Blind Spot by Nancy Bush Page A

glared at the two of them as if they were plotting against him, but he always looked that way. Gibby was seated in his favorite chair, and beside him, in the chair she apparently had grabbed onto, Jane Doe was staring silently toward the television.
    Greg Fanning, one of the orderlies, asked Claire, “You here to see Cat?”
    “Cat?”
    He shot a look toward Jane Doe. “Cat Atonic,” he dead-panned. “Better name than Jane Doe.”
    Claire was noncommital, as she didn’t want to encourage Greg, who took things to the nth degree sometimes. But he was good with the patients, and that was the most important thing.
    “Hello,” Claire greeted the new patient. “My name’s Claire.”
    “I’m Bradford,” Gibby interrupted. “Don’t you has a name?”
    “Call her Cat,” Greg said.
    “Cat,” Gibby repeated.
    The woman in question stared straight ahead. Her hair was blond, straight, and hung down to lie just past her shoulders. Her eyes were a crystal blue. Brilliant. Icelandic. Claire wondered who her people were, her family, her friends. It had been over a week since she’d been found, so where were they?
    “You’re safe here. Your room is down the hall,” Claire reminded her. “Would you like to watch television?”
    “She don’t talk,” Gibby said. He was gripped onto the sides of his special chair as if expecting someone to steal it from him, which happened at least once or twice every day.
    “Dr. Norris…”
    Claire looked up at the familiar voice. “Hi, Donald,” she said to the approaching man in khakis and a pressed shirt. He smiled effortlessly through blindingly white teeth. If he’d had a sweater he would have hooked it with one thumb and thrown it over his shoulder.
    “Who’s our new friend, here?” he asked.
    “We don’t know her name yet,” she said, shooting a quelling glance at Greg, who ignored her and said, “Cat.”
    “She looks like a Marlene,” Donald responded.
    He walked away. Claire’s eyes followed him for a moment, then she glanced back at the blond woman. There was a glimmer in her eyes, as if she’d reacted to some stimulus. Donald? Claire yanked her attention to Donald’s retreating back and thought of calling him over again, but he was chatting with Big Jenny, who was staring at him as if she’d like to eat him alive. Claire knew Don Inman well enough to know he wouldn’t be any help to her in the way she hoped. He wasn’t interested. Neither was he part of the staff, but he acted like it sometimes.
    Turning back to the blond woman, who seemed to have tensed up, Claire said, “Your baby’s doing fine. So are you. If you’d like to talk sometime, I’d like to listen.”
    There was no response.
    Claire waited for a few moments, then smiled encouragingly and told her that she’d be back to see her later.
    Gibby twisted to watch Claire leave, then turned back to his new friend. “She’s nice,” he said conspiratorially. “Some of ’em aren’t as nice.”
    The blond woman gazed blankly at the television. Gibby reached over and patted her hand.
     
    Tasha faded in and out of a strange reality. She could sense the danger. It was chasing her. Breathing down her neck. She was trapped…trapped…and they were coming for her. Always coming for her. There were bindings at her wrists. Leather straps that cruelly bit into her flesh. They tied her up rather than leave her alone. They were evil. Evil! They never let her be.
    She had to get out! Had to find a way.
    They were coming for her. They were just outside the door. She had to tell someone. Warn them!
    Help me! Help me! Please! PLEASE!
     
    Gibby gazed at the blond woman with concern. She was squeezing the arms of her chair and softly moaning. Gibby fretted. His friend was having a problem. She was staring at the TV. Eyes wide.
    “Could we get the TV on!” he yelled, looking around, flailing his arms. “The TV. Damn it! ”
    Darlene cruised over, her eyes hard. “Hold your horses,” she muttered,