06-15-2014, 07:32 AM
In another room, elsewhere in the hospital, Sid lies sleeping. Her body, at least. Dim light shines in through the window as the city is pelted with a summer storm thrown off the mountains, and a dull drumming on the window panes is the only sound in the room. Although Alexander doesn’t really know Sid, he’s still come to visit her. This time there’s a small gift – a small potted cactus sitting on the window sill. Something that shouldn’t cause any concerns about the ‘no flowers’ rule being broken. Something a little different that – hopefully – she’ll like when – hopefully – she wakes up again.
Getting here had taken a little more work than Kalen had.
*-*-*-*-*
Alexander had tried tracking her down after his second visit to see Kalen. Although he’d only ever been introduced to Sid by that single name, the note from Grace gave a couple of other possibilities. Sid or Amelia Weston. The receptionist at the front desk had tried to help, but there’s only so much that can be done when you don’t have the right name for someone.
He was stood on the opposite side of the reception desk to the middle-aged woman dealing with enquiries and pointing people in various directions on that particular morning. Her blonde-and-gray hair were held back in a tight bun, make up scrupulously applied. Experience dealing with members of the public not getting the answer they want, meant that he was getting nowhere fast.
“I’m sure she’s here. A friend asked me to check in on her and she definitely said this hospital. Can you check again? She’d either be listed under Sid or Amelia Weston.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but there is nobody here with that surname, and I can’t just go fishing for everybody with those first names. Have you tried the other hospitals in the area?” She looked up at Alexander, knitting her fingers together and resting them on the desk in front of the keyboard.
“She came in at the same time as the other caught in… whatever it was that happened in that club.” Alexander sighs, resigned to where the conversation is inevitably headed – nowhere.
“I’m sorry, sir. But we didn’t take all of the casualties that night. Our ED just wouldn’t have been able to handle them all. All I can think is that she ended up somewhere else. If you’ll excuse me…” She turned away, pressing a button on the quietly ringing phone next to her keyboard. “University of Colorado Hospital…”
Before he turned from the desk, Alexander said quietly, “I appreciate you trying, thank you.” The receptionist looked up, gave a quick nod, and then returned her attention to her PC.
*-*-*-*-*
There is more than one way to skin a cat, though.
The mystery of so many people going comatose at the same time is something that is going to get looked into. The police, and possibly other more sinister organisations, are going to take an interest in the circumstances. The police, in particular, looking for evidence of drug-related activity that could have turned bad. A dangerous new drug on the street? A new dealer, mixing something already known with something different?
For those with the means of access, getting a peek at various reports isn’t too difficult. But the investigation into blood results, forensic screening, toxicological and biochemical examinations of the various – known – substances in the club aren’t where Alexander look. He was looking for something much, much simpler. A list of casualties and where they had been taken. A simple list, put together on the night when it had all happened as person after person was assessed by EMTs and paramedics, checked for ID, then transported to one of the receiving hospitals.
It’s a simple matter of deduction from there:
The number of Amelia’s – none.
The number of Sid’s – two.
The number of Sid’s taken to UCH – one. White. Female. About the right age.
One Sid Rhodes.
*-*-*-*-*
And so here he is. Potted cactus on the windowsill. Chair pulled up to the bedside again. Quietly watching, just for a little while. Then he leaves to visit Kalen again. There’s a little something for him too.
vesta @ 3:26PM
[Int+Inv]
Roll: 4 d10 TN6 (6, 6, 7, 9) ( success x 4 )
Getting here had taken a little more work than Kalen had.
*-*-*-*-*
Alexander had tried tracking her down after his second visit to see Kalen. Although he’d only ever been introduced to Sid by that single name, the note from Grace gave a couple of other possibilities. Sid or Amelia Weston. The receptionist at the front desk had tried to help, but there’s only so much that can be done when you don’t have the right name for someone.
He was stood on the opposite side of the reception desk to the middle-aged woman dealing with enquiries and pointing people in various directions on that particular morning. Her blonde-and-gray hair were held back in a tight bun, make up scrupulously applied. Experience dealing with members of the public not getting the answer they want, meant that he was getting nowhere fast.
“I’m sure she’s here. A friend asked me to check in on her and she definitely said this hospital. Can you check again? She’d either be listed under Sid or Amelia Weston.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but there is nobody here with that surname, and I can’t just go fishing for everybody with those first names. Have you tried the other hospitals in the area?” She looked up at Alexander, knitting her fingers together and resting them on the desk in front of the keyboard.
“She came in at the same time as the other caught in… whatever it was that happened in that club.” Alexander sighs, resigned to where the conversation is inevitably headed – nowhere.
“I’m sorry, sir. But we didn’t take all of the casualties that night. Our ED just wouldn’t have been able to handle them all. All I can think is that she ended up somewhere else. If you’ll excuse me…” She turned away, pressing a button on the quietly ringing phone next to her keyboard. “University of Colorado Hospital…”
Before he turned from the desk, Alexander said quietly, “I appreciate you trying, thank you.” The receptionist looked up, gave a quick nod, and then returned her attention to her PC.
*-*-*-*-*
There is more than one way to skin a cat, though.
The mystery of so many people going comatose at the same time is something that is going to get looked into. The police, and possibly other more sinister organisations, are going to take an interest in the circumstances. The police, in particular, looking for evidence of drug-related activity that could have turned bad. A dangerous new drug on the street? A new dealer, mixing something already known with something different?
For those with the means of access, getting a peek at various reports isn’t too difficult. But the investigation into blood results, forensic screening, toxicological and biochemical examinations of the various – known – substances in the club aren’t where Alexander look. He was looking for something much, much simpler. A list of casualties and where they had been taken. A simple list, put together on the night when it had all happened as person after person was assessed by EMTs and paramedics, checked for ID, then transported to one of the receiving hospitals.
It’s a simple matter of deduction from there:
The number of Amelia’s – none.
The number of Sid’s – two.
The number of Sid’s taken to UCH – one. White. Female. About the right age.
One Sid Rhodes.
*-*-*-*-*
And so here he is. Potted cactus on the windowsill. Chair pulled up to the bedside again. Quietly watching, just for a little while. Then he leaves to visit Kalen again. There’s a little something for him too.
vesta @ 3:26PM
[Int+Inv]
Roll: 4 d10 TN6 (6, 6, 7, 9) ( success x 4 )