~ Adrift ~

by

Susan R. Sweet

One

May 31, 2001

"Miss, miss, can you hear me?" Sheriff Doug Manning bent over the inert form of the severely injured Jane Doe. The door opened, and Dr. Kevin Conner strode purposely toward Sheriff Manning. "I thought I told you not to come in here."

"It’s been over a week. I have to get some answers if I’m to find out who she is." Doug Manning straightened. He stood with his feet apart, hands on hips, an angry flush creeping up his neck.

"You mean find out what she can tell you about her attacker."

Doug nodded. "That, too. Look, she may have family worried about her--"

Dr. Connor walked around the hospital bed, then looked across at the angry lawman. "We’ll discuss this outside."

Doug took another look at the sleeping form on the bed, then walked to the door. He waited while the doctor tended to his patient. She whimpered, probably in pain. Dr. Conner frowned and injected something into her IV tube. Finally he motioned Doug outside and pulled the door closed.

"Okay, I’m not bothering your patient now, but I have to get some answers and soon."

Dr. Conner crossed his arms and faced the irate sheriff. "Listen, this woman has been through hell, physically. She’s been beaten, has a broken wrist, is nearly totally dehydrated, and over half her body is severely sunburned."

Doug nodded through the Doctor’s whole dissertation, and then spoke.

"I’m aware of her injuries. I met the Coast Guard when they brought her to shore. I’m amazed she survived."

"Yeah. It’s anyone’s guess how many days she floated in that dinghy."

"So when can I talk to her?"

Dr. Conner shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. She could awaken at any minute, or it could be days, weeks even. Her inability to awaken is a result of the trauma she’s experienced."

The sheriff ran his fingers through his hair. "Listen, I’m not trying to be a hard-ass here. I’m trying to do my job, Dr. Conner. The lady’s a crime victim. She could still be in danger."

"Danger?"

"Yeah. If someone left her for dead and finds out she’s not…" He shrugged. "So it’s important that I question her."

"If it will make you feel any better, I’ll make sure you are called the minute she wakes."

Doug nodded. "I guess I have no other recourse, but I will be dropping in, on a daily basis, to check on her progress."

Dr. Conner walked over to the nurse’s station. "Suit yourself, Sheriff. I’ll make a notation that you’re to be called as soon as she’s conscious. In the meantime, I’ll be transferring her to the Convalescent Care Center Wing of the hospital."

"You can’t do that!"

"Sorry Sheriff, I have no choice. The lady in question is well enough to be released. We’ve kept her in Intensive Care longer than necessary now."

"But she still hasn’t regained consciousness."

"I know that. It could be awhile before that happens. She no longer needs twenty-four hour monitoring. We need the bed. I have to release her to the center this afternoon." The doctor grabbed another chart and headed for the next room, ending the discussion.

Doug was pissed, but realized what the doctor said made sense. As he marched down the hall, Jane Doe consumed his thoughts. He had to admit, even bruised and battered, she was a looker. He remembered the long eyelashes fanning her cheeks, her auburn hair falling nearly to her waist. At least her body was now totally hydrated and healing nicely. Physically, she appeared to be making progress. He hoped it wouldn’t be much longer before they’d know how she fared mentally.

He’d continue to monitor the missing person’s reports. So far he’d found nothing to indicate anyone missed her yet, at least not in the state of Louisiana. It was as if she’d fallen from the sky.