Page 8 of Solid as Steele
Patterson ripped off the gloves and disposed of them. “You’re not exhibiting any of the classic symptoms of a serious head injury other than loss of consciousness.”
Seriously?“What about the memory loss?”
“We can discuss that after we do a CT scan, but I don’t think we’ll find your injury caused the amnesia.”
Owen took a second to try to digest that information. “Then what in the world would’ve caused it?”
Patterson looked Owen straight in the face. “I suspect we’re looking at an emotional shock that caused psychogenic or dissociative amnesia.”
“Maybe I saw something before I was injured?” Owen clarified.
“Could be.” Patterson continued to peer at Owen. “Or like I mentioned, You could’ve suffered an intense beating. But let’s get that CT for your head and take a good look at your internal organs, too. I want to see if they suffered any damage. Then we can go from there.”
He spun and marched out of the room.
Owen pulled up his gown and tied it at his neck. Thoughts pinged through his head like the steel ball in a pinball machine. But like the machine, the levers failed and the balls of thought fell away without revealing anything.
What could he have seen that would be so shocking that he didn’t want to remember it or anything else? He couldn’t even begin to figure it out without knowing his identity and why he’d been in the desert all alone without ID. Or had the person who hurt him stolen it?
The technician arrived to take him down for the CT, and Owen settled into the wheelchair for the ride. He wanted to pound his hand against his head to jar something loose in there, but held off. The doc didn’t think Owen had a serious head injury, but he wouldn’t risk hitting himself just in case. Not to mention it would hurt and do no good other than to alleviate some frustration.
The staff efficiently performed the scan, and Owen quickly returned to his exam room again, the young doctor standing in front of him.
“The good news is you don’t have any internal injuries or bleeding,” Patterson said. “And just as I suspected, no brain hematomas or skull fractures. However, since you did lose consciousness, you fit the diagnosis for a concussion. A mild one, I suspect.”
“So I can go home?” Owen asked though he had no idea where home was.
“Yes, but I need you to be cautious and watch for certain symptoms.” He went on to describe a list of symptoms and things that might or might not happen. “Do you have someone who can stay with you tonight to wake you every few hours to be sure you can awaken normally?”
If his memory came back, would he have anyone in his life who would do that for him? Somehow he believed he might be a loner.
“Sir?” Patterson asked.
“Yeah, sure. The person who brought me in,” he answered quickly so the doctor would discharge him, but he couldn’t possibly ask Mackenzie to let him stay in her cabin. That she was allowing him to spend the night in the guest house was beyond generous. And maybe a little foolish, but then she did have a gun for protection and she was calling the guide to stay with her.
Owen would simply have to monitor himself. Or the outdoor guide could stay in the guest house too. But Mackenzie’s friend would already be doing Owen a favor just by coming to lead them through the desert. Having to get up every few hours when they had a big day ahead wasn’t a fair ask.
Owen was on his own.
Why did that bother him almost as much as losing his memory?
Mackenzie paced the sidewalk outside the ER, a brisk wind whipping her hair in her face as she held her phone to her ear. “C’mon, Ryan, answer.”
“Mac, is that you?” His breathless voice came over the phone, sounding like he’d run to answer.
“Yeah. Am I interrupting something?”
“Just finishing a run. What’s up?”
She told him about her situation. “Could you or someone on your team make it out here ASAP then guide us tomorrow? Tonight would be best.”
She explained her reasoning, held her breath, and waited for his response.
“We’ve got a big gig tomorrow, but let me check with my brothers to see if they can handle things without me.”
“I don’t want to cause any problems.”
“No worries. You’ve always been a problem in my life, so what’s new?” He chuckled.
