âThatâs very self-sacrificing.â
âOr very self-serving,â John countered. âI have no desire to die. If being locked up keeps me alive until my memory returns, then so be it.â
âThatâs settled,â the sheriff intoned. âCarol, when youâre ready to release Mr. Doe, Iâll take him to the sheriffâs station.â
Carolâs gaze darkened with concern. âIf youâre sure.â
âI am,â the sheriff confirmed. âItâs best for everyone this way.â
Audrey made a distinct harrumph noise but didnât comment.
âIâll have the nurse bring our patientâs clothing while I process his discharge papers,â the doctor told them. âHeâll need careful monitoring to make sure his concussion doesnât worsen. If he loses consciousness again or throws up or complains of dizziness, call me right away.â
âWe will.â The sheriff held the door open for the doctor. âIâll be outside,â he said to Audrey before he followed the doctor out of the room.
âThat went well,â Audrey said on a huff. She offered him a stiff smile. âSorry you had to witness that little drama.â
âWhat was that about?â he asked. âAre you new to the job?â That had to play into the dynamics between the deputy and sheriff.
She lifted her chin. âSort of. I did a year on patrol in Bangor before returning home to Calico Bay.â
âAnd how long ago did you return?â
âLess than a year.â
Okay. She was inexperienced. The sheriff was being cautious on many levels. John could appreciate that. Heâd be the same if he had a fairly new recruit under him.
The thought stopped him. Recruit? What did that mean? Was he in law enforcement? Or was the thought just a random scenario that had nothing to do with his life prior to waking up in the hospital?
The throbbing in his head intensified. His stomach cramped.
âHey, you better lie down,â Audrey said, moving quickly to his side. âYouâre not looking so good.â
âHeadache,â he said as he scooted back to rest his head on the pillow. âI donât remember the last time I had food.â
âYou donât want the hospitalâs grub,â Audrey warned. She withdrew a protein bar from the side pocket of her pants. âThis will tide you over until we can get you some real food.â
Grateful for the snack, he took the bar, ripped open the top and consumed it in three bites and washed it down with another glass of water. The bar hit his stomach with a thud, but it stopped the cramping. âThanks.â
âYouâre welcome,â she said. She rested her hands on her utility belt. âWhat kind of seafood do you like? Itâs the season for crab and monkfish now. But mussels are available, as are scallops.â
His mouth watered at the thought of some good seafood, but no memory surfaced to support the visceral reaction. âAny of that sounds delicious. Youâre related to the doctor.â
A wry smile curved her lips. âCaught that, did you? Sheâs my mom, and the sheriffâs my great-uncle.â
âGood to know.â
She shrugged. âYou were bound to find out eventually.â
âIâm not judging. You get flack for being related?â
âSome. But mostly there are those in town who donât think a woman should be on duty. The world is slow to change here in Calico Bay.â
He could imagine that was hard for her. She struck him as independent and capable with a soft side that she kept close to the vest. âYou said you returned here?â
âBorn and raised until I went to college and the police academy.â
He admired her commitment to her roots. Did he have roots? He searched his brain until the pain made him back off.
A brunette dressed in scrubs entered the room carrying two bags. âYour