LITMIR.BIZ

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both been in. It’s strange, but they seem to either know him or know something about him.”

      Hannah thanked her and walked to room 236 on the second floor. The elevator ride up had given her time to think. Why would the two law men be interested in a homeless man? I’ll find out.

      Hannah approached room 236 and saw there was no name in the pocket on the door. She carefully opened the door and slipped into the room. The first thing she noticed was the odor. It smelled like a hospital. Of course, idiot. What else would it smell like?

      She walked quietly to the bed and looked down at the man who had been hooked up to several machines. The sound of machines working to keep him alive was evident. Hannah wondered how such a young looking man was in this mess. In spite of the injuries from the beating, she could see he was good looking.

      He had been shaved and bathed and was now wearing a hospital gown.

      He had thick black hair and a surprisingly smooth skin. She jumped in guilt and surprise when his grey eyes opened and he looked at her. She didn’t know whether he was cognizant enough to know where he was.

      She placed a compassionate hand on his shoulder and spoke to him. “Hello. You don’t know me. My name is Hannah Rutherford. I have a detective agency and I’ve seen you when I was jogging. I know you can’t talk now, but I don’t want you to worry. I’m paying for your care so you have nothing to worry about except resting and getting better. I won’t tire you out now, but I’ll be checking in again soon.”

      He tried to shake his head and made garbled sounds, but no distinguishable words were understandable.

      “Please don’t make yourself feel worse. I’ll be in again soon and later when you’re able to talk, we’ll have a good visit. I wish you could tell me if you need, or want, anything.”

      He lifted the hand that had an IV needle stuck in the back of it and made motions with his fingers. Hannah finally realized that he was trying to show her that he could write.

      “You’ve had enough excitement today. It’s too soon after your injuries, so I’ll leave and let you rest, but I promise to come again soon and I’ll bring a pad and pen for you.”

      She gently patted his shoulder while he closed his eyes in obvious frustration. Hannah quietly left and walked to the nurses’ station. A young nurse was looking at information on the computer and writing on patients’ files. “Excuse me,” Hannah spoke softly. The nurse looked up and smiled.

      “Can you tell me anything about the condition of the man in 236? I’m not a relative but I found him and am paying his bills. I’d like to know how badly he’s injured and what the doctors are doing to help him.”

      “You must be Miss Rutherford. We haven’t been able to learn his name yet. The sheriff and the chief of police have both been in but they haven’t told us anything they’ve learned about him. As to his condition, I’m not at liberty to give you that information. May I call his doctor to talk to you?”

      “Please do. Thank you.” Hannah walked over and sat in the cold, green plastic chairs which were far from comfortable.

      A few minutes later a man hurried into the room with a white lab coat flapping around his legs. He was wearing a lilac shirt and black trousers under the coat with a grey and black stripped tie hanging loose around his neck.

      “Hello. Did you want to see me?”

      “Please. I’m Hannah Rutherford. I have the Lost Cause Detective Agency. I found the man in 236 and am paying his bills. Please tell me what you’ve found about his condition, Dr. ---”

      “Sorry about that. You wouldn’t believe how rushed I’ve been. We’re short staffed with the flu going around. I’m Dr. Whittaker, Jackson Whittaker. As to my patient, I’m aware that you’re paying his bills, however, you are not a relative and I cannot, by law, tell you much. If Sheriff Murphy will give me permission, I’ll gladly share.”

      “All right. I understand. I just wanted to know in case there was anything else I could do for him.”

      “That’s kind of you. I can tell you he has amnesia, apparently due to the blunt force trauma to his head. He has trouble trying to speak, but I’m hopeful that all of his problems will clear soon.”

      “He signed to show me he wanted to write something for me. I didn’t have a pen and paper, but will bring some to him.”

      “Please don’t be in any hurry to bring them. He needs to remain quiet and free of stress for as long as possible.”

      “Thank you, Doctor. I need to go to work, but I’ll be coming by often.”

      Arriving at home Hannah didn’t notice anything wrong at first. She pulled into the double garage careful to not hit the dog. The dog!! Where is he? She ran into the house, not noticing that the door she usually kept locked was open.

      “Here, boy. Where are you?”

      She heard a weak bark down the hall toward her bedroom. Running in that direction, she began to notice that furniture was turned over, pillows were ripped and obviously someone had been in that didn’t belong. She followed the weak moaning sounds to the bathroom and found the dog on his side with what looked like a knife wound.

      She quickly knelt beside him and cried, “Oh, I wish you could talk and tell me what happened here. I need to get you to the emergency animal hospital.”

      Hannah first called 9-1-1 and explained that she had a break and entering and a dog wounded. The police remembered working with her and liked her so they rushed over.

      Sgt. Arnold Belcher gave a careful inspection of the entire house along with a rookie, William Brooks, that he was training. William gave a shout of discovery. “Here is a piece of cloth that might have been part of a pant leg, and it has blood on it.”

      Arnold had an evidence bag and placed the material carefully in the bag. “Good work. Let’s hope there’s enough here for a DNA. Hannah, have you had threats, or do you have a case involving someone who is angry enough to do this?”

      “No to both questions. Forgive me, but I must get this dog to the emergency animal hospital. He apparently did his best to protect my house.”

      “I didn’t know you had a dog. When did you get him?”

      “He really isn’t mine and it’s a long story. I must hurry. Are you going to have an officer stay here until I return, and will you have someone drive by tonight?”

      “Sure thing. William and I will stay here and look around more. I want to know how the person got in. Okay, William?”

      “Righto Sarg. I’ll be glad to stay.”

      Hannah was grateful when the two men gently placed the dog on a doubled bed sheet and carefully carried him to her car. She had to leave him over night, but was relieved that he would be cared for properly.

      In an hour she was back in her home and delighted to find that the two officers had found more clues. The man had broken the glass on the window in a bedroom at the back and side of the house. Apparently he had gone to check the garage for something to steal and the dog had charged him and chased him back through the house. They found a shoe print in the dog’s blood and fingerprints on a door frame. He had not had time to do much damage and he had not taken anything of value. But what was he looking for? He had a bite on a leg that would need care, and torn pants.

      Hannah thanked the officers after they nailed a piece of plywood over the broken window and called in the report. They asked for a patrolman to drive by every hour or as often as possible. They left when their radio blasted out that there had been a fight and a shooting at a bar downtown.

      That night at home Hannah’s phone rang four times. When she answered, there was no communication, just breathing. She finally lost patience and yelled out, “Look, if you’re too afraid to speak to me, don’t bother calling. Come into my office any time and I’ll be glad to listen to you.”

      There

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