Forgotten Place (8 page)

"I hope not all of his patients arrive on
his table in Journey's condition."

Ginny chuckled and thrust a stack of blank
pages from the tray of the fax machine into my hand.  "Here's
a pen.  Good luck.  Believe it or not, Journey is well
known – and adored – on every unit in this place.  I'm
surprised nobody insisted that she talk to you before you got your
walking papers, Helen.  How are you doing, really?"

"I'm fine.  Not officially back on the
job yet, but I'm getting stronger every day.  Thanks for
pointing out that I look like hell.  I'll go home and cry in
my beer soon."

"Uh-huh.  Who's the hot detective, and
what happened to your knight in shining armor?"

"It's the 21st century, Ginny.  Women
don't need knights in shining armor anymore.  And the
detective is new from Montgomery or so I'm told.  Claws in,
darling.  You're too young for him."

"Ha!  Flattery will get you
everything."

I took flight back to Journey's room with
high hopes that her panic would abate knowing that Dr. Waters would
arrive eventually and explain why she couldn't talk.  I
expected more tears when I opened the door.

To my distinct surprise, Devlin Mackenzie
was perched on the bed beside her, holding one hand and talking to
her about God only knew what.  The expression on Journey's
face was worth a thousand words.  Tears were gone, and those
shiny baby blues reflected a bit of a crush.

Chapter 7

Before Devlin could shoot off the bed, I
gave a slight shake of my head and smiled at Journey.  Rapport
was good.  So much for Devlin's theory that she might relate
better to a woman.  I had the distinct impression that he
could charm the girl into giving him anything he wanted,
case-related or otherwise. 

I hadn't noticed it before, but other than
his swarthy skin tone, he and Journey Ireland shared the same
intense eye and hair color.  Of course Devlin was a beast of a
man and Journey looked spritely by comparison.

"Ms. Ireland, Dr. Waters will be in to see
you later about the problem with your vocal chords.  In the
meantime, I thought maybe we could talk with these."  I waved
the stack of papers.

She nodded.  Devlin started to move and
I shook my head again.  His eyebrows aimed for the nose, but
he cooperated.  I slid the over bed table to Journey's lap and
laid the pages down. 

"Let's start with something simple, Ms.
Ireland, or do you prefer doctor?"

She wrote
Journey
and underscored
it three times.  A shy smile followed when she peeked through
eyelashes out to
here
at Devlin. 

"Journey... that's a lovely name, very
unique."

A slow flush rose to the
apples of her cheeks. 
My mom and dad
were fans of the band.  You know, Journey?  Dad used to
tease Mom and tell her if it weren't for that singer guy's voice,
she'd have never been in the mood to make me.

I chuckled softly.  "Your parents sound
close."

They were before Dad died.  Mom is sick
now, and before she stopped speaking, it seemed like she was
reliving what happened to him all the time.

"That must've been difficult for you,"
Devlin said.

Journey shrugged and glanced at me,
questioning in silence. 

"Tell me what your normal routine is, say on
a Monday morning like today."

I come to the hospital and work my
shift.  Today was no different.  We had a staff meeting
at eight and I was running behind because of the road construction
out on Bayshore Drive.  I called my team leader and told
her.

"So you work every Monday through…?"

Friday.  Eight to five.  Normal
day.

"Journey, were you wearing any jewelry this
morning?"

One hand flew to her throat.

"Yes?"

She nodded. 
I wear Dad's wedding ring on a chain, but never
on the outside of my clothing.  At least not at work. 
Some of our patients can be violent, so I don't want to put
temptation in front of them.

I recalled a mishap with my engagement ring
during my internship years ago.  One of the patients grabbed
my hand and squeezed so hard, the diamond sliced through the side
of my finger.  I still had a scar.

"We'll check with Ginny to make sure it's in
a safe place, Journey.  You don't suppose that the man who
assaulted you would've been after that ring for some reason, do
you?"

She shook her head
violently and then winced. 
He didn't
take my necklace.  I doubt he even saw it.  Under my
blouse.

"Do you remember anything about him?"

He grabbed me from behind.  I didn't
see his face.

Devlin spoke, low and soothing. 
"Journey, did he say anything to you?"

Don't scream.  But I did.

That was what alerted me to her
distress.  Morning suddenly felt like a week ago not a few
hours.  I pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down. 
"Journey, this is very important.  Did you say anything to the
man who attacked you?"

I told him he could have my purse.

Good girl.  It's a rookie mistake when
women try to fight off a thief.  Maybe he would've taken it
and run, spared her the physical injury if I hadn't popped out with
a gun.  I cursed the prickling in my conscience.  It was
my job to intervene.  Wasn't it?

"Did he say anything to you after you told
him he could have the purse?" Devlin asked.

I don't remember anything else.

That she recalled this much
surprised me.  I knew there had been more.  She didn't
remember fighting him.  Recall echoed through my brain
cells.  Thud.  Grunt. 
Bitch
.  "Journey, just so we're
clear, what were the contents of your purse?"

A bank debit card, an American Express
credit card, my hospital ID, keys to the car and my apartment,
maybe a compact and some lipstick.

These were the items Williams and I
discovered when we searched through her purse.  Unless he
rifled through it between the time she offered and I made my
presence known, I was sure he wasn't after her purse.  It
pushed the realm of motive toward the assault and not theft. 
But Journey wasn't finished.

He didn't grab my purse when I offered
it.  I thought it was strange.

"Do you remember Dr. Eriksson from this
morning?" Devlin asked.

She shook her head again,
paused and scribbled another underscored message. 
Dr. Eriksson, thank you for saving my
life.

"Devlin did the hard part," I said. 
"Did they tell you that he carried you into the emergency
department?"

Another peek at her white
knight, and she shook her head.  Journey wrote the number two
after her last message so that it read
thank you too
. 

"Can you think of anyone who might've had a
grudge, anyone who was upset enough to attack you?  I
understand if you're reluctant to discuss threats that might've
been made by patients, Journey, but threats are not protected
health information."

She sucked in a slow breath
through her nose. 
A lot of my
patients are very confused, Dr. E.  They generally don't have
the capacity to remember the threats they make.  As for my
personal situation, no.  I can't think of anyone who would do
something like this.

Liar.  I watched Devlin's eyes darken
and let him ask the question on the tip of his tongue.  "Not
even James Linder?"

Jim???

"Yes," Devlin said.  "I spoke with two
of your friends today and he was the first person they mentioned
when they found out someone attacked you."

She shook her head. 
More tears fell. 
We broke up. 
That's all.  I didn't keep in touch with him because my
friends weren't comfortable with him, not because of
Jim.

Devlin slipped off the edge of the bed and
crossed his arms over his chest.  "Is that the truth, Ms.
Ireland?"

She couldn't meet the gaze, answer enough in
my opinion that there was far more to the story.  Journey laid
down her ink pen with a finality that communicated the end of her
answers.

"Journey, we're going to keep looking for
the man who attacked you.  If something else happens or I have
more questions, would it be all right if Detective Mackenzie and I
come back to talk to you again?"

She gave a minuscule nod and closed her
eyes.

"Thank you for cooperating with us," I
said.  "Be well, and we'll talk again soon."

Devlin followed me into the hall.  "You
know she's lying."

"Yep."

"About this middle aged creep Linder."

"Uh-huh."

"Doesn't that piss you off?"

"The lying part or the fact that she's
protecting a middle aged creep?"

He shook his head.  "I don't get
women."

"Excuse me?  Somehow,
based on how fast you charmed her into a rapport, I think that you
can
get
just about
any woman you want."

"You have a knack for left handed
compliments, don't you Helen?"

I wiggled the fingers of my left hand. 
"It is my dominant limb."

"I'm trying to be serious.  What is it
with women who protect men that a bullet between the eyes would be
too kind for?  I don't get it.  What's the allure?"

Wrong question.  Definitely the wrong
ears to hear it.  "Not all women tolerate bad behavior or
defend it.  Some of us file for divorce."

"Really?  Your husband was a jerk?"

I rolled my eyes. 
Mackenzie already admitted to membership in the Darkwater Gossip
Club when he told me that he, Ned and Crevan had
been talking
.  "You
want to hear it from me personally or will my solemn vow that Ned
and Crevan probably didn't exaggerate too much suffice?"

"Sorry," he muttered.  "I didn't mean
to pry."

"Yeah, whatever."

"Helen, I mean it.  I keep screwing up
with you and I don't even know where the land mines are
located.  I'm sorry I offended you."

I must be a sucker for blue eyes. 
They're the opposite of Rick's after all.  "It's all right,
Devlin.  Men in this city gossip.  I assumed that my
sordid past was still fodder these days."

"So this ex of yours, he's a real bastard,
huh?"

"Not anymore."  I called for the
elevator.  "Why women like the bad boys is a mystery to me,
Devlin.  Some of us attract it whether we want it or not."

"Really?"

"Hmm."  First floor couldn't come fast
enough.  "So what's the plan for Linder?  I'm half
curious to see if you can drag, threaten or intimidate the truth
out of him."

"Ned's taking that interview.  He
figured that since Linder is fifty-something, he might be more apt
to open up to someone older, though I would've never figured Ned
for the AARP crowd."

"I doubt Linder fancies himself that way
either.  Unlike Journey Ireland, James Linder might be more
susceptible to a female interviewer than a male.  Less
testosterone to challenge his prowess."

"Is that an offer?"  Devlin's fingers
curled around my arm before I could step into the hospital
lobby.  "We're supposed to get together and compare notes
tonight.  Crevan wanted to talk to you about finding the other
boyfriend who's stationed somewhere overseas.  He thought we
might have to go through the State Department to find him."

"I suppose I could offer some suggestions –
for both," I said.  "Linder and finding bachelor number
three."

"We're gonna powwow at the diner by division
at seven."  He glanced at his watch.  "It's
five-thirty.  I could see if they're available now."

"Devlin, I'm tired.  I want to go home
and take another pain pill and have a... bottle of water and go to
bed.  Maybe we should talk in the morning."

My cell phone chose that inopportune moment
to ring.  I recognized the number on the screen.  With a
heavy sigh, I answered.  "Hi Crevan."

"She lives."

"Funny, but I think I've heard that one
before.  What's up?"

"Dinner for two at this great place I
know."

"Oh?  Who's the lucky couple?"

"It's a place that has a great view of the
Pacific, though it's a bit cold for dining outdoors.  How does
sushi sound?"

"Like I'd need a barf bag.  I thought
you were meeting Ned and Devlin at the diner at seven."

"As little as I have to report, I figured I
could do it by phone."

I caught a glimpse of my emaciated
reflection in the sliding glass exit doors.  God, they were
all right.  I pinched the bridge of my nose.  "I hate
sushi, Crevan.  Bring anything else, and the three of you can
have your little case briefing at my place.  I'm dying for a
pain pill right now, so don't test my patience."

"See you at seven."  He hung up before
I could chastise him for being a manipulative man.

"You heard?"

Devlin nodded.  "Are you sure you're up
to this?"

"A girl's got to eat."

"Should I call Shelly and Commander
Orion?"

"Is OSI
involved?" 
Be casual.  Act
surprised that a nothing case would warrant intervention from
Johnny Almighty.

"Surely you know why he has a vested
interest in this case, Helen.  I have to admit, I'm still not
entirely convinced that it has anything to do with what happened to
Journey's father, but it's hard to completely dismiss it.  Why
didn't you ask her more questions about her father?"

"She's barely processing what happened
today.  Dredging up her father's murder on the heels of having
her throat cut would've been a mistake."