her. In spite of this, and against her better judgment, she replied, “Just go ahead and run them, since I ordered them done before I talked to Dr. Parker. What would it hurt? I’m sure he’ll appreciate it…“
“Yes, doctor.”
Turning and leaving the room, she made her way to the private waiting room to speak with Granger and Jocelyn, nodding and smiling at coworkers along the way. She knew the hospital Chief of Staff always reserved a private waiting room for VIP’s, the man was always sucking up to the wealthy and powerful.
Finally arriving, she entered and had barely closed the door when Granger rushed her, demanding answers. Holding up her hands to halt him, she touched his shoulder and gestured for him to be seated on one of the leather couches.
After he was seated next to his mother-in-law, she sat opposite and looked at them in turn. “Cassandra was very lucky. She’s bruised and scraped up, and has suffered a mild concussion, but that’s the extent of her injuries. There was no internal bleeding or broken bones, thank God. It could have been much, much worse. She’ll be uncomfortable for a few days, but should recover nicely. We want her to remain here for at least seventy two hours for observation, just to be safe.”
“What about her memory, what’s going on with her? What’s wrong?”
Looking back at him, she could see the tension in his face, and dark bags had formed underneath his eyes. “Well, I’m really not sure. Listen, I’m very concerned about her emotional state. For some reason she seems to think you mean her great harm, and she only wants to be treated by Dr. Parker.”
Jocelyn’s eyes narrowed at the name. On the way to be reunited with her daughter, Cynne’ had expressed her own feelings of uneasiness and distrust of the man. Looking uneasily at Granger, Cynne’, then back to Joy, she said nervously, “Listen, doctor, I think it would be best if someone else treated my daughter, perhaps you could take over her case? From what little I’ve been told, I fear he may have taken his treatment a bit… too far.”
Glancing at his mother-in-law with somber curiosity, Granger thought,
What does she know about this doctor?
He knew her well enough to know there was more she wanted to say, but was holding back.
Don’t touch that with a ten foot stethoscope, girl!
Joy warned herself. While her colleague had been known to come off as somewhat of a jerk at times, he was still a respected doctor in small medical community here, and crossing him would be bad news for her career. Trying to manage a feeble smile, she said, “Well, my hands are tied. You have to understand, as long as Cassandra isn’t a harm to herself or others, she has the right to refuse or accept treatment, and choose her own doctor. No one can do it for her, as long as she‘s competent.”
Granger slumped back, and a feeling of helplessness swept through him. It was an unfamiliar feeling. Even with all the resources at his disposal, this situation was completely out of his control. There were so many unanswered questions, the main ones being, how could he have been so wrong about Cassandra leaving, and what exactly was the nature of her relationship with this Doctor Parker? Professional or personal? Or both? “But…I don’t understand! How can she make these decisions, when she doesn’t even know her real name? I’m her husband, and I should be making the decisions for her treatment!” he protested as he rose to his feet and began pacing angrily.
“I can understand you being angry, but the law is very clear in this state. She would have to be completely incapable of making her own decisions. By the letter of the law, her memory loss doesn’t make her incompetent. My advice would be to talk Dr. Parker yourself, and be up front about your concerns. And….well, I really shouldn’t even be telling you this, but… you do have the right yourself to hire a lawyer, if you wish to challenge the issue of her competency. But as a psychologist, my professional opinion is that it would more than likely anger her even more, and intensify the fear she already has of you. What I’m trying to say is, it’s my opinion that it would backfire on you, in a very bad way.”
Sitting back down on the couch heavily, he looked at Jocelyn helplessly.
As Cynne’ sat and watched their reactions to the doctor’s advice, her heart went out to
them, despite her earlier distrust of her friend’s husband.
I have to do something, anything! If we can just get her to talk to her family! Maybe if she heard about her life, it would spark her memory..
She
thought hopefully.
Not knowing what else to say, Joy rose to her feet and excused herself. As she walked out, she heard Granger and Jocelyn quietly discussing what they should do. She heard him say that he would get a lawyer if necessary, and heard Jocelyn’s reply, telling him that he should wait and see how Cassandra would react to them after she was well rested, and knew she was in a safe place.
Getting up quietly, Cynne’ left the room. Making her way to Cassandra’s room, she pushed the door open slowly, and stopped just inside the doorway. At the moment, a heavyset nurse was checking the blood pressure cuff around her arm. Seeing her dear friend laying so still, she had to force back the unshed tears. While her scrapes and bruises would eventually fade away, her inner torment wouldn’t.
Girl, you have been through so much, you deserve to be happy…
she thought, and despite her earlier resolve, a soft sob escaped her.
“What are you doing in here, young lady?” the nurse barked as she turned and saw her standing there.
Looking down at the floor, she said, “Well, Dr. Bishop said I could visit Kar….Cassandra. We’re close friends, and the doctor thought a familiar face might help keep her calm.” she lied. From the way the nurse was looking at her, her thin lips pinched tightly and a sour look on her face, she braced herself for a confrontation.
After a long, tense moment, the nurse’s stance softened. Checking the IV, she muttered, “Everyone should be so lucky to have a friend like you, little miss. Dr. Bishop is probably right, the poor child was so upset we had to sedate her. There now, I’ll be back to check on her in another hour.” Giving her a rare smile, she turned and left the room, shutting the door behind her quietly.
Walking up to the head of the bed, Cynne’ looked down lovingly at her friend, and reflected on the fact she had never had a friend quite like Cassandra, someone she felt such a kinship with. Sure, she still had female acquaintances, but had never fully trusted any of them. Cassandra was different. Not only did she trust her implicitly and without question, she also knew her friend was loyal to a fault. But it went even deeper than that. Maybe it was because at times they both felt they were lost and floundering in life, each of them being chased by their own demons. She understood very well how terrible events of the past could haunt a person.
That’s right, my sister, I understand. I know
first-hand
how just one moment in time can change a person’s life completely, and forever..
She
thought. Reaching down carefully, she brushed her friend’s bangs off her face. Frowning, she wondered if her own past would ever come back to slap her in the face. If that ever happened, she would be dead, and unlike her friend here, she knew exactly who it was who wanted her dead. At that moment her friend stirred slightly, moaned, and her eyelids fluttered open. Smiling down at her, she said, “Well hello, sleeping beauty. How are
you
feeling?”
Blinking several more times, her eyes finally lit up with recognition, and a ghost of a smile formed on her face.
“Sore…sleepy…but I’m glad you’re here.” she mumbled, then drifted back off to sleep.
Cassandra, I’m going to help you…somehow…
she vowed silently. Suddenly shivering, she noticed the chill in the room for the first time since coming in. Reaching for the extra blanket at the foot of the bed, she covered her friend.
Chapter 9
Detective Jeanine Rhodes watched in silence as the man paced back and forth with the nonchalant grace of a caged panther. So preoccupied was he, he still hadn’t noticed her standing there. The expression on his handsome features was so intense, she half expected him to bare his teeth and growl.
He’s definitely a prime piece of man meat…
she thought as she noted his sexy bad boy look, his compelling blue eyes, and the firm features and confident set of his shoulders. It excited her. Taking in his tall body, she unconsciously licked her lips. She loved a man she had to literally look up to, since she was quite tall herself, for a woman, at five feet eleven. She could also tell with just a glance he was wealthy. He was wearing an expensive tailor made suit, designer shoes, and a gold and diamond encrusted Cartier watch. Everything he was wearing at the moment probably cost more than what she made in six months.
Now why would a woman run from a man who could give her anything, and one so handsome, to boot? You never can tell though, the pretty packaging could be the cover for a monster…
she thought as her hazel eyes narrowed. She had been with the police department for eight years, and five of those years had been working as a detective. She usually could draw a pretty good bead on people, and something about this man cautioned her to tread lightly. It wasn’t exactly fear, but the fact his entire aura seemed to evoke the feeling that he was a force to be reckoned with.
There were two other people present in the room as well. An older African American woman, whose face clearly showed signs of stress and concern, and standing off to the side was a tall, fierce looking African American man, who was watching her closely, his black eyes impaling her.
Employees, maybe?
She
thought.
The African American man cleared his throat, and when the man who was pacing stopped and looked at him, the man nodded in her general direction.
Slowly, the man turned his cool blues eyes on her, which seemed to communicate the silent message, “Well, what do YOU want?”
Clearing her own throat almost nervously, she introduced herself. “Mr. Mortenson, I’m Detective Rhodes.” she said as she flashed her police identification, allowing him check her credentials. “I need to ask some questions about your wife…” she trailed off as she put her shield and ID back into her pocket, then flipped her tiny notebook open. “…Cassandra Mortenson, also known as Karen Washington.” Unable to help it, her breath caught in her
throat at his reaction.
Granger visibly bristled, and gave her a black look. “Her name is, and has always been, Cassandra!” he snapped, irritated by the fact people were still referring to her as Karen. Though he would never admit it to anyone, he was terribly afraid Cassandra was completely lost to him. Closing his eyes, he struggled to maintain his composure.
Standing, the African American woman went to him, and the detective saw a depth of concern, familiarity, and understanding in her eyes. It was clear the two of them shared a close bond. “Granger, we’ll get her back, but we both have to be patient.” the woman said, and leaned against his arm wearily. “I’m going to the cafeteria, get us something to eat. We both need to keep our strength up.” she said, then nodded at her curtly and left.
“Chief, I’ll be outside getting some fresh air. I’ll make arrangements for Mrs. Ames to stay at the inn,” the tall black man said, then left as well, closing the door behind him.
Granger focused all his attention back on the detective, who was standing motionless in the middle of the room.” Well, what would you like to know?” he asked in a brisk tone, knowing his manners were somewhat brusque, but he wasn’t in the mood for polite conversation.
Rising her fine, arched eyebrows, she asked, “Alright, let’s start by you telling me what exactly what happened between you two before the accident? What did you do or say that frightened her so much she would run right out into the street without even looking, in order to escape you and your entourage?”
“She was scared, terrified of me
.” I don’t understand it myself, believe me...
he thought miserably. Sitting down on the couch heavily, he ran his strong hands over his face, and released a frustrated breath. “Detective, I don’t know the complete story. You see, I thought my wife simply abandoned our son, Regan and me. He was almost four years old when she left…I mean…disappeared. She had threatened to leave several times, up till that point. Well, I was away on a business trip when it happened. When I returned home, all her stuff was gone, except her engagement and wedding rings, which she left on our nightstand. All her clothing, luggage, and jewelry was gone, and I found out later that over six hundred thousand dollars had been transferred from an account I had had set up for her, the money had been transferred to an offshore account. Only when I hired a private investigator recently did I finally discover she had been viciously attacked by someone, and had no memory of the attack itself, or her past. When she first….. left, I was too prideful to go looking for her.
If only I had known she had been hurt, I would have moved the heavens and the earth to get to her…" his voice trailed off softly.
Giving him a thoughtful look, she carefully considered what he had said. “Mr. Mortenson, your wife was missing for three years. May I ask why you decided to look for her after so much time had gone by?”
Looking up at her in shame, his shoulders sagged, and his voice softened. “Like I said a
minute ago, I’m a prideful man. It’s just one of my many flaws, one that Cassandra pointed out to me dozens of times.” he replied, and chuckled softly at the memory. With a small, sad smile, he continued. “She used to tell me my pride would be my downfall. When I thought she just up and left us, I was hurt, and embarrassed, even though I knew she was unhappy at the time. I never thought she would actually do it. But to answer your question, I felt it was time for me to move on, and find a suitable mother for my son. Recently, Regan has wanted to know whatever became of his mother, and I felt he deserved the truth. So I set out to find the truth.”
While he seemed sincere enough, over the years she had learned to believe very little of what she heard initially, until she was certain she had all the irrefutable facts. “Uh huh. Now, about this statement of yours about her being attacked, did that happen right here, in this town?”
Instantly, the deep sense of guilt was back, and seeped through his entire being. “That, I can’t tell you. At the moment, it seems the person who knows the most about her attack is this Doctor Parker.”
Scribbling the name quickly in her notebook, she nodded. “How did your wife come up with the name Karen Washington? Do you know anyone by that name?”
At the present, it was a something he was paying Raidon Bishop to look into, how her false identity came into being. Shaking his head, he answered truthfully, “I never heard the name before yesterday.”
She scribbled several more notes, reflecting that the case was becoming stranger by the second.
“I understand you’re staying at the Rosetta Inn?"
“
Yes.”
“Alright, Mr. Mortenson, I have your contact information. I’ll be getting back in touch with you later, after I have more information. For now, I’m going to check on the status of your wife.” she finished as she flipped the notepad shut and stood.
Rising to his feet, he extended his hand, giving her a firm handshake. “By all means, feel free to contact me any time of the day or night. And of course, all the information my private detective has is at your disposal as well.”
The touch of his hand instantly sent delightful shivers up and down her spine, and she was surprised to feel rough calluses on his hands. Holding his hand a bit longer than necessary, she was disappointed when he finally pulled it free and began pacing again.
Oh, well, so much for mixing business with pleasure…
she thought as she turned and walked out.