Chapter Six
It only took twenty minutes for Joshua to drive from the south side of Chicago to Olympia Fields Hospital. That was probably due to the fact that he was doing almost eighty miles an hour down Interstate 57. With Caitlin’s mother sitting beside him, wringing her hands, he knew that time was of the essence. When he pulled into the emergency room parking lot of the hospital, he became filled with his own private apprehensions. What would they find when they got there? How badly had Caitlin been hurt? Joshua tried his best to keep these thoughts private. For now, he had to be strong for Thelma and Rick.
The double doors parted as the three of them entered.
“Mrs. Ryan?”
“Yes?”
“I’m Eric Malone. We spoke briefly on the phone. I um…” Eric nervously shifted his weight, “I found your daughter near my home.”
“Where is she now?”
“She’s in a treatment room.”
“Young man, thank you for finding my daughter!” Thelma surprised Eric with a tearful embrace.
“Mom, I’m going to find the doctor.”
“Go on son.” She released Eric and wiped her eyes.
“Oh, this is Detective Joshua Martinez, my daughter’s boyfriend.”
“I’m sorry that we’re not meeting under better circumstances.” He and Joshua shook hands.
“Likewise. Have a seat.”
“Listen um…if you don’t mind me asking,” Joshua stammered nervously. “Why the mask?”
“Hey, I don’t mind. I’d much rather that you ask me than stare at me and laugh. I was burned in a fire a few years ago.”
“Bad scars?”
“Yeah. Haven’t found a plastic surgeon that’s willing to take a chance on me.”
“Um…how come you didn’t call the police when you first found my girlfriend?” Eric shuddered. He knew that this was coming. He wanted to lie, but for some reason, the lie that he planned to tell stuck in the back of his throat.
“Can I be straight with you, Detective Martinez?”
“Yes. Telling the truth can’t hurt you.”
“Mr. Malone, I’m not going to arrest you for telling me the truth. You have my word.”
“I have some paramedic training. Caitlin wasn’t in real physical danger from her injuries. The main reason that I didn’t call anyone is that I ran into some trouble with the law a few months back.”
“What trouble?”
“I gotta be honest with you. People think that just because I have ugly burn scars that I’m a monster. But it’s not true. There was a girl, a pretty girl, who’d been attacked near my old apartment. I tried to help her, but she became hysterical. She told the cops that I was the one that assaulted her. So I ran. I fled the city and came to this area to live a nice, quiet life. I never wanted any trouble. I didn’t do anything to her.” Eric sat and waited for Joshua’s reaction.
“Aren’t you going to slap the cuffs on me? Aren’t you going to read me my rights?”
“Listen, I want to see if I can help you clear your name.”
“Excuse me? Come again?”
“I want to help you set the record straight.” Eric looked at Joshua with disbelief.
“Why do you want to help me? I’m a total stranger. What is it about me that would make you want to help me?”
“You saved my girl’s life.”
“Big deal,” Eric muttered.
“All right then. Do you see that woman over there?” Joshua pointed to Thelma, who was talking to the triage nurse.
“Yes?”
“That woman lost her husband to a drunk driver. She’s faced every parent’s worst nightmare, when their child is missing. Her little girl almost died twice. You just brought peace and comfort to her heart.”
“How do I know that I can trust you?”
“Take a risk. Come down to the station and let me take a statement from you. Let me re-open the case file and see what happens.”
“Why should I let you help me? What am I, some charity case? I save your lady’s life, and this is my reward? Forget it!”
“Look man, I didn’t…”
“Forget about it, okay? No hard feelings.” Eric brushed past Joshua and went over to Thelma.
“Mrs. Ryan, I really must be leaving. I hope that Caitlin makes a full recovery. Please give her my best.”
“Why are you leaving so soon? I’m sure that Caitlin would love to see you.”
“Mrs. Ryan, I think that it’s best for your daughter if I stayed away from her for awhile.”
“But Mr. Malone, I don’t understand.”
“Take care of your daughter.” And with that, Eric left the hospital as soon as the doctor came out of the treatment room.
“Mrs. Ryan, I’m Dr. Webb.” Dr. Webb was a beautiful brunette with dark hair and exotic eyes. She shook Thelma’s hand warmly.
“How is my baby?”
“Your daughter will be just fine in a few days. She has a moderate concussion, some cuts and bruises, and she’s more shaken up than anything. I want her to stay here for a couple of days.”
“Can I see her?”
“Before you do, Mrs. Ryan, I want to tell you something.”
“Yes?”
“Because of your daughter’s concussion, she is suffering from acute amnesia. She has no recollection of her past at all. Her long-term memory has been affected, so she may not remember you or your son.”
“Oh no. Is there anything that you can do for her?”
“There’s no brain damage, or any other signs of head trauma, so medically, we can’t do anything else for her. We can continue to monitor her, but that’s it. Her memory might come back at any time. The best thing that you can do is to reassure your daughter that she is loved and try to help her piece back together the past.”
“Will she ever be the same again?”
“It’s very hard to say, Mrs. Ryan. Caitlin is young and otherwise healthy, even being a juvenile diabetic. But I must tell you the truth. You and your family may have to face the fact that Caitlin may not ever be the same person again.”
“We will continue to love her, no matter what happens. She is still my child, and I will accept her no matter what her condition.”
“Mrs. Ryan, I wish that more of my patients’ family members shared your positive attitude. It could make all of the difference in her recovery.”
“I would like to see my daughter.”
“Certainly. Right this way.”
To Be Continued...