Chapter 23

Wednesday, June 10, 1987- Afternoon

Julie grunted as she was lifted from her ICU bed onto a gurney by a pair of nurses. The fact that she was being transferred from ICU to a regular room so soon concerned her. Known for their noisiness, regular hospital floors weren't the ideal environment for sleeping.

Julie grimaced again as a man dressed in scrubs pulled a white sheet over her chest.

"It'll be okay, Miss," he told her.

Lifting Julie's IV from its hook on the bed, the female nurse attached it to the gurney. Connie gathered items from a cabinet and shook Julie's purse.

"Honey, where are your keys?"

"Mike has… th..." Julie closed her eyes as the man brought an oxygen mask down over her face.

"Don't want you to get too winded from all this," he said.

"What do you mean, Mike has them?" Connie asked.

Avoiding an argument with her mother, Julie didn't respond.

"Let her rest, ma'am," the man said.

Connie trailed behind the pair of nurses as they wheeled Julie out of the room.

The gurney caught on the doorway threshold. Pain radiated through Julie's incisions.

She overheard Steve ask her mother, "Where are they taking her?"

Julie opened her eyes.

"New room, new look." Connie patted Julie's hand.

"I see that." Steve smiled. "You look like a regular Cabbage Patch Kid, Julie."

"Do you know anything about Donovan taking her keys?" Connie asked.

Don't start, mother…Julie closed her eyes again.

"No," said Steve. "I never thought we could trust him."

Julie lifted the plastic mask a few inches away from her mouth. "I gave them..." She drew a breath. "…to him."

"Why would you do that?" Connie asked.

"To get… my car."

"Your car?"

"The police probably took it in as evidence," Steve offered.

You don't even know what happened. Another bump. Julie grimaced, fighting back tears.

"Nnnno," she said.

Steve peered down at her. "Where was the car?"

"At Science," she gasped. "Front…"

"Are you feeling okay? You look a little pale."

"She needs sleep," said Connie.

"I can imagine." Steve winked at Julie. "You smell better though."

Thanks.

The gurney jostled as the nurses wheeled it into the elevator. Julie felt another stab of pain.

#

For Donovan, Running late for work became an unintended daily habit. He'd waited for two extra slow moving freight trains. As he sat before the guardrails, staring at his watch, all he thought about was missing a visit with Julie.

At ten after three, he rushed into the newsroom and plopped down in a swivel chair at his cubicle. He picked up the phone then dialed the ICU number

"This is Mike Donovan. I'm calling in regards to Julie Parrish."

"Hello, Mr. Donovan," said a vaguely familiar female voice. "Julie's been moved out of the ICU. She's doing much better. Would you like her room number?"

"You bet I would."

Snatching up a pen, he caught a whiff of Melissa Foxx's pungent fragrance. She stood behind him.

"Could you get her a message?" He asked the nurse.

"Why don't you just call the room, Mr. Donovan? I'm sure her mother or Dr. Maitland will be there to take the message."

That's what I'm afraid of. Maybe I can sneak away after the evening show and see her…

"I hate to interrupt," Melissa cut in. "Mick's asking for you. There's been a break in the Pico story."

What? He glanced at her, and held his index finger up.

Rolling her eyes, she marched away.

"Thanks, you've been helpful," Donovan said into the phone.

"Bye, Mr. Donovan."

He hung up then promenaded into Pierce's office.

Pierce passed out sheets of paper to Melissa, Nicholson and the spunky, young, intern named Jaycee. He shoved a couple papers at Donovan muttering, "You're late."

"Trains." Donovan glanced through a paragraph which revealed the discovery of Pico's body at Carlton Laboratories.

Maitland, you just had to squeal. Donovan's jaw tightened. Glad I wore my gloves. Hope Ham was smart enough not to leave any prints.

"How long has Pico been there?" Nicholson asked.

"They're not saying," Pierce said. "I want you and Donovan on the scene, pronto. Jaycee, you've got camera duties."

"Yes, sir," she said.

Donovan studied the second paper, a news release updating Julie's medical condition to fair.

Wonder how much longer they'll keep her?