Page 5 of When I Found You

Rob steps inside carrying a small leather case. “What the hell is going on?”

I lock the door and lead him into my bedroom, gesturing to the woman lying in my bed as though it were a grand revelation and would explain itself.

“What the fuck did you do?” Rob rushes to her side and checks her pulse. He’s quick and thorough. I watch him follow the same methodical procedures he learned when he was in med school.

“I went to the office this morning to get some paperwork I forgot. When I went to leave, I hit her with the door.” I lift my hands in supplication when Rob turns and shakes his head. “By accident. It was a fucking accident, okay?”

He returns his attention to the woman. “How long has she been unconscious?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. An hour maybe?”

“An hour?” Rob grits his teeth. “You should’ve called me right away.”

“Why?” Fear grips me and I know I’m going to hell for not calling the ambulance. “Is it bad?”

Rob peels back the makeshift ice pack and inspects the wound on her head. He tuts and replaces the cold pack. “No. But I don’t like the fact she hasn’t regained consciousness.”

I stand steadfast in my decision as he takes her pulse and checks the dilation of her eyes.

“What’s her name?” He reaches into his bag.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen her in the building before.”

“Does she have any identification? A driver’s license?” He fishes around searching for something in the bottom of the bag.

“No.” I cross my arms, bracing against the judgement emanating off Rob in waves. If we weren’t friends for the last twenty-odd years, I would tell him exactly where to take his sorry ass. Truth is, I need his help, and he knows it.

He opens a small case and withdraws an ammonia capsule. I catch a brief hint of it when he cracks it open and waves it under her nose.

She jolts against the assault of chemicals. Her eyes fly open, not blue. Not brown. A mixture of the two. Interesting. Wild, she lurches upright and grips her head with a tentative hand, hissing as her fingertips brush the abrasion.

“Take it easy. You’re safe.” Rob sits on the edge of the bed and smiles. I want to slap him already. His bedside manner always earns him bonus points at the hospital. I stay back and observe from the side.

“Where am I?” She blinks, trying to remember but obviously struggling. “Who are you?”

“I’m Rob. This is Arthur. You’re in his apartment. You are injured. Do you remember what happened?” Rob’s soothing voice seems to work its magic as she relaxes her shoulders.

She licks her lips and scrunches her nose in thought. “I was at the Empire State Building...” She mutters almost to herself. Her eyes widen. “Am I dead?”

Rob chuckles. “No, most certainly not dead.”

Her gaze drifts to the window overlooking the southern tip of Manhattan. I chose this apartment for the skyline view of the most iconic skyscrapers in the world. It cost me a fortune, but it was worth every penny.

When her gaze fixes on me, her enchanting eyes are wide with terror. I want to reach out and comfort her, but I stand my ground, watching and waiting.

Rob takes her hand. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“Katherine.” She turns to face him. “But everyone calls me Kate.”

“Okay, Kate. You rest here for a minute. I’ll get something to replenish your fluids. Stay in bed, okay?” Rob stands and motions for me to join him.

With one last look at the lost soul in my bed, I follow Rob into the living room and brace myself for the lecture of the century. At least she’s okay. Kate. What the hell have I gotten myself into now?

Chapter Three

Katherine

A rancid smell rips me from the tormented dreams. The moment I open my eyes pain shoots through my head. Holy shit. Am I dead? In a slow-motion delayed reaction, I realize I’m no longer at the Empire State Building. I’m in a bed in a fancy apartment, and I’m not alone.

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