Chương 3
The examination took an hour and forty minutes.
Sophia had three fractured ribs, none displaced. Her left cheekbone was cracked, but the fracture did not require surgery. A CT scan showed no bleeding in her brain. Her ankle was badly sprained rather than broken. The split lip needed three stitches, which Dr. Shah placed while Sophia gripped the edge of the bed and refused the nurse’s hand.
The doctor photographed every injury with Sophia’s permission. She explained that the images would become part of a confidential medical record and could be released later if Sophia chose to report the assault.
“Later?” Sophia asked.
“Tomorrow, next month, a year from now. Evidence is most useful when it is documented promptly. What you decide to do with it is separate.”
“What if the person who did it has cops?”
Dr. Shah set the camera down. “Then I would recommend speaking with an attorney before speaking with the police.”
Julian stood beyond the glass partition, visible as a dark shape in the corridor.
Sophia followed the doctor’s glance. “Is he paying you?”
“The hospital is billing a private medical account.”
“So yes.”
“I work for the hospital. I’m treating you.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Dr. Shah peeled off one glove. “No, it isn’t.”
Sophia almost apologized, then decided she was too tired.
The nurse cleaned dried blood from her neck. Beneath it, faint purple marks formed the shape of fingers.
“Do you feel safe returning home?” Dr. Shah asked.
“No.”
“Do you have somewhere else?”
Sophia looked through the glass again.
Julian stood with one shoulder against the wall, reading something on his phone. His posture appeared loose until one noticed that his attention moved to every person entering the hallway. A janitor pushed a linen cart past him. Julian stepped aside before the man had to ask.
“I don’t know,” Sophia said.
Dr. Shah wrote something in the chart. “That is not the same as yes.”
They gave Sophia pain medication, a breathing device, and instructions to inhale deeply even when it hurt. The nurse demonstrated. Sophia managed half the target volume and became dizzy.
When Julian returned, Dr. Shah blocked his path to the bed.
“She should remain for observation.”
“For how long?”
“Until morning.”
“I’m leaving,” Sophia said.
Dr. Shah did not turn. “You may leave against medical advice. It would be a poor decision.”
“I need to see Elena.”
“She can be brought here.”
“No.” Sophia pushed herself upright and immediately regretted it. “No hospitals. No names on visitor logs.”
Julian watched her struggle. “The safe house has medical staff.”
Dr. Shah looked at him. “It has a physician?”
“A nurse and a physician on call.”
“Imaging equipment?”
“No.”
“Then it is not a hospital.”
“I’m going,” Sophia said.
Dr. Shah’s mouth tightened. She had the expression of someone accustomed to losing arguments to fear rather than logic. “You need to return immediately if you become confused, vomit, faint, develop worsening abdominal pain, or have difficulty breathing beyond what we discussed.”
“I understand.”
“No, you are exhausted and medicated. Mr. Reeves, do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“She needs supervision through the night.”
“She’ll have it.”
“She needs a follow-up appointment within three days.”
“It will be arranged.”
Dr. Shah studied him. “You answer very efficiently.”
“It saves time.”
“It also makes people wonder what you are not answering.”
For the first time, something near amusement touched Julian’s face. It disappeared before becoming a smile.
The nurse found Sophia a pair of gray hospital pants, a loose shirt, and soft shoes. Her torn blouse went into a brown paper evidence bag. She insisted on keeping it.
Julian carried the bag.
He did not carry Sophia this time. A wheelchair took her through the garage, and she transferred slowly into a different SUV. This one had tinted windows and no visible license plate frame. A woman in a navy coat drove. Thomas sat in front, broad-necked and gray at the temples, his face less dramatic than Sophia expected.
He turned when she entered. “Your sister is safe.”
“Where?”
“Queens.”
“Where in Queens?”
“I’ll tell you when we arrive.”
“You expect me to get in a car without knowing?”
Thomas’s eyes moved to Julian.
Julian settled beside her. “A house near Douglaston. Private road. Six-person team. Two women, four men. Exterior cameras, independent power, no staff with a connection to Marcus Lane.”
“How do you know?”
“I chose them.”
“That doesn’t answer how you know.”
“No one is ever known completely,” Julian said. “But Thomas has worked with three of them for more than ten years. The other three are former federal agents with no connection to my business.”
Thomas faced forward again. “One is a former paramedic.”
Sophia buckled her seat belt with difficulty. “You keep saying your business.”
Julian looked out the window as the garage door opened. “Would another word make you feel safer?”
“No.”
“Then we’ll keep the accurate one.”
The city slid past in wet, fractured reflections. Sophia drifted in and out of sleep. Each time she woke, she found Julian in the same position, hands resting on his knees, signet ring dull in the passing light.
Once, near the Queensboro Bridge, she woke with the certainty that someone sat on her chest.
She clawed at the seat belt.
Julian caught her hands before she could hurt herself. “Sophia.”
“Get it off.”
“It’s the belt.”
“Get it off me.”
Thomas reached back, but Julian stopped him with a look. He released the buckle and kept one hand under Sophia’s elbow while she bent forward, gasping.
“Breathe through your nose,” he said.
She struck his chest weakly. “Don’t tell me how.”
“All right.”
“Don’t touch me.”
He removed his hand.
Without his support, she tilted toward the door. Julian remained close but did not catch her until her temple nearly touched the glass. Then he placed two fingers against her sleeve, enough to steady her.
May you like
The pressure in her chest loosened.
She could hear Elena telling her not to say love like that.
