It's My Life

Chapter 22 - Back to the Ocean

Jones entered his office and immediately summoned Brad and Shields. He sat at his desk and went over the notes he'd taken during the interrogation. During the task he had wondered about the extent of impaling she could handle, but pushed the thought from his mind. He didn't want to cause any irreversible damage. Shields and Brad entered the office then and Jones indicated the chairs in front of him.
"Please sit, gentlemen." Jones said. They did as they were told, facing him. "I have just spent time with Jeremy and Louise Silver, and learned a lot." Jones added. Both men sat up straighter.
"Indeed? Did they explain Cassi's origins?" Brad asked.
"Just that she was found on the beach near their home, only a few days old." Jones said. Brad looked impressed.
"So what now? Do we let her go?" Shields asked. Jones shook his head.
"Definitely not. Or at least, not yet. I want IQ tests performed, physical tests, all her organs scanned. I can't test her healing abilities too much, we cannot guarantee that her healing will kick in if we cut a vein or vital organ." Jones said.
"Actually, I think we can." Shields said. Jones looked at him.
"Explain." Jones pressed.
"Well, I'm guessing if she heals rapidly she's never had her adenoids taken out, or her appendix." Shields said. Jones stared at him for a moment, and then a smile appeared on his face.
"Brilliant. I want her heavily sedated when we remove her appendix. If it grows back then it does. If it doesn't, then we'll find something else." Jones ordered.
"When? Tomorrow?" Brad asked. Jones paused, then cursed.
"No. I have to write up a contract and have the Silvers' lawyers check it. Then I want her IQ checked, memory, everything. We can do that tomorrow. That won't involve actually touching her." Jones said.
"What about swimming?" Brad asked.
"Yes, yes. Tonight. Is the watch ready? 50 kilometres, no further." Jones said.
"The watch is ready. It will send a shock through her until she gets within range or is rescued." Brad said.
"And she won't be able to remove it once it's on?" Jones asked.
"No. Only a person with two hands free can do it." Brad replied.
"No one tell her that. We don't want her going to someone for help." Jones ordered.
"Yes Sir." Brad and Shields said.
"Good. Go and give it to her, and tell her that she's going swimming tonight. Don't tell her I saw her parents. She might ask questions that I don't want to answer just yet, or she may not cooperate until our contract is written up." Jones said. Brad stood up and headed out. Jones and Shields looked at each other.
"Can we trust lawyers to get involved? They'll pick the contract apart, or any legal document, before we can do anything." Shields asked. Jones rubbed a hand through his greying hair.
"You have a point. Who's to say they won't take it straight to the police, before it's signed?" Jones said, looking at his watch. It was nearly five, and he got the feeling he wouldn't get home until late. Shields shrugged, at a loss for words. Jones waved a hand at him, and Shields stood up and hurried out without another word. Jones pulled pen and paper to him, starting to scope out the basis of the contract.

Brad arrived at the observation room and looked in at the woman on the bed.
"When's dinner?" He asked. The guard looked at his watch.
"Thirty minutes." He replied. Brad looked at the screen again.
"Has she been drinking?" Brad asked.
"No. She hasn't moved for the last hour." The guard replied. Brad left the room and moved to the door to the cell. The guard saw him and followed, unlocking the door.
"Go and get her food. She needs it now." Brad said. The guard faltered.
"Um...I'm not allowed to leave you or anyone here with her and the door open." The guard said.
"So lock the door behind you. I doubt she's got the ability to hurt anyone right now." Brad said. He entered the room and the guard locked it behind him, heading to the kitchen. Brad moved over to me and knelt down beside the bed. I'd heard the men talking, but hadn't reacted. Brad touched my forehead.
"How do you feel?" He asked gently. I looked up at him.
"Terrible. Weak. Why are you doing this to me?" I asked, tears falling. Brad sighed.
"This was not intentional, I promise.  We didn't bank on that water making you sicker once it was made. We hoped it might provide a bit of drinking water, once mixed in with natural water. But we are taking you to the beach tonight, later. But for now you need to drink and eat. Can you move?" Brad asked. I shook my head, but still tried to sit up. He was holding my water bottle, and he held it out to me.
"Come on. Drink." Brad coaxed. I reached for the bottle but he held it for me, moving it to my mouth. I opened it and he slowly tipped the bottle up so the nozzle was in my mouth, and I sucked it down, coughing as it went down the wrong hole. "Careful," he said, rubbing my back. I drank some more, and then sat back as the door opened. A guard came in with a plate of food. Brad got up and took the plate from him.
"Sir?" The guard said. Brad gestured to the door.
"I'll signal you when I want to leave." Brad said, turning back to me as the guard left and locked the door. Brad pulled the chair over and sat down.
"Here, I'll help you." Brad said, and scooped up some of the lasagne. I looked up at him.
"Don't you have to go home? Surely Jenny and Tabitha need you." I said, unable to sound scornful. Brad shook his head.
"You need me more right now. Come on, eat." Brad said. I felt sick but opened my mouth when he brought the fork to my lips. It wasn't very warm, but I ate slowly.
"I have your diving watch ready. I'll put it on later for you." Brad said. I nodded.
"Thank you." I replied, and kept eating. Brad pulled the watch from his pocket and, after hesitating, placed it on my right wrist, seeming to lock it in place. I watched him, but it didn't register. I would be swimming soon.
"What do you normally wear when you swim?" He asked. I leaned back against the wall.
"Bathers, swim wear, leggings, whatever I'm wearing usually." I said. Brad watched me.
"You mean you can transform the fabric you're wearing?" He asked.
"Yes." I replied. He watched me a moment.
"Do you feel better now that you've eaten?" He asked. I shook my head.
"No. I still feel terrible." I said. Brad frowned.
"I am sorry about that. But we are taking you soon. Myself and Dr. Shields will be there, and Dr. Warden can take your dirty things to wash." Brad said. I nodded slowly.
"That sounds wonderful." I replied. Brad put the empty plate on the floor and gave me some more water.
"You just rest up, we'll leave soon." Brad said. I nodded and lay down, closing my eyes. Brad waved at the camera, picked up the empty plate, and a guard unlocked the door and let Brad out, locking the door behind him. I looked at the watch, checking the time, seeing it was five thirty, and felt happiness flood through me. If things panned out, then I would be talking to Tom soon. I lowered my arm, closing my eyes, and drifted off into an uneasy sleep filled with dreams of cages, salt and endless pokes and prods. I must have made sounds in my sleep because I woke to someone shaking me gently. I looked up at Dr. Warden.
"Hey, are you okay? You were making such terrible noises in your sleep." She said. I shook my head, my muscles aching.
"I'm okay...I just feel so weak." I said.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I'm here to help you change. Let's go into the bathroom and you can get changed." Warden urged gently. I sat up slowly, my head spinning, stomach feeling horrible, and I tried to stand but my legs refused to hold my weight, and I fell back on the bed. Warden held her hands out to me, and I took them, her pulling me to my feet and supporting me. My head felt as though it was full of cotton wool, but I managed to stay upright. We walked into the bathroom and I sat down on the toilet. Warden brought the suitcase in, and I selected a simple top, bikini bottoms and leggings, and with Warden's help I managed to change clothes and sit on the bed again. Warden left with my dirty clothes, and I fiddled with the watch, looking at the different functions available, impressed. The beach with the phone took me nearly two hours to get to, but that was me being slow. I would have to push myself as fast as I can in order to get there quickly and make the phone call. I then remembered the tracker somewhere on me, and sagged slightly. They would be suspicious at my burst of speed, and probably direction, but I had to do it. I needed help, and fast.