Chapter 1

"What happened?" Julie asked, her eyes darting wildly around the room and out into the hallway "why am I here?"

"You were- Russell started to say but the nurse cut him off and said "Tell us what you remember"

Julie racked her brain and instantly images flashed before her: her condo, reading case files on the couch, talking on the phone, then the sound of glass breaking, her hair being pulled from behind, cold lifeless eyes staring at her and then unbearable shooting pain….

A loud voice over the hospital PA system made Julie jump and come back to reality.

"Paul," she said trembling "Paul Winthrop, he was in my condo, you have to stop him!"

The heart monitor started to beep rapidly and the nurse looked at Russell to confirm the story.

"Jules listen," he said "it's o.k. we got Winthrop, he can't hurt you anymore."

"My condo," she continued, panic rising in her voice, her heart racing "I have to get out of here, I need to go home."

She pulled back the covers and tried to get out of bed.

"Whoa! Slow down slugger." Russell said sitting forward to block her from getting out of the bed.

"What did you just call me?" Julie asked.

"Slugger," Russell said "I used to call my kids that whenever they pushed themselves too far at sports; you need to slow down and relax."

"He's right," the nurse said "you're not going anywhere until a doctor says so, I'll go get her and we'll discuss therapy options, will you be o.k with her?"

She addressed Russell now.

"Yeah, we're good," he said knowing he could handle whatever Julie did.

The nurse left. Russell gave Julie a look that clearly indicated he was not going to let her leave. She sighed in frustration and flung the covers back over her.

"How do you feel?" Russell asked her.

"I don't know," she said rubbing her eyes "really weird."

"Are you in pain?" he asked.

"No," she said "yes, maybe, I don't know."

He didn't want to upset her so he fell silent watching her look around the room with a mixture of confusion and fear.

"Look," he said " I know this must be terrifying Jules, but I'm here to help you, so are the doctors and nurses, I'll answer any questions you have, I'll get you whatever you need from work, home, anything."

She looked at him, feeling oddly vulnerable. She pulled the covers up to her chin now and uttered the first thing she could think of.

"How many?"