When Nikola took his hand away the girl continued to nod. She was scared, very scared. Nikola watched as the girl felt herself, her face displayed terror as she confirmed she had gained assets on her chest and lost assets in her groin.
The former Kurt had no idea what was going on other than that she had been in a car crash and had somehow turned into a girl. She had not yet seen her reflection. She was in a hospital and apparently in a girl's body.
Nikola explained to the girl "The police want to interview you. I can't stop them. All I can suggest is that you pretend to have amnesia. They think you are my step-daughter Ruby Donaldson. Co-operate and I will post bail and get you out of here"
"Ruby Donaldson? I met her. Did she do this to me?"
"Don't ask questions. Don't try to convince the police you are not the real Ruby. You won't be believed. You were found drunk behind the wheel of a stolen and crashed truck. The driver is missing. Feign ignorance about how you got to be behind the wheel. Otherwise your choices are an asylum or a juvenile detention centre for girls"
"But what happened to me? Why am I a girl? How can I change back?"
Nikola recalled the questions the FBI agents had been asking "I can help with that. I have considerable resources at my call. Now think carefully. Before you changed. Do you recall touching a medallion? A bronze coloured disc on a metal chain. This medallion is the key to changing you back"
"Yes there was a medallion in the pocket of the jacket your daughter left in my truck. I recall it gave me a shock when I touched it"
Nikola gasped with excitement "Very good. Where is it now? Still in the truck?"
"No I donated the jacket to a charity shop. I left the medallion in the pocket"
"Charity shop? Where?"
"Opposite the #$#$ truckstop at Jacksonville. I put it in a donation bin"
"And how long ago was this?"
"Maybe 8 am. The shop wasn't open. I stopped for breakfast"
It was after 11 am. Nikola hoped the bin was untouched. But he needed to hurry. "I need to go and get this medallion right now as a prioirty. Now they know you are awake, the police are going to interview you. Just remember to pretend you are Ruby Donaldson a 16 year old girl from Heathrow. Feign amnesia about how you got to be driving the truck. I'll be back to fetch you as soon as I can. Oh here's some clothes for you to wear, compliments of the real Ruby" Nikola tossed the bag of clothes Ruby had given him onto the bed the girl was in. He noticed that the hospital must have put her into gown of somekind. "Remember, co-operating with me is the only way you will get back to being yourself"
Nikola left, informed the police officer outside that the girl was awake and hurried off to the truckstop the girl had described.