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Chapter 7: Consequences

The pit of my stomach was heavy with a lead weight, and my mind hazy from just coming to. I strained to gain a grain of recollection of what I was just asked. Staring holes into these two freaks at the door, I was caught off guard by Mom squeezing my hand back. Letting it go she looked up from me and towards Agent Creepy. She took a quick step back from my bed and without missing a beat, kept eye contact with him the entire time.

"Do you think she's....." Mom trailed off, but decisively. Alluding to something he clearly knew, but I was left baffled and questioning her.

"Couldn't say. I'd have to evaluate and interview her. Alone." His short monotone answer immediately made the lead in my stomach heavier. There's no bloody way, I'm willingly being in a room alone with him.

"Should I leave then? Get some more food, and someone to clean up the food I dropped in the room?"  What the hell Mom! I stared hard glare of complete disbelief. I went to protest but found my words were a miss.

"Don't worry about the mess dear. I'll clean that up. No need to bother the other nurses." The older nurse who ran into my room proceeded to leave and come back with a mop, bin, and trash bag for the mess. She had salt and pepper hair, and a kind face. Wrinkled into what looks like a bit of annoyance at my mom's mess. I gave a smile to her as if to thank her.  I felt a hand come down on my shoulder. I whipped my head to see who had decided to enter my personal space and was pleased to find my mom's worry stricken face.

"Mom.What's going on? Where's Dad? No one is answering my questions, I'm scared andvery uncomfortable. Please, stay." My voice was but a cracked whisper, that Ihope only Mom heard. She responded by giving my shoulder a quick squeeze, shethen teared up a bit and brought her hand to her side.

"Oh, hun... I'm, I'll talk to you later about that. I'll be right back Doodlebug. Sit tight, I'm just going to get your food, and to make sure Andy is coming to dress your leg." Mom then turned to go, but I shot my free hand up fast catching her wrist before she could escape. This is unacceptable, she can't do that to me. I wanted answers and I wanted them now!

"Baby, I'll be right back. Don't worry about anything. You're safe and it's just a few quick questions. I love you and I hope ....I'll be back. Everything's fine. It will be fine. You're fine. I love you." Grabbing my hand she lifted mine off her wrist and left the room, the lady twin leaving with her. In a huff of disappointment, I turned over, examining my now swollen and aching wrist. The cold metal of the cuff burrowing in my flesh. Trying to twist and lessen the tenseness of the cuff only resulted in a rawness. Concern grew as it came to my attention that my wrist shouldn't be swelling.

"Hey! Opal! I want answers. Why's my wrist swelling!? Why am I cuffed? Can you please remove it? It's starting to hurt like a bugger. Please? I won't go anywhere." Pulling up my wrist as far as I could to show him. The nurse on the floor gasped and sped her way over to my bedside.

"Take this off her this instant! Yes, she may be responsible for a possible crime, but her health and wellbeing is mine and Andy's responsibility. OFF! At once!" pushing her bony sausage finger into his sternum, he looked down at the little lady as he loomed over her 4'8 stature.

"Ms. Lucy, I assure you, no harm will come to Miss Gray. This is a common occurrence with our cuffs, an allergic reaction if you will. Have no fear, it will dissipate in a short time. I am obliged to keep the cuff on her for our safety and wellbeing. So I'll see to you understand that." With that, he sat in the one chair next to my left side of the bed. He brought his folded hands up his lips. His two pointer fingers, the only unfolded, and hiding the sly smirk of what I assume he thought was victory. This little old nurse had other plans. Grabbing him by the ear she dragged him to me and shoving his face down to my inflamed left wrist.