Wounds to Bind Chapter 27 – 'Well, let me tell you 'bout the way she looked, the way she acts and the color of her hair, her voice was soft and cool, her eyes were clear and bright, but she's not there…'–The Zombies, She's Not There
October 26 – APOV
I woke to a brilliant sunrise, which shocked me. While I'm making breakfast and packing my lunch, I turn on the news. The headline of the day is Mt. Rainier cast a big shadow on the Seattle sunrise this morning. The pictures are glorious. I want to download one for the background on my laptop. I feel excited by Halloween. Maybe this weekend I can visit Mary's family orchard to pick some apples, buy some pumpkins, eat some caramel corn and gather a vase of autumn leaves to brighten my desk at work.
The other piece of news this morning is a video of the NTSB flying Charlie Tango to Boeing Field via a Boeing CH-47 Chinook with dual rotors. The story of Christian and Ros's disappearance and rescue are replayed. NTSB announced an NTSB and an EC Helicopter team will completely examine Charlie Tango. Once they reach a conclusion about the cause of the crash, they will release Charlie Tango to Grey Enterprises Holdings for repair or replacement.
XXX – Leila's POV
I curl up in bed, watching the news. I see the news story about Sir's accident and the investigation into the helicopter crash. I must space out…or maybe I fell asleep. When I am alert again, the news story play again. Why do I feel confused…I must need to eat? I'll stop for my computer and money and get coffee.
Time perception…that's what the doctor said at the hospital…the perceived time interval between two events… temporal illusion. I research his diagnosis on the web. Time perception affects hallucinations and delusions; the schizophrenic patient experiences deficiencies in time, events and connective thoughts. I read, but I do not understand.
The café plays my favorite song by Adele, Someone Like You.
I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.
I'd hoped you'd see my face
and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over.
I order more coffee and a chocolate and cream cheese croissant. I think what I feel is sub drop. I have not felt Sir's touch for so long. I am cold and lonely and I need him. I spend the afternoon researching him, looking at his beautiful face.
XXX
"Leila," Elena purred at me as I sat in the Starbucks at Pike Place Market. "Fancy seeing you here."
"What do you want?" I asked crossly.
"You look like you could use a shampoo and a trim, a manicure and probably a pedicure, and a facial…and don't get me started on those Boris Karloff eyebrows. Did you eat…or are you just drinking tons of coffee and making yourself more of a nervous wreck than you already are?"
"Fuck off Elena," I said morosely.
"Behave," Elena's Domme voice gave me chills. "You will behave. I know what will make you feel better. Now, let's get some food to go. You need to get your blood sugar levels up. You need some pampering, and we need to talk." Elena ordered sandwiches, protein boxes and juice. Leila looked so thin the wind could blow her away.
XXX – 3PPOV
While Leila was being massaged, Elena accessed information on Leila's phone and computer. Leila used Christian's birthdate and initials as her password. Stupid girl. There was nothing interesting saved on the computer. She had a file of downloaded pictures and news articles about Christian and Anastasia. She had a rough timeline of his schedule. She had a rough timeline of Ana Steele's schedule. Her computer research history included King County Courthouse, King County Health Department, Babeland and Sex Positive. She had been a frequent visitor at The Velvet Rope in Portland. Elena used a flash drive to copy Ana's schedule and Christian's schedule.
The phone contained several tweets where Leila reported Christian's whereabouts. Any time he was in close proximity to Ana Steele, her condo, her roommate, etc., Leila announced his location. Elena didn't know how Leila tracked Ana Steele without Christian's henchmen catching her…but she admired the sneaky bitch. Elena planned to use Leila and her chameleon-like ability. Nurturing new contacts took too long.
Christian's confession to his parents was ruining the Esclava Salons. Grace, her ditzy mother, and her spoiled bitch daughter no longer used Esclava Salons. When they stopped using her salons, other people in their social circle stopped using the salons. When Elena stopped volunteering for charity events, the women volunteers ceased using Esclava Salons. Christian ruined her because he became enamored with Ana Steele. She swore she would never be ruined by another man. Christian would pay for his disloyalty.
XXX – CPOV
At my weekly meeting with John, I share the message Ana sent to Taylor. Taylor does not believe Leila wrote the message. Ana doesn't care who left the message, because she knows Sawyer was following Mia and not her. She was not pleased to be outed in Seattle Nooz. Sawyer is watching CCTV from the Emerald Club. We're trying to determine if Leila entered and was not spotted.
John and I talk about the meaning or purpose of Leila's proximity to Ana. I express anger at not being able to determine where Leila is hiding. John says if she's not in proximity to other ex-submissives, and if she's not with family and friends, perhaps we should determine if she has a new Dominant who provides housing. If we can't find a Dominant, we should examine low-rent venues in Seattle. Grey Security require man hours to find her, but finding her to get answers is imperative.
I express disappointment and anger because Ana did not come to Portland. I know she followed the events because Kate told Elliot who told me. Reynolds told Taylor she visited a Catholic church. I assume she prayed for Ros and me, since she's not Catholic. John reminds me I'm not supposed to ask Elliot about Ana's movements. I tell him I understand. But I don't share I am thrilled about Ethan Kavanagh moving out of the condo and in with a friend who lives closer to UDub. Kate told Elliot about Ethan's comment about Ana's feelings for me.
"Ana could have gone straight to the police or the press over the photos and the message left for her…but she's intuitive and knew someone was trying to get a rise out of her. She refused to play their game. She could have gone with Kate to Escala during the Charlie Tango incident, but the press would have wondered who she was and splashed her over the news. She didn't want to play that game either." John argued. "She's doing what she needs to do to protect herself. Her safety is one of your sticking points."
"I know she thinks life is easier for her if we're apart. But I feel hurt, every day. I have these dreams where I can reach out and touch her, and I'm happy. Then the dreams fade and she goes away. I keep telling myself if she would see me, she would want more. But until she gives me a chance to prove myself, nothing's changed."
"Sometimes the hardest things in life are the things worth doing. I believe she understands the controversy surrounding you and tries to deal with your public persona to the best of her abilities," John's observation seems mildly encouraging.
October 28
"I don't mind giving you my fingerprints," I assured Welch and the investigator from the NTSB. "Ros doesn't have a problem either. I know you can't say, because the investigation just started…but do you think Charlie Tango was sabotaged?"
"I can't say, yet," the investigator stressed. "We're taking exclusionary fingerprints from everyone who has ridden in your EC Eurostar in the last three months."
"Understood," I acknowledged. "Welch has a list of where Charlie Tango flew in the last three months and her passengers."
XXX
"We have to start over. I apologize, but I was needed elsewhere." I gave Sela the best apology I could. She received more of an apology than I ever offered John.
"I understand. This is why we have the restart option…to make you comfortable in your own skin. We will start over or repeat any step as many times as needed until you can go forward," Sela assured him. "We don't have timelines in this process. However, you're very tense about something. We need to discuss before I start your hand/arm massage, or we won't accomplish anything this time."
I tell John and Sela about the exclusionary fingerprints and the possibility Charlie Tango was sabotaged. I try not to blame myself for the accident and the wrecked timeline for Ros and Gwen to have a baby. I express my regret Ros and Gwen just finished an IF cycle and Gwen is not pregnant. Ros says one more cycle, and then they will consider adoption. Surrogacy has more issues than they want to consider. I wonder if Gwen changing her career would eliminate some of their stress…and I want to consider how I can help.
"There he is…" John approved. "You aren't self-loathing over the situation and you actually feel empathy for Ros and Gwen and the future baby. You may not think you made great strides lately…but trust me…you did."
Sela massages my hands and arms. We do the ten-minute hold with questions. The questions are harder this round because John wants to ask questions about what I felt and thought during the Charlie Tango situation. Sela wants to know about the family hug after I was rescued. I explain hugging Mom almost sent her into cardiac shock, but since I initiated it, the hug was easier for me to bear. Plus, I was wearing two layers of clothes. I knew we were being observed and I didn't want the world to know I was a touch freak.
I think we'll play Twister or basketball, but Sela pulls out a football. "Scrimmage time, this is why we are wearing jeans and a sweatshirt." she announces. "I get John; Jason and Christian are a team. We'll start with flag football and progress to touch football. Jason, teach us how to play." Sela hands out bandanas which coordinate with the color of our eyes. "Grey for Christian, blue for John, green for Taylor, brown for me. You need to know how to play touch football Christian. Consider football as a great afternoon family event on Thanksgiving. Learn from Jason so when you challenge your dad and brother to play football…you'll blow their minds and beat the crap out of them."
October 29 – APOV
I talked Kate, Ethan and Mia into a road trip to Mary's family orchard. We have a great harvest festival weekend. We spend a warm, sunny afternoon buying apples, nuts and pumpkins. We take a hayride, and Kate posts pictures on her Facebook page. We wander around the craft fair. I buy a two-gallon Ziploc bag of clean and colorful autumn leaves. I buy a blue denim patchwork jacket with a matching purse. I love it. Kate wrinkles her nose. She'll have to live with my weekend jacket. They are having a barn dance tonight – which we skip in favor of a restaurant which sits at the edge of Seattle. We order a seafood boil to serve six, with lobster, crab legs, shrimp and mussels with corn and red jacket potatoes. We talk holiday plans.
XXX – CPOV
Elliot and I go mountain biking. With fall coming, we swear we'll take advantage of beautiful days to get outside for sun. We exhaust ourselves on bike trails for experienced riders. Taylor waits for us at the end of the trail. We stop for lunch…which is a real disaster. Elliot's attention is torn between the blondes who strut past our table and holiday plans, including Ana's plans. Taylor deals with the waitress whose breasts are about to garnish our steak sandwiches. He gives her an obscene tip to go away.
Elliot tells me about his plans for Kate tonight – the haunted pub tour in Pioneer Square, plus their ghost walk tour, plus looking forward to playing ghost in the sheets with Kate. TDMI, Elliot.
October 30 – CPOV
She giggled when I opened the balcony doors and dragged her outside into the warm night. She giggled…the sound of the siren… calling me… stripping away my defenses until I'm malleable…wanting for her love to form me into a real boy. Her giggle is the most dangerous sound I've ever heard…more dangerous than the sound made when Taylor chambers a round in his gun.
I pull her into my arms, seducing her with my tongue… teasing her with my tongue…orally gratifying myself. I mold her against me, my hands cupping her bottom, and then sliding up, flattening against her spine, tilting her pelvis up and against me so I can grind against her, like a horny teenage boy. Her hands reach up and tug my hair, pulling my face to her…reaching for my lips with her pouty mouth…and then she disappears.
I stagger to the bathroom and shower when I awake from my dream. I turn the water to very hot and wash the night sweats from my body. Wrapped in a towel, I go to the closet to find a pair of sweats. Why do I feel chilly? Balcony? Open? Breeze? I'm definitely alert now…my heart pounding because of the unknown. The balcony door is open. I shout for Taylor. The balcony door was definitely closed when I went to bed. "There was someone in here. I'm going to my home office to work. I want a full security inspection of the penthouse, the common areas of the building and my parking area in the garage."
Taylor dashes to the bedroom balcony door – peering out into the darkness. He came back inside and locked it. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, she touched me, stroking my hair. In my dream it was Anastasia, but then I panicked and an adrenalin rush woke me. I showered, then decided to put on sweats…but I realized the balcony door was open."
"Home office now. Check that nothing has been broken into or is missing." Taylor ordered.
"Leila knows the penthouse like the back of her hand. She's hiding here somewhere. Find her. When does Mrs. Jones return?" I check my watch.
"Five a.m. this morning. We have three hours to sweep the place – all closets, cupboards, etc." Taylor hands me fresh coffee from the security office and sends me to examine the home office.
XXX
"The safe's been opened – there's $6K missing from the safe. The petty cash log lists a $5K packet of money – which is gone. Each $10K packet is missing $200. There may be money missing from the change tray but I don't remember what was there. Nothing else is missing from the safe or office."
"I can't tell if there are clothes missing – but I think Miss Steele's closet and dresser have been tossed. Additionally, her toiletries are gone." Taylor reported. "I don't know what you bought, maybe Gail can figure out what's missing. I just know what Gail and I have been spraying on your body pillow is gone…unless you moved Miss Steele's toiletries to your room."
"The spray cologne is in my nightstand drawer. I never touched the rest." I inspect my closet and drawers, moving clockwise to not miss anything. "I'm missing a grey silk robe. I think I'm missing a pair of cufflinks and tie tack. The last section of the accessories drawer is empty. When Mrs. Jones returns tomorrow, I don't want her here alone." I am adamant. Someone connected to my life should be safe.
"I think I know how Leila was getting in – staff elevator. She must have seen Gail's code the night Gail took her to the hospital. I'll check the CCTV tapes again, but I think I know when she was here. There were a few times the CCTV cameras were frozen on the balconies, the foyer, the elevator and the garage."
"Would she know how to do that?" I have difficulty wrapping my head around Leila's abilities to come and go as she pleased in my life.
"Miss Williams was sequestered in the security office three times in the eighteen months because a member of your family arrived unexpectedly. She watched us move the cameras to observe them arrive and depart." Taylor explained. "Her boyfriend, Geoff Barry, was a techie. He applied to Grey House but Barney didn't want to hire him until he finished his education and had no claims on his time."
"How did Leila get into the safe?" I demand. "I needed months to memorize the code."
"We'll get a locksmith in here tomorrow, changing the balcony door locks and changing the combination to the safe. Let's put a deadbolt lock on the closet door hiding the safe from view in your home office. Security codes will be vacated, new ones assigned." Taylor refers to his notes. "We've got ugly news…Leila Williams Reed has a Washington carry conceal permit. Technically, the permit is invalid since she's moved after the permit was issued. However, she can get a gun at any time. A street gun might cost her a few hundred dollars depending on the caliber. She would have paid more at a gun show. Oregon requires background checks for gun show sales. Washington does not. She could get a small caliber weapon at a gun show for less than a thousand dollars. We've got a couple men who can flash her picture around shooting ranges and gun stores. She has to buy bullets somewhere. We'll double up efforts on low rent motels also."
October 31 – APOV
I hadn't planned to dress for Halloween at work, but I discussed Halloween with Shawn and Harley. I can go straight to Safe Streets from work if I wear my costume. They came to breakfast at the condo. Kate came breezing through and gave the boys a cursory glance and then shook her head at me. WTF? I don't make comments about the number of days I feed Elliot breakfast or the number of days Kate is not around for breakfast.
Shawn fixed my hair in an upswept bun with a flashy tiara. He did my makeup, helped me on with my gloves and pearls. He gives me a ridiculous fifteen-inch-long cigarette holder. I learn to balance the cigarette holder on my thumb, using my pinky to hold it in place. Shawn provides a packet of ten faux cigarettes for the holder. Because the weather is cool, Shawn also brings me a white faux fox jacket, circa 1950. As the jacket is not really part of the costume, I will only need the jacket when outside. I posed for pictures several times. I text Jessica I need the parking spot today. She texts back she understands and can't wait to see my Halloween costume.
"See you at WSCC for Safe Streets by six," Shawn gave me a pair of air kisses and helps me into my car.
I thought I saw my doppelganger on the bus bench as I drove past, but I could have been mistaken.
XXX
"Wow," Christian's voice floated over into my cubicle.
"Wait for the whole Breakfast at Tiffany's ensemble." I pulled on the gloves since I took them off for word processing labels for author letters. I put on my sunglasses and shook his hand. "Holly Go-lightly. Pleased to meet you Mr. Grey."
Christian twirled his finger, and I executed a 360 degree turn. He rewarded me with a wolf whistle. "Very nice, Holly. Are you drinking with Kate and Mia tonight?"
"I'm at WSCC. I'm running a reading corner for the Seattle Public Library. I promised to work Safe Streets, reading spooky stories to little kids. The Safe Streets volunteers are dressing like movie characters in exchange for roasted hot dogs, Halloween cookies, popcorn and sodas." I hope he doesn't freak out over the thousands of people who will be there.
"If you don't have lunch plans, can you go up to Grey Calendars. Mia's in her new digs today and she's a bit…nervous." Christian requested.
Jack came out of his office and scowled at me. He caught the tail end of the conversation about visiting Grey Calendars during my lunch hour.
"I have lunch from 12:30 to 1:30. Can you send Sawyer to escort me? I don't want to get lost in the building?" I ignored Jack.
"I'll do that. Don't worry about buying lunch, Mia's grand opening was catered."
Jack invaded Taylor's personal space. "Can I get Mr. Roach for you?" He addressed Christian.
"Not necessary. I came to deliver a message from my sister to Miss Steele." Christian never took his eyes of me.
Lauren Hudson strolled past in her showgirl costume. The hot, neon pink and black chevron suit with fishnet stockings and pink stilettos is molded to her figure. Her hair is down, lightly brushing against her shoulders. Her headdress is at least two feet tall with waving hot pink feathers. The top one-third of her breasts are contained under a sheer modesty panel which provides little modesty. At least her nipples and two-thirds of her breasts are covered. "I came to see if you want coffee, Jack," she simpers while giving Christian the once over.
Jack escorts her to his office on the pretext of getting his coffee cup.
"Our new clerical trainee," I softly inform Christian. "I'm thrilled I don't fetch lunch and coffee for Jack anymore." I wonder if Jack was on the panel when she was hired, because she needs someone to tell her professional work clothes don't begin mid-bosom or end mid-thigh. Poor thing must have been told she would have the chance to meet THE Christian Grey. He scowls watching Jack's reaction to her costume. Mr. Grey calls Mr. Roach, requesting a meeting in HR in fifteen minutes with the new clerical trainee. I hope Lauren has a backbone because otherwise…he'll turf her nearly naked body in the next twenty minutes.
XXX
"OH MY GOD!" Mia shrieked when Sawyer opened the office door at Grey Calendars for me. "You look fabulous! We must go drinking tonight – everyone will love your costume!"
"I can't go drinking Mia. I promised friends I would work Safe Streets with them at WSCC. I couldn't pass up free popcorn and hot dogs in exchange for reading scary books to the kids." I removed my gloves and sunglasses, tucking them into the little black clutch Shawn swore finished the ensemble. I realized earlier, the clutch is large, circa 1950, to hold the cigarette holder diagonally. Mia gives me a tour of the place. I loved the décor of Grey Calendars – contemporary glass, white leather and grey metal furniture, light lavender walls and charcoal grey carpeting.
I posed with Mia for a picture, taken by the Kavanagh Media photographer who I worked with for the Grey Publishing Open House. I explained I was in costume because I was going directly from work to Safe Streets. He said he was taking pictures there and would be glad to see me. Grace appeared and I was enveloped in a warm, loving hug from her. She was pleased Christian stopped in Grey Publishing this morning to invite me to the open house for Grey Calendars.
A server rotated in and out of Mia's office with trays of food. Grace and I sat on the soft white leather loveseat. After stuffing ourselves with excellent food, we ate Tartelette de Framboises au Mascarpone… which Mia pronounced beautifully in French before she explained we were eating raspberry tartlets. Mia offered Grace and me bottles of chilled green tea while she drank lime water.
"What are you working on?" I watched Mia; she seemed to be distracted.
"I'm coordinating an open house hosted by the Greater Seattle Startup Group on Saturday, December third at 10 a.m." She read from a flyer, "Join us for drinks, food and lively conversation. We will introduce you to our startup team and network. We hope to showcase fun tech developments from companies in our community."
"Sounds good. What is the issue?"
"Christian's in New York at Planning Cybercities: Integrating Telecommunications in Urban Planning. He's one of the guest speakers on the opening day. He won't be here for the tech open house."
"Can't Ros or Barney attend in his place at the tech open house?" I suggested.
"I'll ask Ros; Barney's going to New York," Mia made notes. "I am hoping to go Christmas shopping in New York, before Christmas."
"What are those?" I pointed to a pile of sweaters in the corner.
"They are for the Ugly Sweater Run over Thanksgiving. I coordinated the run, but we'll be in Aspen. I've been shopping every possible business and online to give the management team something to wear during the event. I'm still a dozen sweaters short." Mia shares the list of consignment and thrift stores she visited in the last few weeks. "I've decided to tell Kate about some of the events we've planned so she can write articles for the Seattle Times. We need all the good press we can get…and we need people to donate ugly sweaters. There's several event planning companies in Seattle – I just want to put a young and fun spin on some established events. Some of the established events have volunteers who are aging out. They need fresh blood to keep functioning. I hope working with us finds them the people they need."
I grimace and Mia laughs. "Like Coping together…"
"Come with us to Aspen for Thanksgiving," Grace sidesteps the whole Coping Together conversation.
"I'd love to, but I'm spending most of my November and December weekends with Dad. He needs help on a few dozen projects which have middle of December timelines." I apologized. As my lunch time was winding down, Sawyer insisted on walking me back to my cubicle.
"Miss Steele, are you seeing Harley Harrison?" Sawyer pushed the elevator button for my floor.
"Do you mean am I dating him?" I teased.
Sawyer looked uncomfortable.
"Sawyer, Harley is my beard to avoid attending Friday drinking nights with coworkers and my boss. Harley's domestic partner, Shawn Stanton, is a great guy who helped me with this costume." I preened a bit.
Sawyer delivers me to my cubicle and then disappears into the south elevator.
XXX
Safe Streets was fun. I saw cute, scary and creative costumes. My favorites were the triplets dressed as astronauts in their tri-seat stroller which was decorated as a space ship. I was at the haunted house reading corner of Safe Streets. The Kavanagh Media photographer caught me reading aloud at the top and bottom of every hour to a few dozen children and their parents. My reading time allows the children to sit and eat dinner with their parents. I read Room on a Broom and The House that Drac Built. I read The Night before Halloween and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat.
I had my picture taken with Shawn and Harley in front of their Bond backdrop. I had a roasted hotdog and Diet Coke. I refused an invitation to coffee by a very good looking police officer. I almost had my picture taken with the police officer, when a tall, Mummy pointed at the haunted house. I swooned in his arms as he carried me to the haunted house. We mugged for the parents taking picture of their kids with us. However, the Mummy was gone before I finished my next reading session. He wasn't as tall as Christian, or I would have been suspicious.
During my break I wander over to the dance portion of the evening. Why didn't I learn to dance? I never had a reason for Dad to teach me to dance. I never attended a Homecoming Dance, Winter Formal or Prom. The Mummy reappears and pays the $5 entry fee for me. I detect a theme in the music choices for the night: Monster Mash, Black Water, Black Magic Woman, Thriller, Highway to Hell, Don't Fear the Reaper…etc. We dance to She's Not There by the Zombies and Season of the Witch by Donovan. The Mummy dances beautifully, but he's not Christian. A couple of guys try to cut in while we dance, one of them is the police officer. The Mummy chases them off with his patented mummy chase moves. Everyone laughs and takes pictures. The Mummy and I pose next to the dance area decorations for the media and for event attendees. I thank the Mummy for the dances, but I explain I must return for reading time. He escorts me to my haunted house and poses with some of the children for pictures.
I watched children decorate cookies and paint Jack-o-Lanterns. I watched the children trick-or-treat at various activity booths. I watched the K-9 unit perform dog circus acts to entertain the children. The National Guard brought in a Humvee and created a climbing wall for the children. There were games, activities, face painting and apple bobbing. Shawn and Harley ran the popcorn booth and handed out bags of popcorn to families. One of Shawn's police friends ran a snow cone machine creating orange or black snow cones.
We began sending families toward the exit at eight and closed the doors at eight thirty. Harley and Shawn sent me on my way. I didn't stay and help clean up or tear down. The Haunted Halloween Reading Corner would retire to the Seattle Public Library for use next year.
XXX
What the fuck? I am slammed into the back of my car when I am hit from behind. I sank to my knees and then someone jumped on top of me, punching me in the head. My forehead bounced off the bumper. I remembered Dad's training. I flattened to my stomach and rolled to my back. I brought my knee up, connecting with my attacker's ribs. Using my arms to protect my face, I brought my elbow up and hit my attacker in the face. My self-defense actions surprised my attacker…a ballerina in a pink tutu with a feathered mask and headdress. I watched her run away, laughing manically, before I blacked out.
"Sweet Jesus, Ana," Sawyer's face swam before my eyes. "Did you fall off your high heels or what?"
"Attacked," my voice fades as everything goes dark again.
XXX – 3PPOV
"Ana's at Northwest," Sawyer reported to Taylor. "She was attacked on her way to her car at WSCC. She worked Safe Streets with the Seattle Police Department, the Washington National Guard and the Seattle Public Library. Once the event was over at eight thirty, she was sent to her car. I was in a mummy costume, following a good distance behind her, so she wouldn't suspect me. I saw her get attacked. A ballerina in a pink tutu attacked her from behind, slamming her into her car. The ballerina ran off when I approached."
Taylor swore.
"Get the CCTV tapes from WSCC. Her attacker was about the size of Ana. I'm not saying her attacker was or wasn't Leila Williams…but I feel very strongly it was." Sawyer paused. "We need to check street cameras around WSCC to see where the attacker went."
"Any news from the hospital?" Taylor needed as much information as possible before notifying the Boss.
"Miss Steele has a swollen and bruised forehead and a cut at the edge of her hairline. She looked worse when she was admitted. ER glued the scalp laceration shut. The cut on her left knee required stitches. Miss Steele is bruised and the doctor thinks she has a concussion. She lost consciousness so they won't send her home tonight. She's resting now; they are checking on her every hour."
"Can you stay outside her room and watch over her?" Taylor asked.
"I'm here, and no one will get in or out. Miss Steele contacted her dad once she was transported to the hospital. He is incoming from Montesano. The police took her statement and her clothes as evidence." Sawyer reported.
"You know I have to tell Mr. Gray," Taylor warned.
"I'd delay until absolutely necessary…Dr. T. was not on duty, so Grey won't find out from her. If Mr. Grey shows up right now…his appearance will cause a situation. Media has been trolling the Emergency Room, hoping to get the scoop on Halloween hijinks. I can watch over the Steeles tonight, but we need to move her car to the condo. Her car and the condo need to be secured. Where's Elliot, Kate and Mia." Sawyer checked on his main charge.