The Missing

2 R R S 2L S R R L 3R S

The fourth line was illegible.

The doctor leaned in. 'What in God's name is that?'

'Directions would be my first guess – L for left, R for right.'

'That last letter, or number, whatever it was, it looks like she was writing and then had to stop,' the doctor said. 'Maybe that was when the nurse came in.'

Darby had been wondering the same thing. 'Excuse me for a moment.'

ID was gone for the day. Darby called Operations and crossed her fingers, hoping that Mary Beth was on call. She was.

It would be at least an hour before Mary Beth arrived with her equipment. Darby took pictures with her digital camera for her files.

Jane Doe was heavily sedated, so the doctor was willing to undo the restraints so Darby could take close-up pictures. She examined the rest of Jane Doe's body and didn't find any other writing.

'Someone from the lab is going to be here to take more photographs,' Darby said after she finished. 'You might have to undo the restraints again.'

'As long as she's sedated. I meant to ask you this earlier: Do you know why she didn't attack you?'

'I think I reminded her of someone.' Darby took out a business card and wrote down her home number. She handed the card to the doctor. 'That's my home number. When she wakes up, I'd appreciate if you'd call me, even if it's late. I'll leave my cell on, too.'

'When you find the person who did this to her,' the doctor said, 'I hope you all have the good sense to string the son of a bitch up by his balls.'