Bombshell

“Everything?”

“Yes, even her name.”

The doctor made some notes in his file.

“Can you tell me if she’s had any incidents where she’s shown signs of remembering something frightening from her past?”

“Yes,” Merrick said. “Yesterday, she freaked out. Got all scared.”

“So, she’s had some trauma recently. Do you think it was from the accident? What happened in the accident? You say this accident occurred a few days ago—I didn’t see any bruises or lacerations. Can you tell me more about how she got her head injury?”

“Actually,” Merrick said—bowing his head a little, “it wasn’t a car accident—someone shot the window while she was in the car. The window shattered, but she said she was fine. It wasn’t until a few hours later that I realized there was a large piece of glass in her skull.”

“Oh, I see, so, a few hours after the accident you went to the hospital to have the glass removed. Is that correct?”

“Not exactly,” Merrick said, his head drooping a little more.

“You did it yourself?” the doctor said.

“No, I had a doctor do it,” Merrick said. “But we weren’t near a hospital, so he didn’t have any decent equipment.”

“I see,” the doctor said, his face twisting in disapproval. “Could I get the name of that doctor, please?”

“Uh, I’m sorry—I don’t remember his name.”

“Where was his office, then?”

“Uh, he came to us, I don’t know.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but I have other patients to take care of. Just one more thing.”

Merrick and Tony waited uncomfortably, wondering how this doctor would judge them next. He went to his desk and flipped a Rolodex, then pulled out his prescription pad and wrote down a number.

“I’m not too worried about the brain injury, but I’m very concerned about her state of mind and her amnesia. I don’t believe it was caused by the accident or the glass in her skull. But I’m not an expert in this field—this woman is. I suggest you contact her so she can be around when our young lady comes out of her coma.”

Merrick took the name and put it in his pocket.

“Thank you, Doctor,” they said, then left his office.

Since Bombshell would remain in a coma and in the hospital overnight, the two men went back to the beach house.

It was getting dark when Merrick parked in the driveway. They were halfway up the driveway when their front door flew open and Mama G came running out the front door. “Why didn’t you call me?” she said. “I’m so sorry about your fiancée, Merrick. Have you heard anything?

Is she going to be alright?”

“What are you doing here, Mama G?” Tony asked.

Mama G shifted her shoulder and put her nose in the air. “Why shouldn’t I be here? You’re my boys, aren’t you? I heard about Bombshell being in the hospital, and I thought you boys might be hungry when you got back. I put a lasagna and salad in the fridge. I wasn’t going to stay and cramp your style, Romeo.”

“It’s okay, Mama G,” Merrick said. “I’m glad you’re here. We need to talk.”

Tony shot Merrick an look which said, Are you sure you want to tell her?

Merrick nodded. “Yeah, Mom, please stay and eat with us. There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you about Bombshell. I’m afraid I haven’t been entirely honest with you.”

Mama G’s face lit up at the dinner invitation, then got a little pinched at the news she’d been lied to. Then she shrugged her shoulders and pulled both of her boys into a big hug. “You two wash up. I’ll get dinner on the table. Give me fifteen minutes to reheat the lasagna.”

Merrick went to his room to change into shorts and a t-shirt, then called the referral doctor, a Doctor Suzanna Garcia. He got her answering service and left a message, stressing that his call was urgent and she’d be extremely well compensated if she could come to Atlantic City tomorrow. To his surprise, he received a call back less than five minutes later.