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After checking in with the agent in charge of the investigation, Driscoll, Cassie, and I made it to the clearing where the helicopter was waiting. Now that Cassie had been found, other agents were being released from the investigation to return home, so the helicopter was full. Driscoll and Cassie were dropped off at the hospital.
When they dropped me off at the A-frame, I was pleased to see that all the agents were gone. The crime scene tape had been removed. I'll admit, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about being there alone, but I thought I'd be OK. I changed clothes and headed for the hospital. I ran into Agent Driscoll outside talking on his phone. "How is she?"
"Exhausted and confused. She has a broken wrist and some scratches and bruises on her face, but she'll be OK thanks to you. You did good out there. I don't know who you really are, but I'm amending all my emergency contact documents to say if I'm ever lost in the woods, I want them to call you. I'm sure we'll be in touch for follow up on this case. It's been a pleasure working with you, Ms. Mason. He stuck out his hand, but I stepped in and hugged him.
"Are they keeping Cassie overnight?"
"I'm still waiting to hear from the doctor. They seem really interested in the way her arm was splinted and some ointment or something that was on her face. She had them call a Dr. Wainwright. I guess maybe he's her regular physician."
"I know Dr. Wainwright. Is he on his way?"
"Yes. How do you know him?"
"We've dealt with some of this stuff before."
Driscoll got me a tea from the vending machine, and we sat in the waiting room until the nurse came to tell us they were keeping Cassie overnight. We followed her to Cassie's room.
"Agent Driscoll, do you mind if I have a word alone with Everly?"
He stepped out into the hall to make yet another call. "Thanks for coming to my rescue," Cassie said. "I'm so sorry you and Chance got caught up in all of this. It never should have happened. The doctors were intrigued by the ointment on my face and the way my wrist was splinted. It was the same way they reacted to the poultice that was on your gunshot wound when Chance found you in the woods. I had them call Dr. Wainwright."
"I gave my statement to Agent Driscoll in Spokane. I'm sure he'll fill you in on the details of the case. They brought my bags from Renee's but I don't know what they did with your stuff. They kept the weapons as evidence."
"Do you know what you're going to do about the cabin?"
"Not really. I'll discuss it with Chance once he gets home. I guess we'll have a lot to talk about. I can't believe he missed all of this."
"I've got a lot to talk to Jared about too. When they checked me out, they found out I'm pregnant."
"Cassie, that's great. Congratulations. Is the baby OK?"
"The ER doc said everything was fine. I can't wait to tell Jared. I know I should have told him first, but I needed to tell someone."
"It'll be our secret," I said. "I'm sorry for everything you went through."
"I suspect Mr. Meecham will want to get us all together again to talk about all of this. He tends to like to handle things within our own group. Was there any sign of bigfoot in the caves?"
"Someone had definitely spent time there. The one large room I saw had a fire pit in the center and the roof overhead was blackened, but my research said bigfoot didn't like fire. I didn't get the chance to check out much more."
"Did they capture the bigfoot family?"
"Not as far as I know. If those caves were their home, they must have moved on since the incident with Tom and I. Chance won't be happy to hear that. He was hoping to get out there to see them for himself now that his cast is off."
"Speaking of casts, they're going to set my arm tomorrow. They want me to catch up on some rest tonight."
"I'm going to head back to the A-frame. Is there anything I can bring you?"
"No, thanks. I'm just going to talk with Agent Driscoll and call Mr. Meecham, then I'm going to sleep as long as they'll let me."
"Message me and let me know how you're doing. I'm going home to the A-frame. I'm not sure what the plan will be after Chance gets home and hears about all of this. We still have to figure out what to do with Renee's cabin and all the stuff in her lab."