“Some days I don’t feel like that.” She swiped away more tears.
“Again, I think it’s normal. As an Eagle’s Talon member, you lived a transient lifestyle. Settling down will help.”
“That is, if I have a job.” She ripped at the tissue in her hands.
“One thing at a time. I need you to have a complete physical. I can do it, or I can ask Trish Dupart to perform it.”
“Part of a post-torture study,” she said sarcastically, then held up her hands. “Anxiety.”
“I didn’t take offense. Your chart also shows a lot of your down time has been spent receiving medical procedures. That didn’t give you recharge time. Let’s check you out and go from there. Okay?”
“Yeah.” She offered a small sad smile.
Russ wrapped an arm around her. “We’re here to help you.”
The exam room felt like a cell. Dressed in a peach-colored cloth gown, she paced, her heart beating out of her chest. She’d had physicals and qualification tests regularly. She made sure she saw Dr. Doreen Henley in the Denver office. She’d do all the required testing, but Gwen managed to talk her way out of a pap smear and genital exams since she joined the company. She had enough of that after she came home and during her multiple procedures.
Trish Dupart entered. “Hey, Gwen. Russ filled me in. I want to assure you, I won’t discuss anything with anyone unless it’s pertinent to your medical care, and only with your medical staff.”
“Thanks, Trish. Can we get this over with? I’m sorry. I…” Gwen wrapped her arms around herself.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to draw some blood and get an ECG, then Russ will be in.”
* * *
Russ waitedto be admitted to the conference room. Martin opened the door. “Hey, Doc.”
“Hey, I have some concerns. I went over Gwen’s medical records with her. She seemed unaware of the company’s awareness of her history. From what I can see, we have a complete set of records, both physical and psychological, which provides adequate information to decide whether she is fit or unfit for work. And that fitness level is reported monthly to Kieran Chase. Someone needs to explain to her what happened with this. And I suspect apologize.
“And now something that may concern all our female operators. From Gwen’s chart, it looks like Doreen Henley out of Denver has been cutting corners and avoiding full female anatomy exams, and I’m going to make a leap and include male anatomy exams.”
“I’ll notify Pete Walter about Denver. And I’ll be down to speak with Gwen to clarify how much we were aware of,” Martin said.
“How is she?” Troy pleaded.
“She’s afraid she’s going to lose her job. She’s distraught about a mistake. And she feels betrayed. All the same things she said in front of you when you dropped her off. I need to go back and finish my exam.” Russ left the three executives.
* * *
Russ knockedand entered the exam room to find Trish and Gwen talking. He washed his hands and disinfected the head of his stethoscope. “No surprises. I’d like to examine you from head to toe.” Russ maintained an open body posture.
“I don’t know why I’m so anxious,” Gwen admitted.
“With the morning you had, I’d be anxious too.” Russ moved slowly, advising her of each move in advance. He palpated her skull, checked her eyes, ears, nose and mouth. He palpated her neck and made her swallow to check her thyroid. He listened to her heart and lungs.
As she was still sitting, he ran his hands down her legs until he reached her feet. “Do these scars hurt?” He pressed gently on the bottoms of each foot.
“I don’t have full feeling.” She shook her head. “They’d tie me down and strike my feet with a cane. After the tenth strike, I’d force myself into the zone. When you hurt that much, more pain doesn’t matter.”
“‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t seem enough. Walking and running okay?” he asked.
“The one positive: they don’t hurt, so I can run farther,” she chuckled.
Russ smiled. “Your calves. The dog bite is healing beautifully. These scars?”
“The scars on the lower legs are from rats and mice. The ones on my thighs, side and buttocks are from untreated second-degree scald burns.” She opened her gown and cataloged every visible scar on her body for him and Trish.
“The scars. They have to be visible during your swim qualifications?” Russ asked.
