Chapter 4 Shock Treatment
Julie managed to carry herself on shaky legs through the emergency room doors of Desert Palm Hospital, amble up to the front desk and say in a quiet whisper "John."
The nurse behind the desk raised an eyebrow at her, suspiciously.
"John Merchiston," Julie clarified "he was shot at the forensic conference; they said they were bringing him here."
"Are you family?" the nurse challenged.
"No," Julie said hopelessly, tears pooling in her eyes knowing she had no power here "we were- I'm his girlfriend."
Saying it out loud to a stranger felt odd but also invigorating.
"He's in surgery," the nurse informed her "fourth floor, there's a waiting room up there."
"Thank you," Julie cried gratefully making her way to the elevator.
On the fourth floor, an OR nurse dictated Julie to the designated waiting area and told her that a doctor would be out to speak with her when they finished. All Julie could do now was collapse in one of the tiny chairs, her purse and laptop case sliding clumsily off her aching shoulder having only had time to grab those possessions before fleeing to be with John. The robotic voice began to echo in her head now that she was alone on this silent floor. Gig Harbor, she said to herself over and over, how, how?
"Russell," she said out loud now thinking of him and how he needed to know what just happened. She reluctantly reached for her cell phone again and called him. But it went straight to voicemail so she tearfully sobbed into the phone "D.B its Jules, something happened at the conference, John's hurt, I- I think it's Gig Harbor again, please call me, I'm at the hospital now, fourth floor, and I don't know what to do, please."
She hung up with him, covering her hand over her mouth fearing she had left him too startling a message and wishing she could take it back.
An hour of nothing but silence went by. Not a single nurse or doctor had approached her with any sort of news, good or bad. She noticed her once gorgeous dress now covered in blood, his blood and it made her shake again. Her knees shook the worst and she tensed up, trying to make the shaking go away. She was staring at a grey spot on the wall across from her, her eyes itching and watery, wanting so badly to close them but fearing what would happen if she did. Finally, a voice she longed to hear called to her softly "Jules?"
She looked up and Russell was there. But she couldn't bring herself to rise from the chair.
"Jules," he said kneeling in front of her "are you o.k?"
She tried to speak but her voice caught in her throat.
"Jules," he tried again, reaching up to touch her cheek and gently wipe away a speck of blood "come on, talk to me."
"It's him," she finally uttered "Gig Harbor, he found me, us, I don't know how or why or- John."
She paused, unable to continue as her heart began to race, pounding in her chest making it hurt. Taking a single breath to speak burned and left her with no choice but to gasp for air sharply.
"Its o.k.," Russell soothed her "I know, you're scared."
Julie shook her head and choked out "Not scared- mad."
But Russell could see her shaking still, her knees trembling so much that he put his hands on them to keep her still.
"Listen," he said "we're gonna figure this out o.k.? I promise I won't let him hurt you again."
Julie nodded as a nurse approached them.
"Family of John Merchiston?" she asked.
"Me," Julie said finding the strength to rise from the chair.
"He's out of surgery," the nurse said "the doctors extracted a bullet from his shoulder, he's going to be o.k."
Julie let out the breath she had been holding in and asked "Can I see him?"
"Not yet," the nurse said "he'll need a few hours in recovery first,"
"Ma'am," Russell said to the nurse "the bullet was it in tact?"
"Yes sir," the nurse said.
"We're going to need it," Russell said "it's evidence in an ongoing investigation."
The nurse nodded and headed back through the OR doors to retrieve it. Julie sank back into the chair relieved yet still on edge. John was safe but now she had a new problem, the attack and whether or not it was Gig Harbor. When the nurse returned with the bullet and handed it to Russell, he thanks her and turned to Julie.
"Come on," he said "lets get you home."
"No," she protested outright "I need to start working, that bullet and the scene, I need to know who did this."
"First off, we will handle it," Russell emphasized the "we" "secondly, you need to change, you'll start a riot if you walk through the lab like that."
He nodded at her bloody clothes.
"Fine," she snapped "I have clothes in my locker now can we please go?"
She had stood up and tossed her purse and laptop bag back over her shoulder roughly, staring at him with desperate eyes.
"O.K," he said "lets go."
