Blood & Water

Chapter 16

Angel was in a silent panic as he watched them usher Carrie into the ER on a gurney, despite her protests. There were a thousand reasons why he was so inwardly hysterical, most having to do with death, serious injury or jail time for himself or Carrie.

With no traumas in the ER that night they worked quickly to get Carrie's vitals and information before the investigators arrived. Carrie handed over her ID and insurance card as the admit nurse hit her with a barrage of questions.

"The head wound is your only major injury?"

"Yes," Carrie said quietly.

"Any allergies?

"No," she said

"Medications?"

"Uh, no," she shrugged, unable to really focus.

"When was your last period?"

"Oh uh," Carrie blanked. "Sorry I uh, I don't remember."

The nurse smiled a little. "It's okay, not many women know after a traumatic experience like this. We have to ask before any treatment, liability reasons. Before you go for imagining you'll have to take a quick urine test."

"Yeah, that's fine," she huffed, annoyed by the inconvenience.

"Emergency contact?"

"Kevin Jime-" she stopped. "Wait uh, he's umm," she stammered.

"I'm sorry," the nurse said softly. "We were told."

"Angel Reyes," she said quickly reciting his number. "He's the best contact, I guess."

Watching from a few feet away, baby Joey in his arms, Angel tried to ignore the investigators strolling through the automatic double doors. They stopped at the nurse's station before making a beeline for him.

"Mr. Reyes?" The woman asked showing him her identification.

"Yeah," he huffed. "One and only," he added with annoyance.

"I can take the baby," the man offered as he slipped his ID away.

"Nah," Angel stepped back. "I'll keep him with me."

"Sir, it's better if we take the child until his mother is released," the woman said more forcefully.

Angel looked at them suspiciously. "Released?"

"From the hospital," the man added. "She's the only living legal guardian."

"I'm his father," Angel snapped. The investigators looked at each other and Angel knew he shouldn't have said that but he didn't care. Joey was his son and he wasn't going to give him up to anyone. "Let's just do this."

While they processed Angel, taking swabs of his DNA, the blood staining his skin and shirt and his fingerprints, Carrie was being questioned again.

"I don't remember," she whimpered. "Can you please just finish this shit?" She snapped at the forensic tech who was taking samples off her as well.

"You didn't see them?"

"No."

"You didn't recognize any voices or tattoos?"

"No."

"Do you know anyone who would want to harm you or your husband?"

She cocked her head to the side. "Are you fucking stupid? Who the fuck even are you? If you don't know the answer to that I suggest you get the fuck out of here and find a competent SSA."

"Oh I apologize," he said, a smirk spreading across his lips. "I haven't introduced myself. I'm Assistant US Attorney Lincoln Potter."

Carrie just stared at him, unamused and unimpressed.