Boji Stones

Monitors beeped and clear liquid dripped through an IV into her arm. Her entire body throbbed in pain. She looked around, confused and afraid, nauseated by the smell of alcohol and antiseptic. Where am I? What happened?

The last thing she remembered was a man with the face of an angel and what must be the heart of a demon, swerving his car against hers, his expression determined, fanatical.

He was after the amulet! She looked down at her bare left arm. Oh my God, where was it?

The door opened and a stout black nurse sailed in, much like a majestic ship breasting the water, her white uniform so crisp it rustled as she walked. “And how are we feeling, Miss Sinclair?”

Like every bone in my body is broken, that’s how WE are feeling. “Like I’ve been in a car wreck. Can you tell where my amulet’s at?”

The nurse stopped. “Say what?”

“My bracelet. Please where is it?”

The nurse checked the monitor. “Probably in your bedside table.”

The table sat on the left side of the bed. Maureen Kelly Sinclair looked at her bandaged left arm, her left leg in a sling and then at the table. Pushing back the hysteria welling in her throat, she asked as calmly as she could. “Would you check please?”

“Just as soon as I change your IV.”

“Screw…”

The nurse looked up, her eyes narrowing.

Maureen snapped her teeth shut, her jaws working. She took a deep breath and concentrated on relaxing one vertebra at a time.

As the nurse puttered with the IV, Maureen’s mind raced. Who besides herself knew about the amulet?

“The police were here while you were sleeping. They’ll be back later to get your statement.”

Maureen rubbed her aching temple. “I thought I already gave them a statement.”

“You were pretty hysterical at the time. Understandable.” The nurse clucked and shook her head. “What’s this world coming to when a madman runs you off the road? Lucky for you there was an unmarked car directly behind you.”

“My amulet, please.” Her chest tightened and her nerves screamed.

“Sure, hon, I’m almost done.” She straightened the bag, walked around to the table and opened the drawer.

“It’s not here.”