Chapter Four #2
“What if it never does?” Would she always have a gap in her memory? How frustrating to miss part of her life. If she didn’t recover her memory, Sedona would never know who was friend or foe.
Cam squeezed her fingers. “We’ll deal with it. First, let’s wait for the doctor’s opinion before we make a plan.”
“But wouldn’t you want to know about the missing hours of your life if you were in my shoes?”
“Of course. What the doctor says will determine what type of plans we create.” Another squeeze of her fingers. “I promise I will keep you safe, Sedona. You can trust me.”
“I know,” she whispered.
Cam released her hand to turn on his lights and sirens, then pressed the accelerator to the floor.
For the next two hours, Cam kept the cruiser’s speed at a scary level all the way back to Maple Valley.
During the journey, he wove in and out of the sparse traffic.
Once they reached the Maple Valley city limits, he turned off the siren but kept the lights flashing until he parked in front of the emergency room entrance.
When she reached for the door handle, Cam said, “Wait. I’m coming around to help you out.”
Never let it be said that she hadn’t given a male companion a chance to treat her like a lady. Although she could easily open her own door, Sedona wasn’t so sure about her ability to remain standing.
Cam opened her door, unlatched her seatbelt, and cradled her in his arms, blanket and all. He carried Sedona into the emergency room.
“Sedona!” A nurse, who had been walking from one treatment room to another, rushed toward her. “What happened? Were you in an accident?”
She shook her head. “I’ll explain later.”
“She needs to see a doctor, Patty. Where do I take her?”
“Exam Room Two. The doctor will be there in a couple of minutes.”
Without responding, Cam angled his body and used his shoulder to push open the door and carry Sedona into the room. He set her on the exam table and eased back to look her in the eyes. “You’re okay?”
What could she say? Sedona nodded. At least she hadn’t had a panic attack. That would have been embarrassing.
A quick knock on the door had Cam turning and placing his body between Sedona and the door.
“What is going on here, Cam?”
Dr. Phil Cunningham walked quickly toward Sedona.
“Sedona was kidnapped, Doc. We need as much information as you can give us because she has partial amnesia.”
Cunningham frowned. “That’s not what I wanted to hear. Wait outside in the hall, Cam.”
For the first time since Cam had walked into the clearing with a weapon in his hand, Sedona felt the first flutter of panic.
“Are you okay with that, Sedona?” Cam asked softly.
She shook her head. “Stay. Please.”
“Are you sure you want that?” Cunningham asked. “Since you have a memory gap, I’ll need to do some testing to find out if you were sexually assaulted without your knowledge.”
Sedona tightened her hold on Cam’s hand.
“It’s okay, Doc,” he said without looking away from her. “I’ll stay until Sedona tells me I should leave.”
“Sedona?”
“I want him to stay.”
“Very well. I expect you to speak up the moment you want him to leave. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do that.” When the doctor continued to glare at her, she scowled back at him. “I promise.”
Appearing satisfied for the moment, the doctor examined her after ordering his nurse to take a blood sample and send it to the lab as soon as possible.
Minutes later, Dr. Cunningham helped Sedona sit up. “All right, my dear. This is where you’ll need to make a choice.”
“What kind of choice?”
“Because you can’t remember the hours during your containment, I strongly urge you to let me perform a rape kit on you.”
Her stomach did a flip and threatened to rebel. Sedona shook her head.
“Sedona.”
Cam’s gentle voice brought her gaze to his.
Didn’t he understand? She didn’t want him to leave the room.
For goodness’ sake, she couldn’t remember anything.
For all she knew, Dr. Cunningham could be involved in the assault, and she wouldn’t know that he was guilty.
She needed someone she trusted implicitly at her side. How could they get around this impasse?
“I can stay but keep my eyes closed, or I can stand in the hall with the door cracked so I can hear if you need me.”
“Sydney, my nurse, will stay with you every moment,” Cunningham said.
“You need to allow this, Sedona.” Cam squeezed her hand for a moment. “We may need the evidence to add to the charges the three men are already facing.”
Awkward much? She took a deep breath and released Cam’s hand. “Wait in the hall by the door.”
“If you need me, call out. I’ll be by your side in one or two seconds, all right?”
Sedona nodded even though she didn’t want to and felt like a wuss for using Cam as a security blanket. She hoped he didn’t mind or wouldn’t believe that’s all she wanted from him. Her cheeks flamed.
Cam slid his hand around her nape. “No one will get to you through that door. They would have to go through me first, and that’s not happening.” He waited until Sedona’s gaze locked onto his before he slowly leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead.
Talk about disappointing. Would she shock him if she asked for a real kiss?
He eased back. “Are you good?”
She nodded, surprised to realize that she felt better.
Cam gave a slight nod, then glanced at the doctor. “You heard our arrangement, Doc?”
“Yes. I’m satisfied with the arrangement.”
“I’ll be right outside the door.” His tone of voice sounded like a threat rather than a confirmation of their agreement.
Cunningham swallowed hard. “I understand.”
He turned to the nurse. “Don’t leave Sedona for any reason.”
The nurse glanced at the doctor, who gave a slight nod, then returned her gaze to Cam. “Yes, sir.”
When he reached the door, Cam looked back at Sedona. “When the doc is finished, we need to talk.”
She gulped. Why did those words unsettle her?