Page 10 of Protecting Silver
“What if others that paid him money, like that one woman did for me, what if they didn’t keep the kid, but sold them on the black market, or even in the sex trade. I might be grasping at straws here, but if I had the time, and the inkling as to where to even begin, I’d look into the statistics for how many missing children belonged in the foster-care system to begin with, but that’s just me. I’m not telling you how to do your job.”
“No, I didn’t take any offense, but I see where you’re going with this, and it is a good thing to look into. This is what I love to do. Thank you for being honest with me, Mr. Atwal.”
“Patch, please call me Patch. That was my name while I served in the Marines, and I’m now a trauma doctor.”
“Good for you. I’ll be honest and admit that I don’t like talking on the phone, I much prefer doing everything with e-mail, but go ahead and keep my number on you, and I’ll send you a text with my e-mail address. I’m not promising anything, but I’ll contact you when, or if, I get anything. Patch, I’m a very thorough man, I won’t contact you until I have all my ducks in a row, or if I need more information.”
“Thanks, Tex,” Patch stood and frowned when a piece of paper fell out of his pocket. He picked it up and then made a quick decision. “Hey, I have a question for you.”
“Okay?”
“Like I said, I’m a trauma doctor. I’m in the middle of a case, like the patient only arrived less than an hour ago. She came to long enough to write some things down, then passed out again. Someone did a number on her face. It’s so bruised and swollen, her eyes won’t open.”
“Shit, a domestic?”
“I don’t know. She named her attacker and gave me some information about him. I have yet to take it to the police. I was wondering if you could look into it for me, but give me all the information.”
“Sure, what do you have?”
“According to the patient, it’s the guy’s name, his phone number.”
“That will be very handy.”
“But, she also wrote down his social, and she said he’s a cop with the Chicago, PD, and gave me his badge number.”
“Give me everything you have.” Patch read from the two pieces of paper, then said that the man had been a former boyfriend from years ago. He also told Tex what injuries Silver had sustained and that they were waiting for an OR to open up to go wire her jaw shut to allow it to heal.
“I’ll get back to you. In the meantime, don’t withhold that information from the cops. They can do their legal search, and though my searches aren’t illegal, I may or may not use some illegal ways to obtain said information.”
Patch laughed. “I know nothing.” They said goodbye again, and Patch felt better about talking to Tex about the information Silver had given him. Resigned to now go talk to Ronnie and the other women, Patch unlocked the door, and stepped out in the hall. He had to step to the side, because the gurney carrying Silver rushed by. One of the nurses looked at him, and only said, “OR.”
“Thanks, I’ll send her family up there to wait.”
“Thanks, Dr. Atwal,” the nurse said, and hurried after the gurney. Patch rubbed the back of his neck, then headed toward the waiting room, where Patch had told the women to wait. As he entered, he breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted his best friend sitting there, along with Andy and Grady.
“Patch!” Ronnie said as she jumped to her feet, and rushed forward. “How’s Silver.” Patch looked at her and the women gathered next to her. Their men stood behind them. Patch saw Amos standing there also.
“Sit down. I know you’ve been sitting for a while, but let’s sit, so I can update you.” They all settled down, and he again rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t have to tell you that Silver was severely beaten. She woke enough to answer a few questions.” He pulled the two sheets of paper, and handed them to Amos. “She wrote this down.” Patch waited until Amos read it, then looked at him in confusion.
“It’s the name of the man who attacked her. Then the numbers are his phone, I don’t know if it’s a cell or landline, the next number is his social security number, and the last is his badge number.”
“He’s a cop?” everyone asked as one.
“I guess, but she passed out before she could say anything more, but she didn’t really talk. Her eyes are swollen shut, and she wrote that. The next think I was able to ask if she was raped, and she shook her head no. Her clothes didn’t indicate anything of that nature happened. I ordered a CT scan, and there were no brain bleeds, and no swelling on her brain.”
“Thank god,” both Ronnie and Grady said. It wasn’t until that moment that he remembered they were veterinarians, and knew human anatomy along with that of animals. “However, I had to call another doctor in, an orthopedic surgeon.”
“What’s that?” a young man, Patch had never seen before, asked. At his frown, the younger man pointed to Grady and the woman beside him. “Their son, Ryan.”
“Okay, I had to call in a bone doctor. The CT scan showed several hairline fractures in her cheekbone. Dr. Johnson said he’d just leave it and let it heal on its own, however, they just took Silver up to the OR.”
“Why?” Ronnie demanded.
“Her attacker broke her jaw.”
“Shit.” This time it was Finn that showed his anger.
“Yeah, that’s all I got. You’re more than welcome to go up to the seventh floor waiting room.” Everyone looked at each other, then hurried to the door. “Turn a left off the elevator and it’s the last door on your right.” Patch called out after them. Each woman paused and hugged him, then kissed his cheek, while the men shook his hand. After they left, Patch stood and waited for Amos to say something. When he didn’t, Patch turned to him. “I talked to someone about that information in your hand. He’s looking into it.”
