LOST AND FOUND - PART 10

MYSTIFYING

Chapter 89

As Thea made her way carefully up to the next floor her mind kept turning over the facts and the unknowns about her new patient. How did she know Dylan by sight, while the shaken young man insisted he had never laid eyes on the young woman before in his life?

TJ was young, healthy, and obviously intelligent, as well as inventive. The complicated plot to save Simon Albrecht's children had been masterful and Thea shook her head as she stopped on the landing to the fifth floor door, catching her breath, She raised her chin, pushed the door open and marched toward Dr. Charles' office, the light of battle in her eyes.

Adam looked up quickly when the office door opened and his wife stepped in, giving him her usual wide smile. The look on her face spoke volumes and he rose quiickly to go to her. Taking both her hands in his, he said softly, "Don't jump into the fray yet, dear, we still don't know the legalities about this case yet." Then he turned toward the young woman's uncle as he hurried up to join them.

Thea took the exhausted man's arm and led him over to the sofa, pulling him down while patting his knee and giving her husband a pointed look at the same time. Adam quickly came to sit on the man's other side, prepared to take action if necessary.

"David, TJ is awake," she started, then clutched at his arm with both hands as he struggled to rise. Adam's firm yet gentle hand on his shoulder took the fight out of him and he sighed, turning red-veined, hollow eyes to Thea.

"I just wanted to prepare you before you go see her," she said ernestly.

"Physically, I believe she's going to be fine, but right now she is suffering from what I think is emotional aphasia."

She patted his knee again and continued, "She can't speak at all, so when you do go to see her, don't ask a lot of questions, it will only frustrate her and make her feel worse."

As if on cue, they all three relaxed and leaned back, taking a brief moment to think.

Adam let out a deep huff of air and stood to begin pacing as he spoke.

"Well...on the one hand not being able to question the young lady may make having her released in my custody very difficult. On the other hand having her released to the custody of the most eminent alienist west of the Mississippi would be much easier."

He stopped in front of the other two with brows raised, hands clasped behind his back, and an expectant look. "Considering her emotional aphasia, of course."

Thea's face lit up, and the deep lines of distress on David's face began to smooth out as hope for his niece dawned in his eyes.

Holding his hand out to his wife, Adam smiled. "Now that our plan of attack is set it's time to move out."

Thea jumped up with a little squeal of happiness, grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the door.

"David," he said walking backward, "Go see your niece, but keep quiet. Don't talk to anyone, I don't care who they are or what they tell you."

Turning, he reached to hold the door Thea had opened to let her go first.

Moving into the hall he slipped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze.

"So what did Mike report about the night shift?"

Thea frowned and shook her head, "I'm sorry I forgot to tell you, Mike has somehow managed to disappear!"

When Mike finally came to and opened his eyes the first thing he saw was John's baby-blue eyes gleaming with amusement.

"How are you," the younger man asked, trying to look concerned and serious, but failing utterly.

"Ow!" Mike breathed, "Have mercy, sonny, and stop shouting."

"Oh Mike," John sputtered weakly, "the huge ding in that bedpan she hit you with will have to be hammered out before it will be usable again!"

The other man just groaned.

"How many times did she hit you with it?"

"Just once," the injured man answered wincing and moaning at the same time.

"Well, you've got at least three huge knots on your head, but Thea says you're going to be fine."

Mike's eyes snapped open and he gasped, "Thea! I just remembered - that's who hit me in the head with the door!"

John burst out laughing at this, rolling back in his chair. "Stop it! You're killing me!"

"I would if I could Jonny," he answered. "Be assured of that."

Ted was lazily swinging on the porch swing, enjoying a welcome moment of quiet after having ridden herd on the children all morning. He just happened to be looking down the street in the direction of the regional office and sat up, suddenly alert as he saw Nate pop out the front door and head in his direction, walking fast.

The deputy's long-legged stride soon brought him to the front walk gate.

"How is the world treatin' you today young man," Ted said, bringing a brief smile to the other man's serious expression as Nate came through the gate and quickly up the walk, taking the four porch steps in one bound.

"Adam sent each of us a telegram," Nate spoke, handing a telegram in its sealed envelope to the other man.

Ted ripped it open without comment and quickly read it. Looking up at the deputy he said, "Looks like we have a train to catch, and a damsel in distress to save."

Chuckling, Nate smiled at the young doctor who was already at the front door of the cream colored house.

"What're you waitin' for, son, a tip?" he said over his shoulder as he disappeared inside and shut the door.

The deputy just shook his head, jumped down the porch steps, and then hurried across the street to pack.