Running with Secrets

Untitled Part 9

Uncle Seth, or Captain Vanderson, would show up a little later in the day, after Jeanie took another shower and had readied herself for the day. The two detectives had something else to attend to, so Cathy helped Jeanie with her shower and getting ready.

"That lady police officer sure was nice enough to bring you something to wear, even if it is just a dress." Cathy said. "I can't say so much for any of the other patients. They all wear the gowns, but I suppose after being here for more than a week you're ready to wear civilian clothes," the older woman said with a smile on her face. "Can you manage your make up, or would you like some help with that? I can put your hair up in a messy bun, if you'd like."

Jeanie had a feeling that Cathy just wanted to busy herself. It was getting harder and harder to pull off the amnesia charade. It was wearing her down. "I can manage my make up by myself, thank you, Cathy." Jeanie said. "I really do appreciate all you have done for me."

The pleasure is all mine, Jane." She said back to her charge. "It's getting close to shift change. Like I said, you'd better be here later this week when I come back!" Cathy admonished her patient. Jeanie agreed and sat back in her clean bed. Housekeeping came by again while she was showering.

At about seven fifteen, the captain and detectives Loveridge and Johnston came back. Dinner had been cleared away and Jeanie had settled in watching a movie on the television. She looked at the door as the three of them walked into her room. "I hope you're ready to go, Jeanie," Her uncle said. "We're going tonight."

"Tonight? You can't be serious!" Jeanie exclaimed. It was hard for her to contain her joy as she processed she didn't have to stay in the uncomfortable hospital bed another night. "Let's go!"

"Let me get your stuff put together first." Sally offered. Without waiting and within moments, she canvased the entire hospital room to pack up the few things that were out and threw them in the bags she brought the other day. She made them both look very convincing. "You're all packed. Heath, take the big bag to my car, please." She said on the short side of five minutes. "We just have to wait for the attending physician to give you the go-ahead. He knows you're going but wants to give you a run down first." Jeanie nodded, mostly at the efficiency Sally had putting her things together and Heath's brisk movements out of the room.

They didn't wait long, however, and while Jeanie was getting her discharge in order, when Heath came back. He waited for Captain Vanderson to sign all the papers. After all, Jane Doe still had amnesia.

"Well, young lady. It seems as though you're going to be well taken care of. I know the facility they are taking you to for rehab. It's standard in amnesia cases where no one has come forward to identify the patients for you to go to a home. You'll be very well taken care of indeed." Maybe this doctor was Cathy's husband, she thought. He was a little older and he wore glasses that buzzed his bushy white eyebrows.

Jeanie remembered to let her uncle do all the talking unless she was answering questions about how she felt. "It felt really good to get all those machines out of here," Jeanie laughed.

"I'll bet, Jane."

"It will feel really good when I can remember my name." She smiled at the kind old man.

"That will come with time and therapy, my dear." He said, turning his attention back to her uncle, but he didn't know they were related. They finished up the discharge advice, "Now the captain knows who to take you to for follow up when you need to. I think you're coming along very nicely though." Jeanie nodded in understanding. "Now don't panic if you can't remember things right away. Like I said, you need some follow up and some neurological testing to really know the extent of your brain injury. "

"Okay. Do you really think it could take a long time?" Jeanie asked out of interest. "I mean, I remember 'Ten Second Ted' from that one movie. I hope I'm not going to turn out like that."

"Oh, no." The doctor chuckled, being familiar with the film. "You've already shown signs that your brain could make a full recovery, but again, please believe me when I tell you that you need follow up care."

"I understand." She looked at the captain. "How long will it take to get the tests?"

"It all depends on the care of the facility, really." The doctor said.

*****

"Have you found anything yet?" Steele asked.

"There are several unidentified patients at local hospitals, but I haven't been able to locate her." Matther followed up. "I've checked on many of them and a few have no contact orders. It's not like I can just walk in and tell them to take me to the amnesia patients."

"You know how I feel about that," Steele said.

"I know, Steele." Matther replied, not feigning the fear in his voice.

"Take as much time as you need to find her, Matt." Steele said. "But not too long."

His voice was growing more and more irritated by the day, he noticed. It had to be soon, or he'd have to put himself into hiding. Maybe Captain Vanderson would help with that. He had to. Now was a good time to get him out. He knew as soon as they learned there was no body that he needed to get out. He didn't want to take a walk with the fishes. He needed to find Jeanie and make sure she was all right. He also knew he had messed things up with her completely. He tried to kill her. Apologizing like he did, over her flimsy, drooping body would never be enough. He needed to make sure she was well. As well as she could be. She'd likely have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after all this, all because he fell in love with her. He knew he should have broken things off months ago. He knew he was dangerous, and his guys knew he was getting too close to the pretty face. They couldn't risk exposure, no matter how much he thought he could keep her away. The others were misogynists and kept more than one woman so not to draw attention to the club. Matther couldn't make himself do that. After he had met Jeanie, he wanted out, but he knew his duty to be in deeper. It killed him almost every day. Some days, he'd wish not have to "go to work" as it were, and he could have a normal relationship with Jeanie. He loved her. He knew he'd never get her back. As far as he knew, if she had any memory, her fiance tried to kill her. He didn't deserve her. But he knew he'd be safer in jail.

"I'll get her. Don't worry."

"I'm counting on you, Matt." Steele said as Matther Benson walked out of the room.