Page 4 of Question Everything

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember much about the accident,” she replied in a voice not louder than a whisper. She looked pale and small against the hospital sheets.

“Do you mind if I turn on the light?” he asked, curious to be sure that this was the same woman.

“Actually, I do. I have a monster headache, and the baby is sleeping,” she said, motioning to the crib.

He nodded. “I just wanted to be sure that you were okay. You hit your head very hard. There was a lot of blood.”

“That’s what they told me. I just don’t recall…”

“Are you from around here?” he asked.

“No, I don’t think so. I don’t remember much. The nurse told me to give it time and my memory will come back.”

“Well, I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere for a while. Your car was totaled.”

“Great. That’s going to be messy I suppose,” she said gently reaching up to feel the bandage on her head, and grimacing.

“That’s what insurance is for,” he said, trying to lighten the mood. “You might need to stay in Boston for a few days. I don’t think the doctors will let you drive right away. There are strict guidelines for concussion patients.”

She turned her head toward her pillow, but that didn’t stop him from seeing tears form in her eyes. He felt an overwhelming need to look after her.Maybe I should let her stay with me for a bit,he thought, and then wondered if she’d find that offer too forward. He didn’t want to scare her. He asked, “Do you have someone you can stay with? You might need help with the baby in the next few days.”

She didn’t answer.

“You really can’t be alone with a head injury. I should know. I used to play ice hockey. Got knocked around all the time. The headaches can be intense.” He paused and feeling more confident than he had in days then said, “I have an idea. Give me a minute.”

He ducked back outside to look for the detectives he knew were still there to get a gut check from them. He may have just come up with a solution for them both.

CHAPTER 3

Kyle had to adjust his eyes to the brighter lights in the hallway. He walked over to where the two detectives he’d met earlier that morning at the accident were standing. As he got closer, he could hear them discussing what to do with the Jane Doe behind the curtain and her child.

“Excuse me, fellas. Any update on the identity of the accident victim?”

“Hey, are you Walsh?” one of the men asked him. He had lost most of his hair to middle age, a ring of grey circling his head. He was looking down at his notes. “You called in the crash, right?”

“Yeah. I was out for a run and…”

“Wait,” the other man said. He was holding a cup of coffee, and it sloshed over the side of the cup as he motioned with it. “Walsh. I know you. It was the accidental shooting, right? I heard buzz around the station that you’re getting reinstated. About time.”

“Thanks, but…”

“Oh yeah,” the balding detective said. “I remember that case. Kid had a toy gun. Hey man, any one of us could havebeen you that night. I’m Kelly, by the way. This is my partner, McCormick.”

Kyle nodded his head in acknowledgment.

Kelly continued. “Fucking paperwork takes forever. Done your gun range test yet? Or did they make you see the shrink first?”

The last thing Kyle wanted to do was discuss his case in a crowded hallway, but he knew that if he didn’t answer their questions, they wouldn’t answer his.

“Seen the shrink. Just waiting for the date of the range test.”

“I’m sure it will be any time now. We need you back, man. Too much crime and too few of us,” said McCormick.

“Yeah,” Kyle said. “But about this Jane Doe. Did you find anyone who’s been looking for her? She must have been heading somewhere. She has that little one. There’s got to be some family out there.”

“No, no ID. No missing persons. Nothing,” Kelly told him.

“Yeah. We can offer her a spot at the women’s shelter, or if she wants to go to a hotel, I guess that’s an option. But we’ve got to move her out of here, and soon. The doctor has cleared her to go. The department doesn’t have the resources to keep her here at the daily rate, if you know what I mean,” McCormick said.

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