C H A P T E R O N E
Adam
“Come in,” I shouted.
Corpsman Reese pokes his head through my office door.
“Sir, Donna called, there’s a woman refusing to leave until she speaks to you.”
Grand. All I need is a crazy patient on top of all this paperwork stacked on my desk.
“Okay, I’m on my way,” I sigh
I’m so tired. I’m already 30 minutes behind, I don’t have time for this, but duty calls. I try to plaster a fake smile on my face as I walk down the hall toward the front desk. As I step into the waiting area, I notice a woman staring out the window toward the Hood Canal.
“Ma’am? What can I do for you?” I ask from behind her.
With a startled gasp, she jumps out of the chair. She turns to face me, but doesn’t lift her eyes.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you, are you alright?” I ask, concerned.
She’s young, mid 20’s at most with a round face, chocolate brown hair that falls past her shoulder blades. The problem is I can’t seem to take my eyes off her. Slowly, she raises her eyes, taking in the khaki uniform I’m wearing, but stops short of reaching my face.
She looks haunted, skittish, and has deep dark circles under her eyes. Her pale skin tells me she hasn’t slept well in quite some time.
“I-I-I’m s-s-sorry to bother you s-s-si-sir, but I’m new here and w-w-wanted to meet my doc-doc-doctor.” She stammers, quickly glancing at my face then back to my collar.
Don’t be scared of me, honey.
“Would you like to have a seat? Do you have any questions for me?” I ask her in a quiet, calm voice.
I don’t want to frighten her anymore than I already have. Something about her is calling me. I am overcome with the desire to protect her from whatever has her so shaken. If she would only tell me what’s wrong.
She shakes her head rapidly and starts inching back towards the elevator when the doors open suddenly.
“ISABEL!” A man yells from inside.
She flinches as if she’s been struck; spinning on her heels, she walks hastily toward the elevator. As soon as she’s within arm’s reach, he yanks her into the elevator. I watch in shock as she crumples in on herself and begins to tremble.
Only now do I notice a little girl, huddled in the corner behind him. He then releases the doors while staring at her like he caught us having sex right here in the waiting room.
So, it was a WHO, not a WHAT that has her so frightened.
I can do nothing but stare at her trembling form, appearing to make herself as small as possible before the elevator doors close. What the fuck can I do? I have to do something! Maybe I should go after them. He wouldn’t challenge an officer, would he?
I could offer her a safe place to stay until we figure out somewhere he couldn’t find her. I swore an oath to protect and serve. I won’t go back on that now. Functioning purely on instinct, I head toward the elevator and hit the down button, watching to see where the couple gets off. Parking garage level B…
I got you now, motherfucker!
“Reese! Call the MAs’ and tell them to meet me at Parking Level B. I believe that one of my patients is in fear for their life and there’s a child involved! They can meet me there.” I yell as the elevator doors open.
“Yes, Sir.” I hear Reese say before the doors shut.
Why is it taking so long to go down four damn floors!
My stomach drops as I think about everything that could happen to Isabel while I tried to make up my damn mind. As the doors open, I fly out and rush toward the exit, but as I turn the corner, all I see is the tail lights.
Damn it!
“Sir, we rushed here as soon as we could. What seems to be the situation?” an MA says.
I look down and notice his name tag said, Michaels. “Michaels, a new patient of mine came to introduce themselves. Her name is Isabel. However, before I could get her last name she was verbally assaulted and manhandled by a man, who I am assuming was her husband in the presence of myself, Reese, and Donna.”
I shake my head trying to forget the frightened look on her face as the elevator doors closed. I never want to see that look on anyone’s face again.
“Is that it, Sir? Did you have a run in with them here in the garage?”
“No, when I got here, they were gone. However, I did get a partial plate number. Will that help at all?” I look at Michaels hopeful.
“Unfortunately, Sir, no. We will take statements from you and your staff, but without a formal complaint from the victim there isn’t anything further we can do.”
“Thanks, Michaels. I’ll do anything that I can to help. I am sure everyone else feels the same. Follow me back to my office, I would like to give my statement there. I still have patients to see.”
As I make my way back to my office, I can’t help but replay what happened in my mind. I didn’t get the proper information, so I can’t make a report of abuse. That’s Doctor 101 shit. You always ask a patient their name when you meet them. If I was thinking with my head and not annoyed by the interruption, I would have done better. All I had to go on now was her first name. I didn’t notice a wedding ring, but I also wasn’t paying much attention to her hands. I’ll just have to wait for her to make another appointment, something tells me that will be happening sooner rather than later.