It was edgy.
Unique.
But it didn't matter because I still didn't recognize the man in the mirror.
Chapter Two
Harley
"Are you okay back there, Harley?"
I was staring out the window at the moonlit countryside zipping past when Zade's voice from the front of the truck pulled me back from my woolgathering.
"Yes, sir."
We were on our way to a town I'd never heard of to meet with a doctor. Zade had told me was aspecialist,but he hadn't specified in what. Truthfully, though, the only thing that mattered to me was that Zade had again stood behind me when I told Dr. Miango that I didn't want to take the anti-psychosis medication he tried to push on me.
Anyway, the town was called Wolfsrudel and Levi had told me that it was a few hours away from the small village with the quaint wood-carved sign that read Blue Ridge. After we left, Zade had mentioned that we would also be meeting with the investigators who were trying to figure out what had happened to me. That made me sigh. They had visited me at Zade and Levi's house several times already and they always asked the same questions, questions that I still didn't have answers to.
The doctor that Zade and Levi took me to when we arrived in Wolfsrudel could have easily been a country doctor from an old-time story. He had gray hair, kind, pale blue eyes, a gentle smile, and, best of all, a calm, non-threatening demeanor.
"How are you, Harley?" he greeted me with a soft smile. "It's good to see you up and about."
My confusion must have shown on my face, because he continued. "You likely don't remember me. I was the doctor in charge of your case when you woke up."
Oh.
"No," I said hesitantly, "I'm sorry, sir, but I don't have any memories of that day."
"No problem," the doctor breezed with another soft smile. "And call me Doc. Everyone does." He waited for me to nod and then continued. "Zade tells me that you're still having some problems with your short-term memory."
"Yes, Doc," I confirmed. "I..he found me cutting off my hair this morning, but I don't remember doing it." I paused and felt my lip begin to tremble. "I really don't want to have to take any drugs. Please."
Doc's bushy brow rose and he nodded slowly. "That would never be my starting point, son. Let's start with a few cognitive tests and move on from there, okay?"
My entire body sagged in relief and I nodded, feeling my head bobble like a broken doll's. "Thank you!"
Doc smiled, but his eyes were thoughtful as he turned to Zade. "This isn't going to be a one-day fix, you know."
Zade blew out a breath and nodded. "I know. We're bunking out at Blood Valley while we look for short-term rental options."
"Smart man." Doc turned back to me. "Now, let's go have a seat and try our hand at a word association exercise," he suggested, taking my elbow and leading me to a small table by the window. "After all, no time like the present!"
Before my appointment ended, Doc took my vital signs and made a few notes in the chart. Then he told Zade to be sure I got a good amount of sleep and he'd see me the next night.
"Why do you work nights?" I asked when the thought suddenly popped into my head. "I mean, doctors don't usually, do they?"
My guardian, his husband, and Doc all exchanged a look that spoke volumes, but I didn't understand it. Doc turned back to me with another of his gentle smiles. "This is a very large hospital and we staff it twenty-four hours a day." He patted my shoulder gently. "This was the only appointment available around the same time as your meeting with the Council."
With that, Zade and Levi ushered me out the door and into the waiting truck for the short ride to the brick one-story building where I knew the detectives would be waiting for me.
Zade stopped to exchange words with a man in the lobby while Levi ushered me into the large room and nudged me toward the three chairs that had obviously been left vacant for us. The rest of the chairs at the oval table were all filled.
The lead detective, a large man named Rafael Borrero, was whispering to the man next to him, their body language all but screaming that they were involved. It wasn't until Zade walked to his seat – frowning as the man from the lobby followed him and leaned against the wall behind us – that Detective Borrero began to speak to the group.
