Page 8

CHAPTER EIGHT: CICELY

“Is that why you guys are here?” I ask Stone as we wait for the sandwich station guy to finish our order.

“Dante called us to help when Babe told him what he suspected.”

I nod and smile at the man who hands me my turkey cub. Stone grabs his sandwich and the one he had made for Padre. After we grab drinks, he pays and leads us to an empty table.

“So, the day of Mode’s attack…,” he prods.

I swallow my bite of sandwich and cast my memory back to that day. “Babe and Min left early; they were searching for their skips and had an idea of where to look for one. Sammy was in and out of the kitchen. He made the coffee and brought it to the members who ordered it.” I gave him all the details I could remember from that morning. “Members who have jobs outside the clubhouse came into the kitchen to grab breakfast sandwiches. Chrome and I were in the kitchen eating our breakfast and talking. Mode came in with Trigger. They were discussing a bike race they planned on attending with Scorch. When Chrome and I left the kitchen, I saw Mac leaving the clubhouse. Oh, and Torque passed us on his way into the kitchen. That’s all I remember.”

“You mentioned Sammy. What about the other prospects?”

I think back. “I didn’t see Pipes then, but I saw him a few minutes before we found Mode. So, he was in the clubhouse at the time.”

“So the only person you saw leaving the clubhouse was Mac?”

I frown and realize he’s right. The ones who came into the kitchen to grab sandwiches and coffee said they were leaving, but I didn’t see them go. “I guess that’s true. They said they were leaving, but I couldn’t swear that they did. You might want to talk to Sammy.”

“Where did you and Chrome go after you left the kitchen?”

“I went upstairs to Chrome’s room. Oh, I passed by the infirmary and saw Stitch inside.”

“What about Chrome? Where did he go?”

“Into his office. He had paperwork to do. Something Ice wanted him to look into.”

“Was Ice there?”

I shrug. “I didn’t see him. Chrome mentioned that Ice left something on his desk that he needed to see. Not that he was talking to Ice about it right then.”

“Okay, that all meshes with what Chrome said. The only difference is Scorch was with Chrome when Chrome got the call to check on Mode.”

After eating, Stone grabs Padre's sandwich, a drink, and two cups of coffee before we return to the ICU.

Standing outside the door is a man wearing a dark gray leather coat with blue splashes along the sleeves. When he turns toward me, I pause. The man is insanely good-looking. He has a strong jaw with just enough scruff to make him rugged rather than pretty. But the most startling feature is his eyes, a gorgeous gray that matches the gray of his leather jacket.

“Can I help you?” I ask.

“My name is Gray Monroe. I understand you have my business partner and friend, Blue Michaelson, under your care?”

“Oh, yes. Here, let me,” I say, using my badge to unlock the security door. I hold the door open, allowing both men to enter.

Stone walks into Mode’s room while I take Gray to Mr. Michaelson’s. The nurse covering my break sees me and waves as she moves on to her other tasks.

“Shit,” Gray says as he approaches the bed. “What happened to him?”

I give him a rundown of the injuries and assure him that the doctor feels confident that his friend will wake up soon. “It’s hard to predict these things, but he’s healing, and the injury to his head wasn’t severe.”

“I don’t understand what happened. How did he end up here?”

“I don’t know for certain. I heard someone found him in a ditch on the highway. He called an ambulance.”

“What happened to his bike?”

“His bike?” I ask.

“Yeah, Blue was riding his bike that night. Whoever attacked him must have stolen it. Fuckers. Sorry,” he says, giving me a guilty look.

I shrug it off. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve heard worse. I’m sorry, I don’t know anything more about the attack or who found him. Our administrator might know. Lisa Kemper. She’s on the sixth floor. What about the police?”

“They wouldn’t give me the name of the guy who brought him in. I’ll check with the administrator. Thank you.” He digs out his wallet and passes me a business card. “This is my card; I’d appreciate a call when Blue wakes up.”

I take the card and study it. The logo is in the same gray and blue as Gray’s jacket: Stormy Skies. I put the card in my pocket and leave Gray to spend time with his unconscious friend.

Outside his room, I find Dr. Kemper waiting for me. “We have another patient coming in,” Dr. Kemper tells me. “She’s a Jane Doe, between the ages of sixty and seventy. Someone beat the hell out of her, but didn’t stop there. Looks like they tortured her. She had teeth ripped out and burns on her hands and fingers. Looks like someone held them against a stovetop. Nasty. We’ve stabilized her, but put her in a medically induced coma. The cops are coming to gather evidence and want to process a rape kit before we clean her up.”

“Poor thing,” I say as a commotion down the hall tells me the orderlies are wheeling her in. Two uniformed officers follow them. Behind them is an overweight man in an ill-fitting suit. I pegged him for a cop before he took out his badge and flashed it at Dr. Kemper.

“I’m Detective Jack Browning. I have a crime tech coming down to search for trace on our victim,” I hear him tell Dr. Kemper as I slip into the patient’s room. I can’t do much for her until the tech completes the examination.

The tech enters the room and speaks into her recorder. “Victim’s currently listed as Jane Doe. Her approximate age is determined to be between the ages of sixty and seventy. She has white hair and dark blue eyes. She’s approximately 5’4” and weighs 135 pounds.”

As the tech examines the woman, I, too, scan my patient as she lies naked on the bed. Bruises mottle her body. Gauze covers her hands and her scalp. While treating her, they shaved one side of her head. Her hair is the color of new snow and glows next to the duller white of the pillowcases. Her arms and legs are well-toned. Her legs and private area are smooth and hair-free. Her feet appear soft, and her toenails are painted. If she’s seventy, she’s in excellent shape for her age.

After the cops and the tech leave, I bathe the poor woman and dress her in a hospital gown. They’re hideous, but at least they provide her some cover. Not that she’s in a position to care. After inserting the feeding tube and the catheter, I leave her to rest while I check on my other patients.

“What was all the commotion?” Eagle asks when I enter Mode’s room. It’s him and Padre with no sign of Stone.

“New patient,” I explain. “Stone left?”

“Yeah, he’s getting some sleep. He’ll relieve Padre later. You’re about done for the day, right?”

I check my watch and realize he’s right. The day has flown by, as it usually does. After checking Mode’s vitals, I empty the catheter bag and replace the IV. I say goodnight to Padre and Eagle before updating my replacement.

After a quick shower, I change my clothes and drive to the restaurant. I’m half wishing I hadn’t made plans to meet the girls, but having someone serve me food instead of making it myself sounds like a better plan.

“Did Mr. Michaelson wake up yet?” Sara asks me after we order.

“No, but his partner stopped by. He’s just as hot as Michaelson.”

“His partner-partner? Does that mean he plays for the other team?”

“Business partner. He gave me a business card. It’s called Stormy Skies.”

“I can’t wait to see him.”

“We got a new patient in, too,” I tell her, but don’t go into specifics. Why give her and the others nightmares when she’s going to find out in a few hours?

“Okay, so now that work is out of the way. Who was that hottie who insisted on paying for your new tires? You’ve been holding out on us.”

I shake my head, but give them the basic details of how Chrome and I met. They give the appropriate gasps when I tell them about the other women these men kidnapped.

“Good thing your knight in shining armor arrived.”

“Does that make you his Old Lady?”

I snort. “How do you know what an Old Lady is?”

“I’ve seen Sons of Anarchy. Quit diverting. Are you?”

“She has to be. The way he looked at her says it all. Plus, he was all growly and protective when she told him someone slashed her tires.”

“Someone slashed your tires? Who? Kids?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I found them slashed this morning, but I didn’t see anyone.” Since I don’t want to discuss Chrome, I change the subject by asking Sara about her upcoming vacation plans.

I’m no longer hungry, so I pick at my food. My thoughts bounce between Chrome and Jane Doe. My new patient feels familiar, but I can’t quite place her. I have the server box my leftovers as I bid goodbye to my friends. After parking my car outside my apartment building, I don’t have time to open the door before it’s yanked open. I screech before I realize it’s Chrome standing outside.

“What the fuck are you doing? You gave me a heart attack!” I shout at him.

“Where the hell have you been? Your shift ended three hours ago,” he snaps back.

“I went out to dinner. I’m sorry, I didn’t know I had to check in with you.”

“Who did you have dinner with?”

“Friends. From work. Girlfriends,” I explain when the stony look on his face doesn’t dissipate. “Why are you here?”