Disclaimer: I do not own Blood Ties or any of its characters. They are all Tanya Huff's creations.

Characters thoughts are in italics

Thanks to Lena for her beta work and also for ending my writer's block for this story.

Chapter 3

Vicki stared out the window at the cotton shaped clouds filling the periwinkle sky. I can't believe that a year of my life has vanished from my memory. There was a knock at the door. Mike strolled into her room and settled into a chair next to her bed.

"Hi, Vic. How are you doing?"

"The same as yesterday. I still can't remember anything. By the way, you never did answer my question about my vision. I tried asking Doctor Lockhart about it but all she said was that it had nothing to do with my head injury."

Mike raked his fingers through his blond hair as he averted her gaze. His blue eyes finally met hers.

"I was hoping that I wouldn't have to tell you this but you were diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. It's a degenerative eye disease. At first it becomes harder to see at night. Eventually it turns into night blindness. Then your field of vision tunnels. If the degeneration doesn't stop by itself eventually… Of course I know the chance of your condition stopping on its own is a long shot but not completely impossible from a medical standpoint."

"Eventually what," Vicki insisted.

"you go blind." He closed his eyes as if afraid to see the impact of his words.

The former homicide detective was silent after hearing the last part of Mike's statement.

"Vicki, I…" He was unsure what to say to comfort her.

She looked at him. "Mike, I appreciate you stopping by but I'd like to be alone for awhile.

He rose and rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'll check in with you later."

The PI nodded and forced a smile as he walked out.

I wish I had something to hit or break. I'm going to go blind and there is nothing I can do about it. There's no way I'll be able to continue to be a homicide detective. Crowley will probably have me riding the desk. And there is no wayI'm doing that. I'm not going to cry about this. Crying isn't going to change the outcome.

Despite her mind's protests, tears began to fall from her eyes.

Okay, enough of the pity party. Vicki wiped her eyes.

If I can't be a detective anymore, I'll have to find some other way to use my skills. What?

She mulled over that thought.

That thought was interrupted by the delivery of her lunch. A heavyset woman with black hair mixed with streaks of gray carried a tray into her room and set it down on the over the bed table.

"Hi, Vicki. How are you today?"

"I feel like I could run a mile, Norma."

"Well, that's good. That means you're getting stronger."

"That's what my doctor tells me."

"Well, enjoy your lunch."

"I'll try."

The food cart squeaked as the woman continued down the hallway.

Vicki lifted the lid off her tray revealing chicken, mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, applesauce and apple juice. She had just taken her first bite of chicken when a raven haired woman with blue eyes entered.

Her name is Coreen. At least I think that's what she told me last night.

"Hi, Coreen?" She questioned.

The Goth nodded. "I would ask you how you are but you've probably been asked that question a hundred times."

Vicki nodded in agreement. "I was prepared to hurt the next person who asked me that."

"So what would you like to talk about? The young woman inquired.

Vicki started cutting up her food. "How did we meet?"

The Goth was silent for a moment as she wondered how to answer that question.

Vicki quickly found herself becoming irritated from the lack of response.

"Is my amnesia contagious?"

The girl shook her head back and forth. "No, it's just that we met during the time you can't remember and let's just say that some things that happened during that time were unbelievable."

The Goth really had her intrigued. "I'm all ears."

"You agreed to look into my boyfriend's murder. According to the Toronto Sun, you were an eyewitness to his killing so I decided to track you down."

Vicki's eyebrows elevated. "So I took your case? Sort of like a private investigator."

"Yes," the girl replied.

"So I'm a PI now. That definitely beats riding a desk. Was I able to find who killed your boyfriend?"

"Yes and ever since then I have been your trusted assistant."

It was obvious from the girl's brief statements there was more to the story.

Before Vicki could ask another question, the Goth rose. "Wow, look at the time. I have to be going. It was nice talking to you, Vicki. Bye"

The girl dashed out of her room.

What is she hiding? Vicki thought as she ate the rest of her lunch.