回 = patching a wound. +
“You’ve got a repeat over in exam three.”
Carter stopped alongside Jerry, frowning while accepting the chart. “Repeat?”
“Yeah…” The receptionist nodded to their left. “Remember Maeṿe Donoṿan? Cute, big eyes, full of little cuts? Looks like she’s back again…and with more cuts.”
A sinking sensation took root in Carter’s stomach, low and acidic. “I see,” he muttered.
He’d been over this routine enough times to recognize certain signs, and although the initial visit had been rather unremarkable — the abrasions and contusions that littered her skin were mild at best — this was starting to take on a pattern.
“I’ll look into it.” Lightly, he tapped the other man with her chart. “Thanks, Jerry.”
Tucking the file under his arm, he headed back into exam three, then knocked on the doorframe while entering. Huddled on the examination bed was Maeve, appearing to have a fresh gash along her temple.
“Hi again,” Carter said, flashing a meager smile. “Either you really love us here at County, or you’re one of the unluckiest girls in Chicaǥo.”
Shutting the door behind him, Carter set aside her chart and then took hold of a nearby stool, sitting upon it before rolling toward her with purpose. “What is it this time?” he asked. “If I recall correctly, in your last visit, you said you took a pretty nasty fall down some stairs.” Slipping into a pair of gloves, he snapped them into place. There was an unmistakable bite to his tone as he added, “Did these stairs just so happen to have teeth?”
She looked far too “chewed up and spit out” to have simply fallen. It was possible something had been thrown her way to create the varying cuts, but while he discreetly looked her over, Carter noted distinct scabbing along Maeve’s skin and felt his chest burn with rising agitation.
“Well, don’t worry,” he said, attempting levity as he grabbed some gauze and antiseptic. “After retrieving a flashlight from an anaƚ cavity all morning, this is almost looking like a godsend.” Here, he lifted his eyes to hers, his expression softening. “Is there anything else I should know?”
