Rachel fiddled with the hospital wristband as the doctor spoke.
"We've performed an MRI as well as a CAT scan, and we haven't been able to determine what happened to you, but we can tell you what didn't happen."
She glanced up at him. "So, what isn't wrong with me?"
"You don't have a concussion or brain bleed. You didn't suffer a stroke or heart attack. We'll study the test results some more to see if we can find other possible causes for your collapse."
Rachel gave an exasperated sigh.
"I know how frustrating this must be..." the doctor began
"You think? And I thought I was the psychiatrist. When can I leave?"
"We'd like to keep you overnight for observation."
"And I'd like a stiff drink." Rachel countered. "Look Dr," Rachel glanced at his name tag. "Forester, obviously nothing is seriously wrong with me, so I'd like to leave as soon as possible. Did you contact my colleague?"
The doctor stiffened. "Yes. He's on his way."
"Good." She replied, throwing the blankets aside and scooting off the bed. She walked toward the bathroom. "Let me know as soon as he arrives." The doctor continued staring. "What?" she snapped.
"I would strongly recommend you stay here tonight."
"Your professional opinion is duly noted." She replied, not trying to hide the sarcasm in her voice. Nodding toward the bathroom she added. "Now if you'll excuse me."
"Of course." Came the clipped reply. Rachel walked into the bathroom and closed the door on the doctor's less than thrilled expression. Through the door, she heard him being paged on the PA system and then his footsteps retreating. Finally alone, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked haggard and exhausted. What the hell had happened to her tonight? Why couldn't she remember? She hated feeling out of control, and from the time she'd joined the Legacy, she'd felt that way more times than she could count. She twisted the cold water spigot and splashed the cool liquid onto her face. The detective didn't believe her. He hadn't come right out and said it, but she knew. She'd been a psychiatrist long enough to recognize when someone thought they were being lied to. The sound of the hospital room door opening and subsequent footsteps broke into her thoughts. Drying her face, she pulled open the bathroom door, preparing for round two with Dr. Forester. She stopped short when she saw Nick standing there, a handled paper bag in his right hand. She smiled sheepishly. "Hey Nick."
He grinned back. "Can't let you go anywhere can we?" He lifted the bag. "Clothes. Derek and I stopped by your hotel room on the way."
She reached for the bag. "Thanks." She retreated to the bathroom. "So where is Derek?" she asked through the partially closed door.
"Talking to the doctor, making sure it's okay to take you back to the hotel."
Rachel emerged from the bathroom dressed in jeans and a long sleeved black T-shirt, the hospital gown wadded in her hands. "Trust me," she said tossing it onto the bed. "It's more than okay."
Nick pushed the door open with a flourish. "So what are we waiting for?"
_
Blackness...
Blackness surrounding her...
A dark figure looming above her...
Struggling, fighting...
Rachel woke with a start and sat up, her heart pounding. The last vestige of the dream dancing around her consciousness. A slight pounding behind her eyes, she closed them and concentrated, trying to bring the images back into focus. All she got for her efforts was more pounding. "Damn!" she muttered, glancing to the nightstand. The large red lights of the hotel clock red 5:17. Knowing she wouldn't get back to sleep, she shoved the covers aside and rose. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her she hadn't eaten since early yesterday. Figuring she had at least a couple hours before Derek rose and that they would be serving breakfast in the hotel restaurant, she dressed and headed downstairs. If she couldn't fill the holes in her memory, at least she could fill the one in her stomach.
Two and a half hours later, her stomach full from an omelet breakfast, and her mind clearer from caffeine, Rachel sat with Derek and Nick at the small table in Derek's hotel room, going over the events of the previous day.
"I know I stopped at Richard's. I remember ringing the doorbell and the housekeeper inviting me in."
"What do you remember after that?" Derek asked.
Rachel's forehead wrinkled in thought. "Nothing until I was in the convenience store."
"What about your friend, Richard?" Nick piped up. "Have you talked to him since you were admitted to the hospital?"
"No. But I'm sure if I was acting irrationally, he would have noticed. And I'm sure he wouldn't have let me leave."
"Still," Added Derek. "We should speak to him, find out what happened while you were at his home. Maybe he noticed some behavior that seemed out of character, but not alarmingly so."
"You're right." Rachel agreed, digging through her purse for her cell phone. "I'll call him, see when would be a good time for him to talk to us."
While Rachel spoke to Richard, Derek and Nick made a quick run to the hotel restaurant for coffees of their own. As they re-entered the room, they heard an alarmed gasp from the bathroom, and Rachel rushed out, pale and shaking. Nick ran to her and helped her to the bed.
"What happened? Are you ok?" He asked, kneeling before her, scanning for any apparent injuries. Derek set the coffees on the nightstand and kneeled next to Nick.
"I'm okay. Physically at least."
"Tell me what happened." Derek demanded.
"I went in to use the bathroom and when I was washing my hands I looked up into the mirror. And my face was bruised, my nose bleeding and there was a bruise around my throat."
"That would be a shock to the system." Nick said.
"That wasn't all." Rachel continued. "The image placed its-my hand to the mirror and asked me for help."
Nick and Derek looked at each other. "Doppelganger?" Nick asked.
"Let's hope not." Derek replied. "Doppelgangers are harbingers of death."
"Well", Nick countered, "Rachel did have a close call last night. Think its just running late?"
Rachel smiled. She loved Nick's quirky sense of humor, it had helped her through many a rough Legacy case. "I think it's just my mind's way of coping with what happened and letting me know the answer is in my mind somewhere."
Standing, Derek said, "Speaking of answers, what did your friend say?"
Also standing, Rachel replied, "His first appointment is at 9:30. He can talk to us right now, if we hurry."
The last to stand, Nick answered, "So what are we waiting for?"
As they pulled into the circular driveway, Rachel stared at the Corinthian columns framing the porch of Richard Hamilton's home and tried to remember the last time she was here. Pulling up in the same driveway, ringing the bell and being ushered in by the departing housekeeper. Greeting Richard in the living room... then nothing until the convience store. Her forehead twinged, and she rubbed it. Nick looked at her, concern on his face. She gave him a small smile. Derek stopped the car and switched off the ignition. He looked at Rachel.
"Anything?" he asked.
"No, nothing I didn't already remember."
He opened his door. "Let's hope your friend can shed some light on what happened."
Rachel nodded in agreement and stepped out her open door, courtesy of Nick. "Thanks."
"No problem."
They stepped onto the porch and Derek rang the bell. Richard Hamilton himself answered the door, in a blue shirt his tie only half tied, hair askew. "Come on in, you got here a little sooner than I expected. Hence." He smiled, pointing to his tie.
Derek reached out his hand. "My name is Derek Rayne." Shaking Richard's hand he turned to Nick. And this is Nick Boyle."
"Pleased to meet you." Nick said, taking Richard's hand and giving it a firm shake.
"Richard." Rachel said, moving forward to pull him into an embrace. "I am so sorry to lay this on you with Allison's loss still so fresh."
He pulled back, a sad smile on his face. "I'm just sorry this happened to you." He motioned his guests toward the living room. They followed and each took a seat on a large sofa. Richard sat on a similar sofa across from them. "Now, how can I help you with this?"
"I need you to tell me what happened after I arrived here?" Rachel said.
"You don't remember?"
"Nothing after your housekeeper let me in."
Surprise colored his face. "You came in, we talked in the foyer a moment, and then we came in here and discussed the funeral and looked at some old pictures."
"How long was Rachel here?" Derek asked.
"Let's see." Richard pulled a graceful hand through the long black strands on his forehead, flipping them from the left to the right. "About 45 minutes."
"And nothing unusual happened while she was here?"
"No."
Derek turned to Rachel and saw her staring at the mantle of the fireplace, her brow crinkled in confusion. He turned to see what she was looking at and saw nothing but pictures and memorabilia "Rachel?" he prompted. She continued staring at the mantle.
Nick gave her a gentle nudge. "Rach?"
She started, and then looked to Nick, then to Derek. "Sorry. Where were we?"
Richard stood. "I was just telling Derek that you were here for about 45 minutes, then you left. And nothing unusual happened while you were here." He glanced at his watch. "I hate to rush you, but I need to get setup for my appointment. Sorry I couldn't be of more help."
Rachel stood and walked over to him and pulled him into another hug. "Thank you for seeing us. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon." Richard walked them to the foyer, and Derek didn't miss Rachel's glance to the mantle as they left the living room. When they reached the door, Derek reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. He handed it to Richard.
"If you happen to remember anything, call me, my cell number is on the card. Thank you again for your time."
Richard smiled at Rachel. "Anything for a friend."
As the door closed behind them, Derek looked at Rachel. "What was that about back there?"
"What?" she asked.
"The way you were staring at the mantle."
Rachel let out a sigh. "I know this is going to sound crazy considering I don't remember anything, but it felt like there was something missing."
"It looked pretty full to me." Nick said, remembering the photos, knick-knacks and awards that covered the top of the mantle.
"I know. But something about it just wasn't right. I can't explain how I know it, but I do."
Derek looked back at the closed front door. "Maybe we should pay another visit later, see if anything comes to you."
Rachel nodded. "What now?" she asked, opening the passenger side door of the car and climbing in.
"We do some research on recent crimes in the area. See if we come up with anything similar to what happened to you?" Derek replied, as he climbed into the driver side and closed the door.
"Great. Except we don't know what happened to me."
"We know you are a woman that you were alone after you left here and you were attacked. We start with that and see where it leads us."
From the back seat came a low chuckle. Nick leaned into the front of the car. "Looks like a long day. Anyone but me gonna need some more coffee?"