“April, I think we’ve a trafficking victim here. We need to do a full workup, including a rape kit. I’m putting you in charge of her. Please ensure nobody goes in or out of that room without you being present. Her attacker might come for her again.”
“How long until the police arrive?”
“Soon, they’re aware this is a priority, we’re going to start processing her and collecting evidence,” Dr Simmons stated sadly.
“And Mr Rogers?”
“You can check on him while I’m with Jane Doe. If I’m not there, you need to be present,” Dr Simmons said.
“That’s fine. I’ll get Teagan to hook Mr Rogers up and take his vitals,” I replied.
“Good idea,”
Simmons headed back into Jane Doe’s room while I went to check on Mr Rogers and let him know Teagan would be looking after him. The man was even paler, so I hooked him up and grabbed Teagan. Reines was around, and Teagan approached him to report that a patient had been admitted with chest pains. As she did, I hurried back to Jane Doe. The curtains on Jane Doe’s cubicle had been closed, so I knocked and waited to be told to enter. This was going to be a hard day.
Harlequin
I was concerned when Mr Rogers informed me he was at the hospital. That grew when he explained the circumstances. He begged me to meet him there, even though I had refused. When I arrived, the nurse had clearly been expecting me and took me through to his cubicle.
“Mr Rogers?”
“Harlequin, a pleasure to meet you. Sorry about the situation. Call me Darren.”
“Honestly, I don’t think I should be here, sir,” I replied.
“Harlequin, today I found the beaten and barely alive body of a young woman. The next one could be my Julie. Please, I’d rather not waste any more time; six months have passed already,” Darren rasped through a breathing mask.
“Darren, I have to ask questions, and I need honest answers. Some of the things I ask might be upsetting. If you’re ill, this isn’t a good time,” I said.
“And if I die, who’ll look for my Julie? You need to get going now, especially after what I found today,” he retorted.
“Fine. I’ll record this and also take notes. That way, nothing is forgotten.”
“Please, Harlequin, just start,” the man demanded weakly.
“Tell me about the day you last saw her. Begin from the first moment you woke Julie up,” I said, and Darren nodded.
He told me they’d eaten breakfast together, and Julie was excited about that evening because she was attending a party with her boyfriend.
“Did Julie often attend parties?” I asked.
“No, Julie was more inclined to remain at home and study. Don’t get me wrong, she wasn’t an unsociable child, but she wanted good marks and would work for them. Jabari, her boyfriend, was a relief, really; he forced Julie to go out and have fun.”
“Most parents want their kids to be studious,” I replied.
“Oh, Julie’s grades were important, but I’m a strong believer in a work-life balance. Julie needed to study hard, but also have some time being a teenager. Jabari ensured that happened. He is a respectful, courteous boy. I liked him and, bless him, he checks in once or twice a week. Jabari hasn’t given up hope either. He treated my daughter as the precious object she was, despite the fact that he was a jock. We all know how they act.” Darren chuckled weakly.
“Do you think they were having sexual relations?”
“Probably, they’ve been together since they were thirteen. I don’t enjoy considering it, but I’m a realist.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” April demanded as the door opened, and I stiffened in my chair.
“Speaking with a client,” I answered as she came into view. The look of anger on April’s face blew me away.
“Mr Rogers is being checked for a heart condition. Leave,” she snapped.
“Nurse April,” Darren reached out and touched her arm. April turned to face him, and her expression softened. “Please, it’s important that I talk to Harlequin. He’s a PI, and my daughter went missing six months ago. He’s going to help me track Julie down, and after today…”
