Prime Recognition Chapter 1

Present Day…

At first when the pungent smell hit Lacey's nostrils, she was a little taken aback. She wondered what was the source. Then, she remembered that this was a certain type of cigar. What type of cigar was this? She felt she had smelled it before. It was….it was….yes, it was a Steinriche cigar. Hmm, she was unaware this person smoked.

At the recognition of the distinctive scent, something triggered. Suddenly, flashes of mental pictures occurred in rapid succession – one after another. The drink she was holding fell from her grasp. She heard the crash of the glass upon the tiled floor, but her reflexes were not operating. Her physical motor skills could not be willed into motion to respond to the mess now shattered on the floor. She experienced what could be described as 'an out-of-body experience'.

She felt detached from her body because her brain was too busy processing those images. These were those elusive images that had evaded her for so long. The floodgates of memories depicted why she knew this cigar smell.

First, a memory of Archie periodically smoking that brand of cigar. Next, his teasing her to try a cigar and her refusal which had led to his tickling her. Next, Archie sharing cigars with others….sharing cigars with this person. This person had always been around Archie. This person was someone both Lacey and Archie trusted.

Then, another memory lashed at Lacey. That night….this person was with Archie that night. When she walked in, she witnessed the heated quarrel which quickly turned into that physical altercation…and that….that resulted in Archie getting sucker-punched and then stabbed. Archie fighting for his life. Her yelling his name. Archie yelling back for her to run. Lacey running as fast as she could through the house. The assailant tackling her as she neared the back door. She had kicked; she had punched. In response, she had received a violent hit to her head. It hurt like hell. She was momentarily stunned. She heard Archie attack this person as they both hit the floor in a thud. Lacey heard grunts and groans of the renewed fight, this time in the room with her.

She struggled to sit up…trying to stay focused. Archie yelled at her to get up and run. She pulls herself up by the corner of the bar. She staggers to the back door and grabs the handle to pull the door open. The fresh salt air gives her a little second wind.

She runs down the beach…perhaps she can get to help. Lacey heard footsteps behind her quickening in pace. Her flight response has kicked in. She had to outrun…she had to get help. Her mind was worried for Archie…worried for herself.

She sees lights from a boat in the short distance in the water. Adam's boat…she must make it to that boat. She yelled. He couldn't hear her. The black water in front of her…her fear…her only escape. She had to conquer her fear. Both her and Archie's life depended on it.

She dove into that black water. She swam as fast as she could. She was getting closer to the boat. Her lungs were on fire. Her limbs were feeling very tired. Oh no, she was slowing down. Her eyes were losing focus. All at once everything grew black as she lost consciousness.

The images stopped. Lacey's breath became shallow. She felt light-headed. Indeed, Lacey was very familiar with that cigar smell. She now knew the identity of Archie's killer…

8 months earlier…

Lacey stirs. She feels an immediate soreness on her left side and in her shoulder. She slowly awakens from the pain. She struggles to open her eyes. The weight on her eyelids feels so heavy. As she finally opens her eyes, several things register to her. Her eyes first settle on a wall-mount television which is on a nature channel at a low volume. That is odd.

As she tries to sit up, she notices IVs attached to her arm. She notices bruises on both arms and some scratches. She looks down at what she is wearing and where she has been sleeping. She was not at the guest house in her bed. She is in a hospital bed? Next, she peers around the room. There are the stark-white walls, the bags of clear liquid with the IVs attached tubes, the upholstered chair in the corner of the room, some flowers and cards on a small end table, and the closed blinds at the window.

Lacey raises herself to a full sitting position. She winces since her movement has aggravated that sore side. She is also aware of a dull ache at her right temple. She raises her hand to her temple and discovers some sort of bandage over that area. She gingerly moves her legs to the side of the bed. She is aware that she has some other attachment to her..some bag with…wait is that urine? She tries to stand. Her legs feel wobbly. She has to grab the side of the bed to help hold her vertical.

Her room door opens and a tall brunette male in hospital scrubs greets her. He looks surprised but delighted to see her. "Well, good morning! Sleeping Beauty is finally awake. Welcome back! Hey, you shouldn't be out of bed, sugar. Let me help you back into it. My name is Tony." He is very animated as he assists Lacey back into the hospital bed.

Lacey says a soft "Good morning." Her throat is a little raspy. She clears it and tries to speak again. This time, she has a slightly stronger tone. "Where am I?"

Tony answers "You are at the Greater Green Grove Hospital and Rehabilitation Center." He settles the covers back around Lacey's body and adjusts the pillows for her.

"How long have I been here?" Lacey inquires.

Tony checks a clipboard chart at the end of the hospital bed. "Let's see…you were admitted 5 days ago." He looks up to offer a smile. "By the way, today is Wednesday and the time is 9:15AM – in case you were wondering."

He bends his head again to study the clipboard. "Your chart says you had some blunt force trauma to the head and had a series of bruises and minor abrasions. Luckily, no broken bones or ribs…looks like your side sustained the most injury and your head around the temple area. Your vitals have been steady the past few days. So, that is good." He comes around to the side of the bed and has equipment to check Lacey's pulse and blood pressure. "How do you feel?"

Lacey grimaces. "I feel like I have been hit by a truck" she replies.

Tony chuckles. "Well, that's expected judging the extent of your injuries. However, I believe you will recover well once you have had some more rest and the body has had time to heal. Don't worry, the stitches for your head injury will heal and they didn't have to shave any hair. It would have been a shame since you have such pretty hair. "

Lacey's mouth fell open slightly as she lifted fingers to her temple to feel the bandage again. Tony quickly reassures her "Like I said, the stitches will heal. It will be good. Any scarring there can be covered by a different hairstyle. So, don't worry."

Tony is finished with his assessment, makes some notations on the chart, and returns the clipboard to the end of the bed. "Pulse is 77 and blood pressure is 114 over 70. That's good; both are in normal range. " He smiles again as he approaches the side of the bed. "Now that you are awake, I imagine you are hungry for some real sustenance instead of the 'liquid stuff'. Let me ask Sarah to bring in a menu so you can choose something to eat. Granted, the food here is not five-star, but it is pretty good…except don't choose the hash. Trust me, something just ain't right about that hash." He winks at her.

Lacey can't help but smile at his last remark. She likes his personality.

"Oh, you have dimples! God was just unfair when he made you: good looks and dimples, too. I want a refund!" Tony joked. "Well, I will be on my way. Oh, here is the remote control for both the tv and the Nurses Desk. Volume and channels are there. This is the button for the calling one of us for assistance."

As Tony heads towards the door, he relays more information. "I will send Sarah in shortly. I will inform your doctor, Dr. Goodin, that you have awaken. He is making his rounds later this afternoon. He will review your chart in detail and you can ask any questions that you may have at that time. Have a good day, Ms. Porter." Lacey returns the well-wishes. Tony grins as leaves.

Lacey wonders to herself 'What happened? How did I get hurt?' Lacey tries to remember what caused her to be here in the hospital. She discovers she can't….as hard as she tries.

There is a knock on the door. A petite redhead, Sarah, arrives with the menu and with some water. Lacey is indeed thirsty. Lacey chooses her food for all the meals she will receive today. Lacey asks Sarah how she arrived at the hospital since she can't recall the circumstances. Sarah doesn't answer directly. Instead she replies that the doctor will provide all the details that Lacey needs. Lacey is little frustrated that she has to wait until the afternoon to have her question answered, but there is nothing she can do for now.

Her breakfast arrives shortly. It is surprising good…although she doesn't know if it is because the true quality of the food or else because she has had only liquid food for five days. There is a knock on the door thirty minutes after Lacey has finished her breakfast. It is Sarah again but she is not alone. There is a middle-aged blonde man with her. He is dressed in a navy suit, white button-down shirt, and a light blue tie.

Sarah greets her again. "Hi, Ms. Porter. I came back to take your tray. Good you ate everything. I brought a guest with me to see you. This is…"

The gentleman interrupts Sarah. "I am Ken Larsen, Ms. Porter. How are you feeling today?" He smiles at Lacey.

Lacey replies "I am fine. Thank you."

Sarah leaves with a goodbye. Lacey thanks her. Lacey turns her attention back to her guest who has stayed.

The gentleman, Ken, continued speaking. "Good that you are feeling better, Ms. Porter. It seems like you had quite a bad evening the other night. I wanted to ask you a few questions about that night, if it is all right with you?"

Lacey was about to open her mouth to ask him a question when the door was opened again. It was her friend, Sarita Gonzales, with some flowers in her arms. At first, she had a big smile on her face until she spied Lacey's guest.

"Lacey, don't say a word." Sarita turns a glare towards Ken. "And they say that lawyers are slime. I think cops who try to interrogate unsuspecting victims fit that description instead."

*Lovely Readers, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you for reading and thank you for the kind words of support. DimplesValntina