Henry detached himself from the distressed woman. "Jo, would you mind stepping outside with me for a moment?" She dumbly nodded and moved to leave as Henry maneuvered the woman back into her seat. "We'll be right outside. I need to speak with my colleague before we can proceed. Ok?" The girl looked at him with red eyes and nodded. Henry stepped outside the conference room and shut the door, his eyes lingered on the Jane Doe. Was she another immortal?
"Henry, what the hell?" Jo questioned him the moment the door clicked shut. Her arms were crossed in her usual, 'you need to explain' posture. Henry pulled his eyes away from the Jane Doe and turned to her.
"It's going to take time for her to get her memory back. I think she may have fallen- or been pushed- into the river. Between the fall and the icy waters, she has had a shock and temporarily lost her memory." He hoped.
"But she doesn't have any signs of a concussion."Jo argued.
"She doesn't need a concussion, the shock alone could have caused the loss." Jo just shrugged, Henry always knew best. "At my home, with Abe and I, she can have time in a quiet and comfortable home where she will feel safe and have time to recuperate."
"You think she'll get her memories back?" Again a raised eyebrow.
"I am quite confident." Henry said with a nod. "Even if she struggles to retrieve them, Abe will enjoy the company." His lopsided grin returned giving Jo that sense that he had things under control. Unfortunately the grin did little to dissipate the uneasiness she felt in her gut.
"You said she might have been pushed?" If this was attempted murder, it wouldn't be quite so simple as just handing her over for safe keeping. The possible attacker could try again and Henry and Abe could become casualties in the second attempt.
"It's a possibility." He answered with a nod, "However, she has no signs of a physical altercation, so I cannot be sure." He paused, thinking, "You've shown her face all over TV. We need to be extremely careful before revealing her to anyone who steps forward with information about her identity." If Henry was right about the woman, he would have to watch his back too. "We should make sure that anyone who steps forward provides proof of their relationship with her before we hand her over to anyone." She nodded considering how best to proceed.
"I'll talk to the Lieutenant, try and convince her Jane Doe is better off in your care, and let you know her decision." Jo ran off. Henry turned and watched the young woman through the blinds. She turned and looked at him, he gave her a comforting smile before turning away.
That scar was the remainders of a deadly stab wound from a double edged blade. Henry guessed the blade was old and well used. It's edges were ragged enough to tear the flesh as it entered from her back and crossed through her torso before its smaller tip pierced the skin under her ribs on the opposite side. A stab like that would have done serious internal damage- the kind people didn't survive. Except for people like him. Unconsciously he stroked the scar on his chest. What a terrible birth to immortality.
If she woke up in the river, then someone had killed her. Someone who now knows she's still alive. Was this person the one who had stabbed her? It would have been an ancient blade that would have left those scars. Adam had just retrieved his own ancient blade. Had Adam figured out how to make more immortals? That could be disastrous. Henry peeked at the young woman again. He couldn't be sure that she was newly immortal, that wound could have been received back in the iron age for all he knew.
Henry couldn't help but sigh. He's usually much better at this. Then again, he's usually piecing the evidence together from a dead body. He's also normally dealing with mortals not immortals. And evidence. Evidence has a nasty habit of disappearing from the body when an immortal is reborn. There should be evidence where she died. If she could remember her death then he could find where it happened and who had done it. This has turned out to be quite the favor. If nothing else, Henry needed to keep a watchful eye on Jane Doe. He was fairly certain she truly had no memories, but how long before she remembered? Who would she remember being? What if she was like Adam? He would have to warn Abe.
When Jo returned she was following the Lieutenant. "Lieutenant." Henry greeted with a smile and a bow of his head. She had her no BS face on, which always meant she was not in the mood for pleasantries.
"Henry, would you mind explaining why my head medical examiner would like to take a Jane Doe to his private residence?" Joanna Reece was never totally certain if she trusted Henry farther than she could throw him. He was the best at what he did, but she knew he was keeping secrets. Henry of course knew this, and always did his best to prove his trustworthiness at every turn.
"I suspect her memory loss has more to do with an emotional and physical shock. She needs to be in a safe, comfortable home, in order to recuperate- and to regain her memories. I would like to offer my residence to that end. Abe and I will be able to take good care of her as well as ensure her safety without putting more stress on her or the precinct." Henry explained calmly. Lieutenant Reece searched his face, looking for any proof that he was lying. She pursed her lips considering him.
"I'll allow it." She finally agreed with one caveat, "But, I swear to God, if you take her into your private lab, there will be swift punishments!"
"Of course." Henry agreed with a boyish grin. The Lieutenant sighed and walked into the conference room, followed by Jo and Henry.
"I understand Dr. Morgan has invited you to stay at his residence with his roommate while you recover. Is that something you would like?" The lieutenant was terrifying standing before the young woman with her hands on her hips. The young woman gave one nervous look at the gun on the lieutenants belt before nodding.
"Y-yes, please." She stuttered out. The lieutenant seemed to soften as she realized she was frightening the poor girl. She placed a soft hand on the girls arm.
"If you'll come with me, I'll have you sign a few waivers and then you can go." Reece opened the door and ushered the young girl back to her office, leaving Jo alone with Henry.
"Jo," Henry turned to the detective, "Can you do me a couple of favors?" Jo scoffed, but nodded her head. Henry looked her in the eyes, "I need you to treat anyone who comes to claim her as a suspect."
"A suspect? For what?"
"I believe someone tried to kill her."
"I thought you said you couldn't be sure?"
"There's no evidence, but her emotional distress would indicate a recent attack."
"Or that she simply has no memory of who or where she is." Jo folded her arms.
"Did you see the way she shrunk back from the Lieutenant when she saw her gun?" Henry remained quietly looking at her, giving her his 'I know what I'm talking about' face.
"Fine!" She sighed and rolled her eyes, "What else?"
"Can we get a ride back to the antique shop?" Jo just rolled her eyes and nodded.
