Soulshine Read Online Free Page A

1983
    Drs. DiLaurio and Chan were discussing the Troy case and comparing notes when Linda Sherman, the hospital administrator, walked into the doctor"s lounge. “Hi, Frank. Hi, Hugo. I heard that you two practically pulled an all-nighter.”
    “Well,” said Frank, “we managed to catch a few winks while Nurse Croshere tended to Evan Troy… a most remarkable and unusual case.”
    “Yes, doctors. I believe that is the case you wanted to discuss with me?”
“Well, Linda. The case is one matter. We have a car accident victim… leg pinned against a tree… severe nerve damage… followed by rapid deterioration. I should say „decomposition" to be more accurate. Our fear is that the decomposition is spreading beyond just the leg. We did manage to slow down the progression of the infection to a point where we hope to be able to deal with it. However, being at a loss for medical answers is working against us as well as against the patient.” Frank drew a deep breath. “Linda, we didn"t call for you to discuss the case, however, since you know no more than we do about this medical oddity. We want to discuss the patient"s status.”
“Status?”
“Er… identity… or lack thereof. While we feel compelled to help this young man as efficiently and expediently as possible, we can"t help but be concerned with the patient"s inability to provide positive identification. We did some background checks on him. He claims that his name is Evan Troy, and hedidn"t give his age except to hint that he is close in age to his girlfriend, who is twenty-nine years old and looks no older than a middle school kid. She was the driver of the car.”
“Do you think we have a case of an underage driver that we need to report to the authorities?”
“Linda,” Dr. Chan chimed in, “usually a thirteen or fourteen year old kid will try to pass themselves off as sixteen when caught driving illegally. Why would she try to convince us that she is twentynine?”
“That is unusual,” replied Linda.
“But… her identity and age checks out. She has a photo id… her driver"s license in fact. Her social security number also verifies that she is who she says she is. The patient is the one we are wondering whether we should report to the authorities. He also looks quite a bit younger than twenty-nine, but still somewhat older than the girl… uh, woman.”
“This does seem suspicious, doctors. I would say that we need to provide medical treatment, as you have been, as the foremost priority. But the patient does need to realize that he needs identification for billing purposes. No identification implies no health insurance, I surmise?”
“That is correct,” said Frank.
“Has Mr. Troy been hostile?”
“No… quite the opposite. Both he and Miss Fleming are delightfully polite andrespectful. However, I don"t believe they are completely honest. They are hiding something. I can"t explain her seemingly valid driver"s license, but it does look, by appearances, like he is a man with something to hide while on the run with a minor.”
“Alright,” said Linda. “Here"s my decision for now. I will check out that driver"s license. You inform Mr. Troy that we need identification and method of payment, but don"t push the issue if it impedes the care you are providing on his behalf. Perhaps I can get some information from the girlfriend while you two concentrate on treating the patient even if Mr. Troy still cannot provide identification.”
“He offered to pay for his treatment in cash,” said Hugo, “and wishes to be discharged tonight. But there is still a lot of diagnosis, research, treatment and healing left to accomplish first. It is highly suspicious that he wants to leave in his condition.”
Linda pondered the situation. “Doctors, we"ll proceed as I said we would. Keep me abreast on the patient"s demeanor. If I need to contact the authorities sooner rather than later, I will do so.”
August, 1953
    Edward Thomas woke as the sunlight poured