by C L Hart
Sarah started to nod, but stopped. Though the pain was less severe than what she had already endured, her face still hurt. “Have you heard from Nathan? What’s happening?”
“Of course. I talked to him yesterday when you came out of the operating room. Abby nearly drove him crazy until she knew you were okay. He stopped in on his way home last night, but you were still in recovery.” Robin knew that wasn’t what Sarah was waiting for. “Lincoln is almost done testifying. Nathan said de Barr had his hands full with him. Lincoln knew what to say and what not to say, and how to get around the questions he didn’t want to answer. Nathan said it made de Barr look like a bully.”
Sarah leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. “That’s what Nathan was hoping for.”
“What do you mean?” Robin asked.
Through the thick bandages, Sarah explained. “The jury is too busy looking at Lincoln and de Barr’s battling personalities to pay strict attention to the evidence the prosecution is trying to present.”
“I never thought about it like that.”
“Nathan explained how the law itself is boring, and evidence is even more boring, so what happens is that the jury winds up paying more attention to the witnesses themselves than to what they are saying. It’s not their fault, it’s just human nature.”
“But this is a murder trial,” Robin said in disbelief.
“Shouldn’t they be paying attention to the evidence?”
“They should be, and most will be, but it takes only one.” Sarah’s words were becoming slower.
“Look, you need your rest for the helicopter ride tomorrow. I’m going to be just over here” — she pointed to a chair next to the window — “reading. All right?”
“Yes.” She wriggled a little deeper into her bed. “How is Raoul doing?”
“Naked from the waist up, as always,” Robin said with a grin as she took her seat and opened her novel.
♥
During Lincoln’s last day on the stand, the helicopter landed across the street from the hospital. The entire staff had been abuzz about the mysterious patient who had arrived with her own nurse and had been seen only by Dr. Greene. The arrival of the helicopter only fed the rumor mill. Almost everyone agreed the patient who had received such rapid plastic surgery had to be someone who was not just rich, but also famous.
It was Robin’s first flight in a helicopter and it showed as she did her best to keep one medical eye on her patient and the other on their distance from the ground.
Sarah reached over and took Robin’s hand, and the nurse did her best to smile.
The pain in Sarah’s face had eased considerably, but the dull ache was constantly there beneath the thin bandages. Dr. Greene had rewrapped her face that morning; she had watched his face and his expert eyes and was relieved at his pleased reaction.
“Can I see?” she pleaded.
“Not yet. You need to be patient and give everything time to heal,” he said with a nod to himself. “Maybe when I see you next.”
♥
Sarah was going back, back to where it all had started. It wouldn’t be the same without Abby, but she was looking forward to seeing Helga and Günter again. With a touch of sadness, she fondly remembered someone else who wasn’t going to be there. Buck.
A short while later, the helicopter began its descent and she opened her eyes to the majestic, snow-capped mountains and the clear blue waters of Lake Alouette. She had a strange feeling of coming home. Looking down at the wooden docks, Sarah recalled walking down to Abby for the first time with a bottle opener in her hand.
Robin noticed a subtle change in her patient and wondered if bringing her back there was a good idea.
The helicopter swung around as it approached the landing area, and Sarah spotted two familiar figures coming out of the lodge.
“Helga and Günter?” Robin yelled over the noise of the rotors.
Sarah didn’t respond as she fought down the rising lump in her throat when she saw them standing there waiting, holding hands, just as she remembered them. The familiarity was welcome, but strangely painful, as she reached to adjust the scarf around her head.
The pilot set the machine down gently and then gave them the thumbs-up to disembark. Sarah didn’t move as she looked out over the lake.
Robin was concerned. “Are you okay, Sarah?” She only nodded. “One step at a time, all right,” Robin warned as she placed a hand on her arm. “It’s been a long day already.”
“I know.” Sarah turned to face her nurse, suddenly nervous about seeing the elderly Scandinavian couple. “I’m not sure if I can do this,” she said as she watched the pilot walk over to Günter and Helga.
“Do what?”
Sarah dropped her eyes and looked down at her hands. Subconsciously, she rubbed at her numb thumb, something she now did whenever she was nervous.
“Sarah?” Robin reached for her hand.
“I’m afraid.”
“Of?”
Lifting her eyes from her hand, she looked at Robin. “Of what I’ll see in their eyes.”
The comment stunned Robin for a moment as she fought for the right words, knowing the wrong ones would only deepen Sarah’s fears. “Sarah, look at me. There’s nothing for them to see.”
Keeping her eyes on the young nurse, Sarah replied, “Maybe not now, but they know what’s under all of these bandages.”
“No, they don’t. Not even you and I know what is under there now. That’s what you have to keep telling yourself. What was there before is gone now.”
Sarah knew Robin was right, but it didn’t make it any easier as she reached for the door handle. She said softly, “The scars may be gone, but the images never go away.”
♥
The moment Sarah’s foot touched the ground, she felt the tug of déjà vu. The log lodge, the smell of the pines, and the blue of the lake in the distance brought a flood of memories that pulled at her heart with an ache she wasn’t sure she could endure. Introductions were made and then the small group slowly made its way toward the cabin.
“It’s okay to remember, my dear,” Helga whispered to Sarah, knowing where the young woman’s mind was. “Just try to dwell on the good and not the bad.”
“I know,” Sarah whispered back as she climbed the wooden steps onto the deck.
Entering through the large sliding glass doors, Günter gestured to a large arrangement of red roses.
“Two dozen, best I can count,” he said as she walked over to them.
She leaned forward and took in the fragrant smell before she reached for the card.
Until I am there with you.
All my love, Abby.
Sarah reached to touch one of the soft petals before she pulled one of the stems from the bouquet. She closed her eyes and buried her nose deep in the flower. The room was silent as she turned and walked toward one of the bedrooms. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I think I’ll lie down now.” Robin began to follow, but Sarah held up a hand. “I’ll be okay,” she said as she disappeared into the bedroom.
Helga looked nervously at Robin. “Did we do okay?” she whispered.
“You did great,” Robin said sincerely as the three made their way outside.
“She seemed so subdued,” Günter commented with great concern as he looked back at the closed bedroom door.
“Part of that is the medication. She did just have surgery. But in reality, she’s no longer the woman you knew, not physically or mentally.”
Suddenly Günter snarled something in his native tongue. Robin had no idea what he had said, but she thought she recognized Billy’s name before Helga shushed him. The elderly couple exchanged a few more words before Günter stomped off the deck and up the driveway.
Unsure of what to say, Robin changed the subject. “This is a beautiful resort, Helga. I’ve never been out of the city before, so I was a little apprehensive about coming here. The closest hospital is so far away if there’s a problem.”
“It is oka
y, my dear, we are all here to help.” Helga put an arm around Robin’s shoulder. “In the old country, we had to learn to do many things ourselves. I myself have helped many babies into the world,” she said with great pride.
“That’s good to know, Helga, but I don’t think childbirth is going to be Sarah’s biggest problem.”
Chapter 31
“Well, that wasn’t too bad,” Abby said as she sat down at the table next to Cheryl.
“I think it went well,” Nathan said of Lincoln’s testimony. “Some hurt, but I think the real damage was to de Barr himself. He came off looking like a bully.”
“He is thorough, but he’s too busy grandstanding for the press and the jury, and that’s going to help us too,” Cheryl said. “So, who’s next?”
“Fred Hyamensky, with the forensic evidence. Now this one we’ll have to be careful with. Too many times I’ve seen all this science and DNA mumbo-jumbo confuse juries to the point where they don’t care what the evidence says and they just choose to ignore it.”
“Hyme is one of the better ones. He can put it all into layman’s terms and make them understand things they know little about,” Abby said as she watched her uncle.
Nathan lifted his head and caught her eye. “Yes, but remember, Hyme isn’t on our side this time.”
“But he does have the evidence that shows the different talcum powder, and that shows someone tampered with the fingerprints. Put that with the fact that Webber didn’t want to investigate anything further, that’s something. And with the knife Billy took from my house... I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s some strong evidence that points to someone else.”
“Yes, but—”
There was a quick rap on the door. “Is this a private party or can any old witness join in?” Lincoln asked, sticking his head into the room.
“Come on in.” Nathan gestured him inside as Abby quickly stood up to meet her old partner halfway. The lawyer watched the two embrace and he smiled, realizing Lincoln’s testimony had done nothing to damage their friendship.
“I’m sorry, Abby,” Lincoln said.
“For what? You did what you had to do,” she replied, “but then again you didn’t have to keep saying I was hotheaded and opinionated.”
“Don’t forget overbearing,” he said with a smile.
“Okay, I hate to break up this happy reunion, but we still have a pile of work to do,” Nathan said as he peered over his glasses.
“I know.” Lincoln looked at his boss. “Before we do that...” He turned back to Abby. “I just talked to Robin and they arrived safely.”
“That’s good to hear,” Nathan said as Abby’s features relaxed at the news. “I know Dr. Greene was happy with the way the surgery went.”
There was a sharp knock on the door and the conversation ceased as the bailiff walked in. “Judge Porter has requested your presence in his chambers.”
“Now?” Nathan asked with a concerned scowl on his face.
“Now,” the bailiff replied.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Abby said as she looked at her uncle.
“Neither do I,” Nathan replied as he walked to the door. “Cheryl, you’d better come, too.” He held the door open for her and they left together.
♥
Abby wanted to hear every detail of every moment Lincoln had spent with Sarah, including the morning she looked in the mirror.
“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever witnessed,” Lincoln said, recalling the events of that morning. “But she stood there and faced it.” A smile slid across Abby’s face. “Just when you think this young little thing can’t handle another blow, she surprises the hell out of you.” Lincoln shook his head in disbelief.
“Oh, I know.”
The door opened and Nathan walked into the room, followed by a somber looking Cheryl.
“What?” both asked at the same time as they saw the dejection in the lawyers’ faces.
Nathan stood silent for a moment, and Abby’s first thoughts went to Sarah. “Nathan?”
“Judge Porter was just notified. Fred Hyamensky was in an accident on the Coastal Highway.” Nathan sat down at the table and removed his glasses. “He was driving home and something happened, they don’t know what — mechanical failure maybe, or possibly a heart attack. His car went over the embankment. They pronounced him dead at the scene.”
There were no words to express the mix of feelings they experienced as they bowed their heads in silent remembrance. Hyme had been a friend and a colleague to each one of them. The city had lost one of their own, one of the best forensic pathologists around, and the cornerstone to Abby's defense.
♥
Even through the gauze bandages, Sarah could feel the light breeze off the lake on her tender skin. Closing her eyes, she let her mind wander until she could almost hear the patter of Buck’s feet or the sound of Abby’s voice. It made her heart ache, but at the same time it was strangely comforting. Coming to the resort had been a good idea. No one knew who she was, and it was obvious no one cared. Her bandages caused a few looks of compassion and curiosity, though she was soon forgotten as the other guests went about enjoying their holidays.
Today was the day. Without waking Robin, Sarah left the cabin and wandered down to the end of the dock to watch the sunrise. Strangely, it was her way of being closer to Abby, and it gave her a chance to think about her future. The helicopter would be arriving some time this morning to take her back to the hospital. The last of the bandages would be coming off and she would finally get to see what she would look like. Dr. Greene and Robin had already warned her there would still be bruising and discoloration, and the swelling would temporarily distort her features.
Looking down at the sun-bleached dock, she picked at a sliver of wood. Various pictures flashed through her mind. She saw her face along with the faces of other people as she recalled with vivid clarity what she looked like before Billy Ward, and after. And she remembered that horrible day in the hospital bathroom.
It is what it is. No one can turn back time. Isn’t that what Dr. Greene said? I’ve seen the worst, and no matter what, it will be better — not perfect, but better.
Still picking at the weathered dock, Sarah’s eyes happened to glance down through the slats of wood, to the shimmering reflection in the water below. Her curiosity got the better of her and she leaned past the edge of the dock to look at her bandaged reflection. The water was so clean and clear that she could see to the sandy bottom as she focused on her wavering image. The first thing she noticed past the stark white of the bandages was the positioning of her eyes. They were once again symmetrical, evenly situated above her repaired cheekbones.
Wanting a better look, Sarah swung her body around and lay down on her stomach for a closer view. Peering into the water, she studied her face, trying to see past the old her to the new her for the first time. She squinted and examined the skin as it wrinkled and gathered at the corner of her eyes. My eyes, they look like...my eyes...I wonder... Several times she turned her head to the right as far as the scar on her neck would allow her to, attempting to see what had changed. Looking closer into the water, she tried to wrinkle her nose, but the skin beneath the bandage was still too tight and it caused her to grimace. That too was something new for her to study. She wanted to see what was hidden beneath the gauze, so she reached to remove it. Carefully, she picked at the white tape holding the bandage in place.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to be doing that.”
Robin’s voice startled her so much she almost toppled into the water. “Holy crap, Robin, you scared me,” she stammered.
“You know, we have mirrors for that now,” Robin said, her hands on her hips.
“I thought I saw something on the bottom of... I was just...” Sarah realized Robin wasn’t buying what she was trying to sell. “I wanted to see what I look like,” she admitted sheepishly.
“And I’m glad to hear that, but I think you’d do better to wait fo
r the doctor and for something more appropriate than a lake to see your reflection in.”
Sarah sat up and pulled her legs in to sit cross-legged. “It looks like me, just different.” Not wanting to see Robin’s reaction, she lifted her gaze to look at the distant mountain. She didn’t feel different, but she knew she looked different; there was no changing that. Maybe I am different. I know I am not the same person who arrived here. So much has changed...so much.
“That’s not necessarily a bad thing, is it? It’s still you, after all.”
“I know, but...” She heard the sound of a helicopter in the distance. Searching the blue skies, she spotted the tiny aircraft. “They sure make a lot of noise, don’t they?” she asked, thankful that she was able to change the topic. Sarah watched as the helicopter circled to land. “There’s someone in it,” she pointed out.
“I know,” Robin answered loudly over the noise.
“What do you mean, you know?” Sarah looked from the smiling nurse to the helicopter as the passenger door opened. Squinting through the rising dust and sand, she saw a tall figure exit the chopper. “It’s Lincoln!” she exclaimed with delight as she hurried across the lawn to meet him.
“Wow, is this the same quiet, reserved woman I saw leave my house?” Lincoln asked with a laugh as Sarah’s arms tightly embraced him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I thought you might want some company today.”
“You’re coming with me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He looked over his surroundings.
“How is she? How’s Abby? How’s the trial going?”
“Abby’s doing just fine, and you know I can’t discuss the trial with you,” Lincoln chided as they came off of the grass and onto the roadway toward the cabin and Robin.
“But if you’re here— Lincoln, what’s wrong?” Sarah asked in a serious tone.
“What makes you think something is wrong?”
“Instinct.” She studied his face. “Spill it. What’s wrong?”