Page 88 of Shadows of Recovery

"God, I don't know how anyone can be married to him," Eleanor said, her face contorted with a mixture of disgust and fear. "Damon gives me the creeps."

Kay was sitting in her office, her mind racing with thoughts about the sinister undercurrents running through the sect. She knew Damon Whitlock had raped Sophie, but she decided to keep that horrifying knowledge to herself for now. She needed more information. She needed to figure out who she could trust, and Eleanor might have some answers.

“Why does he make you feel that way?" Kay asked in a whisper.

Eleanor sat down across from Kay, her expression tense. "He just gives me the creeps. I’ve heard a few things but nothing specific."

Kay leaned forward, deciding to probe further without revealing too much. "Anything unusual? Anything that stands out?"

Eleanor sighed, glancing around the office as if to ensure they were truly alone. "There are always rumors, but Damon recently did something bad, right before he brought in the new equipment.”

Kay’s interest piqued. "What do you mean?"

Eleanor leaned in closer, her voice dropping. "He was publicly punished. Caned in the town square. Whatever he did, it was serious enough for a public spectacle."

Kay's eyes widened in horror. "Caned? In public?"

Eleanor nodded, her expression grim. "Yes. It’s rare for the sect to resort to such measures, but when they do, it's meant to send a message. He broke some serious rules."

A chill ran down her spine, thinking about what Damon was capable of. "Do you know what he did to deserve that?"

Eleanor shook her head. "No specifics. But given the timing and the severity, it had to be something to do with all the new equipment. And three of our members passed away suddenly. So sad. Considering his reputation, it doesn't surprise me."

Kay took a deep breath. She needed to tread carefully but also had to ensure the safety of those around her. "We need to be cautious, Eleanor. Damon is dangerous, and we need to protect ourselves and the others here." She realized the nurse didn’t know any of the details about the hospital takeover.

Eleanor nodded in agreement. "I’ll keep an eye out, but you need to be careful too, Kay. The sect doesn't take kindly to anyone questioning their decisions or stepping out of line, especially with the family."

Kay clenched her fists, feeling a mix of fear and determination. "I understand. But we can't just ignore this. I'll create a basic panel of bloodwork that includes the VDRL test. We can trace any potential infections discreetly and ensure no one else gets hurt."

Eleanor placed a hand on Kay’s arm, her grip firm but supportive. "Be careful, Kay. The sect has eyes and ears everywhere."

As Eleanor left her office, Kay sat there, her brain filled with thoughts of what she needed to do next. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but she was determined to uncover the truth and protect the women in the sect from any potential health threat.

The silence of her office only amplified the turmoil in her mind. Her jealousy of Sophie was misplaced and wrong. Her relationship with Tristan ended five years earlier, and she had brought on the consequences of her actions. She didn't give a damn about Sophie, but she had to make sure Damon didn't spread syphilis, especially to his baby. After all, she was the doctor, and it was her responsibility.

With a determined sigh, Kay warmed up her computer and opened her browser. She needed to brush up on her knowledge, just in case. She typed "delivery of a baby" into the YouTube search bar, hoping to find a refresher on the process. As the search results loaded, she clicked on a video that seemed detailed enough to jog her memory.

She noticed a troubling aspect of her search. No news feeds popped up in the results. They’d been filtered out.

Kay’s mind whirled with the revelations and the oppressive atmosphere she had encountered. She decided she needed more answers.

Eleanor returned to Kay’s office. “Where do they run the labs?” Kay asked her.

"There’s a lab on the other side of the tribal land. They run blood tests for the area to make money. It’s quite efficient, actually."

Kay frowned. "And how do we call an ambulance in case of emergencies?"

Eleanor chewed her lip, a sign of her unease. "We don’t without permission from one of the board members."

Kay’s eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious? What if it’s a life-or-death situation?"

Eleanor sighed deeply. "That’s just how things are done here. It’s part of the rules. The board controls everything."

Kay nodded slowly, her thoughts racing. "Alright, Eleanor, when anyone comes in for a visit, I want to get a health history and basic bloodwork done. I’ll print out a form for you to use."

Eleanor nodded, her expression one of quiet resignation. "Doc, you’ll get used to things. But it’s best to keep your questions simple. The board doesn’t look kindly on those who don’t follow the rules."

Kay's eyes widened. "What happens if someone doesn’t follow the rules?"

---