Shadows of Recovery (Everhart Family #3)

Chapter 34

Thirty-Four

K ay settled back into her chair, taking a moment to process Damon Whitlock. A soft knock on the door startled her, and Eleanor stepped in, closing the door behind her.

"God, I don't know how anyone can be married to him," Eleanor said, her face contorted with a mixture of disgust and fear. "Damon gives me the creeps."

Kay was sitting in her office, her mind racing with thoughts about the sinister undercurrents running through the sect. She knew Damon Whitlock had raped Sophie, but she decided to keep that horrifying knowledge to herself for now. She needed more information. She needed to figure out who she could trust, and Eleanor might have some answers.

“Why does he make you feel that way?" Kay asked in a whisper.

Eleanor sat down across from Kay, her expression tense. "He just gives me the creeps. I’ve heard a few things but nothing specific."

Kay leaned forward, deciding to probe further without revealing too much. "Anything unusual? Anything that stands out?"

Eleanor sighed, glancing around the office as if to ensure they were truly alone. "There are always rumors, but Damon recently did something bad, right before he brought in the new equipment.”

Kay’s interest piqued. "What do you mean?"

Eleanor leaned in closer, her voice dropping. "He was publicly punished. Caned in the town square. Whatever he did, it was serious enough for a public spectacle."

Kay's eyes widened in horror. "Caned? In public?"

Eleanor nodded, her expression grim. "Yes. It’s rare for the sect to resort to such measures, but when they do, it's meant to send a message. He broke some serious rules."

A chill ran down her spine, thinking about what Damon was capable of. "Do you know what he did to deserve that?"

Eleanor shook her head. "No specifics. But given the timing and the severity, it had to be something to do with all the new equipment. And three of our members passed away suddenly. So sad. Considering his reputation, it doesn't surprise me."

Kay took a deep breath. She needed to tread carefully but also had to ensure the safety of those around her. "We need to be cautious, Eleanor. Damon is dangerous, and we need to protect ourselves and the others here." She realized the nurse didn’t know any of the details about the hospital takeover.

Eleanor nodded in agreement. "I’ll keep an eye out, but you need to be careful too, Kay. The sect doesn't take kindly to anyone questioning their decisions or stepping out of line, especially with the family."

Kay clenched her fists, feeling a mix of fear and determination. "I understand. But we can't just ignore this. I'll create a basic panel of bloodwork that includes the VDRL test. We can trace any potential infections discreetly and ensure no one else gets hurt."

Eleanor placed a hand on Kay’s arm, her grip firm but supportive. "Be careful, Kay. The sect has eyes and ears everywhere."

As Eleanor left her office, Kay sat there, her brain filled with thoughts of what she needed to do next. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but she was determined to uncover the truth and protect the women in the sect from any potential health threat.

The silence of her office only amplified the turmoil in her mind. Her jealousy of Sophie was misplaced and wrong. Her relationship with Tristan ended five years earlier, and she had brought on the consequences of her actions. She didn't give a damn about Sophie, but she had to make sure Damon didn't spread syphilis, especially to his baby. After all, she was the doctor, and it was her responsibility.

With a determined sigh, Kay warmed up her computer and opened her browser. She needed to brush up on her knowledge, just in case. She typed "delivery of a baby" into the YouTube search bar, hoping to find a refresher on the process. As the search results loaded, she clicked on a video that seemed detailed enough to jog her memory.

She noticed a troubling aspect of her search. No news feeds popped up in the results. They’d been filtered out.

Kay’s mind whirled with the revelations and the oppressive atmosphere she had encountered. She decided she needed more answers.

Eleanor returned to Kay’s office. “Where do they run the labs?” Kay asked her.

"There’s a lab on the other side of the tribal land. They run blood tests for the area to make money. It’s quite efficient, actually."

Kay frowned. "And how do we call an ambulance in case of emergencies?"

Eleanor chewed her lip, a sign of her unease. "We don’t without permission from one of the board members."

Kay’s eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious? What if it’s a life-or-death situation?"

Eleanor sighed deeply. "That’s just how things are done here. It’s part of the rules. The board controls everything."

Kay nodded slowly, her thoughts racing. "Alright, Eleanor, when anyone comes in for a visit, I want to get a health history and basic bloodwork done. I’ll print out a form for you to use."

Eleanor nodded, her expression one of quiet resignation. "Doc, you’ll get used to things. But it’s best to keep your questions simple. The board doesn’t look kindly on those who don’t follow the rules."

Kay's eyes widened. "What happens if someone doesn’t follow the rules?"

Eleanor sighed again, this time with a hint of sadness. "It depends on what they did. Tuesday nights are court and punishment nights. You should go watch."

Kay realized the depth of control the board wielded over the community. This wasn’t just about medicine; it was about survival within a rigid, oppressive system. "I will, Eleanor," she said, her voice resolute. "I need to understand how things work around here if I’m going to help anyone."

Eleanor nodded, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Be careful, Doc. And remember, there are those of us who want things to change, but it’s dangerous to push too hard."

Alone, Kay picked up her phone and made a call. "Nathan, I need to talk to you. Can you meet me in my office?"

Within minutes, Nathan walked in, his expression unreadable. "What’s going on, Kay?"

Kay took a deep breath, laying out her curiosity, not letting on that Eleanor told her anything. If Damon was caned as a member of the head family, Eleanor would be punished for a lesser infraction.

Nathan listened intently, his face growing darker with each question she asked. "Kay, the rules are none of your concern except to follow them.” He placed his arms across his chest.

"I have a hard time with that," Kay shook her head, “and the fact that I can’t call an ambulance without permission? That’s insane!"

Nathan’s brow arched. “You are new to Eldon Falls, so I will be lenient for your accusatory behavior, but raise your voice like that again, and you will be punished. The board doesn’t take kindly to having our authority questioned."

"I understand." Kay swallowed hard.

Nathan smiled slightly. "That’s a smart response. Tuesday night, you will be my guest. You will sit with the board.”

"Thank you," Kay said.

Nathan squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "You’re behaving well, Kay.”

As Nathan left her office, she turned to her computer, determined to prepare the health history forms. Each interaction only deepened her resolve. Tuesday night couldn’t come soon enough. She needed to see the reality of the sect’s control.

* * *

Tuesday

Kay sat stiffly in the boardroom, surrounded by the imposing presence of the Whitlock family and the other members of the Eldon Sect's governing body. Trace Whitlock, the patriarch, sat across from her, his labored breathing accompanied by the constant hiss of his oxygen tank. She couldn’t help but notice the pallor of his skin and the wheezing sound each time he inhaled.

She leaned over to Nathan, who was seated next to her, and whispered, "Your father looks really unwell. His breathing sounds terrible, and his color is off."

Nathan nodded subtly. "I noticed. We’ll talk to him after the meeting."

Kay had no choice but to agree and turned her attention back to the proceedings. Nathan stood up and waved toward a door at the side of the room. The door opened, and six individuals walked in, each taking a seat in a designated box of chairs at the front of the room. The atmosphere was thick with tension as everyone waited for what was to come. It felt like a horrible reality show.

Nathan cleared his throat and addressed the room, "These individuals have been brought before the board for violating our community rules. Their actions have been reviewed, and the appropriate punishments will now be administered."

He called up the first person, a young man who looked barely out of his teens. "David Kline, you are accused of theft. You took food from the communal kitchen without permission. Your punishment is three days in the isolation cell and five lashes."

David’s face turned white, but he nodded, accepting his fate without a word. He returned to his seat, and Nathan called up the next person.

"Samantha Hughes, you were caught spreading dissent among the younger members of our community. Your punishment is two weeks of hard labor and a public apology."

Samantha’s eyes were defiant, but she also nodded and stepped back.

"Edward Miller, you disrespected a senior member of our sect. Your punishment is one week in the isolation cell and ten lashes."

Each person was called up, their rule violation announced, and their punishment delivered. The infractions ranged from minor to severe, and the punishments were equally varied, including hard labor, isolation, and physical punishment. There was no room for appeal, no chance to argue their case.

Kay chewed her inner cheek, struggling to maintain her composure. The stark reality of the sect’s rigid control and harsh justice system was laid bare before her. Each sentence was delivered with a finality that left no room for mercy or reconsideration.

Finally, Nathan finished with the last person and looked back at the board. "These punishments will be carried out immediately. Let this serve as a reminder to all that the rules are in place for a reason and must be followed."

The room was silent as the six individuals were led out, their fates sealed. Kay felt a cold knot of fear in her stomach.

As the meeting concluded, Nathan leaned over to her. "Let’s go see my father now."

Kay nodded, her mind still reeling from the grim proceedings. They approached Trace, who was being helped to his feet by one of his family members. "Dad, Dr. Kay needs to speak with you for a moment?" Nathan asked gently.

Trace nodded, his breathing labored. They guided him to a private room nearby, where Kay said, "Trace, your breathing is very concerning, and your color is off. I need to check your vitals and give you some immediate medical attention."

Trace looked at her with tired eyes. "I appreciate your concern, Doctor. I’ve been feeling worse these past few days."

Kay quickly set to work, opening her medical bag to listen to his chest and check his vitals. Nathan stood by.

She finished examining Trace, her concern deepening with every second. She turned to Nathan, her voice low and urgent. "Nathan, we don't have the equipment here to properly treat this. Your father needs to be in the hospital immediately. He has a fever, and I believe his kidneys and liver are failing."

Nathan’s face tightened with worry. "Are you sure, Kay?"

She nodded firmly. "Yes, his symptoms are consistent with organ failure. We can’t afford to wait."

Nathan took a deep breath, then turned to Trace. "Father, we need to get you to the hospital."

Trace shook his head weakly. "No hospitals. I won't allow it, not after what Damon did."

Kay stepped forward, her voice filled with determination. "Trace, this is a matter of life and death. Your condition is serious. We need to get you the medical attention you require. Without it, you will die."

“Dad, you have to understand the severity of this,” Nathan begged.

Trace looked between them, his eyes clouded with pain and reluctance. "Alright, in the truck—no ambulance."

Kay and Nathan hurriedly helped Trace to his feet and out of the room. Nathan addressed the remaining family members lingering in the hallway with authority. "Father needs immediate medical attention. I’m taking him to the hospital."

Kay and Nathan, along with a few of Trace’s family members, quickly escorted him to the nearest vehicle. As she tried to get in the truck, Damon grabbed her around her waist. “Not you.”