Chapter Forty-Two

Everyone is stunned momentarily as they look down the corridor toward Violet’s room.
“Mrs. Trask,” Ryan shouts out as he sprints down the hallway toward the patient’s room.
Bob watches the guard swiftly moving away, “Wh-wh-what’s he doing?” Bob asks.
“He’s just going to check on another patient, Bob, “Dr. Ramsey begins, “another patient just like yourself needs some assistance. Don’t you think Ryan should help her?”
“Y-Yes,” Bob says. The pudgy, bald man looks down at the floor as if he has done something wrong. “I-I need help too. Right, Dr. R-R-Ramsey?”
“I’m gonna go with Ryan and see if Mrs. Trask is alright,” Dr. Winters says before moving away and down the hallway. “Take care of her!” she shouts back at Officer Kirkland before getting too far down the hallway.
“What is she talking about,” Billy asks.
Officer Kirkland walks closer toward the group and directs his attention to Miss Hudson as he is slipping a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket. “She is referring to this,” the man begins while unfolding the paper. “This is a restraining order placed against Miss Hudson that requires you to remain one hundred yards from The Katahdin Mental Institute…”
“What!?” Claire is completely shocked. “Who….”
“And,” Officer Kirkland continues, “You are to remain at least one hundred feet away from Debra Winters at all times.”
Billy smiles.
“You can’t do this!” Claire begins to shout. “What cause does she have?”
“Harassment,” Officer Kirkland answers. The officer hands Claire the piece of paper and she quickly yanks it from his grip, looking it over as if the document is fake.
“Trust me,” the officer continues again, “It was signed by Judge Andrews about 20 minutes ago.” The man steps closer to the nurse and motions with his hand for her to leave the area.
“This will not work. I guarantee you,” Claire spits out.
“Maybe not,” Officer Kirkland says, “But if you refuse to leave right now, you will be placed under arrest for violating the order.”
Now it is Officer Kirkland who is smiling.

Stephanie is picking up the phone from the floor and places it next to her ear.
Nothing.
“Mom, calm down,” Stephanie says.”
“It was your dad. It was Stephen. I know it was,” Violet says as her hand is shaking horribly while pointing at the phone. “It was him. Him on the phone.” Tears are streaming down the woman’s cheeks.
Ryan rushes into the room just as Violet is asking, “Why is he doing this to me? Why?”
“What’s going on?” Ryan asks, partly out of breath. “Is everyone O.K.?”
“Yes,” Stephanie begins to explain as Violet is still sitting on the bed, tearing up. “Someone just called here and my mom thought it was my father on the line. It scared her that’s all.”
“It was him. I know it was! Why won’t you people believe me?” Violet is getting more irritated.
“How long was the phone call?” Ryan asks.
“Just a few seconds,” Stephanie answers. “It rang and then my mom picked it up. Why? It was too short to try tracing.”
“That’s not what I was getting at,” Ryan pauses. “Umm…I was just standing at the nurse’s station.”
“You know who called?” Stephanie asks.
“Well,” Ryan is not sure how to go with this, “Not exactly. I mean, there was no call. I was standing right there in view of the switchboard. There was no call.”
“What do you mean?” Violet looks at the guard.
“I would have seen if there was a call that came through and was transferred,” Ryan looks at Stephanie knowing she would understand that no room can get a call unless the person on duty at the first floor nurse’s station transfers it.
“Then how did someone call this room?” Stephanie asks.