Double Blind_A Novel

by Iris Johansen

  What in the hell was happening?

  Her legs buckled.

  No!

  She fell to the sidewalk. Her chest felt like it was exploding.

  She lay there for a long moment, trying to get up the strength to stand. It wasn’t working. She was only getting weaker.

  Her phone. She needed her phone.

  She jammed her fingers into her pocket, but she couldn’t get the leverage she needed. It was getting harder to breathe.

  She looked up next to the door, at her building’s directory. She reached up. Could she make it?

  It wasn’t going to be easy. Hard. So hard.

  She forced herself to scoot up the wall.

  She was panting as she stretched her fingers toward the intercom buttons.

  Her vision blurred slightly.

  Just a few more inches …

  She punched the button next to the first familiar name she saw.

  “Olivia…”

  Had she punched the right one?

  Oh, no, she thought in a panic. She was falling again. losing consciousness.

  “Olivia…”

  * * *

  FLASHES OF LIGHT.

  Loud voices.

  An antiseptic smell.

  That smell …

  She was in a hospital. A hospital? How had she—?

  Olivia was there, she realized, frantically answering questions practically shouted at her by a doctor as they moved down a long hallway. Kendra knew she must be on a gurney, but she felt like she was gliding on air.

  Olivia was so scared …

  Kendra was straining to tell her that she was awake again. That was good, wasn’t it?

  But she still couldn’t speak. Not so good …

  The voices and sounds around her grew less distinct until they blended together into a low din.

  Then they were gone.

  CHAPTER

  4

  “KENDRA?”

  She snapped awake. Her head was throbbing, but at least there was none of the fuzziness she’d felt before.

  “Kendra?”

  She turned in her hospital bed. It was Lynch, standing over her with an odd expression on his face. Fear. But Lynch was never afraid. Perhaps it was the sunlight streaming in through the windows behind him that made it seem that way.

  Sunlight.

  “It’s light outside,” she said.

  He smiled. “Happens that way pretty much every morning. Strange, I know.”

  “But it was getting dark…” Her throat was so dry that she could barely get the words out. “Water,” she said hoarsely. “Please. I’m dying of thirst.”

  “Wait for the doctor. I sent the nurse after him as soon as I saw you stirring.”

  Kendra glanced around the small room. “Olivia. I thought Olivia was with me.”

  “She was very much with you. Practically joined at the hip. She’s getting something to eat. I had to throw her out. She’ll be furious that she missed you waking up. She probably saved your life, you know.”

  “I don’t know much of anything. Scared. I remember she was scared. Everything else is kind of a blur.” Kendra raised her hand to her throbbing head. “What in the hell happened to me?”

  “I thought you could tell us. You absorbed a poison through that wound on your arm.”

  “Wound?” Kendra looked at her left arm, which was now bandaged.

  “Did someone stab or slice you with a knife?”

  “No, not at all. I don’t see how—” Then she remembered. “Wait, it wasn’t a knife. Something else.”

  “Then what was it?”

  “A French bulldog.”

  “Okay, you have to be delirious. You just accused a French bulldog of poisoning you.”

  “Not a bulldog … A leash.” Kendra thought for a moment, trying pierce the haze. “He was being walked on a leash and crossed in front of me. The leash sliced into my arm. I thought it was strange because they weren’t moving that fast. I remember being pissed off because they didn’t even stop. I thought it was rude.”

  Lynch took a moment to process the information. “Maybe it wasn’t a normal dog leash.”

  “Seriously?” She shook her head. “That’s a bit cloak and dagger, isn’t it?”

  “No more than a poison-tipped cane being used to kill a Russian defector on London Bridge. I’m sure you saw the headlines about that. Trust me, reality has a way of catching up with the most outrageous fantasies.”

  “Well, this isn’t one of my fantasies. And why me?”

  Lynch shrugged. “Why is it ever you? Someone obviously perceives you as a threat.”

  She smiled with an effort. “I guess this now makes twenty-seven attempts on my life?”

  “Hmm.” He reached down and took her hand. “Might be a little difficult learning how to break a French bulldog’s wrists. The Humane Society might get involved.”

  “I don’t blame the dog. It looked very sweet. But if I could get my hands on that little old lady…”

  “Little old lady? You didn’t mention that. We’ll have to get a description from you. Griffin will probably have footage from every traffic cam, web cam, and ATM in your neighborhood by the end of the day.”

  “Good. But if she’s at the level where she’s using devices like that dog leash, she might be clever enough to cover her tracks.”

  “You never know.”

  She gazed at him suspiciously. “You don’t believe me, do you?”

  “Sure I do. Bulldogs. Little old ladies. I’ll take anything you throw at me.” His hand tightened on her own. “Anything. Whether it’s true or just a figment of that poison. I’m just glad you’re still around to come up with something this inventive.”

  “It is true, Lynch.”

  He leaned toward her and said softly, “Then I’ll fight and make certain everyone else believes you, too.”

  Kendra couldn’t look away from him. “Thank you,” she said awkwardly. Then she forced herself to look down at her bandaged arm. “But why not just pick me off with a rifle? Wouldn’t that have been easier?”

  “Not nearly as subtle,” a voice spoke from the hallway.

  Kendra looked over to see a strikingly handsome man in a coat and tie standing in the doorway. Her eyes widened. Tall, powerful, with almost perfect features, he might have been the most stunning man she had ever seen.

  “Sorry for interrupting.” He entered the room. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Mind if I join in?” He sat down on the foot of her bed, facing both Kendra and Lynch.

  She gave him a startled glance and moved her feet. “Make yourself comfortable.”

  “Thanks, but these hospital beds obviously aren’t made for comfort.” He looked around. “So when is breakfast served around here?”

  This encounter was getting very weird indeed. “No idea,” Kendra said. “We may have already missed it.”

  “Too bad, but the commissary is pretty good here. I might be able to bring you something.” He looked between Kendra and Lynch. “Don’t mind me. Please continue your conversation.”

  Enough. Kendra had been so stunned by those extraordinary good looks that she had felt a little bemused. But this was all too bizarre. “Don’t take this the wrong way … but who in the hell are you?”

  “Oops.” The man grimaced. “Sorry. I forget that you might not feel as close to me as I do to you. I spent hours in here keeping an eye on you after I told them what they had to do to fix you.” He nodded at Lynch. “Over to you.”

  Lynch shook his head. “I was wondering when you’d get around to behaving normally, Fletcher. You might remember Kendra is already feeling a little dizzy.” He made the introductions. “Kendra Michaels, this is Dr. Alan Fletcher.”

  She looked at him with alarm. “He’s my doctor?”

  Fletcher winced. “You don’t have to say it like that.”

  “Not really your doctor,” Lynch said. “Fletcher is an old friend of mine. He works out of the Naval Medical Center. Whe
n it became obvious that your affliction was out of the ordinary, I brought him in to consult with the doctors here.”

  “And they loved that,” Fletcher said sarcastically. “But you were smart to call me. I’m far better than they are.”

  Kendra smiled. “With an attitude like that, how could the doctors here not love working with you?”

  Fletcher shrugged. “Go figure, huh?”

  Lynch dropped down in a low chair beside the bed. “We were just discussing why someone would choose this method of attack. Kendra says that slice came from a dog leash of all things. Strange way to try to kill someone.”

  Fletcher nodded. “Actually, I don’t believe anyone wanted her dead.”

  “How can you say that?” Lynch said. “Two different doctors told me that she almost died.”

  “Oh, that’s correct.”

  “Then why do you say—”

  “It’s a chemical called Tribuxin. It’s absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly, which is why it affected you immediately. The symptoms are lethargy, extreme nausea, headaches, and can continue for days afterward. But it’s almost never fatal. You happened to have an extreme allergic reaction that very few people in the population have.”

  “Lucky me.”

  “Well your allergy did serve a good purpose. We would’ve had no idea you’d been attacked, which was probably the plan. But your mysterious illness would have put you out of commission. Is there anyone who would want to do that?”

  “The million-dollar question,” Lynch said. He turned to Kendra. “Looks like you’re back to twenty-six.”

  Fletcher wrinkled his brow. “Twenty-six what?”

  “Twenty-six attempts on my life,” Kendra said.

  He stared at her, intrigued. “Popular lady.”

  “It was over a four-year period.”

  “Oh. Well, then. Nothing to be concerned about.” Fletcher thought for moment. “So someone wants you out of commission but doesn’t want to make it obvious that’s what they’re doing. If they had their way, you would think you were waylaid by a stomach flu.”

  “And not instigating a manhunt for an old lady and a French bulldog,” Kendra said.

  “Lynch tells me you’re investigating a case right now. Assuming this is connected to that one, you’re up against someone who is incredibly sophisticated. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

  “I can’t say that I regard the bulldog as much in the sophisticate department,” Lynch said. “But trust me, Fletcher has seen it all. He’s consulted with the CDC on many of their most unusual cases.” His voice lowered melodramatically. “Ones that neither of us are allowed to talk about.”

  Fletcher shrugged. “Unless I’m plied with generous quantities of Don Julio Real Tequila. In which case I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

  Kendra shook her head wearily. “Unfortunately, you can’t tell me the one thing I want to know.”

  “Who did this to you?”

  “Yes.”

  “No, but I’ll work with the FBI and everyone else to try and figure that out.” He suddenly smiled and those remarkably handsome features lit with warmth. “Trust me, I’m unbelievably good at this stuff.”

  She couldn’t help but smile back at him. “There’s that modesty again.”

  “You don’t want a modest doctor, Kendra. A modest plumber or a modest landscaper maybe, but not a modest doctor. Was the doctor who gave you your sight a modest man?”

  “Actually, no. Charles Waldridge was extraordinary and he knew it.”

  “Of course he knew it.” Fletcher patted her blanketed feet. “So I guess I should ask how you’re feeling. But of course I know that already just from talking to you. A lesser doctor might not be able to read all the nuances, but you can see that I just might be as extraordinary as your Charles Waldridge and therefore not subject to the burdens of inadequacy.”

  “Ask her anyway, Fletcher,” Lynch said dryly. “She has a headache and she doesn’t need to wade through your ego for solutions.”

  “Oh, very well. How do you feel, Kendra?”

  She thought about it. “Surprisingly good. And my headache is almost gone.”

  “The headache is a side effect of the medication they gave you.”

  “But I’m terribly thirsty. Lynch wouldn’t let me drink anything until you showed up.”

  “How cruel of him. I’ve always thought he was a bit sadistic. I, on the other hand, am your savior. By all means drink.” He got to his feet and went to the bedside table and held a straw to her mouth while she drank a cup of water. “Better?”

  “Heaven. And my head feels even better now that my throat doesn’t feel like a desert.”

  He gave her a little more water. “It should go away entirely in the next few hours.”

  “Good.” She turned to Lynch. “Because I want to visit the law offices where Elena Meyer worked when she was out here. We need to find out what she was working on. Maybe we can go after lunch.”

  Fletcher raised his hands. “Whoa whoa whoa.”

  Kendra turned toward him. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “They’re going to want to keep you here for observation for a least another night.”

  “Overnight? No thanks. I’ll sign the DAMA form.”

  Fletcher rolled his eyes. “I know a patient is trouble when they actually know that acronym. Do you know what Discharge Against Medical Advice means? It means you’re leaving when a medical professional says it’s in your best interest to stay put. Not smart.”

  “What’s your advice?” Lynch said.

  “Listen to the doctors here.”

  “But you’ve already told us they’re not as good as you,” Kendra said slyly.

  “Very few doctors are. They can’t help that. But if they want you to stay, it’s for a reason. Make sure there are no more reactions to the poison or the medication. You’ve already shown one unexpected allergic reaction. If you have another, this is the best place for you.”

  Lynch turned to Kendra. “The man makes a good point.”

  “Don’t tell me that. If this had happened to you, you would have been out that door already.”

  “Probably. But I don’t always show the best judgment where my health is concerned.”

  “That’s for sure,” Fletcher said. “Has he told you about the four days he refused to see a doctor in Qatar?”

  “We don’t need to talk about that,” Lynch said.

  Fletcher stood and jerked his thumb at Lynch. “He almost lost a leg. So I can understand if you don’t take medical advice from him. But you can take it from me. Go online, make calls, do whatever you want. But don’t leave this hospital today.”

  She turned to Lynch. “We’re getting out of here, right?”

  “No. Olivia knows you too well. She’s already taken your phone, keys, cash, and credit cards. You’ll have a tough time going anywhere right now.”

  She grimaced. “I’m surrounded by traitors.”

  “No, just by people who care about you,” Lynch said quietly.

  “Ah, the dispute is settled.” Fletcher smiled. “Nice to meet you, Kendra. Now I have to get back and make rounds at my own hospital. It might be best for us both if you didn’t share with your doctors how I told you I’m so much better than they are.”

  “You mean you didn’t tell them that yourself?”

  “I’m sure they could tell on their own after observing my technique. No need to rub it in.” He gave Lynch a salute and walked out of the room.

  After Kendra knew he was out of earshot, she turned back to Lynch. “He’s extremely good looking. Almost distractingly so.”

  “You noticed that, huh?”

  “Hard to miss.”

  “I knew that’s how you would probably react, but I called him in anyway. He really is the best physician around. I would listen to him when he says you should stay here tonight.”

  She leaned back in her bed. “Okay, one night. But first thing tomorrow, I want
to go to that law firm.”

  “Deal. I’ll take you there myself.” He sat down again. “In the meantime, I’ll sit here with you until you go to sleep. It won’t be long.”

  “Yes, it will. I just woke up.”

  He shook his head. “Drugs will sneak up and ambush you. I’ll give you another fifteen minutes.”

  “Then you should leave and go do something else. You’ve already wasted enough time on me. It must have been excruciatingly boring.”

  “Excruciating.” His lips tightened. “Not boring. I’m looking forward to just sitting here and looking at your face and not wondering if the machines will signal a code blue on you at any moment.”

  She went still. “It was that close?”

  “Close enough.” Then he smiled. “Which is why I have to stand here and keep you from leaping out of that bed before Olivia gets in to see you. I only got to be here when you woke because I pulled rank on her. I managed to produce Fletcher, who undoubtedly saved your life, and she owed me.”

  “Then go get her now. I want to see her.”

  He shook his head. “She’s down in the cafeteria. You might be asleep by the time I got back with her. I’ll risk making her wait, as long as she knows I kept you here.”

  “I feel wide-awake,” she said impatiently.

  “I know.” He paused. “Thank goodness.”

  Her eyes widened as she looked at him.

  Then his expression changed and he reached for her cup of ice again. “Have another drink of water and then you can tell me what you can remember about that little old lady who you pissed off enough for her to want to put you down.” He watched her drink and then took the cup away. “Or just think about her and gather your thoughts so you’ll remember when you wake up.” He put the cup back on the night stand. “Because I believe you’re getting woozy again.”

  She believed she was, too, she thought crossly. Impossible. Only a few minutes ago she had been sure she wouldn’t be sleepy for hours. “I hate it when you’re right, Lynch.”

  “I know, it must be a constant torment to you.” He took her hand. “Close your eyes.”

  They were already closing. “Not a constant torment. You’re not right that often.” His hand felt warm and strong and she instinctively tightened her own around it. She whispered, “But thank you for giving me Fletcher…”