Read Online Fogbound: A Lin Hanna Mystery by Sharon Canipe - Free Book Online Page B

come back—but sometimes they don’t.”
    “I had a
similar experience when I was hurt,” Lin offered. “Eventually I was able to
recall what happened, with Sue’s help.   Right now, you just need to try to relax and get well.”
    “Was Pete your
boyfriend?” Lin wanted to know more about the other victim.
    “Not really,
not yet anyway,” Ellen smiled sadly. “We’d only had a couple of dates.   Pete and I went to high school
together.   We were always good
friends.   I just broke up with
someone recently, and I think Pete asked me out the first time just to help me
get over that.   Then we went out a
couple more times.   I really liked
Pete.   He was a good guy, not like…”
she didn’t finish this sentence.
    Lin realized
that Ellen seemed very tired.   She
was having a lot to deal with right at the moment.   A nurse came in and injected some pain
medication into her IV.   She gave
Lin and Sue a look that seemed to say it was time for Ellen to get some sleep.
      “I think we should go and let you rest,
but if it’s OK with you, we can come back tomorrow sometime.” Lin picked up on
the nurse’s unspoken message.
    “Please do,”
Ellen managed a smile. “It really helps to have some company and I’m really
glad to see you again Dr. …er, Lin.   Hey, you never did tell me why you are here in Boone.”
    Sue spoke up
and explained that they were working as volunteers on the Parkway. “We met last
year when we were both doing similar work out in Arizona.”
    “That’s neat,”
Ellen managed a sleepy smile. “I love it up here.   That’s part of why I planned to go to
summer school.   I wanted to stay in
the mountains.”
    Lin reached
over and gave the girl a gentle hug, taking care not to hurt the injured
shoulder. “When you were in elementary school you were ‘Ellie’ if I recall.”
    “I still am,
that’s what my friends and family still call me,” the girl responded.
    “Then Lin and I
will be back tomorrow, Ellie,” Sue smiled broadly, “Is there anything you’d
like us to bring you?”
    “No, I have all
I need,” Ellie replied, “except company, that’ll be the best thing.”
    As they left
the hospital Lin questioned Sue, “Do you think she might remember more if you
tried that technique for recall you did with me last year?   It really helped me remember important
details of what happened.”
    “Perhaps,” Sue
replied, “but she’s not ready for anything like that just now.   She needs time to heal and recover from
the trauma.   She may even remember
everything on her own eventually.”
    “You’re right
and I do hope, for her sake, she recovers quickly.”
    “Mark Scott
seemed to think she might need more surgery later on,” Sue recalled. “Her
shoulder and upper arm were pretty well shattered and torn up.”
    Lin winced at
the thought, “You’re right, her injury was far worse than mine.   Mine was mainly dislocation and torn
ligaments.   The surrounding tissue
was bruised but that was all.   I
imagine she’ll have a long road to full recovery.”
    When they
arrived back at the lodge they found a note stuck to their door.   Frank Leonard, their “landlord-to-be”
had called.   They decided to return
to the lobby to call him back; the cell signal was stronger there.
    “I hope
nothing’s gone wrong with our deal,” Lin groaned as Sue dialed the number.
    She watched
anxiously as Sue reached Dr. Leonard.   Lin couldn’t hear what he was saying, but Sue was nodding as he
talked.   Finally, Sue broke into a
big smile. “That’s great news,” she had a big smile on her face, “I’ll tell Lin
and we’ll make arrangements.”
    “It seems that
things are moving along toward our move,” Sue said as she ended the call. “Frank
has been able to get someone lined up to clean the house thoroughly, even the
floors and carpets, by the end of this week.   He’s eager to get started on his journey
and has finalized his travel plans for next