Part 27 The Puzzle is Complete.
Mark was frustrated. He was fairly sure that they had enough information to put this together but the pieces just weren't slotting into place. After several minutes spent thinking, the discussion started again.
"Maybe this guy's been keeping an eye on the police investigation If he found out that Nathan was investigating the case he may have recognised him when he came in after Daniel. That would have alerted him to the fact that there was something wrong," suggested Amanda.
"It's possible I suppose but it would have been difficult for him." Nathan replied. "The department's done its best to keep a lid on the whole thing so that the media don't get a hold of it. You know what a circus they would turn it into. Any hint of a story about a serial killer and they're braying for blood. It's hard enough for the victims without the risk of harassment from the press."
Mark shuddered at the thought. " Even if it came out surely the victims anonymity would be protected."
"Well we'd do our best but you know how they get. If the press knew we were tracking a potential serial killer we wouldn't be able to make a move. So far we've got away with claiming that we are a robbery task force set up to deal with violent muggings"
"Anyway, even if he was alerted that we were on to him by Nathan's presence," Mark reasoned. "It seems unlikely that he would know about Jesse. Unless he's been following Nathan about."
"Unless he was keeping an eye on Stacey Cliff's place after he torched it. Nathan and I went there together," Jesse said. "He could have seen us there and figured that I was some sort of cop too. It explains how he could have recognised me."
That hypothesis seemed reasonable to everyone. Nathan frowned as the implications of the fact that they were possibly being watched by the killer sank in. The whole investigation could be compromised. "If it's true that he is watching us then it's going to make him even more difficult to catch. Not that we have any firm leads now anyway," he said unable to disguise the dejected tone in his voice.
Everyone sat in silence again for a few moments but Mark was still puzzled by something. This theory did not explain everything. "But it still doesn't explain why he hit you Jesse," he looked over at his friend. "Even if he knows what you look like, there's no way you could have identified him. So why risk drawing attention to himself by hitting you? Especially where he hit you, any number of people could have been entering or leaving the restrooms."
"Maybe he was just frustrated at not being able to get to his intended target." Amanda suggested.
"Yes, very frustrated," Jesse put his hands to his injured ribs, everyone understood the gesture.
"No," said Mark, not satisfied that that was enough. His instincts told him there was more to it. "There has to be a better reason. By hitting Jesse he made it obvious that he had been here and allowed us to confirm our suspicions about how his intended victims were selected. It would have made far more sense for him to slip away quietly once he realised that he wouldn't be able to reach his target."
"Unless Jesse saw something that the killer was doing that would have given him away" Amanda said.
"How about it Jesse? Do you remember anything more? Anything at all that would explain why you were hit?" Mark asked.
Jesse closed his eyes and rested his head back on the couch. He tried hard to concentrate as the others watched and waited patiently. He walked himself through the events he could remember; entering the bar, waiting for Daniel Simms to arrive and then telling Amanda that he needed to go to the men's room shortly after he did, her incredulous response, getting up to head to the back of the room and then. . . .nothing. Nothing until he had woken on the couch. He opened his eyes and looked at the expectant faces. "No, sorry," he said. "It's just a blank after I left the table until I woke up here." He paused. "Maybe if I went back into the bar and walked through it I might remember something."
"Are you sure you feel up to it?" asked Mark concerned.
"Well sitting here isn't getting us anywhere is it?" Jesse's frustration showed in his voice.
"But maybe you should wait until you're feeling a little stronger." Amanda added her concern to Mark's. Jesse really should be resting as much as possible.
"No," Jesse said with determination. "If there is something to find or remember it may give us a clue to our killer's identity. We can't afford to let any trails run cold. If we wait for me to feel better we may let something vital slip by." He looked at the concerned expressions on his friend's faces and added more softly. "Look I promise that I'll take it easy. You're going to have to help me anyway. I don't think I'll be too steady on my feet."
"OK then, if you're sure" Mark stood up and positioned himself next to Jesse. "Take it easy." He took hold of Jesse's hand with one of his. The other he placed around his back and under his other arm. He provided support whilst Jesse pulled himself to a standing position.
Jesse stood up awkwardly. Without Mark's support it is doubtful that he would have made it at all. He waited until the room steadied itself and his knees got used to the idea of supporting his weight before he stopped leaning on Mark. The painkillers Amanda had given him had dulled the pain from his side and his headache was a little easier to tolerate. "I'm OK," he said, pushing himself off Mark and attempting to take a step.
"Yeah sure you are," Mark confirmed sarcastically, grabbing Jesse as he stumbled, before he had a chance to fall. "If you're going to go through with this then you have to accept help"
"Just testing." Jesse replied, grateful for the supporting hand Mark placed under his shoulder.
"Now take it slowly." Mark helped guide him toward the door which Nathan held open for them. Amanda followed behind, positioning herself to catch Jesse if he should stumble again.
Ryan parked his car on the street about a block from the hospital. All of the hospital car parks were monitored by CCTV and he had no legitimate business to cover his presence there, best not to take any chances. He knew how to slip in past the other hospital security cameras, which were positioned on the entrances.
Once inside he made his way to an office that he knew was currently vacant. The previous occupant had moved to a hospital in Chicago and their replacement would not arrive for another week. He sat down at the computer. This gave him full access to all of the hospital's computer systems including the security and fire controls. Ryan set about breaking into the system. He could have done it expertly without leaving a trace of his presence. In fact before tonight that had been his intention. No one would ever had known that he had arranged Steve's 'accident' but now he left a clear trail. Well, clear enough for any expert to follow. He made it look like he was less familiar with the system than he actually was. He had to convince people that he had broken into the hospital with as little planning as possible so that they did not suspect his connection to Community General.
As Jesse walked back out into the bar, Mark at his side supporting him, everyone turned to look at him. Not that there were many people left. The young woman who had found Jesse was sitting with her friend, drinking brandy to steady her nerves. She had been asked to stay and give a statement to police. The barman and the waiter who had helped out were idly polishing glasses and chatting at the end of the bar. Lucy still sat talking to a slightly shocked looking Daniel Simms and there was a lone man in the corner obviously already quite inebriated who was completely oblivious to the events of the last half hour. Everyone else had left. Seeing Jesse being carried unconscious across the room had ruined the atmosphere for the rest of the bar's clientele and they had decided to spend their evening elsewhere. The fact that Nathan had asked for witnesses and taken everybody's name and address before taping off the corridor to the restrooms as a crime scene, had not helped to encourage anyone to stay. Even new customers entering had sensed that there was something not right and had quickly turned and left.
Jesse made his way first to the table where he and Amanda had been sitting . The more he walked, as long as he didn't make any sudden movements, the more steady he felt and the less he had to rely on Mark. As they approached the table, the young woman who had found him got up and moved over to talk to him.
"Thank God you're alright."
Jesse looked slightly bewildered unable to understand the stranger's concern. He was fairly certain that he had never met this young woman before. Her he would have remembered. "I'm sorry, Do I know you?"
"I'm sorry the name's Sarah James. I'm the one who found you. You were lying on the floor over there." She pointed at the corridor "I thought you were. . . " She couldn't finish the sentence. There was an awkward pause for a moment and then she looked him directly in the eye and gave him her most beaming smile. "I'm glad to see that you're alright. You are alright ?" She asked.
"Yeah I'm fine," Jesse said grinning back at her. He didn't feel fine but he was not going to let this beautiful young woman know that. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. Was it his imagination or was she flirting with him?
"Well I'm really glad to hear it. I mean I know I don't know you but I was still worried about you." She smiled even more warmly at him. "It's not every day you find a cute guy lying on the floor."
He blushed slightly "Oh I'm sure you've got plenty of men throwing themselves at your feet," Jesse replied. Yes, she was definitely flirting. She laughed at his feeble line with far more enjoyment than it deserved.
Mark and Amanda exchanged long suffering glances. Why did Jesse always have this effect on young women. Even in the middle of a murder case and suffering from a concussion! Both young people seemed to have forgotten that there was anyone else there. Mark coughed.
Jesse snapped his mind back to the current situation. "I'm sorry," he said, "These are my friends. Dr. Mark Sloan, Dr. Amanda Bentley and Detective Nathan Turner and I'm Jesse Travis."
Sarah smiled at them, "Yes, we've already met." She looked back at Jesse. "You don't remember. I believe you were unconscious at the time."
"Oh, yes right," Jesse was a little embarrassed but it did serve to remind him that he had far more pressing things to do than stand and make smalltalk. No matter how pleasant the company might be. "Thanks for helping me," He said by way of a dismissal, "I hope we'll get to meet again sometime"
Sarah was disappointed but took the hint. "Me too." She said and with a last bright smile made her way back to her table.
Jesse quickly turned his mind back to the task in hand. "OK so I got up and headed over to the back of the room." He moved off towards the restrooms Mark still providing a steadying presence by his side although Jesse was walking on his own.
Amanda and Nathan followed.
Jesse walked slowly round the corner into the corridor. Now that he was repeating his actions it was coming back to him. He had barely made it round the corner and out of site of the rest of the room. That was when he had noticed the movement out of the corner of his eye. He now turned his head round to look in the direction of where the blow must have come from. There was a narrow alcove recessed into the wall. He turned and pointed at it. "He was hiding in there," he said, looking at the others. "That's why I didn't see him until I came around the corner. He was waiting for me and hit me as soon as I passed him." Jesse continued as the memory returned.
Nathan went to stand in the alcove. It wouldn't hide your presence if someone was looking for you, but it shielded you from the view of anyone entering the corridor unless they turned to look. Someone standing very still in this position could easily go unnoticed.
"Well there goes our theory about Jesse seeing something he shouldn't have," Amanda said. "Looks like you were well and truly ambushed." She looked across at Jesse. "So there still has to be another reason why he felt the need to attack you"
Jesse had closed his eyes. He was concentrating. There was something else important that he was sure he had remembered momentarily and then it had gone. What was it?
Amanda and Mark saw Jesse close his eyes and were immediately concerned. Mark moved over ready to support him again. "Jesse are you alright?" He asked
Jesse opened his eyes and looked at the concerned expressions on everyone's faces. "Yes, fine, I was just trying to remember something. There was something else that I noticed at the time. I just can't remember what it was." He leant back against the wall partly in frustration, partly because standing was making him feel nauseous again. Whatever it was he knew it was important.
Ryan finished what he was doing on the computer. He then went to the filing cabinets and broke them open. He knew what he was looking for but he rifled through several of the cabinets anyway. He then pulled out the manuals on the computer system and information an accessing patients records. The things he had just done, and left the files on the desk by the computer. He smiled at his own attention to detail.
He moved over to the door and opened it a crack, checking that there was no one on the corridor, he slipped out of the office. He made his way first to one of the staff locker rooms where he changed into a male nurses outfit. At night this would be far less conspicuous around the hospital than if he dressed as a doctor. There were more nurses around so he was less likely to be noticed. Before he had left his flat he had used wax to darken his hair colour and change it's style. Make-up had darkened his complexion. He looked in the mirror, satisfied that no one would recognise him he moved back out into the corridor. He made his way to the emergency stairs and headed up to the psych ward. Time to go play.
Amanda stood and watched Jesse. She was worried about him, his complexion was very pale and she knew that despite the painkillers she had given him, he was still hurting. He should be lying in a hospital bed sleeping, not standing in the corridor at the back of a bar.
Mark and Nathan were checking the corridor again. "In order to watch the bar our attacker would have to be standing here." Nathan said positioning himself at the corner. "He must have stood here watching until he saw Jesse approach."
Mark studied the angles. He went into the bar and retraced Jesse's walk from the table to where Nathan was standing. As he got closer Nathan ducked back into the shadowy alcove. Mark realised as he approached that in order not to be seen by Jesse, the attacker had no choice but to hide there. The fire exit doors on the opposite side of the corridor were clearly visible at this angle. If Nathan had tried to move through them Mark would have seen him. The same would have been true for Jesse and the man who hit him. Once the attacker saw Jesse approaching his only option had been to hide in the alcove or try to make it into one of the restrooms. That partly explained why Jesse had been attacked, but why did the attacker have to avoid being seen? What made him think that Jesse would recognise him? Mark shook his head and sighed. If only he wasn't so emotionally involved. With a clear head he was sure he could work this out. At the moment he was weighed down with worry for Steve and now for Jesse too.
Steve opened his eyes. It took him only a moment to orient himself. He had been asleep. How had that happened? He had tried so hard to stay awake but. . . He thought a little more, he must have been exhausted. He looked around the room. No Laura, she must have gone back to her room. Good, she needed her rest too. He smiled at the thought of her sitting there waiting for him to go to sleep. She had got her way then. It seemed like she always did since he found it virtually impossible to say no to her.
Jesse opened his eyes and pushed himself up off the wall in excitement as the elusive memory slipped into his consciousness. "That's it," He said and then regretted the sudden movement as he was forced to grab hold of the wall again to keep from toppling over as a wave of dizziness hit him.
Amanda was there holding him giving him extra support. "Jesse, you've been told to take it easy," she reprimanded.
"Yeah sorry," Jesse took several deep breaths and waited for the world to stop spinning. He forced himself to remain calm as he attempted to tell the others what he had remembered. "I've remembered what it was I noticed," he said. That got everyone's attention. "You remember my telephone conversation with Paul Dunn?" Everyone nodded. "Well the only thing he said he remembered was a smell; cheap aftershave right?" More nods. "Well that's it. I know exactly what he means. As I came around the corner, just before I got hit, I remember there was an almost overpowering smell of aftershave. As though someone had used an entire bottle in one go."
"If there was any doubt that you was hit by our killer. I think you just eliminated it. It would be too much of a coincidence not to be him." Nathan said.
Mark remained silent. Jesse's information had set him thinking. The pieces were at last slotting into place. He knew he was frustratingly close as though he should know who the killer was or at least how to find him.
Steve had lay back on his pillow. The fact that he had woken up to a normal, safe situation and not from another nightmare had reassured him slightly. He lay with his eyes closed. Maybe it would be alright to sleep after all. He heard a noise by the door. Steve felt his whole body tense as he looked over to see what it was. Someone entered the room. Just one of the nurses coming to do their half hourly checks. He relaxed again and closed his eyes.
"In fact," Jesse was saying, "The smell of the stuff is so strong that you can still catch a faint odour from it even now. I'm sure that's what brought the memory back."
Mark was so deep in thought that Jesse's words did not penetrate the first time so he asked Jesse to repeat what he had said.
"I said you can still smell a faint odour from the aftershave. I'm sure that's what brought the memory back." Jesse repeated.
Mark sniffed the air. There was a faint odour of something not particularly pleasant, well not to Mark's taste anyway, but he did recognise it. He had smelt it somewhere before. Someone he knew wore it. Jesse's last few words echoed in his mind 'I'm sure that's what brought the memory back. . . brought the memory back." That was it, realisation dawned, suddenly the last piece slotted into place. Mark gasped. A mixture of deduction and instinct meant that he now knew without a shadow of a doubt who the killer was.
The odious aftershave so strong everyone remembered it, the timing of Steve's first flashback, the psychological profile, the medical knowledge that the attacker had, the need to attack Jesse because if he didn't he would be recognised. None of these alone was enough to narrow down the suspects but collectively they all pointed to one man.
Ryan Sharpe moved quietly into the hospital room and walked over to the bed. He took out the hypodermic and checked it before inserting it quickly and quietly into the upper arm of the still figure on the bed. He pressed home the plunger delivering the full dose of the drug cocktail that it held. Then he stepped back and waited for it to take effect.
Mark had been momentarily lost in thought and hadn't realised that he had made a sound much less gasped. He looked around realising that Nathan, Amanda and Jesse were all watching him expectantly. "I know who the killer is." He stated. He was about to continue when he realised that Jesse was leaning increasingly heavily on the wall, his skin was also visibly paling. He needed at least to sit down. "Come on let's go and sit down and I'll explain."
The others were disappointed at having to wait but Amanda and Nathan could at least see the wisdom in Mark's words. They too could see what Jesse looked like. Mark took Jesse's arm and they all went to sit in the nearest booth. Jesse, although he wouldn't admit it was grateful and leaned back on the headrest.
"Who is it then and how do you know?" Asked Nathan impatiently. He wanted to believe that Mark had solved the case, but didn't have the experience of the others, so remained a little skeptical. Jesse and Amanda knew that whatever Mark was about to say would lead them directly to the killer.
"The reason the killer hit Jesse and knocked him out rather than be seen by him is because Jesse would have recognised him." Mark stated.
"How? Why?" Asked Jesse confused. "None of us know what he looks like."
"Because you know him." Mark replied.
Jesse still looked confused. "But how would I know him? Apart from the victims no one has seenâE¦"
"No," Mark interrupted. "Not because you know he's the killer but because you know who he is." Mark allowed a little time for his words to sink in. "You would have recognised Dr. Ryan Sharpe."
"One of the third year med. students?" Asked Jesse incredulously. Amanda looked equally shocked.
"Yes, I recognised the aftershave just now when you pointed it out on the corridor." Mark answered.
"But their must be thousands of men who wear that brand." Nathan said, concerned that his skepticism seemed to be justified.
"True, but how many of those men do you think exactly fit the psychological profile of our attacker. Ryan does I've reviewed his file. How many of them have the necessary medical knowledge and access to drugs and, most crucially, how many of them would have to knock Jesse out to avoid being recognised."
With each line of reasoning Nathan's skepticism was fading. "It all seems to fit, at least enough to pick the guy up for questioning. I'll get on to that right away." Ryan pulled out his radio and moved away from the table to call in his instructions.
"There's something else isn't there?" Amanda asked, recognising from Mark's expression that he had not finished.
"Yes, you remember the day of Steve's first flashback; the really bad one where he relived the attack," Mark's voice almost cracked with emotion as he remembered the pain his son had experienced. Now that he realised the cause it was even more painful for him. "Just before it happened Ryan Sharpe was being given a tour of the ward. That is where he's doing his new rotation, starting next week."
"So Steve could have come face to face with his attacker without even realising it?" Amanda continued horrified at the thoughts she was having to verbalize.
"And the sight of him or something about him, the sound of his voice or even the way he smelt. . . " Jesse continued.
"..Triggered the flashback." Amanda finished for him. "No wonder it had such an effect on him."
There was silence for a few moments as everyone allowed the information to sink in. Mark's thoughts went back to Steve and the trauma that he had been through, particularly in the past few days since the first flashback and then with growing horror a new thought occurred to him.
Nathan had joined them back at the table. Whilst they had been talking the backup had finally arrived to escort Daniel Simms home and take Sarah James' statement. That had freed up Lucy who was now organising a warrant to pick up Ryan.
"OK, I've arranged for Ryan to be picked up andâE¦" Nathan did not get to finish his sentence.
"Oh my God!" The exclamation left Mark's slips almost unconsciously as a new realisation dawned and the colour drained from his cheeks.
"Mark, what is it?" A worried Amanda asked the question for all of them.
"Steve," Mark said barely able to pull himself back to reality. "The so called flashback or nightmare he had last night. What if it wasn't a nightmare? What if he really was attacked again in his hospital room?"
As the implications for their friend sank in, the others quickly shared Mark's horror. Instead of being safe and protected, recovering from his trauma. Steve had been exposed to it all over again. No wonder he had reacted so badly. No wonder Dr. Carter hadn't been able to understand it. They all felt deeply for Steve.
"It never even occurred to me when I spoke to him this morning. Like everyone else I thought it was all in his head." Mark said guiltily.
"There's no way you could have known Mark," Amanda said trying to reassure him and assuage some of his guilt. "No one in your position would have thought any different. Even Steve believed that it was a nightmare"
"But I'm his father," Mark said, allowing the guilt to feed into irrational thoughts and fears. "I'm supposed to protect him and believe him. All I did was expose him to more danger."
Amanda was about to try again to reassure him when they were interrupted by Detective Bradley. "I've just heard from the unit that went to Sharpe's house," Lucy said. "There's no sign of him or his car. We've got officers checking the neighbourhood to see if we can find where he went."
For the second time in ten minutes the colour drained from Mark's face as a new and even more horrific thought began to form in his mind. Steve was still in danger. "We have to get back to the hospital now!" He almost yelled. "I think he may have gone after Steve."
The other's looked at him shocked as he started to get up from the table. "But why?" Nathan asked.
Mark was in a desperate hurry to leave but realised he would have to give some explanation if he was going to get the others to understand his urgency. "Ryan starts his rotation on the psych ward on Monday morning. There's no way he will risk Steve being around to recognise him. He doesn't know that we know who he is yet and after we ruined his plans for tonight he just might take it out on Steve. He knows he's my son."
"What are we waiting for?" Asked Ryan getting up to join Mark in his rush out of the room. Detective Bradley followed her partner.
Jesse forced himself to his feet and this time ignored the dizziness and nausea as he rushed to follow his friends. How ever he felt, the need to help Steve far outweighed his own discomfort.
Amanda helped to steady him as he swayed a little by the door. "Maybe I should get you to the ER," she suggested.
"And leave Steve to the ministrations of that maniac. No way." Jesse replied resolutely.
Realising that she would get nowhere, Amanda decided the best she could do was keep an eye on Jesse and support him when he needed it.
Outside all five of them got into Nathan's car so they could travel using the siren and lights. Speed was of the essence.
As they moved off Mark began to say a silent prayer that they would get there in time.
Ryan watched as the drugs began to take hold of his victim. The once still figure on the bed began first to writhe in pain and then the hallucinations began.
Mark was frustrated. He was fairly sure that they had enough information to put this together but the pieces just weren't slotting into place. After several minutes spent thinking, the discussion started again.
"Maybe this guy's been keeping an eye on the police investigation If he found out that Nathan was investigating the case he may have recognised him when he came in after Daniel. That would have alerted him to the fact that there was something wrong," suggested Amanda.
"It's possible I suppose but it would have been difficult for him." Nathan replied. "The department's done its best to keep a lid on the whole thing so that the media don't get a hold of it. You know what a circus they would turn it into. Any hint of a story about a serial killer and they're braying for blood. It's hard enough for the victims without the risk of harassment from the press."
Mark shuddered at the thought. " Even if it came out surely the victims anonymity would be protected."
"Well we'd do our best but you know how they get. If the press knew we were tracking a potential serial killer we wouldn't be able to make a move. So far we've got away with claiming that we are a robbery task force set up to deal with violent muggings"
"Anyway, even if he was alerted that we were on to him by Nathan's presence," Mark reasoned. "It seems unlikely that he would know about Jesse. Unless he's been following Nathan about."
"Unless he was keeping an eye on Stacey Cliff's place after he torched it. Nathan and I went there together," Jesse said. "He could have seen us there and figured that I was some sort of cop too. It explains how he could have recognised me."
That hypothesis seemed reasonable to everyone. Nathan frowned as the implications of the fact that they were possibly being watched by the killer sank in. The whole investigation could be compromised. "If it's true that he is watching us then it's going to make him even more difficult to catch. Not that we have any firm leads now anyway," he said unable to disguise the dejected tone in his voice.
Everyone sat in silence again for a few moments but Mark was still puzzled by something. This theory did not explain everything. "But it still doesn't explain why he hit you Jesse," he looked over at his friend. "Even if he knows what you look like, there's no way you could have identified him. So why risk drawing attention to himself by hitting you? Especially where he hit you, any number of people could have been entering or leaving the restrooms."
"Maybe he was just frustrated at not being able to get to his intended target." Amanda suggested.
"Yes, very frustrated," Jesse put his hands to his injured ribs, everyone understood the gesture.
"No," said Mark, not satisfied that that was enough. His instincts told him there was more to it. "There has to be a better reason. By hitting Jesse he made it obvious that he had been here and allowed us to confirm our suspicions about how his intended victims were selected. It would have made far more sense for him to slip away quietly once he realised that he wouldn't be able to reach his target."
"Unless Jesse saw something that the killer was doing that would have given him away" Amanda said.
"How about it Jesse? Do you remember anything more? Anything at all that would explain why you were hit?" Mark asked.
Jesse closed his eyes and rested his head back on the couch. He tried hard to concentrate as the others watched and waited patiently. He walked himself through the events he could remember; entering the bar, waiting for Daniel Simms to arrive and then telling Amanda that he needed to go to the men's room shortly after he did, her incredulous response, getting up to head to the back of the room and then. . . .nothing. Nothing until he had woken on the couch. He opened his eyes and looked at the expectant faces. "No, sorry," he said. "It's just a blank after I left the table until I woke up here." He paused. "Maybe if I went back into the bar and walked through it I might remember something."
"Are you sure you feel up to it?" asked Mark concerned.
"Well sitting here isn't getting us anywhere is it?" Jesse's frustration showed in his voice.
"But maybe you should wait until you're feeling a little stronger." Amanda added her concern to Mark's. Jesse really should be resting as much as possible.
"No," Jesse said with determination. "If there is something to find or remember it may give us a clue to our killer's identity. We can't afford to let any trails run cold. If we wait for me to feel better we may let something vital slip by." He looked at the concerned expressions on his friend's faces and added more softly. "Look I promise that I'll take it easy. You're going to have to help me anyway. I don't think I'll be too steady on my feet."
"OK then, if you're sure" Mark stood up and positioned himself next to Jesse. "Take it easy." He took hold of Jesse's hand with one of his. The other he placed around his back and under his other arm. He provided support whilst Jesse pulled himself to a standing position.
Jesse stood up awkwardly. Without Mark's support it is doubtful that he would have made it at all. He waited until the room steadied itself and his knees got used to the idea of supporting his weight before he stopped leaning on Mark. The painkillers Amanda had given him had dulled the pain from his side and his headache was a little easier to tolerate. "I'm OK," he said, pushing himself off Mark and attempting to take a step.
"Yeah sure you are," Mark confirmed sarcastically, grabbing Jesse as he stumbled, before he had a chance to fall. "If you're going to go through with this then you have to accept help"
"Just testing." Jesse replied, grateful for the supporting hand Mark placed under his shoulder.
"Now take it slowly." Mark helped guide him toward the door which Nathan held open for them. Amanda followed behind, positioning herself to catch Jesse if he should stumble again.
Ryan parked his car on the street about a block from the hospital. All of the hospital car parks were monitored by CCTV and he had no legitimate business to cover his presence there, best not to take any chances. He knew how to slip in past the other hospital security cameras, which were positioned on the entrances.
Once inside he made his way to an office that he knew was currently vacant. The previous occupant had moved to a hospital in Chicago and their replacement would not arrive for another week. He sat down at the computer. This gave him full access to all of the hospital's computer systems including the security and fire controls. Ryan set about breaking into the system. He could have done it expertly without leaving a trace of his presence. In fact before tonight that had been his intention. No one would ever had known that he had arranged Steve's 'accident' but now he left a clear trail. Well, clear enough for any expert to follow. He made it look like he was less familiar with the system than he actually was. He had to convince people that he had broken into the hospital with as little planning as possible so that they did not suspect his connection to Community General.
As Jesse walked back out into the bar, Mark at his side supporting him, everyone turned to look at him. Not that there were many people left. The young woman who had found Jesse was sitting with her friend, drinking brandy to steady her nerves. She had been asked to stay and give a statement to police. The barman and the waiter who had helped out were idly polishing glasses and chatting at the end of the bar. Lucy still sat talking to a slightly shocked looking Daniel Simms and there was a lone man in the corner obviously already quite inebriated who was completely oblivious to the events of the last half hour. Everyone else had left. Seeing Jesse being carried unconscious across the room had ruined the atmosphere for the rest of the bar's clientele and they had decided to spend their evening elsewhere. The fact that Nathan had asked for witnesses and taken everybody's name and address before taping off the corridor to the restrooms as a crime scene, had not helped to encourage anyone to stay. Even new customers entering had sensed that there was something not right and had quickly turned and left.
Jesse made his way first to the table where he and Amanda had been sitting . The more he walked, as long as he didn't make any sudden movements, the more steady he felt and the less he had to rely on Mark. As they approached the table, the young woman who had found him got up and moved over to talk to him.
"Thank God you're alright."
Jesse looked slightly bewildered unable to understand the stranger's concern. He was fairly certain that he had never met this young woman before. Her he would have remembered. "I'm sorry, Do I know you?"
"I'm sorry the name's Sarah James. I'm the one who found you. You were lying on the floor over there." She pointed at the corridor "I thought you were. . . " She couldn't finish the sentence. There was an awkward pause for a moment and then she looked him directly in the eye and gave him her most beaming smile. "I'm glad to see that you're alright. You are alright ?" She asked.
"Yeah I'm fine," Jesse said grinning back at her. He didn't feel fine but he was not going to let this beautiful young woman know that. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. Was it his imagination or was she flirting with him?
"Well I'm really glad to hear it. I mean I know I don't know you but I was still worried about you." She smiled even more warmly at him. "It's not every day you find a cute guy lying on the floor."
He blushed slightly "Oh I'm sure you've got plenty of men throwing themselves at your feet," Jesse replied. Yes, she was definitely flirting. She laughed at his feeble line with far more enjoyment than it deserved.
Mark and Amanda exchanged long suffering glances. Why did Jesse always have this effect on young women. Even in the middle of a murder case and suffering from a concussion! Both young people seemed to have forgotten that there was anyone else there. Mark coughed.
Jesse snapped his mind back to the current situation. "I'm sorry," he said, "These are my friends. Dr. Mark Sloan, Dr. Amanda Bentley and Detective Nathan Turner and I'm Jesse Travis."
Sarah smiled at them, "Yes, we've already met." She looked back at Jesse. "You don't remember. I believe you were unconscious at the time."
"Oh, yes right," Jesse was a little embarrassed but it did serve to remind him that he had far more pressing things to do than stand and make smalltalk. No matter how pleasant the company might be. "Thanks for helping me," He said by way of a dismissal, "I hope we'll get to meet again sometime"
Sarah was disappointed but took the hint. "Me too." She said and with a last bright smile made her way back to her table.
Jesse quickly turned his mind back to the task in hand. "OK so I got up and headed over to the back of the room." He moved off towards the restrooms Mark still providing a steadying presence by his side although Jesse was walking on his own.
Amanda and Nathan followed.
Jesse walked slowly round the corner into the corridor. Now that he was repeating his actions it was coming back to him. He had barely made it round the corner and out of site of the rest of the room. That was when he had noticed the movement out of the corner of his eye. He now turned his head round to look in the direction of where the blow must have come from. There was a narrow alcove recessed into the wall. He turned and pointed at it. "He was hiding in there," he said, looking at the others. "That's why I didn't see him until I came around the corner. He was waiting for me and hit me as soon as I passed him." Jesse continued as the memory returned.
Nathan went to stand in the alcove. It wouldn't hide your presence if someone was looking for you, but it shielded you from the view of anyone entering the corridor unless they turned to look. Someone standing very still in this position could easily go unnoticed.
"Well there goes our theory about Jesse seeing something he shouldn't have," Amanda said. "Looks like you were well and truly ambushed." She looked across at Jesse. "So there still has to be another reason why he felt the need to attack you"
Jesse had closed his eyes. He was concentrating. There was something else important that he was sure he had remembered momentarily and then it had gone. What was it?
Amanda and Mark saw Jesse close his eyes and were immediately concerned. Mark moved over ready to support him again. "Jesse are you alright?" He asked
Jesse opened his eyes and looked at the concerned expressions on everyone's faces. "Yes, fine, I was just trying to remember something. There was something else that I noticed at the time. I just can't remember what it was." He leant back against the wall partly in frustration, partly because standing was making him feel nauseous again. Whatever it was he knew it was important.
Ryan finished what he was doing on the computer. He then went to the filing cabinets and broke them open. He knew what he was looking for but he rifled through several of the cabinets anyway. He then pulled out the manuals on the computer system and information an accessing patients records. The things he had just done, and left the files on the desk by the computer. He smiled at his own attention to detail.
He moved over to the door and opened it a crack, checking that there was no one on the corridor, he slipped out of the office. He made his way first to one of the staff locker rooms where he changed into a male nurses outfit. At night this would be far less conspicuous around the hospital than if he dressed as a doctor. There were more nurses around so he was less likely to be noticed. Before he had left his flat he had used wax to darken his hair colour and change it's style. Make-up had darkened his complexion. He looked in the mirror, satisfied that no one would recognise him he moved back out into the corridor. He made his way to the emergency stairs and headed up to the psych ward. Time to go play.
Amanda stood and watched Jesse. She was worried about him, his complexion was very pale and she knew that despite the painkillers she had given him, he was still hurting. He should be lying in a hospital bed sleeping, not standing in the corridor at the back of a bar.
Mark and Nathan were checking the corridor again. "In order to watch the bar our attacker would have to be standing here." Nathan said positioning himself at the corner. "He must have stood here watching until he saw Jesse approach."
Mark studied the angles. He went into the bar and retraced Jesse's walk from the table to where Nathan was standing. As he got closer Nathan ducked back into the shadowy alcove. Mark realised as he approached that in order not to be seen by Jesse, the attacker had no choice but to hide there. The fire exit doors on the opposite side of the corridor were clearly visible at this angle. If Nathan had tried to move through them Mark would have seen him. The same would have been true for Jesse and the man who hit him. Once the attacker saw Jesse approaching his only option had been to hide in the alcove or try to make it into one of the restrooms. That partly explained why Jesse had been attacked, but why did the attacker have to avoid being seen? What made him think that Jesse would recognise him? Mark shook his head and sighed. If only he wasn't so emotionally involved. With a clear head he was sure he could work this out. At the moment he was weighed down with worry for Steve and now for Jesse too.
Steve opened his eyes. It took him only a moment to orient himself. He had been asleep. How had that happened? He had tried so hard to stay awake but. . . He thought a little more, he must have been exhausted. He looked around the room. No Laura, she must have gone back to her room. Good, she needed her rest too. He smiled at the thought of her sitting there waiting for him to go to sleep. She had got her way then. It seemed like she always did since he found it virtually impossible to say no to her.
Jesse opened his eyes and pushed himself up off the wall in excitement as the elusive memory slipped into his consciousness. "That's it," He said and then regretted the sudden movement as he was forced to grab hold of the wall again to keep from toppling over as a wave of dizziness hit him.
Amanda was there holding him giving him extra support. "Jesse, you've been told to take it easy," she reprimanded.
"Yeah sorry," Jesse took several deep breaths and waited for the world to stop spinning. He forced himself to remain calm as he attempted to tell the others what he had remembered. "I've remembered what it was I noticed," he said. That got everyone's attention. "You remember my telephone conversation with Paul Dunn?" Everyone nodded. "Well the only thing he said he remembered was a smell; cheap aftershave right?" More nods. "Well that's it. I know exactly what he means. As I came around the corner, just before I got hit, I remember there was an almost overpowering smell of aftershave. As though someone had used an entire bottle in one go."
"If there was any doubt that you was hit by our killer. I think you just eliminated it. It would be too much of a coincidence not to be him." Nathan said.
Mark remained silent. Jesse's information had set him thinking. The pieces were at last slotting into place. He knew he was frustratingly close as though he should know who the killer was or at least how to find him.
Steve had lay back on his pillow. The fact that he had woken up to a normal, safe situation and not from another nightmare had reassured him slightly. He lay with his eyes closed. Maybe it would be alright to sleep after all. He heard a noise by the door. Steve felt his whole body tense as he looked over to see what it was. Someone entered the room. Just one of the nurses coming to do their half hourly checks. He relaxed again and closed his eyes.
"In fact," Jesse was saying, "The smell of the stuff is so strong that you can still catch a faint odour from it even now. I'm sure that's what brought the memory back."
Mark was so deep in thought that Jesse's words did not penetrate the first time so he asked Jesse to repeat what he had said.
"I said you can still smell a faint odour from the aftershave. I'm sure that's what brought the memory back." Jesse repeated.
Mark sniffed the air. There was a faint odour of something not particularly pleasant, well not to Mark's taste anyway, but he did recognise it. He had smelt it somewhere before. Someone he knew wore it. Jesse's last few words echoed in his mind 'I'm sure that's what brought the memory back. . . brought the memory back." That was it, realisation dawned, suddenly the last piece slotted into place. Mark gasped. A mixture of deduction and instinct meant that he now knew without a shadow of a doubt who the killer was.
The odious aftershave so strong everyone remembered it, the timing of Steve's first flashback, the psychological profile, the medical knowledge that the attacker had, the need to attack Jesse because if he didn't he would be recognised. None of these alone was enough to narrow down the suspects but collectively they all pointed to one man.
Ryan Sharpe moved quietly into the hospital room and walked over to the bed. He took out the hypodermic and checked it before inserting it quickly and quietly into the upper arm of the still figure on the bed. He pressed home the plunger delivering the full dose of the drug cocktail that it held. Then he stepped back and waited for it to take effect.
Mark had been momentarily lost in thought and hadn't realised that he had made a sound much less gasped. He looked around realising that Nathan, Amanda and Jesse were all watching him expectantly. "I know who the killer is." He stated. He was about to continue when he realised that Jesse was leaning increasingly heavily on the wall, his skin was also visibly paling. He needed at least to sit down. "Come on let's go and sit down and I'll explain."
The others were disappointed at having to wait but Amanda and Nathan could at least see the wisdom in Mark's words. They too could see what Jesse looked like. Mark took Jesse's arm and they all went to sit in the nearest booth. Jesse, although he wouldn't admit it was grateful and leaned back on the headrest.
"Who is it then and how do you know?" Asked Nathan impatiently. He wanted to believe that Mark had solved the case, but didn't have the experience of the others, so remained a little skeptical. Jesse and Amanda knew that whatever Mark was about to say would lead them directly to the killer.
"The reason the killer hit Jesse and knocked him out rather than be seen by him is because Jesse would have recognised him." Mark stated.
"How? Why?" Asked Jesse confused. "None of us know what he looks like."
"Because you know him." Mark replied.
Jesse still looked confused. "But how would I know him? Apart from the victims no one has seenâE¦"
"No," Mark interrupted. "Not because you know he's the killer but because you know who he is." Mark allowed a little time for his words to sink in. "You would have recognised Dr. Ryan Sharpe."
"One of the third year med. students?" Asked Jesse incredulously. Amanda looked equally shocked.
"Yes, I recognised the aftershave just now when you pointed it out on the corridor." Mark answered.
"But their must be thousands of men who wear that brand." Nathan said, concerned that his skepticism seemed to be justified.
"True, but how many of those men do you think exactly fit the psychological profile of our attacker. Ryan does I've reviewed his file. How many of them have the necessary medical knowledge and access to drugs and, most crucially, how many of them would have to knock Jesse out to avoid being recognised."
With each line of reasoning Nathan's skepticism was fading. "It all seems to fit, at least enough to pick the guy up for questioning. I'll get on to that right away." Ryan pulled out his radio and moved away from the table to call in his instructions.
"There's something else isn't there?" Amanda asked, recognising from Mark's expression that he had not finished.
"Yes, you remember the day of Steve's first flashback; the really bad one where he relived the attack," Mark's voice almost cracked with emotion as he remembered the pain his son had experienced. Now that he realised the cause it was even more painful for him. "Just before it happened Ryan Sharpe was being given a tour of the ward. That is where he's doing his new rotation, starting next week."
"So Steve could have come face to face with his attacker without even realising it?" Amanda continued horrified at the thoughts she was having to verbalize.
"And the sight of him or something about him, the sound of his voice or even the way he smelt. . . " Jesse continued.
"..Triggered the flashback." Amanda finished for him. "No wonder it had such an effect on him."
There was silence for a few moments as everyone allowed the information to sink in. Mark's thoughts went back to Steve and the trauma that he had been through, particularly in the past few days since the first flashback and then with growing horror a new thought occurred to him.
Nathan had joined them back at the table. Whilst they had been talking the backup had finally arrived to escort Daniel Simms home and take Sarah James' statement. That had freed up Lucy who was now organising a warrant to pick up Ryan.
"OK, I've arranged for Ryan to be picked up andâE¦" Nathan did not get to finish his sentence.
"Oh my God!" The exclamation left Mark's slips almost unconsciously as a new realisation dawned and the colour drained from his cheeks.
"Mark, what is it?" A worried Amanda asked the question for all of them.
"Steve," Mark said barely able to pull himself back to reality. "The so called flashback or nightmare he had last night. What if it wasn't a nightmare? What if he really was attacked again in his hospital room?"
As the implications for their friend sank in, the others quickly shared Mark's horror. Instead of being safe and protected, recovering from his trauma. Steve had been exposed to it all over again. No wonder he had reacted so badly. No wonder Dr. Carter hadn't been able to understand it. They all felt deeply for Steve.
"It never even occurred to me when I spoke to him this morning. Like everyone else I thought it was all in his head." Mark said guiltily.
"There's no way you could have known Mark," Amanda said trying to reassure him and assuage some of his guilt. "No one in your position would have thought any different. Even Steve believed that it was a nightmare"
"But I'm his father," Mark said, allowing the guilt to feed into irrational thoughts and fears. "I'm supposed to protect him and believe him. All I did was expose him to more danger."
Amanda was about to try again to reassure him when they were interrupted by Detective Bradley. "I've just heard from the unit that went to Sharpe's house," Lucy said. "There's no sign of him or his car. We've got officers checking the neighbourhood to see if we can find where he went."
For the second time in ten minutes the colour drained from Mark's face as a new and even more horrific thought began to form in his mind. Steve was still in danger. "We have to get back to the hospital now!" He almost yelled. "I think he may have gone after Steve."
The other's looked at him shocked as he started to get up from the table. "But why?" Nathan asked.
Mark was in a desperate hurry to leave but realised he would have to give some explanation if he was going to get the others to understand his urgency. "Ryan starts his rotation on the psych ward on Monday morning. There's no way he will risk Steve being around to recognise him. He doesn't know that we know who he is yet and after we ruined his plans for tonight he just might take it out on Steve. He knows he's my son."
"What are we waiting for?" Asked Ryan getting up to join Mark in his rush out of the room. Detective Bradley followed her partner.
Jesse forced himself to his feet and this time ignored the dizziness and nausea as he rushed to follow his friends. How ever he felt, the need to help Steve far outweighed his own discomfort.
Amanda helped to steady him as he swayed a little by the door. "Maybe I should get you to the ER," she suggested.
"And leave Steve to the ministrations of that maniac. No way." Jesse replied resolutely.
Realising that she would get nowhere, Amanda decided the best she could do was keep an eye on Jesse and support him when he needed it.
Outside all five of them got into Nathan's car so they could travel using the siren and lights. Speed was of the essence.
As they moved off Mark began to say a silent prayer that they would get there in time.
Ryan watched as the drugs began to take hold of his victim. The once still figure on the bed began first to writhe in pain and then the hallucinations began.