Her Eyes (16 page)

"So tell me, how are you feeling?"

"Okay I guess. I little foggy, where am I?"

"Mercy Hospital. Do you remember coming here?"

She thought for a moment, nibbling on her lower lip while she thought back. There was something about a hospital, but she couldn't catch the fleeting thought. “No. Not really. Did I hit my head or something?"

"I was hoping you could tell me. Could you tell me your name?"

"My name?” Was it Catherine? No, that's not right. She hated the sound of that name. It's ... it's ... didn't the people who brought me in tell you?"

"Why don't you rest for a bit and then we'll talk some more, how does that sound?"

"Claudia ... my name is Claudia, I'm sure of it.” A huge smile filled her face, and wave of relief washed over her.

"That's good, Claudia. Do you remember your last name?"

"Ummm, it's-it's.... I-I...” She shook her head, feeling a little defeated.

"No problem, Claudia, you're doing really well."

"Any chance you remember where you live or your phone number? Any family?"

Deep in thought, she chewed her lower lip. “I wish I could help you, but I don't ... I just don't."

"That's fine, Claudia. Why don't we get you settled in your room, and we can talk again later."

"Sure, yeah. I'd like that."

A nurse appeared and helped her into a wheelchair. Claudia wished they would let her walk. Her legs felt unused, but she had already learned not to argue with them. She waited like a good patient while the nurse spoke to the doctor. Finally, they started down the hall.

The placed smelled funny, like disinfectant. She hated that smell. It reminded her of something, cleaning old floors in Montana. She shook her head trying to bring the memories back but the thought slid into a quiet house and eating on a deck. The smell changed too, becoming cologne, the scent of a man.

Claudia closed her eyes, not wanting to see the generic, tired-looking hospital, but the memories wouldn't come in clearly. She kept them closed as the nurse bumped and pushed her onto the elevator. The dings of the floors broke through her thoughts. Whatever was trapped in her mind might never come back.

The nurse wheeled her off the elevator, and Claudia gave up trying to remember. She would simply take each day and see what happened. Maybe there was nothing in her old life worth remembering.

"Your new room."

The nurse grinned, opening the curtains and letting in the blazing sun. She acted like this was a suite in a hotel instead of a bed for just another messed-up person. The nurse even insisted on helping Claudia out of the wheelchair and into the bed.

"Just push the buzzer if you need anything."

"Thanks."

Claudia kept the same glazed smile on her face, matching the nurse's, until the door closed and she had her privacy again. She waited for ten seconds then stretched, touching her toes, wiggling her fingers, anything to feel like a real person again. Moving was wonderful, like settling into her skin.

That's an odd way to think about it.

She got out of bed and touched her toes. The blood rush caused excruciating pain but she dealt with it long enough to make her leg muscles come alive. They hurt too, probably hadn't moved in a long time. Not long enough for complete atrophy to set in but too long to be healthy. That was probably the reason they had her starting physical therapy tomorrow. She didn't feel that bad, though. If only they'd let her walk on her own, everything would be better.

Claudia rubbed her thigh muscles, willing away the discomfort when the door to her room started opening. Odd that the doctor didn't knock, she could only guess that they were used to her being unconscious. Either way, she hurried back into bed, trying to act like the good patient, when the door stopped opening. She couldn't see much, but could make out the white lab coat her doctor wore.

"Is that our Jane Doe?"

"She's no Jane Doe now,” came the voice of her doctor. “We have a first name and the good news all her tests come back with her being just fine. No permanent damage. I'm sure her memory will come back before too long."

Claudia didn't recognize the other man's voice. It was nice, deep, with a little husky sound thrown into it. She also had to wonder whom her doctor would be discussing her medical results with.

"Hope so, I'd like to see this case closed and whoever beat her up and tossed her into the river put behind bars."

"Do you always get this involved in your cases?"

"I'm a detective. I have a professional interest.” His voice was stern, almost defensive, in his response.

"Really? I've dealt with a few police officers and none of them ever visited a patient every single day out of professional interest."

Claudia listened, straining to hear what sounded like an embarrassed laugh from the stranger. She had no idea someone had visited her while she'd been written off as ready to die. This stranger was interesting.

"Okay, you busted me. There is just something about her. Something different, special. So, can I see her?"

"Give me a few minutes to check in. I don't need anyone traumatizing her at this point or forcing any memory back down again."

"Understood."

Someone visited me. Someone cared about me, Claudia Jameson.

As the doctor walked into her room, she felt the smile spread across her lips. “I think I remember my last name!"

"You do? What do you think it is?” The doctor moved to sit in the chair by her bed.

"Jameson. My name is Claudia Jameson.” Another flash, like a movie, played through her mind and more about her mysterious past came to light. “And I'm from Missoula, Montana.” That was it. She could see the mountains out of the car window, could smell the pine trees. She remembered Montana.

"Missoula, are you sure?"

"Yes. Yes I am. I left home. I was tired of the cold and wet, and well, I wanted warmth and sunshine and moved down here.” There was more. Someone died back in Montana and she had no one left there. She couldn't remember the name, but Grammy came to mind.

"Is there anyone you'd like us to call for you?” The doctor smiled, seeming as pleased with her bits of recollection as she was.

"Umm, no, not right now. I don't have to, not now, do I?"

"No. Just relax. You're going to be with us a bit longer and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"Okay. I don't suppose you would let me take a walk around the floor.” She hoped, wanting to move, to live.

"Not yet. You may have more dizzy spells. If everything looks okay tomorrow, then we'll see about getting you out and about."

"But this place is boring. Do you at least have a book I could borrow?"

"I'll see what I can do."

Mike listened, taking notes. He hadn't thought about Claudia not having anything, no clothes, no books, nothing. At least she'd gained her identity. That was start. She would have a rough time ahead with no family or friends for support.

Standing at the door, he listened to the doctor, then waited in the hallway for the doctor to grant permission for him to see Claudia. It seemed to take forever for their talk to end. Mike wished he could just go in or maybe Claudia would remember him. They say coma victims could hear people speaking. Maybe, just maybe she remembered him.

Leaving her with a promise to bring some books by for her to read and bidding a soft goodnight, Dr. Lee exited the room. Mike tried to not appear excited. The last thing he needed was for his boss to catch wind of his extracurricular activity of visiting the hospital.

"Her memory is still a little fragile, and I'm concerned even the slightest thing could put her over the top again. I don't want her questioned today.” The doctor slowed his words, measuring them. Mike hoped his disappointment didn't show that much. “She did tell me her last name was Jameson and she's from Montana. That should give you something."

Not what he was looking for, but he tried to keep his visit official. “Understood. I'll give you a call tomorrow to see how it's going. I'll run her through NCIC, WPS, and MUPS tonight and see if we get a hit.” Good. He could still keep the conversation official. He even found a reason to return.

"Where?"

"The wanted and missing person's systems."

"I can see the missing, but wanted?"

"Never know. Things happen. People do things and want to disappear so they pretend to lose their memory. They think it will keep the law from finding them. It can work for awhile.” He knew Claudia wasn't wanted. He'd watched her lying in that hospital bed. She was pure and perfect, but this doctor didn't need any further clues on Mike's interest in Claudia.

"But this Claudia was attacked."

"She may have made it look that way. There wasn't a match on her prints, which doesn't mean anything because if someone never had their fingerprints taken there's nothing to compare them to. Now that we have a name, or at least a name she's given us, maybe we can find out a bit more."

"I'm sure you'll find she's really a sweet young woman who had something just awful happen to her."

"We'll see. I'll check in tomorrow to see how she's doing.” He hated sounding so tough but he couldn't risk the doctor assuming a personal interest. “Good evening, doctor."

Mike thought she was a sweet young woman, too. Damn he wished he could talk to her, at least see her eyes open and awake. Every day, after work, he visited the hospital. He kept the guise of being on official business, but the police never devoted so many man-hours to a lovely lady in the hospital.

He could wait until tomorrow. The doctor had Claudia's best interests at heart. No matter how much he wanted to rush inside the room just to make sure she had woken up, just to see it for his own eyes, he could wait.

"Everything okay, officer?"

He hadn't realized that he'd been standing in the hallway. Even now, he didn't want to leave this mysterious woman's side. Of course, he'd also created a spectacle out of himself in the process.

"The Jane Doe, I mean Claudia, do you know what personal effects she has?” He shuffled his feet, trying to keep his tone business-like. “There are a few donations centers nearby and I thought I could stop in and get her clothes or whatnot that she might need."

"That would be so nice of you. She has nothing. The clothes she wore have long since been thrown out. I'm afraid all we managed here were a toothbrush and a comb."

"I'll see what I can do. Do you know what size she wears?"

The nurse smiled, a little too friendly. “I'll see. Just a second."

Damn it all. Everybody looked at him like they knew he'd grown attached to Claudia. He had to stop being so obvious. He didn't need anyone questioning his motives. He didn't want anyone to tell him to stop coming.

The nurse disappeared into Claudia's room. A few people came down the hall so Mike crossed his arms over his chest, trying to look agitated. No one wanted to mess with an annoyed cop. The ruse worked and no one spoke to him until the nurse reappeared, still grinning. She held up a small piece of paper and handed it to him.

"Her sizes."

"Thank you. I'll see if anyone has a few donations."

"Sure thing.” She winked at him as if she knew exactly what was on his mind.

"What?” He looked at the nurse but she didn't answer, only walked away.

That nurse knew a little more than she admitted to. That was okay. He doubted she would make an issue out of it. As for donations, no way Claudia was going home with the flea-infested, worn-out donated crap. He'd venture to the mall for her.

Frank walked the newest construction job. The eight-story structure was downtown, which limited the size. Under the new codes, the historic area had a limit of five-story maximum building height. Because the owner had greased a few palms, a special grant for eight been approved. With the proper permits, Frank could now get his people out here.

This would be a difficult task because they were close to the courthouse. There was lots of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian. That made getting supplies in and out more cumbersome. It never failed, people would stare at work in progress, drawn to it like moths to a flame. They would get in the way and make drop-offs a strategic nightmare.

The job was technically starting next week, but he needed a little time away from everyone. Catherine was coming home from the hospital today, so Frank had gone by his attorney's office this morning. His guy specialized in building codes and business legalities, but his partner handled family law.

He wasn't even going to bring Catherine home from the hospital. Jim was handling the chore for him. Catherine wouldn't be pleased, but with a little luck, the papers would be delivered to her tonight. She might be out of his life by next week.

He had visited Catherine in the hospital, mostly to find out about the person who had been in the neighboring room. The nurses wouldn't release any information about the woman who had called out his name. He'd left a note, but doubted anyone had delivered it. If they had, the woman never responded. He had given his cell phone number, but it never rang.

Even now, walking the site, he caught himself making eye contact with women, just to check for green eyes. Several of them had that color, but when he started talking to them, they practically ran away. His Pam was lost somewhere in this sea of people, if she had made it back into this world at all.

The cell phone in his pocket vibrated, and he immediately pulled it out. He didn't recognize the number. Maybe, just maybe, it was the hospital. His Pam could have gotten the message. There was a chance she'd fought her way back and remembered him.

"Please, please let it be Pam.” He hit the send button. “Hello."

"Just what in the hell do you think you're doing having Jim come here to get me?” Catherine's acid tone filled his ear. How in the world had he tolerated her for so long?

"I'm tied up at work. Let him take you home. I have a big surprise for you tonight. It's extra special."

"It better be after everything you've put me through.” Her tone softened. Catherine was always a sucker for presents.