It had been twenty four hours and Nathan had not been able to reach Jayme at her office, quarters, the medical facility and the few people he talked to said they hadn't seen her for two days at least....and one said that they thought she was going on a camping trip.
He picked up the phone and wondered who else he could call....he was worried...he called Karissa.
"Hi, Nathan," she smiled in greeting, but immediately her smile vanished. She could see the look of concern on his face and she could sense his thoughts and feelings as they filtered through to her. "What is it? Where's Jayme? You haven't seen her?"
"No, I haven't seen her for a few weeks as she's been stuck on base, we have talked and we exchanged letters but I haven't received any thing and she didn't say anything to me about going out into the woods....alone or otherwise? I'm worried Karissa."
"And no one seems to know where she's gone at all? They just think she's gone camping?" Karissa knew this didn't sound at all like Jayme and it concerned her as well. "Was there any direction given to you by anyone? I mean, camping where? Serenity's a big planet."
"One of the Sgts on base said another member of the rapid response team was seen heading out with Jayme," Nathan said running his fingers through his hair. "I know she was upset about a recent letter from her mother."
"Letter from her mother?" Karissa could feel a knot develop in her own stomach. She knew of Jayme's mother, not just through her psych record that she had received from Kassia, her previous Counselor, and a good friend to both of them, but also from Jayme herself. The woman was, if nothing else, the incarnation of evil in her treatment toward her own daughter. "What did the letter say? Do you know?" she asked.
Nathan sat down at his computer and looked at the screen and said, "It was pretty routine and nothing she hasn't said to Jayme's face...I don't know what you think you'll find that I didn't see."
"Well, I'll need it anyway. It's something I'll have to look at. It will give a chance to see what might have set her off," she replied.
"I'll CC--you a copy before I break this connection," he said, running his fingers through his hair.
"Thank you," she smiled as reassuringly as possible before closing the channel. But there was definitely a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Whatever this was it was bad . . . she could sense it.
An hour later, a message arrived for her. As she pulled it up, she saw it was the letter Jayme's mother had sent her. Apparently Nathan had found it. She sat there reading it, completely stunned that the woman could be so cold and nasty.
Jayme,
I heard that you have been transferred to the planet and have decided to ditch medicine again in favor of running the barbaric marine base. I thought you were finally getting out of that military nonsense and growing up. Your medical training is lacking and I would rather you transfer to a medical school with some class to finish up and save any chance you have of practicing medicine.
When is that monster child due to be born that you probably conceived while on the McCoy when you were assaulted? Please don't share the birth of the brat with me.
Mother, Anna Alcon
Karissa had to read it twice before it all sunk it. Part of her wanted to find the woman and rip her to shreds like any tiger would, but the part of her that was a counselor was more concern for her patient. She knew that after this letter, Jayme was sure to be in a bad state of mind . . . Not only was a past trauma being shoved in her face, but in a very callous and cold-hearted way. Jayme's mother seemed to think nothing of what she was doing to her own daughter, and made sure Jayme knew it was her own fault. Karissa shuddered to think of what kind of doctor Anna Alcon really was.
All she did know for certain was that she had to find Jayme and quickly, before she did something rash.
She was still sitting at her desk an hour later. It was now lunch time, but she had no desire to eat. Her mind turned over everything Nathan and told her about Jayme's possible whereabouts. Suddenly the door to her office opened and her mirror image walked in.
"So how about some lunch?" Shara smiled. "I had some time and I knew you hadn't eaten, so I thought . . . lets go ask our sister if she wants to grab a bite to eat . . ." But the look on Karissa's face immediately quelled any further talk of food. "What is it?" she asked, concern filling her dark eyes.
"I have a problem. One of my patients is missing . . ." Karissa replied.
Shara's brow knitted together. "Who?"
"Jayme," Karissa replied, knowing this was not a breach of privacy since she would need her sister's help in finding her friend.
"Jayme??" Shara said with surprise. "She's missing?? How can a Major go missing?"
"Well, she did it and with another member of the Rapid Response Team . . . The problem is, I need to find her as quickly as possible," Karissa explained.
"Why?"
"I can't go into details," Karissa replied. "But let's just say it's a matter of life or death. She's in a fragile state of mind."
"You're sure?" Shara asked.
"Trust me, I'm sure," Karissa replied. "Remember, it's my business to know a person's way of thinking."
Shara nodded. "So what can I do to help?"
"Can you track down the name of the other person from the Rapid Response Team that's gone and see if you can locate someone that might know something of where they've gone," Karissa said.
"I think I can do that," Shara replied. "Don't know . . . We'll find her."
"I just hope we can before it's too late . . ."
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