“I’m not sure,” said the nurse. “Shift changed at eight this morning. There were a lot of injured people here and we are understaffed as it is. Have you tried the ICU? I overheard that a couple of the victims were taken to the fourth floor.”
Officer Moore nodded. “Thanks, I’ll go there now.” Moore turned and walked to the elevator, taking it to the fourth floor where she talked to several more nurses.
“Hey Moore, how are you doing?” asked a slim, dark-haired nurse.
“I’m good, just looking for a man who was involved in the accident this morning.”
“Do you have a photo of him?”
Moore handed the nurse the driver’s license.
“I think the guy you’re looking for is in here,” the nurse replied.
Officer Moore was escorted to a room that fit the description of the man she was looking for. Although half of the man’s face was covered in gauze from a deep cut and some minor burns, Moore confirmed that the man was indeed Ben Gordon from the driver’s license.
“Has he woken up at all? Has anyone come to visit him?” Moore asked.
“As far as I know, he hasn’t. Do you want me to get the doctor?”
“No thanks. I’ll stop by later and check on him,” Officer Moore replied and handed the nurse her card. “Please call if and when he wakes up. I’ll need to talk to him, you know, ask him some questions.” Moore wasn’t sure why she said if. What good would it do if he didn’t? You can’t talk to a person when they’re unconscious.
“Sure, no problem. I’ll leave this at the nurse’s station just in case he does wake and I’m not here.”
“Of course,” Moore replied. Now she would need to go back to the station and do a search on his name and see if he had any family, maybe a wife that needed to be called. She had searched his wallet and had found no photos or information about a family before coming to the hospital; otherwise she would have already known. Although, it was best to confirm that the victim was indeed Ben Gordon before making any such calls.
On the way back to the station, Officer Moore grabbed a bite to eat because she knew it was going to be a long night. It all depended on how long the search took to find a family member of the man in the hospital. She also had others from the scene but was grateful that the Franklin Police Department would be helping, along with Edon, since there were so many involved in the accident. Sergeant Miles from Franklin would contact her if he needed any help with the case.
By seven-fifteen that evening, Moore had found a relative of a Ben Gordon and was dialing the number for a Mrs. Kaitlyn Gordon. After several rings, the call was answered.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Mrs. Kaitlyn Gordon?” Officer Moore asked.
“Yes, this is Mrs. Gordon. May I ask who is calling?”
“Oh, sorry. This is Officer Moore. I’m with the Edon Police Department.”
“I’m sorry, Edon Police Department?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“May I ask what this is about?” Kaitlyn asked.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident involving your husband Ben Gordon,” Moore said before continuing, “I’ll need you to come to Edon hospital.”
“I’m not sure where Edon is,” Kaitlyn said.
Moore glanced back down at the license in her hand and saw that Ben’s address read Illinois. Of course, Mrs. Gordon wouldn’t know what she was talking about. “We’re located in Edon, Ohio.”
“Ohio?”
“Yes, Ohio.” Officer Moore was exhausted and didn’t feel like sitting here discussing where Edon was freaking located on the map. God knows it probably wasn’t found on any map she owned. It’d been a long day and she was beyond tired. “Ma’am, I need for you to come to the hospital and identify your husband for us.”
“Oh my God, is he dead!” Kaitlyn screamed into the phone.
“No, Mrs. Gordon, he’s not dead, but he is unconscious at the moment.”
“Oh,” Kaitlyn replied.
Oh? The woman just got news that her husband was in an accident and all she said was oh? Was she happy that he was injured? Well, it wasn’t her business to know what was going on and she wasn’t about to make it hers. Moore filled Mrs. Gordon in on what had happened and told her that she should come to the hospital as soon as possible.
“I’m coming from Illinois,” Kaitlyn replied. “I should be there in a few hours, according to my GPS.”
“I’ll be here when you get here. Just call my cell number.” Moore rattled off her number and then said, “I’ll meet you at the hospital.” Moore gave the woman the address to Edon Hospital and hung up the phone. She’d have to keep herself busy for the next three hours, which wouldn’t be a problem since she had paperwork to complete on the accident.
Moore looked around the room filled with several other desks. Besides her, there was no one else in the room. Where was everyone? She knew at least three officers worked the night shift so where were they? Then she heard laughter coming from the direction of the lunchroom. It figured that they would be in there instead of out here doing their job. She was sure there had to be something they could work on instead of doing nothing. There was a ten-car pile-up and they had nothing to occupy their time? No one to call? Had all family members been notified of their loved ones that were injured in the accident? This she wasn’t sure about but decided that she needed to focus on her work and deal with those morons in the lunchroom later.
Officer Moore looked up at the clock positioned above the Captain’s door. It was only nine at night. Maybe she’d run home and change her clothes before meeting Mrs. Gordon at the hospital. She had finished all her work and was tired of listening to the men in the next room, who, by the way, were still doing nothing but bullshitting all night and probably shoving donuts in their mouths. She wanted to say something to them but decided to just go home for now. She was too tired to argue with anyone. She’d mind her own business and deal with those assholes tomorrow, after she talked to the Captain.
She clocked out for the night and got in her truck and drove toward home. She lived in the opposite direction of Edon Hospital, off a side road just past the center of Edon. The houses were spaced every couple of acres, not close, but also not far from one another. Neighbors watched each other’s homes out here, not that the town was unsafe to live in.
She turned into her driveway and parked the truck. The truck was one of the station’s vehicles. She didn’t have a car of her own and since it was a small town they didn’t care if she drove the vehicle home. Besides, she’d worked at Edon Police Station for almost twenty-two years; she should be able to drive the truck anywhere she wanted.
She unlocked the front door of her house and went inside. It still smelled of her dad—nothing she was ashamed of, it just made her miss him all the more. She hadn’t even found the time to go through his things or his clothes and give them to Goodwill. It was the only thing she had left of his besides the house and she would never get rid of the house. She’d die in it herself if that’s what it came down to. As for Moore’s mother, she had died from ovarian cancer when Moore was three years old. Moore didn’t get the chance to know her mother, but her father made sure she knew that her mother had loved Moore more than anything.
She kicked off her boots and padded to the kitchen for something to drink. She grabbed a bottle of water and went into the bedroom down the hall to change. Several minutes later she settled herself down in her father’s chair and turned on the television, flipping through the stations.
She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew, her cell phone was ringing next to her on the end table. She answered the phone, it was Mrs. Gordon. Minutes later she was out the door and, on her way back to Edon Hospital to meet the spouse.
7
Twelve days Earlier
Kaitlyn sat in the waiting room of her OB/GYN, flipping nervously through a magazine. She wasn’t really reading it, more like looking at the pictures and passing time until they called her in
to the room.
The door opened, and she looked up.
“Brandi,” the nurse called out.
A woman from across the room placed her magazine down on the table beside her and carefully stood. The woman’s belly protruded out as if she were about to explode at any minute. Kaitlyn thought for sure that the woman had more than one baby inside her and part of her envied that woman.
She’d always dreamed of becoming a mom, whether it was one child or two. It didn’t matter to her, but it wasn’t her that made the decisions. Ben had told her no children and if he found out that she was here and might be pregnant… God, she didn’t want to know what he’d do to her, again.
Kaitlyn blinked away her thoughts and watched the woman, Brandi, waddle to where the nurse stood and then they were gone. She went back to flipping through the pages of the magazine. She licked the tip of her finger, turned the page. Licked the same finger again and turned the next page. Flip, flip, flip. This seemed to go on for several minutes before she was at the end of the magazine and swapped it out for another one.
She looked at her watch; fifteen minutes had passed. The door opened, and a different nurse, this one with blond hair, looked down at the chart in her hand, then lifted her head. It felt as if the nurse were talking in slow motion, mouthing the letters slowly as they slipped through her parted lips before finally forming the word. “Kaitlyn,” the nurse announced.
Kaitlyn didn’t have to look up from what she was doing because she’d been staring at the nurse the whole time but hadn’t moved. It wasn’t as though she was glued to the chair. Her mind was somewhere else. Thinking of the torture. The beating she’d get if Ben found out about the baby, but she wasn’t sure if she was pregnant; that was why she was here now.
“Kaitlyn,” the nurse announced again, stepping back through the doorway. The door started to close.
“I’m here,” Kaitlyn spoke as she stood, placing the magazine down on the coffee table and walking to the partly opened door. She was certain that her life was about to change once she walked through this door. She didn’t want to get her hopes up that she was pregnant. The last time had ended in tears and sadness from the loss. This time she wanted to be sure before making her next move.
She followed the nurse to a scale, then went into a room across the hall. She had gained one pound, not that it meant she was pregnant. Usually in the early stages you didn’t gain much weight at all. No, those pounds came later, after the second trimester. She’d have to lose that one pound before Ben weighed her at home. He was stern when it came to her body weight, her figure. They worked out together, so he could see that she was actually working out and not sitting on her ass watching TV, something she never did.
The nurse checked her vitals and then gave her a gown. “Undress from the waist down,” the blond-haired nurse said before leaving the room.
Kaitlyn did as she was told and sat down on the table covered with a single sheet of paper. She felt vulnerable sitting here in only a paper gown, waiting for the doctor to tell her that she was wrong. That she wasn’t pregnant. Kaitlyn hadn’t done a pregnancy test at home because she feared that Ben would find the box and start asking questions. Then, just to be sure, he’d punch her in the stomach like before and make sure she wouldn’t stay pregnant. Kaitlyn’s thoughts were quickly interrupted when she heard a knock on the door and Dr. Karen Williams came walking in.
“Good morning, Kaitlyn,” Dr. Williams said with a smile.
“Hi,” Kaitlyn replied, nervously.
Dr. Williams looked down at the chart in her hands, then said, “So, you think you might be pregnant?” The doctor smiled. “How have you been feeling since the last time? Any problems? Complications that I need to be aware of?”
“No. I haven’t had any abnormal pains or bleeding. I feel fine.”
“Great! When was your last period?” the doctor asked.
Kaitlyn replied, “A couple of months ago. I’m three weeks late…” she paused. “I know I’m probably overthinking it, but I’m not usually late and the last time I was late, I was positive. So that’s why I’m here,” she rambled, something she seemed to do when she was nervous.
Dr. Williams replied, “I see. No reason to be jittery. Pregnancy is a part of life. Did you do a pregnancy test at home to confirm?”
“No.”
“Okay, let’s have you give us a urine sample and we’ll test it here,” Dr. Williams concluded. “Just because you had a miscarriage the last time doesn’t mean it will happen again.”
“I know,” Kaitlyn replied, although, she didn’t sound convincing. If only the doctor knew what really happened. How she really lost the baby.
“Before you get all worked up and stress yourself out, let’s make sure that you’re pregnant, okay?” Dr. Williams smiled, placing her hand on Kaitlyn’s arm. “Everything will be fine.”
Kaitlyn nodded, although she felt as if she might puke because she knew it wouldn’t be fine.
“I’ll do an exam, then I’ll have you get dressed and we’ll get that urine tested,” Dr. Williams said as she placed the chart on the counter and started washing her hands before putting on latex gloves. “Lean back and put your feet in the stirrups. Try to relax your legs to the side.”
Kaitlyn knew all too well how this procedure went, and where did they come up with this concoction? Probably by a man. No woman would think that this was comfortable and enjoy it. Men didn’t know how uncomfortable these procedures could be.
~ ~ ~
Twenty minutes later, Kaitlyn sat in the same examining room waiting for the results of the test. She tried to keep herself calm and not get anxious about something she couldn’t do anything about. If she weren’t pregnant, then she had nothing to hide from Ben, but if she were, she’d wait until he was on one of his business trips and pack her things and leave. She wouldn’t lose this baby. She wouldn’t let him beat her like he did the last time.
Kaitlyn heard the knock on the door. She swallowed and sat up straight, closing her eyes for a second. Time seemed to slow down as the door slowly opened and Dr. Williams came into the room. In Kaitlyn’s head, she heard the tick tick of a clock, but there wasn’t one in the room. She knew this because she’d looked for one already. It was her mind imagining the sounds or maybe it was coming from the other room beside her. The walls in these places were paper thin and you could hear people talking as if they were in the room with you.
Silence filled the air around them as the temperature rose several degrees in the room, making it unbearable to breathe. The click of the door sounded far away when it closed. Kaitlyn tensed with anticipation, not knowing what the doctor was about to tell her. She couldn’t take the silence much longer, but to her it meant that she wasn’t carrying a baby inside her and her eyes began to tear up. Why did she even come here? Being pregnant was her only way out.
8
The Day of the Accident
Kaitlyn parked her rental car in the lot on the side of the school. It had been two weeks and she still hadn’t gotten her car back from the Collision Center. They had called two days ago and said that they needed to order more parts for the trunk. Good thing for her because Ben couldn’t track her like he had been doing. She had checked under her car every time she left for work, which meant he didn’t know about her going to the doctor. She didn’t know how long he’d been tracking her, but at this point, she didn’t care. She was finally going to leave the asshole. He’d never lay another hand on her again. She had stayed on her best behavior, so he didn’t have a reason to hit her. She wasn’t losing this baby!
She gathered her things from the backseat and went inside. She was glad that it was Friday and needed the break that the weekend would bring her. Working as a teacher had its perks: holidays, weekends and summers off. Who wouldn’t want that?
Ben was on the road again, but he had told her before he left this morning he’d be home that evening. She, of course, was hoping that he’d call and say work needed him to stay longe
r like always and she would pack only the things she really needed and leave. It wasn’t going to be easy to get time away from him, but she had to try. She’d have to change her name and go somewhere far away, where he wouldn’t find her.
Kaitlyn opened the door to her classroom and walked to the desk at the front of the room. She loved that the room was filled with posters of historic poets and writers, hoping that one day if she ever got around to writing her own book, it would be known around the world like those of Hemingway and Mark Twain.
She had been teaching seniors at Lakeport High School for the past three years and loved it. At first, she wanted to teach the younger children, but her passion was English Literature, so she decided to teach older students instead.
She placed her bag on the desk and opened it, taking out the lesson plans for today. She felt a slight pang in her lower abdomen but knew that it was the baby starting to grow. Ben couldn’t find out about the baby. She had to come up with a plan to run away, to hide from him before she got too big. The thing that made her the saddest was leaving her job that she loved so much. After finding out about the baby, she had written a letter to the school, letting them know that she had left and wouldn’t be returning. She kept the letter in a sealed envelope inside the top drawer of her desk here at the school, so Ben wouldn’t find it.
Kaitlyn quickly went online before her students entered the class and reserved a table for two at 6 p.m. Ben said he wanted to spend the evening out with her and talk, which surprised her since they didn’t go out much for dinner. The last time didn’t end well. He didn’t like it when other men looked at her, as if it were her fault. Ben made it seem like she provoked the men to check her out as he called it. When they got home, he took it out on her.
She could still visualize it as if it happened yesterday. “You’re such a fucking slut, Kaitlyn,” he had yelled the moment they arrived inside the privacy of their home. “I saw you looking at him. It makes me sick to see you undress men with your eyes,” Ben yelled and punched Kaitlyn in the stomach. His temper was worse than she’d ever seen it before. Sure, he had gotten mad over little things while they were dating, but he had never physically hit her. He had never even yelled at her. Three months into their marriage and it was like he was a changed man. He was different and mean. He was abusive and acted like he owned her. He controlled everything she did. Before she could react and move out of his way, Ben came at her and body-slammed her against the wall. Her head flew back and hit the wall hard, knocking her unconscious.
The Accident Page 4