Forgetting Jane

by C. J. Warrant

James’s laughter echoed off the walls. “Do I really give a fuck what you say? Besides, I was defending myself when you pulled out your gun and tried to shoot me.” Chunks of whatever he had eaten earlier slid down his chin and dropped to the floor.

  “Do you think that’ll stick, old man?”

  “You think you’re untouchable because you have that badge. I’d like to see how you deal without it.” James gagged between words. He tried to stand but collapsed on the cot.

  “You have no clue what I’m capable of. Give me a good enough reason to drag you out of your cage.”

  James got up again. He tried to flip the small cot on its side but failed and dropped onto the thin mattress.

  “They are bolted to the floor,” Eli said with a chuckle. Idiot.

  “Boy, you don’t have the balls. You’re like your mother.”

  “Ah, but I’m also like my father.” Eli smiled.

  “Prove it.” James shot up from the cot and crammed his face between the bars. His mouth twisted in a snarl. “No good piece of shit. You are just like your whore of a mother.”

  Eli knew all James was doing was goading him, but he couldn’t help it and took a step forward.

  His father reached out through the bars but Eli shifted around and caught James by his arm and twisted it. “The only whore in this family is you.” He yanked at his father’s arm until James fell onto his knees.

  With James’s face contorted in pain, Eli leaned in and whispered in his father’s ear, “If you ever get out of jail and come near me, I’ll be there to beat you back in.” He took a deep breath and released him. Eli stepped away from the cell and eyed the old man.

  James quickly scooted away from the bars and kept quiet.

  Sniffles caught Eli’s attention and turned toward Caroline. She was watching him. He walked over to her cell. “Are you going to be a good girl?”

  Caroline sneered and then turned away. “Kiss my ass.”

  “You wish.” Eli shook his head and walked off without second glance.

  As he got to the doorway, James demanded to know where his girlfriend was.

  “Who?” Eli turned around and asked.

  “Her name is Nadia. Don’t remember her last,” he said, winded. “Where do you have her?”

  “We don’t have her anywhere. Where did you leave her last?”

  “I…don’t know.”

  “Don’t know or can’t remember?” Eli chided. “What does she look like?”

  “Long brown hair, gorgeous ass, and can suck a mean dick,” James cackled.

  “Pig,” Caroline snapped.

  James looked over at Caroline and smiled. “Awe, sweetheart, don’t be jealous. You can suck me off anytime.”

  “You can suck your own—“

  “That’s enough,” Eli rushed. “I’ll ask around.” He walked out.

  He walked back into his office and began cleaning up the floor.

  His radio chirped. “Come in, Chief.”

  “What’s up, Tom?”

  “Get to the hospital. They found a dead nurse in one of the psych rooms.”

  Eli’s jaw clenched tight and hands curled into fist. “I’ll be right there.” He dropped the balled up papers and ran out of the station.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Silence filled the hospital as Eli made his way toward the elevator. Fear and worry was apparent on every nurse and doctors’ faces. He guessed the news had spread.

  Eli stepped out of the elevator to the third floor and noticed Tom right away. The deputy met him halfway.

  “The dead nurse’s name was Georgia Hammond. Her neck was broken and her body was shoved in the bathroom of room 304. There was a patient in the room, but he was heavily sedated. He didn’t see or hear anything.”

  “Who found her?”

  “First shift nurse.”

  “How long?” Eli asked.

  “The coroner said she’s been dead no more than a few hours. What the hell is going on here? Who could have done this? Eli...”

  Eli never saw Tom so emotional. “What’s going on with you?” He touched the deputy’s shoulder.

  “I— I had a date with her this Friday,” the deputy choked out. “I really liked her.”

  Eli scratched the back of his neck. “Sorry, man.”

  “I guess it wasn’t meant to be.” Tom walked away, wiping at his eyes.

  Eli felt sorry for Tom.

  Tom was always flirting around. Eli had never seen the deputy in a serious relationship. Maybe he was right— it wasn’t meant to be, or just poor damned luck.

  Eli turned his attention to the room where the nurse was found. Aside from the patient’s bed—which the frazzled patient was removed from, and the body of the dead nurse on the floor in the bathroom, nothing seemed out of place. He stuck his head in and checked out the bathroom. Everything seemed normal.

  What is normal? Looking down at the dead nurse, her eyes glazed with death. He had seen this before, in Iraq. Eli hated when they died with their eyes open. It was as though they questioned why you were alive and not them.

  Eli turned away and noticed the coroner coming in.

  “Dr. Farley,” he addressed and stepped out of the large man’s way.

  “Chief.”

  “What do you think?” Eli asked, trying not to look at the nurse’s face.

  Dr. Farley bent over as best he could in the small space and checked out the body from her wide open eyes, fingers and left foot, from which she had lost her shoe. “From a quick glance, she didn’t struggle much, but I’ll clean under her nails for particulates. Her neck—the C3 or C4 vertebrae were broken. Probable cause of death. I won’t know for sure until I do an autopsy.”

  “Just let me know on anything you find.”

  The coroner gave a nod and then returned his attention back the body. Eli wasn’t doing any good standing there, watching the man work. He stepped out of the room.

  Without a doubt, this was a blatant attempt to get to Jane. Eli was relieved that he made the right choice by removing her, but the sad part was a woman had died in her place. However, he wasn’t about to let this death stab at his conscience. He stepped out of the room and saw Dr. Rollins standing by the desk.

  “Find anything?” Rollins turned and asked, his tone was coated in sadness.

  “Nothing so far. Dr. Farley’s in there right now, looking over the body. But whoever did this was looking for Jane,” Eli said in a low tone as he walked up next to him.

  “I agree. So what are you going to do?”

  He looked the doctor square in the eyes. “Nothing.”

  The doctor’s forehead wrinkled tight. “Why? If Jane’s in danger—I think we all are.” His voice raised an octave, shaking.

  Eli pulled the doctor away. “Calm yourself. I know we are all at risk, but I truly believe this bastard is only after Jane. The nurse was an accidental casualty but we still have to keep up the pretenses that Jane is still in the hospital. We have to keep it that way.”

  “Not the maniac who did this atrocity in my hospital. He knows now that Jane isn’t here. What good would it do to keep up this lie? Does it take another nurse to die before you let out the truth? You have to do something else, Chief.”

  “I’ll call in a favor and get a few extra men to patrol the hospital.” Eli blew out a hard breath and rubbed the back of his neck before he spoke again. “Doc, as of right now, Jane’s safe and so is everyone in the hospital.”

  “I will not lose another person, Chief.” Dr. Rollins walked away before Eli could respond.

  Concern knocked Eli in the gut. Keeping everyone in this town safe had always been the big priority. But Jane? Eli wasn’t sure if he’d be capable of closing this case—not without someone else dying.

  Eli met up with his deputy at the entrance of the room. “What do you got?”

  “Nothing. I talked to the night staff at the front desk. No one saw anything out of the ordinary. I also checked the security footage and didn’t see anything odd,�
� Tom said as he lifted his hat off his head and scratched the top of his scalp.

  “So, we have nothing,” Eli countered.

  “Nope. But whoever it was, was looking for something, or someone. Jane was in this section, wasn’t she?”

  Eli nodded. “Yeah, but she was moved to another wing a few hours before it happened.” He wanted to tell his deputy that Jane was safe at his house; instead he kept with the lie.

  “So, where is she now?”

  Eli swallowed the deceit and spoke evenly. “I don’t even know where she’s at right now. It’s safer that way.” Eli didn’t look at him when he spoke.

  “Oh,” Tom furrowed his brows slightly. “Well, at least she is safe.”

  “I know it’s unusual but as for now, it works.” Eli watched Tom wipe the sweat off his brows.

  “If it works, it works. I’ll meet you at the station?”

  Eli’s stomach churned. “Okay.” He trusted this man. Then why not tell him the truth?

  He shook off the question and waited until the coroner left with the body. He went through the room from top to bottom and knew he’d find nothing.

  He was right.

  ***

  As Eli stepped out into the cold, he took in a few deep breaths and let his guilt run out of his system. Right before he got in his truck, Magda called him.

  “Jane’s gone,” Magda said in a frantic shout.

  “What do you mean she’s gone?” Panic surged up and knocked the breath out of him.

  “Jane isn’t in the house. I searched top to bottom. I even checked the barn. My car is still parked inside it. She’s outside somewhere, walking around.”

  His heart faltered before it pounded hard like an erratic drummer. Please, let her be safe.

  “When did you last see her?” Eli’s fear spiked as he jumped into his car and sped off toward the house.

  “I put her to bed in your room about an hour ago. I sat there with her for a little bit. We talked about what happened. I guess I fell asleep. Then the next thing I knew, I woke up and she was gone.”

  Eli gripped the steering wheel tight. “What were you two talking about?”

  “She asked what happened outside. Jane said she didn’t remember anything, so I told her. Then she asked about Beaver Lake and how far was it from here.” Magda’s eyes welled. “Do you think she went there?”

  “Maybe. Magda, keep an eye out. Call me if she comes back. I’ll head to the lake.” He snapped the phone shut and floored the gas pedal.

  The idea of Jane being found by the bastard wore heavily in his heart and head. The urgency to reach her before she was seen flooded his system with anxiety. He wrenched the wheel to the left onto the road that led to the lake.

  As he turned down the gravel path to the lake, Eli flashed on his bright and craned his neck from one side to the other to see if he was able to spot Jane. He drove past the ridged line where vehicles normally parked. His truck ran over brush and small skeletal trees until he saw the lake fully in his view.

  He saw her, kneeling by the water’s edge. She faced the tall reeds, weathered pussy willows and cattails. She didn’t move. Her skin was ghostly white, reflective off the headlights.

  Eli jumped out of the truck and ran to Jane. He sat down next to her.

  “Jane, what are you doing here?” he asked with expelled breath. He tried to stay calm but his pulse was so erratic, it gave him a head rush.

  Eli put his shaky hand on her shoulders. Through her thin cotton nightdress, her skin was icy cold to the touch.

  “Jane.”

  She didn’t react to Eli’s hard tone. It took all of a few seconds to notice her eyes. They were as black as onyx. Her body was stiff and her lips were blue. Panic trickled down his spine. He was scared for her.

  He touched her cheek. “Can you hear me, Jane?” This time, he kept his voice low and even.

  “Yes, Elias. I hear you.” Her teeth chattered from the cold.

  He moved in front of her. “Why are you out here—and how did you get out here?” He had a gentle grip on Jane’s arms. He didn’t want her to pass out.

  “I needed to know where I was found.” Jane stared off toward the edge of the lake. “I want to leave.” Jane stood up and turned to him.

  “Oh, Jane.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to the truck.

  “Find him, Elias, before he kills again.” Jane slumped in his arms.

  He tried lifting her up but almost dropped her when his sutured shoulder burned and strained under Jane’s weight. He ignored the throbbing and carried her to the truck.

  He laid her down in the back seat and wrapped the blanket tight around her from head to toe. Eli got into the driver’s side and sped off back toward his house.

  Jane remained passed out throughout the ride. Eli made sure no one was around before he carried her into the house. Magda was in the living room when he raced in. She moved out of the way, to let Eli put Jane down on the couch.

  He saw the distress across Magda’s face. This was not the time to tell her about the nurse.

  “What happened?” Magda rushed forward and touched her forehead. “She’s ice cold.”

  “She was at the lake. I think she was—God, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think she was possessed, again.”

  Her eyes became wide when he admitted possession. “There are many explanations, Elias,” Magda said as she checked Jane’s pulse.

  “She didn’t sound like herself and her eyes… Magda, you had to see them, they were black. Like before.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I know what I saw. And I have seen Jane this way before.” Eli paced the room, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “When?”

  “Once at the hospital, yesterday and earlier this morning.” He sat down on the overstuffed chair, then stood right back up. He couldn’t sit still. “Who in their right mind would come out naked in this weather and pummel someone with a log? I think—no, I know she was possessed.” The bitterness of belief on his tongue made him cringe a little. He had always been a logical person, but no matter how much he didn’t want to believe, he knew what he saw and heard.

  “Elias, if that’s true, then who is possessing her?”

  “I don’t know.” He blew out a laggard breath. “I think my mother yesterday. Not sure at the hospital. But at the lake, Jane mentioned she was the first. I think it’s the first victim. I can’t be sure. But she told me to find him before he kills again.” He moved his shoulder around to loosen his cramping muscles.

  “Let me see your shoulder.” Magda pushed his shirt back to expose his battered skin. “You popped a few stitches. I’ll fix it but you can’t be lifting anything, including Jane.” She scuttled out of the room and quickly returned with her medical bag.

  “Elias, as much as I’m open minded about the hereafter, I’m not sure I believe that Jane was possessed. I know she has issues and maybe her head injury is causing her to sound and act different.”

  He sat back in the chair. “Believe it. You know I’m the biggest skeptic. I saw her with my own eyes, Magda. Jane had to be.”

  “Possessed or not, I worry for her health more. She is getting paler with each passing day. Not eating much and sleeping even less. If she gets worse, it’s my duty to her to bring her back to the hospital.”

  “I’m worried too, Miss Magda, but we cannot take her back. Her life is still in jeopardy.”

  Magda touched his cheek. “You’re falling for her, aren’t you?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said in low voice.

  Magda gave him a small smile. “Don’t kid yourself. I see it, Elias.”

  He stayed quiet and distant while she sat and took care of Jane.

  It was only for a few minutes but it was too much for him to take in. “I’m leaving.”

  “Don’t leave yet. Help me bring her upstairs. She needs the rest, then I’ll sew you up.”

  He nodded. “I’ll put her in my room.”r />
  “I don’t—”

  “Please don’t argue with me. I promise not to bother her,” Eli said. “My bed is more comfortable than the one in the other room.” He wrapped Jane’s arm around his good shoulder and carried her upstairs.

  He laid her on the bed and covered her with the blanket. He gave her a soft kiss on her forehead.

  When he came back down, Magda had her instruments ready on the kitchen table. He sat and endured her poking. She replaced the ripped stitches and covered his wound with a new gauze pad.

  “Now, please take it easy,” Magda advised, packing up her medical bag.

  “I will try.”

  “You know I was serious about what I said. You’re in love with Jane. Don’t you feel it?”

  Eli had gotten a sudden splitting headache. “I have to head back to the station right now. Call me if anything happens,” he said, ignoring what she said. He kissed her cheek and headed out.

  Acknowledging the idea of love or that he was in love with Jane intensified his pain. He didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He shot a look back at Magda before he left the house.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Jane woke up with a jolt. Her body ached as she twisted herself around onto her back. The last thing she fully remembered was falling asleep in Eli’s arms. It was wonderful, blissful. Then the next thing she vaguely recalled was water and cold. Was it a dream? They made no sense to her. She tried to put the pieces together, but her head hurt too much to think at the moment.

  Staring up at the ceiling, trying to release the balled up tension from her body, Jane rubbed at her eyes and yawned. She stretched from side to side, letting the ache in her muscles and joints work itself out. As she turned to her side, she noticed Magda sleeping on the rocker.

  With her arms folded together and head tilted to one side, she looked so peaceful, almost… Jane’s panic spiked. She reached out to touch the woman’s hand. Her skin was warm. Magda shifted her head to the other side.

  Jane expelled a heavy breath out. Relief flooded as she sat on the edge of the bed. She let out a small laugh.

  In the short time she had spent with the nurse, Jane adored the woman. Magda had become a solid part of her life, a support system from the moment she had woken up in the hospital.