Chasing Anne

There's More To This Than You Think

Six steps to the left. Stop. Six steps to the right. Mark went back and forth in the waiting room that only he and Jack now occupied. He was going to go insane! Why wouldn't the doctors tell him about his Anne? For goodness' sake, he was the one who had called the police! Jackson picked up a news magazine and paged through it before tossing it onto another chair and slumping in his seat. Mark glanced at him, but then shook his head. There was no use even trying to talk with Jackson. He had no idea what he was going to say! He stopped suddenly and plopped down into a chair, bowing his head and running his fingers through his hair anxiously. If they kept him here a minute longer, he was going to explode.

"Mr. Normand?" a nurse in a blue uniform asked.

Mark jumped up too quickly in response and his eyes went wild. "Yes, Sir?"

"You're here for Anne McCourtney, correct?"

Mark nodded. "Yes."

The nurse stuck out his hand. "My name's Matt. I'll take you to see the doctor."

"How is Anne?" Jack asked.

The nurse smiled, but shrugged. "The doctor will tell you.

He led them through a few whitewashed halls of the hospital and then into a small room to the left of the ICU. Mark held his breath and followed the nurse inside. Once the door shut behind him, he looked around the room and instantly located a middle-aged man sitting at a desk looking at a few charts. He looked up, saw Mark, and smiled.

"Mr. Normand. Sit down, please."

Mark obeyed and Jackson settled for leaning against the back wall.

The doctor took a deep breath and then leaned back in his chair. "You're lucky it wasn't worse," he began. "The shot to her shoulder must've just grazed her, but the one on her side went deep. It didn't go all the way through, but we've removed the bullet and the wound has been closed. She's in recovery now."

"And how long until she can come home?"

"I'd say a week. But, I must discuss a few things with you, Mr. Normand."

"Yes?"

"She cannot stay in the home she was living in. Not until the damage has been repaired."

"But I thought the police caught the gang."

"Gang? What gang?"

"The gang that shot Miss McCourtney," Jackson said, clearly confused.

The doctor raised a brow. "There was no gang involved. It was a clear, direct shooting."

The room went silent.

Mark took a deep breath. "Doctor, I don't know what you're talking about. I was told the shooting was accidental."

The doctor's eyes widened. "Well, then you should know that the attacker broke into the house and shot her on sight. She wasn't by the front door when she was shot. She was in the living room with her dog. When she heard the first shots, she sent her dog outside. When she turned away from the back door, she was face-to-face with the attacker. He shot her twice and then made a run for it. That's when she called you."

Mark bowed his head and laid it in the palms of his hands. "Why? Why her?" he whispered. "How do you know all of this?"

"Miss McCourtney told me. Whatever this is, Mr. Normand. Your friend is in great danger."

"But who would attack her?" Jackson asked. "She's done nothing wrong! Nothing that would offend anyone anyway!"

"Did the police catch the shooter?" Mark asked.