Blood and Sand by Cameron Cain

Author:Cameron Cain [Cain, Cameron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-06-05T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

The psych ward is never the nice part of the hospital. It’s not where they blow the budget on decor or pleasing architecture. Maybe it’s an intelligent move, as I do watch a woman in a pink bathrobe throw what I hope is chocolate pudding around the day room while I’m waiting for a visitors pass. Orderlies surround her. When they get a good grip on her, her eyes fasten on me at the reception desk.

“Devil! It’s the devil!” She yowls this on repeat as they drag her away.

I’m not overly impressed. One of the few perks of my job is that creeping me out has become a challenge on par with perpetual motion or time travel.

“Ms. Fell.”

I turn. The female agent from last night looks a little worn around the edges — but only a little. Tough old girl. “How is she?”

“Calmer. We gave her some dolls, and that’s relaxed her a great deal. Anytime I try to question her, the progress is undone.” She does the FBI version of a smile — a slightly softer frown. “Do you have some magic trick to get her talking?”

“Sorry. Lost the wand a while ago.” I’m accepting a pass from a nurse, clocking the cameras, the exits, the staff. “A doctor checked her over, I’m assuming.”

“Yes.”

“What are her injuries?”

“None, other than a few bruises.”

I wasn’t expecting that. I let it go for now. “What do you think of security here?”

“It’s good. It’s not great.”

I hold out my hand. “You can head home.”

“I’ll stay,” she says, shaking with me.

“Her parents won’t be here for a while. I got a first name, but we still don’t know who she is.”

“Then I’ll be here for a while.”

I nod. “What’s your name?”

“Special Agent Sylvia Dodd.”

“I’m Beth.”

“Pleasure,” she says, and signals me up the hall.

“Is there an observation room?”

“Yes. That’s where I’m remaining, mostly. She seems more at ease when she’s by herself.” Sylvia points at a pair of doors, grasping the knob of the one on the left. “I have a question,” she says.

“Shoot.”

“Whoever did this to her is going to be very sorry, is that right?”

“Yeah, he will. Might take a while.”

“Why’s that?”

“RICO wants him.”

She does the FBI version of a grimace — slightly deeper frown. “Then he won’t pay at all.”

“Sylvia, trust me.” I open the door. “Gus threw his poo at the wrong monkey.”

The room is padded. It’s not a movie invention; they actually do that. Partly so the patient doesn’t hurt herself, but also to make the whole place a soft, yielding womb, a room-wide bed. She’s in the corner, a line of four dolls in front of her. Another is in her hand. She’s brushing its hair. She’s humming, and I detect right away that this isn’t something I can dance to. It’s a random, “Hmmmmm.” Then brush, brush, brush the dollie’s hair. Then “Hmmmmm,” and another long rest. The vibration must comfort her somehow, the sound of her own voice countering the hum of the halogens this room is lit by.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.