face giving her a determined look. An interesting and -- yes-- attractive face. People had always said, “Beth has a charismatic personality.”
A rumbling in her stomach made her aware that she was hungry. Do I eat here or out? She looked around the room not truly recognizing the items in it. Making her way past the guest bedroom she came to a small room on the right better known as a den rather than a living room.
On the left, across from the den, was a small room with a floor to ceiling window. On the right, in front of the window was a drop-leaf table that could be opened to seat six. On the wall, across from the table, was a beautiful oak china cabinet filled with expensive looking dishes.
Straight through was a kitchen. On her left was a stove. Beside it was a side by side refrigerator and by the refrigerator was a small room holding broom, cleaning supplies and a vacuum cleaner. On the right, under a window, was a deep, double sink and cabinets overhead. A dishwasher took the space beside the sink.
Timidly she opened the refrigerator door and found a pitcher of orange juice, eggs, butter, jams, raw carrots, raw cauliflower, a bowl of fresh cut fruit and a loaf of bread. There was a jar of instant coffee and some cans of Diet Coke. Not sure how her stomach would receive much food, Beth decided to just have juice and toast. A four slot toaster sat on one side of the stove. Why does none of this seem familiar to me?
Seated at the table with two pieces of toast, butter, blackberry jam and a can of Coke, she looked out of the window at an unfamiliar scene. Jumping nearly out of the chair she stood up when the ringing phone hanging on the wall between the dining room and the kitchen blared out.
“Hello.” She spoke low.
“Beth? Is that you? Beth? Beth? “The person yelled anxiously.
“Yes.”
“Beth. It’s Connie. Can you hear me? How are you feeling?”
“Do I know you?”
“Beth! Of course you know me. We’re best friends and work together. In fact, you’re in my apartment.”
“Oh. That explains why everything is so strange to me. How did I get here in your apartment?” She was afraid to ask about the blood on her clothes.
“You don’t remember? Oh, I bet you have amnesia.”
“Whatever. I guess I do. Why am I here and why can’t I remember anything except my name?”
“You don’t remember the party last night?”
“Party?”
“We gave a going away party for Crystal. Remember? She’s getting married and is leaving to move to Arizona where her husband is working.”
“No. I don’t remember. How do I know you and Crystal?”
“We work here in the court house in a group of legal secretaries.”
“We do?”
“Sure. You don’t remember the party. Do you remember slapping Malcolm when he whispered something to you? Then you jumped up and ran out and he was right on your heels.”
“Nothing. Why am I here? Where did the blood on my clothes come from? Who is this Malcolm?”
“I had to speak to someone but came after you as quickly as I could. I found you wandering in the parking lot of the Full and Plenty Restaurant. You were covered in blood and couldn’t talk. I didn’t know what had happened or how you got the blood on you. I just put you in my car and brought you home. You were so out of it, and fought me, that I just managed to take off your boots and put you in my bed. I slept on the couch. I called to ask you if you remembered how you got the blood on you.”
“No,” she sobbed. “I don’t remember.”
“Well then. Maybe this news will jog your memory. Let me read it to you. I’ll only read the important parts. It seems that after you and Malcolm Baker ran out last night, someone beat him to death. There was so much blood around that it is described as a blood bath. Apparently you were near, or maybe you held him. The police are looking for anyone who has any information on him. I know you would never have killed him. You’re too small to have caused that much damage to a man much bigger than you. It just isn’t your nature to get so angry anyway. Maybe you saw it happen.”
“Now I remember,” Beth screamed. There was a small clunk and a loud plop. Silence.
“Beth? Beth? Are you still there? Are you okay? I’m coming home.”
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,
