Page 3 of Stone Coast (Tyson Wild Thriller)
“ I ’ve got something for you,” Dr. Russell said as he entered the room and introduced himself.
From a pocket in his lab coat, he pulled a sealed specimen jar.
He jiggled it, rattling the distorted copper round inside.
Warped and mangled, it looked like a vicious destroyer of flesh.
“It’s not every day I pull a bullet from someone’s brain and then get to have a conversation with them afterward. ”
He smiled and handed me the jar.
I examined it with an equal mix of curiosity and horror.
“Looks like it ricocheted before impact, softening the blow. Either that or you’ve got a really hard head."
"She's got a really hard head," the handsome guy in the lab coat said.
He'd told me his name was Grayson, but it didn't ring a bell. Dr. Grayson Mitchell. He was a hematologist who had privileges here at the hospital .
"I'm not at all alarmed that you have gaps in your memory," Dr. Russell said. "It may take time, but I think the odds are good you'll recover full access to your past. A lot of people block out traumatic incidents, so the crime may never come back to you."
“This is more than gaps,” I said.
He smiled. “Stay positive.”
We went through the same series of cognitive tests that the nurse had performed. Dr. Russell asked me a bunch of questions, most of which I didn’t know the answers to.
"There's nothing medically wrong with you,” he assured. “You got lucky. Right now, you just need to rest and heal."
He gave me the same bit about starting slow, working my way up to solid food, and getting into a PT program to recondition my atrophied muscles.
"When can I get out of here?"
He laughed. "As soon as I think you'll do okay at home."
"You can stay with me," Grayson said. "I wouldn't recommend living alone right now."
Dr. Russell said, “You're lucky to have such a fine gentleman looking after you." He took a breath. “I have no doubt you will make a swift and full recovery." He flashed a reassuring smile.
I don't know if he believed it or if that's just what he said to patients to keep their spirits up.
"Is there anything we can do to help facilitate her recovery of memories?" Grayson asked .
"I don't have any hard and fast data to back this up, but I think the more exposure she has to the elements of her past, the more it may jog her memory.
Seeing friends, loved ones, listening to old music, interacting with prized possessions could all be positive triggers. We want to stimulate good memories."
Grayson nodded.
"I'll be back tomorrow to check on you." Dr. Russell smiled and patted my ankle before leaving.
“What about this tube?” I asked.
“I’ll have the nurse remove that, and we can start you off on something light, like broth.”
It didn’t sound appetizing, but it was better than the tube.
Dr. Russell left, and there was an awkward moment of silence.
I stared at the bullet in the glass jar, trying to recall the incident, but it was just a blank.
"Do you feel up to visitors?" Grayson asked.
"I guess."
"I'll call Olivia and let her know you’re back amongst the living.”
"Who is Olivia?"
"She's one of your best friends. She lives in an apartment not far from your marina."
"I live in a marina? "
"On a sailboat. The Intrepid .” Grayson paused. "I really think you should move into my place when you're discharged. Just in case you need assistance."
"Is that what you think?" I said dryly.
He smiled. "Yes, I do. I've been thinking about that for a long time before… this happened."
He hesitated for a moment, and his eyes locked into mine. There was so much going on in his head. It was clear to see.
I was empty in comparison. I felt nothing for this man.
“I guess we’ve got a lot of getting to know each other to do. I…” he started, then stopped. He pulled back his emotions and said in a measured tone, “It’s good to have you back.”