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Ella looks at me, takes in the gun, and pauses. I make sure she’s alone before I welcome her in. “Sorry, Doc, can’t be too careful.”
“Who do we have here?” Ella asks, carrying her bag over to Tati and squatting down beside her.
“This is my friend Tati. I need you to check her out and tell me what she needs.”
“Alright.” She rummages around in her bag before pulling out a syringe and a vial of something.
I look at Tati to see how she’s doing. Pain and terror are etched on her face.
“I’m just going to give you something to help with the pain,”Ella tells Tati, and I see the moment it starts to take effect. Tati’s face relaxes, and she drifts off to sleep.
“Jesus, she’s a mess. What the fuck happened?”
“She’s been raped and beaten, Ella. I thought that was obvious,” I snap at her before sighing. “Look, she refused to go to the hospital, but I don’t see any way around it. Her wrist looks broken, and she’s complaining about her stomach. She’s bleeding between her legs, too.”
“Shit, hold on.”
Ella opens her bag again and takes out a stethoscope and a few other items, but I look away and focus on Tati’s face, resuming to stroke her hair even though she can’t feel it anymore. Maybe I’m doing it more to comfort myself. I keep my eyes on her face the whole time Ella examines her, refusing to take away any more of this woman’s dignity.
“Yeah, she needs a hospital, Nova. Her wrist is definitely broken, she has vaginal and anal tearing that requires stitching, and I can see what I believe to be wooden splinters.” She stops to blow out a breath before continuing. “I suspect she has internal bleeding from whatever was forced inside her. I’m also worried about the damage to her throat. There’s pretty extensive bruising from being choked.”
“Do you still have the wheelchair in your car?” I interrupt her.
“I do. It’s easier to take patients back to the clinic with me.”
“Do you have the equipment to treat this at your clinic?”
“No. I’m not a surgeon, Nova. Fuck.”
“Right. Hospital it is, then. Take her in as a Jane Doe. Say you found her in the parking lot if you have to, but stay with her. I’ll have someone meet you there who will tell you what to do next.”
“You know who did this to her, don’t you?”
“Yeah. And no, I won’t tell you who, because then I’d be signing your death warrant. Go get the wheelchair while I make some calls.” I dismiss her before she can ask any more questions. I get that she’s pissed, but pissed is better than dead.
She stomps out of the room, the door slamming behind her. I walk over and bolt it once more before pulling out my cell. I dial Steven’s number and wait for him to pick up.
“How is she?”
“Careful what you say, Steven. You don’t want people asking questions.”
“Sorry. I’m good, though. I’m alone.”
“Alright, well, I’m bringing Tati down soon. She needs the hospital. Can you make sure the coast is clear in, like, ten minutes? I’ll take her out the back west fire exit.”
“I’m on it. I’ll text you when it’s clear. The cameras will catch you, though.”
“I’m not hiding her from the cameras. I’m just dropping her off so if the cops ask we can say she was alive when she left.”
He sucks in a sharp breath. “That bad?”
“Worse,” I answer before hanging up.
I scrub my hand over my face and feel a headache coming on. If questioned, I’ll tell them that Steven called me because he was having an issue with one of the girls, that I had her checked over and it was my call to send her to the hospital. Tati is just one girl from the collection of girls who work here at the casino. She isn’t the first who needs to go to the hospital, and she won’t be the last. The girls know to play dumb and keep their mouths shut. As far as anyone knows, that’s where my involvement will end.
Though, if I have my way, this will be the last time Tati ever has to worry about Aldo or any other John hurting her again.
By the time I make it home, I’m ready to break open a bottle of red wine and drink the whole damn thing. I kick off my shoes, strip out my clothes, and toss them in the hamper. I take a quick shower before pulling on an oversized T-shirt and a pair of leggings, then give in to temptation. I open the wine, forgoing the glass, and park my ass on the sofa in front of the TV. I turn on the crime channel to yell at them for doing everything wrong and relax back into the marshmallow-like cushions.
