Identity Read Free Page B

victim. 
    Several male orderlies wheeled it to the first examining room. The nurses immediately setup the cardiac monitor equipment watching as the Emergency Room doctor gave a quick examine to identify all her visible injuries. 
    The flat line alarm buzzed.  “Defibrillator!  Step back!  No results. Again! No results.  Again!”  The familiar soft beeping noise returned.   “Give the IV 5 cc’s of Epinephrine.  Let’s get her more stabilized and before we move her to x-ray.  There is more we need to see.”
    After several hours, the attending doctor greeted his old friend Sheriff Johnson outside the ICU. 
    “Doc Taylor.”
    Trying to formalize the situation, Taylor responded, “Sheriff Johnson. Have you got anything that can help in her identification?”
    “Haven't heard anything from the crime scene yet."
    "Would you like to hear her injuries?"
    "If you can?"
    Taylor looked down at his clipboard.
    “Before we go into the list, here are the pictures we took when she was admitted.  It will help you when I discuss the list of injuries.  Starting from the top.  She has had blunt force trauma to the back of the head.  We have cleaned and stitched the wound, but because of the blood in the hair along with the various insects, we have shaved the head.  She has suffered multiple cuts and bruises on her cheeks along with a recent black eye.  Those cuts, too, have been stitched.  This is a baggie that contains pieces of glasses that were cleaned from the wounds.  Continuing. She has a broken nose that, for the present, has been taped.  She will need further surgeries. Next, she has had both her shoulders dislocated.  Corrected.  The x-ray revealed two cracked ribs that which we have bound.  Finally, we have set the broken right leg.   In addition, there are numerous insect bites over her entire body. There is recent bruising along with the previous bruising on the body. Those bruises were inflicted, based on their discoloration, about three to five days ago.  Of coarse, that didn't include hypothermia…if the freezing snow warnings were correct, she would have died.”
    “Raped?”
    “No signs were evident.  She is unconscious.  She will be in ICU until she is off the critical list. Do you want to see her?”
    “No, it is not necessary right now.  Doc, a local reporter got a call on this and wants to know the status of our victim. This is a case of attempted murder. Whoever is out there I’m sure the perpetrator won’t stop trying.  There isn't any evidence linking someone to the assault.  Can you just tell the reporter she died?”
    “That is highly unusual for us to lie to the press; but, technically, she did die…for a very short time.”
    “Thank you.  I am sure this will help if we obtain any evidence.”
    “Sheriff, do we have any idea who this woman is?”
    “We're reviewing all the State Police missing persons reports to see whether she match any the description.  The closest we came is a thirty-one year old woman from Chicago.  The detective on the case is driving down. I said it wasn’t necessary.  But, it appears that the officer has a personal interest in the case.”
    “I’ll notify the front desk.  I’ll meet with him when he arrives. Now, if you will excuse me.”
    “Certainly. I'll let you know if we find anything out."
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Detective Cassell headed down I-55 to Memorial after his shift.  He had high hopes that unidentified woman was his sister who had been missing for the past several weeks.  He drove the speed limit keeping his eyes on the roadway watching for black ice.  An hour and a half later he arrived at the Memorial reception desk.
    “Detective Cassell, CPD, I ‘m here to see Doctor Taylor.  He’s expecting me.”
    “Have a seat.  I’ll page him.”
    After 20 minutes, Doctor Taylor came through the door. 
    “Detective Cassell, welcome to Memorial Hospital.  Let’s go to the ICU to see our patient.  I hope that