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Chapter Four

Connie Ackerman ran into her apartment with Ben Goodman hot on her heels. They found Beth lying unconscious on the floor with the phone buzzing as it hung, down the wall, off the hook.

“Beth. Wake up.” Ben gently slapped her face while Connie wet a white tea towel to rub Beth’s face and wrists.

“Is she all right, Ben?”

“I don’t know yet. You said she had amnesia and now she has lost consciousness. What caused her to have amnesia?”

“I’m not sure. When she rouses, maybe she’ll be able to tell us.” Connie didn’t want to tell how she found Beth until she knew more about the entire situation. Ben was a friend, a new attorney, but the less people know about Beth, the less she would have to explain.

“Connie, call 9-1-1. With amnesia Beth may have something very serious and we’re not medical people. We can’t help her. Does she have health insurance?”

“Yes, the same that all of us have who work at the courthouse.”

“Then please make the call.”

Connie made the call and then placed a rolled-up towel under Beth’s head. I’m glad Beth had a chance to clean up before she had to be taken to the hospital. I need to find her bloody clothes and put them away until I get a chance to ask for advice on how to help her handle this.

“Excuse me a moment, Ben. I’m going to run back to the bedroom and get her handbag. She’ll need her medical cards and maybe her driver’s license.”

Connie ran back and found the shoulder bag where she had left it on a chair. She hurriedly picked up the bloody clothes and placed them in a laundry bag from the bathroom. She stuffed the bag into the towel closet in the bathroom and hoped she would not get into trouble because of this.

Ben had opened the door for the paramedics as Connie came back into the kitchen. “May I ride in the ambulance with you? Beth has been very sick and will feel more secure if she sees me when she wakes up.”

The two men looked at each other with raised eyebrows. “I guess it’s okay,” one answered. Jeff will be in the back with you. I’m Alan and I’ll be driving.”

Connie turned to Ben. “Ben, do you mind following and bringing my car? I’m sure I’ll need it later.”

“No need to ask. I’ll be happy to do what I can.”

“Oh, and Ben, maybe you can ask Jerry to help you. I left Beth’s car in the restaurant parking lot last night. There will be too many questions from the wrong people if it’s left there long.”

“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry about a thing except helping Beth.”

Thank God I’m the only one who knows about the bloody clothes, Connie thought as she climbed into the back of the ambulance and took Beth’s hand.

Dr. August West came into the waiting room to find Connie slumped in a despondent pose. “Miss Ackerman?”

“Yes.” Connie jumped up at full attention. “How is Beth?”

“Miss Corelli is doing well physically. As you said she does have amnesia. I will call it selective amnesia meaning. She has had a traumatic event and has elected to put it out of her mind sometimes these last a few hours, or even days. In rare instances they may last for weeks. Miss Corelli seems to be in excellent physical condition so I’m going out on a limb and guess that it will not be more than a few days before she decides to join us. Then we shall find out what caused her to shut out the rest of the world.”

He smiled. “Do you have any questions? Since you are not a relative, I can’t give you any more information than that.”

“Beth is like a sister to me. We have been friends for years; went to school together, work together and socialize together. I need to know all you can tell me. I’ll be with her when she recovers and I will need to be the best help she needs. She has no relatives here.”

“I appreciate that, but policy is policy,” he chuckled. “I don’t always agree, but my hands are tied. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have other patients.”

“May I see Beth?”

“If it will make you feel better. She won’t even know you’re with her because we’re keeping her under light sedation. I’ll tell the nurses to allow you to sit with her as long as you don’t disturb her.”

“Oh, I’ll follow orders. I want to be with her. I’ll sit quietly and read. Tomorrow I’ll being needlework and do something with it. Thank you, Doctor.”

Another day passed slowly as Connie agonized beside Beth. She hardly left her side to shower and change clothes. Ben came each day and was worried about Connie.

“Connie, they’re taking good care of Beth. You need to take better care of yourself. If you get run down and collapse, you’ll be in here and you sure won’t be any help to Beth.”

“You’re sweet, Ben, to be concerned. I appreciate it, but everyone must understand I’m not leaving her until she recovers completely.” She didn’t dare tell them that she was afraid for Beth that she might say something either while she was out or if she woke up and didn’t know what had happened.

The third day Beth’s eyes fluttered; she moaned and became restless.

Connie called a nurse to check her.

“She’s fine, Miss Ackerman. She’s just waking up. It’s possible this will all be over in a few hours.” The nurse left and Connie took Beth’s hand.

“Beth. Beth, can you hear me? It’s time to wake up. Please open your eyes and look at me. Come one, Beth. You can do it.”

Another soft sigh and Beth opened her eyes. She looked around puzzled and focused on Connie.

“Oh, hi there, Connie. Where am I?”

“You’re in Seacoast Medical facility and have been in here for a few days.”

“Really! Why am I here? I don’t feel sick.”

“You’re not really sick. You’ve had amnesia and would not wake up. Lazy girl. You’ve been sleeping almost three days.”

Beth sat up. “I have?! What happened?”

“You tell me, girlfriend. First, you know who I am.”

“Of course, silly.”

“Do you remember the party we attended to wish Crystal a fond farewell as she went west to be married?’

“Yes. I’m glad it was such a great party. She had a lot of useful, lovely gifts and what a money tree.” Judge Ronald Kress had brought in a small limb with a few tiny branches. He had placed a hundred dollar bill on one branch and ask everyone present to place whatever they could afford to make a money tree for the couple. So many people had placed tens, twenties and loads of ones until the tree was completely full. When counted, there was over five hundred dollars.

Connie quickly, whispering, told Beth of the death of Malcolm and how Beth had first had amnesia and then became unconscious. Beth nodded sadly.

“Now I remember. I heard Malcolm calling to me, but I hurried to my car. I was in such a hurry to get away that I dropped my keys in the floor. It was too dark to see, so I had to lean over and hunt for them. When I sat up I heard a commotion. There were three men beating Malcolm. Blood was flying all over the place. I was afraid to let them know I was there so I laid over in the seat and was quiet until I couldn’t hear any more noises. I slowly sat up and got out of the car. Malcolm was on the ground and I ran to him to see if I could help him. I guess I realized he was dead. The last I remember, I held him against my chest and cried.”

“Oh, Beth. I found you wandering around in a fog; not talking or knowing what was going on. I took you to my apartment and kept you until I decided you needed medical help that I couldn’t give.” Silence.

“Beth, you are innocent of Malcolm’s death. However, if word gets out that you saw the men, the criminals might be afraid you can identify them and will try to kill you.”

“Connie, what am I going to do? I must tell the police what I saw. Will they blame me or arrest me?”

“I don’t see how they can do either, but you need legal advice.”

“I don’t want an attorney. I can’t imagine why I would need one.”

Connie sat up straight. “I have an answer. I don’t know the woman personally, but I’ve heard great things about her. A woman, Hannah Rutherford, was a policewoman and then felt she wanted more action. She has opened her own investigative agency. We can ask her for advice at least. She can tell us in what direction to go from here.”

“That sounds good. Do you know how to contact her?”

“I can find out. Do you want me to make the first contact? If she is interested, she can see you then.” She was pleased that Beth agreed.