Chapter 2 - WHAT THE SCANS COULD SAY
Dr. Grant did not tell me what he suspected.
He asked questions.
Where had I been sitting?
How many times had my face struck the wheel?
Had I lost consciousness?
Was the vehicle moving?
Did I feel safe returning home?
I answered as clearly as I could.
“Driver’s seat.”
“At least twice.”
“I don’t know if I blacked out.”
“The car was parked.”
“No.”
The final answer felt heavier than the others.
No, I was not safe.
The scans showed fractures around my nose and left orbital bone. The injury pattern was serious but treatable. There was no major brain bleed, though the concussion required observation.
Dr. Grant documented the swelling, bruising, tenderness, and every answer I gave him. He did not write that Caleb was guilty. Doctors do not decide criminal cases.
He recorded what he could verify and preserved what I said.
Nurse Allison brought my purse into the room and placed it inside a cabinet Caleb could not access. Then she removed his name as the person authorized to receive updates.
When Caleb returned, he smiled at Dr. Grant.
“So when can I take her home?”
“We need more testing.”
His smile tightened.
“She’s always been dramatic about pain.”
Dr. Grant continued entering notes into his tablet.
Caleb leaned toward me when the doctor turned away.
“You better stop causing trouble.”
Then he walked into the hallway, probably believing he still controlled what happened next.
Dr. Grant watched him leave.
“You said the car was parked?”
“Yes.”
“Did any airbags deploy?”
“No.”
“Did the vehicle strike anything at all?”
“No.”
He exchanged a look with Nurse Allison.
Then he stepped into the corridor and made a call I could not hear.
What I did not know was that the fractures were only one part of the problem with Caleb’s story.
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Modern vehicles remember impact.
Our SUV remembered none.
