Megan was sitting at the breakfast nook. Chloe was making pancakes on the griddle. The fresh brewed coffee added its own to the plethora of aromas wafting about the kitchen.
The front door bell rang. Chloe removed the pancakes and took off her apron. She was about to go answer the door, when Lisa rushed into the kitchen. She slid next to Megan and gave her a big squeeze. “He’s alive,” Lisa blurted out. “Andrew is alive!” Chloe slid in on the other side of the table.
“But how, when?” Megan stammered.
“Peter called me at the office this morning,” Lisa told them. “Andrew turned up at a horse ranch near the JFK Prep grounds. The woman and her daughter found him in the barn. Peter told me that Andrew had to be revived from a heart attack.”
“Dear Lord!” Megan cried out.
“It’s okay Megan,” Lisa hugged her again. “The woman is a nurse and she had a portable defibulator.”
“We need to go,” Chloe slid out and stood up.
“Wait,” Lisa held up her hand. “There’s more.”
“What more?” Megan asked drying her eyes.
“Andrew is suffering from trauma-induced amnesia,” Lisa informed them. “The resident psychologist at the hospital, Dr. Straussman, told Peter that, as a result of Andrew’s near-drowning and heart attack, he has amnesia.”
“I’m going to see my husband,” Megan nudged Lisa to move. Lisa obliged and Megan slid out of the breakfast nook. “I’m getting dressed.” Megan left to go upstairs.
“Okay.” Chloe put away the food. “We’re going.”
Talia and her two deputies stepped off the elevator. Their very presence overwhelmed those at the third floor nurses’ station.
“What room is Andrew Knight in?” Talia demanded.
“Room 322,” one of the nurses answered checking the charts.
“Thanks,” Talia said. They left to the nurses’ relief.
It was just a short walk down the hallway to Andrew’s hospital room. When they got closer, Talia saw a Bayport police officer standing guard at the door.
She briskly walked up and brushed past him. Talia reached for the door knob, the officer grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her hand away. Talia blasted him with a stern look.
“Sorry no one goes in,” he informed her.
“Don’t you know who I am?” Talia barked. “I am Sheriff Delsmann from the Bayport County Sheriffs department.” She pointed to her two deputies, “We’re here to arrest Mister Knight.”
“Sorry,” the officer said again. “I have my orders.”
“Step aside,” Talia commanded.
“Is there a problem here?”
Talia turned on her heels and saw Detective Sergeant Roberts along with two other detectives, who she did not recognize.
“I gave the order,” Peter said.
“Why is that?” Talia balked.
“Mister Knight is in the protective custody of the Bayport Police Department,” Peter informed her.
“It doesn’t matter,” Talia shot back. “He interfered with an ongoing investigation. And after being warned once more, he violated that order.”
“Mister Knight was working for a client at the time,” Peter returned the volley.
“Step aside,” Talia growled.
“Mister Knight is well respected by the Bayport Police, the community, and will be treated accordingly,” Peter now stood toe to toe with Talia. He glanced at the deputies and then back to Talia. “If you or your deputies take one step into that hospital room, all three of you will be placed under arrest.”
“What about professional courtesy,” Talia retorted.
“Like you did?” Peter said, with unmasked sarcasm.
“This isn’t over.” Talia pressed her index finger against Peter’s chest.
“He has amnesia,” Lindsey spoke up.
“What?” Talia looked at her. “He’s faking it.”
“You can’t fake amnesia,” a woman’s voice came from behind.
Talia turned around to see a dark haired woman wearing a white lab coat. The other was a red-haired nurse.
“And you are?” Talia asked.
“Doctor Straussman,” Claudia replied. “I’m the hospital’s resident psychologist.” She gestured towards the nurse with her. “And this is my nurse, Veronica”
“And your diagnosis is amnesia?” Talia scoffed.
“Yes,” Claudia answered. She went on to say, “The amnesia he has is a direct result of the near-drowning and heart attack Mister Knight experienced. This is his mind’s way of protecting him from the recent traumatic events that Mister Knight experienced.”
“May I talk to him,” Talia asked. She had calmed down now. Peter thought for a second, and said, “Okay, but we’re going with you.” The police officer stepped aside and allowed them all passage to the room.
When they walked into the room, the person all of them knew as Andrew Knight had his eyes closed. He opened them with the noise from their footsteps.
“What now?” He was perturbed at the intrusion.
“I’m Sheriff Talia Delsmann,” Talia introduced herself to him.
“Am I in trouble?” he asked.
“No,” Peter winked.
“Do you recall what happened at the Higgins home?” Talia went right into her questioning. She kept up the pressure. “At JFK Prep or at the lake?”
“No,” he was a bit miffed at her barrage. “I only recall waking up in the emergency room, which was full of strangers. There was also Leslie Sommers and her daughter Hannah that came to see me. She told how she revived me in the horse barn.” He muttered, “I don’t know what JFK Prep is, who are the Higgins and nothing either about the lake. Don’t you understand?”
“So you have no memory beyond that,” Talia moved closer and stood at the side of his bed. She stared at his face and eyes. Talia was looking for any kind of recognition or reaction to her or her questions. She finally realized that it was like staring at a blank canvas, which was waiting for the painter to give it life. Talia stepped away and left the room.
“Like I asked,” he said. “Do I need to worry?”
“No.” Peter reassured him.
“Thanks,” he said and closed his eyes again. All he wanted to do was get some rest. They walked out quietly so he could do just that.
As soon as Peter exited the room, Talia pulled him aside so the others could not hear their conversation.
“Listen,” she spoke softly, and ardently, “If Knight ever does regain his memory or even comes near one of our ongoing investigations, and I will have him arrested. This I promise you.”
“Now it’s your turn to listen,” Peter got up in her face. “You do not want to be on Andrew Knight’s bad side, trust me.” Peter walked away.
Talia waved her deputies over and then they left. As they walked along, Talia thought that this thing with Knight was far from over. One way or another she would have his head on a platter.
The car ride to the hospital couldn’t have been any longer as far as Megan was concerned. She kept checking the speedometer to see how fast Lisa was driving.
Chloe was sitting in the back seat and was just as impatient. She just kept biting the nubs of her fingernail tips which were long since gone. She tried not to think about her dad at the moment because it would have just started her crying again.
Lisa kept thinking about Andrew as she drove them to the hospital. What would she say to him? She thanked God that Andrew was still with them, among the living. It truly was a miracle.
Bayport Memorial soon came into view as their car rounded the curve and over the bridge that spanned the river. Once they were over the railroad tracks, Lisa turned the car onto the street that ran in front of the hospital. Minutes later they were in the visitor parking lot. Once Lisa parked the car, they quickly exited and walked up to the hospital.
The circular door didn’t move fast enough for them, nor did they bother to talk to the receptionist at the main desk. They just breezed past and to the elevators.