Chapter 3 Allion (POV)

"Yes, there was a guy that was walking out of the alley. He stopped a few feet away from me and mumbled something like "Hello, sweetness. I need to know about your patient Willian Deveraux". I stop suddenly since he was already directly in front of me. I said "what? Who are you? why would I know this person?" I know who it was. William Deveraux was a patient that came in earlier this week. Better yet Senator Deveraux. Why was he wanting to know about him? I stumbled a bit and kept myself from falling to the ground.

He says, "look just tell me what he was treated for and I know he was leaving the state. I just need to know when he was leaving." And of course my reply "you might want to contact him directly. Don't know him, can't help you. And if I did, there's nothing I would tell you. Now please move out of my way". Next thing my face meets a fist. I give the detective all of the details. She gives me a smirk and continues to write in her notebook. "I remember screaming for HELP and another punch from behind me as I had turned to try and run back to the hospital entrance." She asked "he asked about Senator Deveraux?" I confirmed her question. I told her about patient-doctor confidentiality. There is nothing I would tell anyone about my patients. I tell the detective "I am not much of a fighter physically. But I will change that now. I may switch up from yoga to kick-boxing or something." She looks at me and says "I may be able to help you out there, sister. Just call me when you are feeling better".

"Can you describe the attacker?" Detective Machado asked as she opened her note pad again. She had a fierce look about her, almost like she was angry to do this. Her eyes softened just a bit, when I stared at her. "this is not your fault Allison. Women are assaulted every day. But you can be stronger going forward." I now had a questioning look on my face. "are you able to remember details on his face, build, clothing, tattoos, scars?" she asked.

"He was about 5'10 or 5'11, about 190 lbs. Stocky building. Dark over coat, military style boots, dark jeans with rips in the knees." I kept thinking to myself, 'remember dang it remember'. Just as I started to look up and the detective after searching around the room "Oh yeah, smoker – heavy smoker. I remember his smell. Cigarette smoke and body odor. There's something else but I can't put my finger on it." I stated.

Taking her time to write in the pad she had in her palm, I kept internally thinking you were able to study and memorize the human body, surgical procedures, birthdates of friends and family. But this, is kicking my butt. Searching my memory talking to myself over and over again. "ocean – he smelt like salt water like the seashore. He also smelt faint of fish combo of garbage"..."oh yes, yes, yes and lightening bolt tattoo just above his eye brow – right side. Maybe an inch in length – not too noticeable. I was trying to remember everything. And oh yeah, Russian type of accent."

What was going on with the Senator. A simple check on his remission before he travels out of the country. He was doing fine. All tests showed he was still in clear

There's a fish market on the dock just a couple of miles near the Hudson. I kept thinking maybe a "drunk sailor" crazy thought. But why was he wanting information on the senator? Just as I was deep in thought the nurse walked back in, after a slight knock, with a cup of ice chips and a small plastic pitcher of water on a small cart she pushed into the room. There was a small blue cup with a plastic cover she had to rip the seam open. She hands me the cup and says "doctor sent this for your headache."

I tipped the cup and let it fall into my hand. Raised my hand to my mouth and let it drop inside my mouth, taking a sip from the cup of water the nurse had just poured and tipped my head back.

"I'll just leave this here for you. this is the end of my shift Allison. Just push the button on the call box if you need the nurse before she comes in to check your chart." She said as she smiled at me and nodded to the detective. I thanked her as she walked out of the room. She stopped and glanced over her shoulder and replied "You are strong lady don't let this stop you!"

The detective had looked up at the exiting nurse and looked back at me and said "she's right". "If there is anything else you remember here is my card. I'll start asking questions over at the dock." She hands me here card. "or if you just need someone to talk to. I know, as a woman being a victim, you feel like your freedom has been taken away. That you won't be able to walk down the street to the café or just go for a walk in the park, because you think someone is out there following you. Don't eve think you have silly thoughts about these thoughts. You have to rebuild your strength and strengthen your mind.'"

I looked back at the detective and smiled, wincing from my busted lip. "thank you. I just remembered a fish market odor coming from the guy. He had bushy eye brows, indentation top of his nose. Like it had been broken before with a slant. He had a slight accent like Russian. He was wearing a ring on his right hand – pinkie ring with some kind of wing crest" I had remembered that coming at my face. "This is good information" Detective Machado says.

"I also remember a guy with striking blue eyes moving my hair from my face and asking me if I was okay". Why do people do ask that when they clearly see you are not okay. I had a busted lip and bruising, Really? I'm thinking, nope just walking around and threw myself into the wall! Some comedian saying "here's your sign" came to mind. Love that guy. "I remember voices from Manny and Jack talking to me but I could not answer them" I put her card on the table next to the hospital bed by the telephone. Took a deep breath and flinched a bit, crap my ribs hurt. Man, that guy with the blue eyes was gorgeous. Why can't I meet someone like that when wide awake, dang it.