Page 5 of Question Everything

“She can come stay with me,” Kyle said a little too quickly. He could immediately tell that he’d surprised these two men with his response. “I mean, I’m not back at work yet, and she’s got no one. I can work the case offline until I go back full time. I’m bored as shit at home anyway. This will give me something to do and take this case off your plates.”

“Oh man, if she agrees to that it’s a problem solved for us,” McCormick replied enthusiastically.

“It’s a little bit of an unconventional approach, don’t you think?” Kelly asked Kyle with tone of doubt in his voice.

“Yeah, I guess so. But I’m from a big family. I’d have plenty of help,” Kyle responded.

McCormick nodded, clearly wanting to lighten their load. “Sounds like a plan. If she agrees, we’ll sign off on it.”

“Go talk to her,” Kyle said to Kelly, sensing his discomfort with the suggestion. “It’s an option, that’s all. If she’s fine with it, so am I.”

The two men ducked inside the curtained cubicle to talk to the woman in question.

Alone in the hallway, Kyle started to mentally draw up a pro and con list based on the offer he’d made to take this stranger home. One the plus side, it would keep his mind off the range test he so dreaded. He didn’t have a concern about his skills, he knew his muscle memory was still there. His fear sat in the pit of his stomach, threatening to rise to his throat.Would his judgement be faulty should another opportunity arise where he had to draw his weapon? Would he make another mistake, maybe one with a more tragic outcome?He shook his head as if the movement might force the bad ideas out of his brain, thinking now of the con side of the argument. His life was already a shambles. This guest in his home would certainly add to the knee-deep chaos he found himself in. Things really couldn’t get much worse…

Just then Kelly and McCormick stepped back into the hallway.

“Okay, Walsh. She’s confused, but she wasn’t opposed to your idea. It’s best if you ask her yourself, though, just to be sure. If you find out who this Jane Doe truly is, add it to our report. You’ll find the file posted under my name.”

“Of course. I’ll do that,” he said and watched as they turned to walk toward the elevators before he re-entered the cubicle to see if the patient was amenable to his idea.

He glanced over at the stranger in the bed and smiled at her, hoping to put her at ease. She was pretty and vulnerable, a combination in a woman that he tried his best to avoid ever since his break-up with Meghan. He preferred his encounters to be with ladies of a like mind, those just looking for a night tangled in his sheets with no strings attached. He shook his head.It wasn’t hard to find the type of woman he wanted in this city, asshole. So why did you open your big mouth and offer to take this one home? Wasn’t life complicated enough right now? Or maybe cracking this case would be the thing to finally put you back to work. Damn it!

When she looked at him, her blue eyes seemed to see straight through to his soul.

“I told the other men that I don’t remember anything. I wish I did,” she began.

“I know. I wanted to talk to you about something else.” He drew in a deep breath. “If you don’t have a place to go and the thought of a random hotel or a woman’s shelter isn’t appealing, you can stay with me. I have the room for you and the baby and I’m sure it wouldn’t be for long. You’ll remember everything you need to know in a few days. You just need to rest and stay off your feet. And if you’re worried, I’ll have my sister stay with you and I’ll go to her place.”

“Why would you want to help me?” she asked, burrowing further into the thin hospital blanket, clearly unsettled. “You don’t know me. I’m a complete stranger. Besides, I don’t even know your name.”

“Let’s change that. My name is Kyle Walsh. I’ve lived in Boston for my entire life and have a large and extended family that would love to help you out. Take a chance and tell me your name.”

“My name?” She struggled to sit up, but once she did and settled once more against the pillows she said, “That might be problematic. For the life of me, I can’t remember it.”

Kyle looked at her and felt nothing but sympathy. She looked so small in the hospital bed. “You can’t remember your name? That’s okay. Give it some time,” he said softly. “How about the baby? Do you remember your child’s name?”

“No.” The word signaled the woman’s emotional distress.

“Did the police bring any of your belongings with you? A purse or a wallet?”

“I don’t know. I feel like I’ve lost track of time all together. How long have I been here?”

“Since early this morning. It’s almost six pm now.”

“I see. Who’s been watching the baby?”

“I guess the nurses have, but I’m not sure. Do you want me to find out?”

He watched as she looked him over. He could only assume that she was trying to figure out what to do next.

“If you wouldn’t mind asking one of them to come in here. I want to be sure that my baby is okay.”

“I will, but I can tell you that the child was secure in the car seat after the crash. I was the first person on the scene. Not a scratch on him.”

“I don’t remember much, but I’m sure she’s a girl. That much I do know.”

“Funny how the brain works, huh? We remember such random stuff.” He felt somewhat chastened and hoped he hadn’t upset her. “Let me see if I can find someone who might help clear things up.”

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