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“You’ll be with us until that lung and your skull are stabilized. That’ll be five days at least.”
He grunted again. This would cost a fortune he didn’t have.
“Once you’re breathing well, we’ll remove that chest tube. And we want to monitor your brain for swelling. It took a good whack, but we’re optimistic that you’ll recover quickly and completely.”
“Glad to hear that,” he rasped, dragging in a shallow breath every few words.
“Me, too. Do you have any questions before I send the police in?”
“My family?”
“My understanding is someone from your company contacted your family, but the police officer can confirm that. If you need anything, summon the nurse.” She showed him the call button, then let an officer into his room.
The man took the chair she’d abandoned and introduced himself as Detective Brian Kevlin.
“I’ll tell you what I know and you fill in any gaps from your own memories. I know that’ll be tough. From experience, I can tell you that details will emerge over the next days or even weeks as your brain heals. Nothing is insignificant. Okay?”
“Okay.”
He set his phone between them, recorded the who, when, and where of the interview, and asked, “Do I have your permission to record this interview, Mr. Mazur?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. Alright. Angela and Jacob Guzman found you unconscious and bleeding behind Blue Water Fitness at one forty a.m. this morning.”
Aithan recognized the names and knew he knew them, but his brain refused to give them context.
As if reading his mind, the detective said, “They’re the gym’s night cleaning crew. They recognized you, fortunately. Your wallet, phone, keys, and vehicle were missing. The good news is that your vehicle was recovered an hour ago, abandoned in Shoreline. The bad news is that the interior was set afire, the exterior was defaced, and the tires were slashed. A report with photographs will be sent to your insurance company.”
“Bleeding?”
The officer blinked. “Uh, right. Yes. Whoever hit you used a blunt object that split your scalp.”
Aithan slowly reached up to feel his head. Staples made an arc above and behind his left ear. He winced. Right. “Okay.”
“We know your last employee,” he glanced at his notes, “Juan San Miguel, left at eleven thirty-five p.m. He said he spoke with you just before leaving Blue Water Fitness and you indicated you’d be leaving within minutes. Do you know approximately what time you locked up the building?”
Aithan squeezed his eyes shut, trying to recall the previous night. “Everything’s jumbled. I remember Juan leaving.” He inhaled and coughed weakly, wincing at pain the meds couldn’t quite mask. “Sorry.”
“Take your time.”
Finally, getting some breath, Aithan said, “Juan turned off the inside lights. And I sent a message to Zel.”
“Zel?”
“Zelda Gordon. My girlfriend. I told her I was going home.”
“And you sent that message after Mr. San Miguel left the gym?”
“I think so?” Something drifted through his mind, something about a light. It seemed important. “Wait.” The officer nodded and remained silent, giving him time to think. “The lights weren’t working.”
“Which lights?”
“Outside. The security lights behind the building. When I left, they weren’t working. They’re motion activated, but didn’t come on.” Aithan winced, suddenly recalling the pain of being struck. “That’s when I was hit. I reached up to see if the bulb in the master light had burned out.”
“Did you see your assailant?”
He thought for a moment. “No. I didn’t even hear him. I reached for the lightbulb, then I was in pain, then I was on the ground. I guess I blacked out.”
