“How are you feeling?”

The first person Nigel saw when he opened his eyes was a tall bald man in a suit. The room was large enough to accommodate two beds. He heard beeping sounds. Something was pulling at his arm; it was tubing that led up to an IV. Nigel could easily see out the window; he had a view of the inlet that led to the ocean. The bed next to his was unoccupied. I'm in the hospital?

“Who are you?” Nigel asked the man.

“I’m Detective Foster of the Milford Police Department. I need to ask you a few questions.”

“Where are my mother and brother? Where are my friends?”

“Your family is in the waiting room. Your friend, Josephine, is recovering in the room next door.”

Nigel just stared into space, taking it all in.

“Do you know why someone would want to harm you or Josephine?”

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“I had a third friend with me, Milo.”

“We found him hiding in a dumpster several blocks from the incident. He is being questioned now.”

“Can I see them?”

“Not until we get this sorted out,” Detective Foster said. “Now, please answer my previous question: Do you know who would want to hurt you or your friends?”

“NO!” Nigel shouted.

“Please calm down, Nigel. We cannot leave until this matter is resolved.”

Nigel sighed.

The questioning lasted several hours. Detective Foster asked the same questions over and over.

“I will be right back, Nigel. Please stay here.”

Nigel winced as he started pulling the tape connecting the IVs to his wrist. The floor was cold to the touch; he started shivering as he made his way across the room to the closet where his clothes were kept. He put on his jacket and shoes. He kept the rest of his clothes in a plastic bag.

He opened the door which led to the hallway, trying to be as quiet as possible. Two uniformed officers were talking about twenty feet from his room.

He walked quickly past the nurses’ station, then proceeded left down another hallway. A door blocked his way and wouldn’t budge. He scanned the walls for a way to control the door. A large hand grasped his shoulder. Nigel spun his head so fast he felt something pull in his neck.

It was Detective Foster and two uniformed officers.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

The uniformed officers escorted him back to his room.

“See to it that his door is manned until all of my questions are answered.”