Chapter Twenty-Nine
Dr. Mandel’s reassuring baritone voice calmed the anxious group as he gave his report. When he listed Caitlin’s injuries and problems, he methodically held up an additional finger with each new item.
Caitlin had multiple, severe fractures of her jawbone and tomorrow a topnotch maxillofacial surgeon would be repairing and wiring those. She wouldn’t be eating steak for a while. She had several bruises, a large swelling, and gash over one eye and toward the temple. The jagged gash required several stitches and she might need some cosmetic surgery to minimize future scarring. The CT scan had determined the swelling as non-life threatening and the best treatment was an old-fashioned ice bag. She had several knife cuts and punctures, some more serious than others. Those might scar. All had been cleaned and stitched where necessary. As a precaution, she’d been given a tetanus booster. She was severely dehydrated, and as a result, she was getting IV fluids, well-laced with pain meds and electrolyte supplements.
“Any questions so far?” He gazed at their faces.
Mike watched the doctor’s eyes assess their group: Pat and Jan in one spot, Vince, Rachel, and him in another.
“Fine, then I’ll continue. She was disoriented when she first regained consciousness, not so unusual after an experience like hers. Right now, she’s more acclimated to time and place.” The doctor stopped for a moment, looked around the group again, inhaled and exhaled a deep breath.
“I’ve assigned a sexual assault counselor to work with her. I’ve also called for a psych consult.”
At that news, Vince interrupted. “Was she raped?”
The intake of breath from those in the little waiting area palpated around the room.
“We checked, collected a rape kit, and are running lab tests. We’re sure she wasn’t, but the labs will verify that. However, that’s one point on which Ms. Donnelly was adamant. Said she’d ’beaten him at his game’. I believe those were her exact words. My personal opinion is he tried. Something prevented him from completing the act, but he terrified her and she withstood it. That’s why I want the psych consult.” Low murmurs escaped from his listeners.
“I’ll need a written, detailed report ASAP.”
“Of course, Detective. You’ll have it tomorrow. However, I’m not finished.”
“What else did the creep do?” Jan, usually more observant than verbal, interrupted, harsh wrath filling her voice. Five pairs of eyes flew in her direction; four returned to the doctor.
“Ms. Donnelly’s most serious problem is a cardiac condition. We’re sure she suffered a heart attack at some point toward the end of her captivity. The stress of the situation may have brought on the event sooner, but the point is this. She’s very unstable and could suffer another, one potentially far more damaging, within the next few hours or days. The extent of that damage, if any, and the consequences are something we won’t know for sure for a period of time.”
“Heart attack? Cait’s too young,” Pat voice expressed his disbelief. “How could she avoid being raped, and God knows whatever else that crazy weirdo planned for her, only to have a heart attack? No, I don’t believe it.” He pounded his fist against his knee.
“She is young for such an event. While it’s unfortunate, if certain factors are present, her heart could fail. This is one of the issues we’ll be checking out. She has an excellent cardiologist overseeing this situation.”
Rachel interrupted. “She’s been taking blood pressure meds for several weeks, Doctor. Cait didn’t want anyone to know that or to know that was why she took an extended vacation not long ago. Her doctor recommended getting away.”
Mike observed Rachel as she spoke. Something else Caitlin had kept from him. Had she done so because he wasn’t important enough to her or because her condition wasn’t acceptable to her? He believed the second option. It sounded more like her.
“That’s useful to know,” the doctor made the notation in his PDA. “During these past few days she wouldn’t have had access to her medication.”
“So we could draw a connection to Schwartz contributing to this problem, too.” Vince flipped out his notebook. “I know the perfect, recently elected district attorney who’d love to tackle this.”
“Possibly, but at this point, I don’t have enough facts to offer even tenuous support for such a theory.”
“Where’s Caitlin now, Doctor? Can we see her?” Rachel asked what all of them wanted to know.
“She’s on her way to, and will remain in, the cardiac intensive care unit. That unit has very specialized visiting rules. You stay here, and one of the staff will come out to explain those rules and get those of you who are staying on situated. I must warn you, Ms. Donnelly has many machines and monitors attached to her. This may seem frightening, but they’re vital for her and for us to get her through these next several hours.”
The doctor looked around the waiting area. “This is a lot to assimilate. After you have done so, and if you have questions, just ask any of us who will be following her care.” The doctor waited a moment. No one made a move to ask further questions.
“If you don’t have any questions, I’ll be going. I’m staying at the hospital tonight and will check in with Ms. Donnelly regularly. Here are some of my cards, should you need to contact me.” As the doctor left, he set several of his cards on the coffee table, placed midpoint in the small waiting alcove.
****
Vince followed the doctor. Mike followed him, but stayed well behind the detective. He could hear whatever they said.
Once out of earshot, Vince halted the doctor. “How soon can I speak with her? Get her statement on what happened?”
“Maybe tomorrow, but only for a few minutes. An extensive statement will have to wait. She’s very fragile at this point. Physically unstable.”
Vince still had his notebook in his hand. He looked askance at the doctor with that last remark. “What did you leave out in there? Anything I should know?”
The doctor sighed. “Yes, I believe the woman was brutally terrorized in body and spirit.”
“But not raped.”
“Our laws give only one interpretation of that act. In some ways, Ms. Donnelly’s violation might be worse. You should get your legal minds working on that possibility. Right now, she’s as emotionally damaged as she is physically. She’s justifiably distraught, angry at her violation, and very ill. The guy who caused this should burn in hell.”
“My job is to get enough evidence to see that happens,” Vince told the doctor.
“I hope you’re successful at that. She could have serious mental or physical consequences. I can’t be sure at this point. However, I’ll bet she was a vital, energy-charged, and interesting woman. She may never be that again.”
“Anything else?” Vince jotted something else in the notebook.
“Yes, I hope she makes it through the night and you throw the book at the bastard who did this.”
Mike grabbed hold of the hand-rail on the hospital wall. Getting sucker-punched wouldn’t have hurt him as much as hearing those words. He hurt first for Caitlin and all she endured. Her courage awed him. Left him feeling unworthy of her. All he wanted to do now was spend the rest of his life wrapping her with his love. And see all those who caused this fry in hell.