Chapter 29: Conversations with Frost
POV: Zac
November 24, 2007
I was at home for a few hours to shower and get clean clothes, Taylor agreed to sit with her and report any change but really there wasn’t any changes, she was still sedated but they had gotten the swelling in her arm to go down so they had set it better but no cast, beyond that she was the same. The bruising was deeper in some places. I hated that she was even there, she shouldn’t be. I was about to leave when a knock came and I checked, official looking man so I opened the door.
“Mr. Hanson? I’m detective Harold Mabis. Do you have a moment to speak to me?”
“I was just headed back to the hospital but yes I do.”
“I understand. It shouldn’t take long.”
I let him in after seeing his badge and we sat in the living room, he chose the chair and had his pad out.
“I am sorry about your wife, the officers told me you didn’t live there with her, this is your residence?”
“Yes. Um, our marriage was a result of being in Vegas. We really hadn’t had time to totally discuss if we were in fact remaining married or if we were going to get an annulment. We were both very drunk when it occurred and we just hadn’t had time.”
“I see. Is that why she was there and you weren’t?”
“Yes. That was where she was living when we met.”
“Her bedroom showed her things being packed up before, was she planning to move?”
“From my understanding she and her roommate, Maxwell, had a disagreement and she said she was moving, she called my brother’s girlfriend Stella to ask if she could stay there. I would have not turned her down but she didn’t even tell me she was moving.”
“Do you believe that her roommate, Maxwell Reed, is capable of hurting her?”
“No. He was my first thought as well honestly but he was a good friend to her and he helped get her away from her ex-boyfriend, Simon Barns.”
Ironically, he was the first person I had considered as well, but looking back I was just scared for her and I understood that Max wouldn’t do this to her. He may hurt her feelings or emotionally hurt her but he wouldn’t ever do this, not to this extent.
“What about Mr. Barns?”
“He’s been calling and texting her pretty much daily for over a month now. She contacted police but the messages weren’t threats. I saw him one time during the tour he was trying to pull her away and I stopped him, beyond that I have had no contact with him. She did tell me be was very abusive toward her during their relationship.”
He wrote down something and glanced around. “Do you live here alone?”
“Yes.”
“Do you partake in any drug use?”
“No Sir, when I was younger I experimented like most teenagers but I haven’t touched anything in many years. I barely even drink, which is why it’s easy to get drunk.”
“What about Ms. Frost? Did she do drugs or use anything illegal?”
“She said she use too but not in a long time. Likewise, she doesn’t really drink or anything. Do you have any idea what really happened?”
“We found her cell phone and we’re checking it now and local surveillance. The apartment manager said the entrances and exits were covered, so we’re looking to see if there was any strange vehicles. We did see you arrive Thursday and we worked backward, we were able to clear you easily based on that and your alibi. Has she mentioned any one she knows being dealers or working around drugs or doing them?”
“No. She basically talked to the same people. My brothers, Taylor’s girlfriend Stella, Maxwell and Abigail. I know she was adopted and she hasn’t seen her parents in a while. Do you think this is drug related somehow?”
“Mr. Reed indicated that nothing was missing from the apartment, but the way it was trashed it appears they were looking for something. Has she mentioned keeping large amounts of cash, jewelry, or anything like that?”
“No. Her checks are direct deposited and she rarely used cash around me. She hasn’t mentioned keeping anything expensive either.”
“Aside from Simon, do you know of anyone else that might have a problem with her? Another ex, friends or anyone?”
“Jacob Frost. He’s her adopted father and she told me he molested and raped her for a long time, most of the time she was there actually. Um she was adopted with another boy, Corbin. I would assume his last name is Frost as well. She said they didn’t talk much and from what I’ve gathered they haven’t talked in years.”
He made a bunch of notes and asked me another half dozen questions and most related to drugs or people she knew. It really opened my eyes to the fact that I didn’t know how many people she really knew or was ever around. But, he finally let me go after giving me a card to call if I thought of anything else. I returned to the hospital, but Taylor wasn’t in the room he was in the waiting room.
“What are you doing out here?”
“They asked me to come out, they were about to change her bedding and her and I think maybe a sponge bath. She said when they were done they would come get you or me.”
“I’d have been back sooner but a detective came by. Um, did Max or Gabby ever mention drugs to you?”
“No. I know Gabby use too long ago, she and Carrick talked about it a few times. But, not recently.”
“He asked me a lot of questions about drugs and stuff.”
“Maybe they’re thinking drugs, I mean really Zac why else would someone hurt her that badly? She’s the quietest person I know.”
“I know.”
I sat back. “I should have gone to get her.”
“It’s not your fault Zac, you couldn’t predict this.”
“I should have gone when her messages were off, but I just figured she was still mad and I knew she wanted time to think about things.”
He rubbed my back. “She’ll be fine Zac.”
The nurse let us know it was okay to return to her room about 30 minutes after I arrived, the sheets had been changed and she had been cleaned up, there was fresh bandages on the minor cuts to her arm. The IV looked different though.
“Did they add something?”
“Yes. She was running a low grade fever so the doctor is adding an antibiotic. He’s also doing blood work to see if he can isolate a reason.”
I nodded and she finished and then left. Taylor sat with me for a little while, we got dinner that afternoon and when I returned to the room the same nurse from the first night was there, yet the way he was pushing the hair from her face, the way he was touching her didn’t seem like a professional nurse. I eased into the room, quietly.
“Come on Ella. You are much stronger than this. You were always so smart and such a smartass, you were always stronger than I was.”
He moved more of her hair and by his voice I could tell he was slightly teary eyed. What I didn’t understand was who he was, he was obviously a nurse but who was he to her?
“I’m sorry Ella.”
I cleared my throat and he straightened up quickly and turned.
“Who are you?”
“No one she’ll want to see. The paper says you’re her husband?”
“Yeah, no paper on you though.”
It was the same nurse as before and he still didn’t answer my question but made up a reason to leave and he was gone. That was a very strange nurse. I sat down on in the same chair but it wasn’t even an hour later before I heard something. I got up and walked to the bed, her eyes were moving more.
“Gabriella?” I asked.
Her head tilted toward me. “Shawn?”
“It’s Zac, baby I’m here.”
She wasn’t even awake, her voice was very scratchy and raw. I called the nurse and they came in and checked.
“She’s still sedated but not as heavily. It’s possible now she’ll dream and potentially sleep talk.”
“Do I need to do anything?”
“No. Unless she starts crying or indicating she’s in pain, then call us.”
I nodded, slid the chair closer and again an hour later she moved but this time she said no.
“Don’t leave, Shawn…”
“Gabby it’s Zac, Shawn isn’t here baby.”
Abigail texted me at 3:20 and I went and got her. We sat down in the room, me much closer to the bed. She was allowed to stay if I let her and she usually would talk to her a bit before leaving.
“Abigail, I have a question.”
“I may have an answer.”
“Who is Shawn? She’s mentioned his name a few times but when I asked her about him she wouldn’t answer me.”
“It’s not my place Zac. I’m sorry, but she won’t let me tell anyone.”
“Does Max know who he is?”
“Yes, but he doesn’t really know much about him and he won’t answer you either because she told him the same thing she told me.”
“So, you know who he is, you just won’t or can’t tell me?”
“I can’t. You were afraid of her being mad if you didn’t let us back, well I’m not risking her being angry with me because I told.”
I nodded, it was understandable if it was someone Gabriella really didn’t want to talk about but I was wondering if her current condition could be related to him.
“He wouldn’t be responsible for this right? You won’t be telling me who he is, just if there is a chance that he’s the reason she’s here.”
“No. He wouldn’t be responsible.”
The next time she mumbled his name Abigail heard her and all she did was frown.
“Have the police told Max anything?”
“They haven’t released the apartment back to him. They are processing but he and I gave prints and he had to give them a list of everyone that had been inside.”
“They have mine too, came and got them yesterday.”
“Did they ask you a lot of questions about drugs and stuff too?”
“Yep. I don’t know why they would even consider that. She hasn’t touched a drug since she met Simon.”
“He didn’t allow it?”
“No. I think he did use them but he never let her. He was strict about everything, was so glad when Max called me and told me she was there and that she left him. Or rather he threw her out.”
I wanted to ask why she was leaving but I didn’t, instead when her time was up I let her out. Max was waiting so I let him back but we didn’t really talk. However it was close to dinner and I didn’t want to eat alone. So I asked him to join me and I was shocked he agreed. We went down to the cafeteria and got our plates and found a seat.
“I have to say you asking me is a shock.”
“Yeah well, we both have to come to a compromise sometime. For her sake if nothing else. She can’t be torn between us and we both can’t keep telling her the other one is horrible or that he’s just protecting her.”
“Never told her anything but the truth.”
“The truth? You told her once I had sex with her I’d leave. It’s been three weeks Max and I haven’t left yet. I don’t leave the room unless I have too. I talk to her all during the day and night. Likewise you really don’t know how I am, you have no right to tell her I’m some man whore incapable of even caring about others.”
“It’s all I knew and I was trying to keep her from making another mistake.”
“I’m no mistake Maxwell. I understand you care about her but we both need to just pretend to get along. I don’t judge you on the way you treat her, which I disagree with completely. You should be supporting her decisions and encouraging her to do things, not constantly telling her she’s stupid.”
“She makes stupid mistakes, I call it like I see it.”
I finished my plate and sat back. “Well, until she’s awake and out of ICU you don’t have a choice Maxwell. I can stop you from coming all together. Gabriella is not stupid, she doesn’t make stupid mistakes. Back off calling her stupid or don’t bother to show up anymore.”
I took my tray and emptied it then returned to the room, but again that same nurse was there. The same manner as before and I eased in again. He wasn’t talking this time but he was just moving her hair, his touch was gentle and it was obvious that whoever he was, he knew her.
She mumbled Shawn’s name again and he seemed to change, he got still. Gabriella barely had moved, but she was still pretty doped up.
“Um..Hi…again.”
He turned as if he’d been caught doing something wrong and he moved away from her.
“It’s okay. It’s obvious you care about her. I have no idea who you are or why you care about her though.”
“It’s not important who I am really. Once she wakes up she will not want to see me.”
“It depends on who you are. Are you Corbin by chance?”
“Corbin?” He asked.
“The boy that was adopted with her, she said they didn’t talk much.”
“She told you about him?”
“Yes. Although, she won’t tell me who Shawn is. I’m assuming he was someone she loved maybe an ex-boyfriend or a very close friend.”
“Do you ask often?”
“Not really, but she’s said his name a few times and she’s asked for him a few times when she was drunk. When I asked she didn’t answer.”
“Does she still talk to Abigail?”
Ah! So he was someone that knew her at least, he knew about Abigail and she’d known Abigail for a long time.
“She does but I’m not sure where their friendship stands right now. She is apparently dating Max and I know at one point she had feelings for him. I don’t even know if she knows about them.”
“Max?” he asked.
“One of her friends, not that I really approve of him but he doesn’t approve of me either.”
“Why would he not approve of her husband?”
“Well marriage wasn’t really the plan, was more a drunken Vegas mistake. Although, right now neither Max nor Abigail know that.”
“How long have you been with her?”
“Twenty-four days, we were together thirteen days when new got married.”
“Oh..wow..Um..thirteen days?”
“Yeah and then my ex-girlfriend decided to be a pain in the ass and she came up and kissed me and she saw us. She didn’t take that very well and was pretty upset, not that I blame her. We talked but we hadn’t really discussed the wedding thing.”
“Do you want to do anything about the wedding? You said mistake, does that mean you both want to divorce already?”
“The morning after we both freaked, I mean thirteen days isn’t really a long time. But we couldn’t really do anything and I’m rather glad we didn’t, because I wouldn’t be here if we did. She’d be here alone. I’m not entirely sure that I want to divorce.”
He sat down gently on the foot of her bed. “Talk to her. I’m sure that you being here all the time will help her forgive you for that ex-girlfriend kiss.”
“I just wish I knew who Shawn was, it’s obvious that she wants to talk to this guy. It’s obvious that whatever he did hurt but she just won’t tell me.”
“Abigail won’t either?”
“I asked her earlier actually, she said Gabriella would be mad.”
“She’s a bit of a fiery one when she wants to be, temper for days.”
I raised an eyebrow. “She’s never been that way not since we met.”
“When did you meet her?”
“August 12, this year. She joined my band as the roadie or assistant.”
A monitor began to beep behind him and for a moment he was fine but then it was like something clicked and he was quick to jump up and begin to feel her forehead, cheeks, neck and arms. The alarm must have triggered the nurses desk too because two came in.
He was checking the bags and I saw him rip one off the pole and he was calling out an order which sounded completely Greek to me, all I really understood was allergic reaction. The more monitors that went off the more scared I got. He called an order for something and she gave him this big needle which he gave to her.
“Did her medical file not say she was allergic to penicillin?” he asked.
“No.” she replied.
It wasn’t even 10 minutes later that the machines stopped going haywire and both of them stood there watching the machines and her, which seemed to be calming.
“What happen?” I asked.
“Frost here just saved her life. We didn’t know about any allergies. You should come back to the ICU unit, good thing you were here.”
“Yeah. They need to band her and give her a tetracycline, she can take those very well. She can’t have Amoxicillin either.”
She made notes and within ten minutes there was a big band on her wrist stating not to give her those but there was something about the way she addressed him. But he walked out with her and he didn’t return, she’d called him Frost. Seriously he couldn’t be Corbin, could he? The nurse returned and she was checking vitals and stats.
“Is she okay now?”
“Yes. She had a reaction to the antibiotic. She was on a broad spectrum earlier which was a tetracycline type medication. She was put on the penicillin right before you returned actually, a few minutes before Frost came in.”
“Frost? Why do you call him that?”
“It’s his last name, same as hers. I thought that was weird actually. I guess she’s somehow related to him or something. I’m not sure.”
“Do you know his first name?”
“No, sorry. He only ever wanted us to call him Frost. He worked here in the ICU for a while, he’s a damn good nurse. He wants to be a surgeon.”
“Maybe he does know her, I mean I didn’t know she was allergic to penicillin.”
“We didn’t either.”
She stayed in the room for an hour, continually checking the monitors. I got my phone and pulled up Abigail’s name, I had a hunch.
Did you know Gabby was allergic to penicillin?!
Time just ticked by before she replied. No. She never mentioned being allergic to anything. Why?!
They gave her penicillin and she had a reaction. Would Shawn have known about this?
Zac…you know I can’t say anything. But, I would assume he would have, why does it matter?
No particular reason…just there was a nurse that knew. I was kind of surprised.
No kidding…maybe they knew the signs? Is she okay?
She’s fine. I guess he did, which is good!
She didn’t reply and I sent messages to Taylor, Isaac, and my mother to let them know how she was doing. Taylor would tell Stella, who was also worried. I then got as comfortable as I could in the chair. We still didn’t know why this happened or who was responsible and it was possible we wouldn’t until they let her wake up.