Page 76 of Sapphire's Gem
“Bear with me. This is heading somewhere. Have any of you heard any rumours concerning Stitch?”
“No,” I replied for Cassidy and myself.
“Okay. Do either of you realise that if you crash during an operation, the time is recorded, as are the steps taken to restart your heart, etc?”
“No.” Where the hell was Hatton going with this? Considering it’d only been a few days, it was far too early and morbid to discuss this.
“Cassidy, you crashed during surgery. The time you did was three-forty-four. Remember that time. Wylde, you had three crashes. Three-fifty-eight, four-ten and four thirty-eight. You also came dangerously close to dying at six-fifteen and six-fifty in recovery. I’ve written those times down for you.”
“Capt., what the fuck is this?” Cassidy demanded as I stared at the piece of paper he placed in front of me.
“Give me your laptop,” Hatton said and snatched it from Cassidy.
I was starting to wonder if the events had made Hatton crack. He tapped a few buttons, then turned the laptop to face us.
“This is the footage from the waiting room. Unfortunately for Stitch and Vengeance, they didn’t realise there was a camera right above them. I’d like you both to watch Stitch and note the times.”
I frowned and wondered what the fuck Hatton was on about. He pressed play, and the footage began playing. At three forty-four, Stitch went as white as a ghost, and her eyes rolled up. At first, I thought she was fitting, but I noted how calm her body was. An intense look crossed her face, and Vengeance moved in front of her to protect her from nosy parkers. Pure white eyes stared at Vengeance without an ounce of recognition. Then, a few minutes later, her eyes turned back to their normal colour, and Stitch relaxed. The clip continued, and at three-fifty-eight, Stitch repeated her actions.
I stiffened as the footage kept playing, and each time I crashed, Stitch went into…what? A trance?
“Play it again,” Cassidy ground out as I stared at the video ended.
Hatton played it three more times. Finally, I turned to him. “What the fuck is this?”
“Just before she left, Sapphire ordered Stitch to sit in the waiting room. I thought it was a strange thing to do. But a while ago, I heard a rumour about Stitch. She calls herself a healer. By rights, both of you should be dead. I’ve spoken to the doctors; they’re all in agreement. Cassidy, you were bleeding out like crazy when suddenly your artery pinched and the blood loss slowed dramatically. But they couldn’t get enough blood into you, and you were dying. Even now, they’re calling it a miracle you ain’t brain damaged,” Hatton said before gazing at me.
“As for you, there’s no doubt you should have died. You had a less than ten per cent chance, and yet three days later, you’re sitting here almost healthy. Those times your heart stopped correspond exactly to when Stitch went into whatever the fuck that is.”
“I don’t know what you’re getting at, Capt.,” I muttered as my brain tried to make the connection. Was Hatton honestly saying that Stitch had special powers?
“I believe Stitch is psychic, and that right there is proof she’s a bona fide healer. In fact, there’s a reason I wanted you watching them. I think at least half of them are hiding skills.”
Hatton dropped a bombshell that made me question my long-time friend’s mental abilities. But my eyes didn’t lie. Every time Cassidy or I crashed, Stitch did something. What the fuck was real and what wasn’t?
Chapter Sixteen.
Hayden
Ididn’t know how to act when Sapphire came for her daily visit. Hatton’s words from last night kept echoing in my head. I’d seen the footage another two dozen times, trying to find an explanation for what I’d watched. There wasn’t a logical one.
“How’s Stitch?” I asked, and Sapphire straightened with a cautious expression. She’d been arranging my bedside cupboard.
“Stitch? That’s out of the blue,” she replied carefully.
“Hatton mentioned seeing her in the ER. I thought something might have happened to her.”
“No!” Sapphire let out a relieved laugh, and Cassidy and I exchanged glances.
Sapphire was hiding something.
“Good to hear,” I said, wondering how to push. I never got the chance; when her phone rang, she picked it up and answered. Sapphire’s posture changed, and her voice grew harsh.
“Anyone injured?”
Cassidy and I both sat up.
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
