Once Malcolm had settled into sleep again, Jessica checked the monitors connected to him and made some quick notations on his chart. For the time being he would remain, on paper, John Doe. Somehow she thought that the sudden appearance of Dr. Malcolm Book would cause more fuss and nonsense then she was ready to deal with if the press found out about it. The man was after all a world renowned researcher. Instructions were left for Carrie before she made her way back to her office. It was time to for a hunt.
First she had to contact some hunters, the first of which would be Ash. In the privacy of her office she used her private phone to contact him, cradling it between cheek and shoulder as her fingers danced over her computer keyboard. Multitasking. She was starting a hunt of her own, starting with trying to find out how John Doe was transported from hospital to hospital with no real paperwork.
When the ringing of the phone stopped she spoke into the device. "Ash, this is Jessica. I need your help with one of my patients. He's become seperated from his family and I was hoping you would be able to help hunt them down. He last saw them in Rome a few years ago."
She frowned at the computer when it pulled information about the transport of the patient, John Doe, from Columbia University Medical Center to New Orleans. The reason for the frown was that she approved the transport! "What the hell?!"
Another day, another dead hooker. That had been his byline for years and there was no sign of that changing anytime soon. No matter how many nests you cleared there was someone else waiting to fill in the gap and leaving a blistering wound on the face of humanity. Ash didn't even technically belong to the great huddled masses anymore, but that didn't mean he liked seeing all the things that came up on cases. The one he had left town to work in Biloxi had been just such a case.
As he made his way through the New Orleans airport, ignoring the waving signs of drivers there to pick up more important passengers, he felt the vibration of his phone in his pocket. Dressed for court he slipped a hand into the breast pocket of his jacket, adjusting the weight of his bag in his other hand. Federal meant a right to carry, and thank the Gods above because otherwise he'd never make it through security in time to catch a flight, or so the weight of the bag had him believing.
"Redfern."
That cold accented voice spoke softly into the phone as he left the air conditioned interior of the airport and stepped through the sliding doors into the wet heat of a New Orleans summer. There was something opressive about the heat here, it had an almost living quality to it that his English blood did not settle to. Listening to Jessie on the other end of the phone the small lines at the corners of his eyes stood out as his gaze narrowed. Those small signs of confusion lay hidden behind the black out shades of wrap around sunglasses.
"Jessie....I don't do missing persons cases. You know that."
For a moment he was tempted to ask Jessica if she had lost her mind. Ash didn't do missing persons and he especially didn't do missing persons due to hospital paperwork mix-ups. Standing at the edge of the curb a second he made sure none of the taxi's were likely to try to take him out and then stepped down to cross the walkway towards the garage. Then Jessie said something about Rome a few years ago and he was suddenly paying attention again. Not slowing his stride his voice sounded somehow quieter, more crisp.
"Jessica. You're not thinking." Obviously or she'd realize how many of them had been in Rome just a few years ago. "Why did you call me Jessica? What is this man?"
Not who, but what. As Ash drew closer to where he had parked the Hummer he drew his keys out and pressed the unlock button so he could open up the back and toss his case in. The rear door was pulled shut and he stood there at the back of the vehicle for a long moment. Lifting an arm the movement made his sleeve creep up more to reveal the face of the antique Rolex on his wrist. He had time, a little time, before he was due in court. Contemplating his options he knew one thing for certain, standing in a parking lot wasn't going to help with anything.
Frustration about what she was seeing on the reports in front of her as well as general frustration with the way life itself had been of late made her uncharacteristically curt, to the extent that hints of a snarl layered her voice.
"Of course I know you don't do missing persons Ash. There's a reason that I considered asking you and I plan to ask Milo if he's able to help as well. This isn't just anyone."
Her free hand curled, intinctive motion nearly digging her nails into the top of her desk before she caught the motion and purposefully relaxed her hand.
"I called you because.... you're you." Did she need to explain that he was the most powerful wolf she'd ever encountered and with his contacts and skills he far outstretched the capabilities of most local law enforcement agencies? "Look, he's my patient," Which should make it damn clear that he was a shifter. "a wolf, and he's been in a coma for at least 3 years." She let that sink in a moment, just the idea of a shifter in a coma was unheard of but for years? That was beyond incredible. "There's something very bizarre about what happened and I need someone more then your average investigator involved."
She relaxed further when he said he'd come by, "Alright. I appreciate this. I wouldn't have called you if I didn't think it was important."
-- Edited by JESSICA MCFARLAND on Wednesday 27th of July 2011 08:27:45 PM
