“Best time to hunt for witches.”
He shook his head and helped me to my feet. With his arm on my shoulder, he directed me into the large living room and up the stairs. Even the scent of him was heightened, making me want him as soon as we were alone.
“We’re not hunting for witches,” he said. “You’re operating on as much sleep as I am.”
“But I’m wide awake and really want to get out. It’s so colorful out there.”
“Colorful?” He just shook his head. “Bed. That’s what I prescribe for that hand and for you.”
“Party pooper,” I muttered. We trudged up the stairs, and into a giant master bedroom, the colors coming alive as we did.
Jim shut the door and gave me a kiss. “Sleep tonight.”
“You never let me have any fun.”
“With those guys in the house?” he whispered. “Are you nuts? They’ll be listening at the door.”
“Yeah.” I went into the huge bathroom so I could brush my teeth. Jim joined me, and all of a sudden, I turned and attacked him. My lips were all over his face, my hands massaged his sides, and I couldn’t stop myself.
“Harley,” he said, pushing me away. “I said not tonight. Remember?”
“Uh-huh.” I licked his cheek, running my hands through his hair and down his back. I couldn’t stop.
He took both my shoulders in his hands and held me away from him. No matter what I tried, he kept me at a distance. “I said no,” he whispered.
“But I have to have you. Now.”
“Why? We’re both tired, remember?”
“Not me.” I shot him a grin. “I got my second or third wind and the colors and smells are incredible. You smell fantastic.”
He studied my face for a moment. “Stay right there.”
“Okay.” I turned around with a smile and washed my face while he left the room. In the mirror, I could see a window behind me. Good idea. I’d find the bad guys by myself.
I opened the window and looked down. Two stories—not bad. I crawled out, hung by my fingertips for a few moments, and fell to the ground. My left ankle and foot hurt a little bit, but I could still walk. I took off running down the road toward town. I knew I could find those bad guys. It was just a matter of time until I saved the world.
Chapter 13
I had to be thankful. At least I was wearing slacks with flat shoes and it was still warm outside, even for October.
While hiking down the road, I spotted Pearl’s house. It was after eleven, so I didn’t stop in. I wanted to, but decided against it. I kept walking, listening to the sounds of the animals in the night, smelling the most incredible things, and seeing vibrant colors in the dark again. If I was on drugs, it was scary but amazing. Every sense was heightened, and I just wanted to move.
I heard the car before I saw it, and knew it had to be Jim. I didn’t want him finding me, or he’d make it nasty, probably giving me a sedative. I saw a shed up ahead, and ran behind it, just waiting.
The car moved slowly past the shed. I kept watch, in case it was Jim.
“Harley,” he yelled out the window. “Where did you go? I won’t hurt you, I promise.”
I knew he wouldn’t, but he also wouldn’t let me have any fun. For some reason, I wanted to dance. I wanted to sing. I wanted…that’s when it hit me. I was acting just like the people in the town. Reality set in. I was infected. I needed the clear vial of medicine and I needed it now.
I waited until the car passed and ran back toward the house. The back door was open, so I entered the house, right into the kitchen. I looked through all the drawers, and finally found the vial in a cabinet, just out of my reach. I pulled over a chair, and while stepping up, someone grabbed me from behind.
“No.” He lowered me to the floor.
I turned around and faced Chris.
“Where have you been?” he asked.
“I had to get to town. I wanted to dance, sing, and do everything they’re doing there. Chris, I’m infected. I have to have the antidote, because it’s the only way.” I leaned closer to him. “I’m seeing colors and smelling scents like you wouldn’t believe.”
“No.” With both hands on my shoulders, he directed me to the living room and forced me firmly onto the couch. He sat beside me, and with his hand on my arm, pulled out his cell phone, pressing a speed dial number. “It’s Chris. She’s back home and wants the clear vial because she thinks she’s infected.”
“I am infected.”
He shook his head. “I’m holding her down. This is just weird.” He ended the call and stayed beside me.
“What happened?” he asked.
“I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s safe in town. Whatever it is, I have it, I’m sure. I tried to rape my own husband.”
“I heard. The whole house heard. Jim was going to take your vitals, and when he went back upstairs, you were gone.”
“I jumped out the window.”
His eyebrows flew upward, as he looked down over me. “Two stories? Are you hurt?”
“Maybe.” I lifted my pant leg and stared at my ankle. “Hmmm…it looks swollen, but it doesn’t hurt. Isn’t that weird? It is a pretty yellow, though…wait, no it’s orange, no, it’s changing again. I think it’s blue.” I lifted my eyes to Chris’ face, realizing this wasn’t normal. “Do you think Jim hates me now?” I stood up and paced. “I know he does. He’s going to want a divorce. I can see it now. I’ll be out of a job and he’ll take everything I don’t have…and I can’t stop talking. Chris, fix this. I’m going out of my mind.”
He stood up and held onto my shoulders. The back door opened and Jim and the other two goons ran inside.
“I can’t stop talking. Fix this,” I said to Jim. “Just please don’t divorce me or take me to the cleaners. I don’t have anything you’d want, so just let me go nicely.” Tears filled my eyes and all the men just stared at me.
“I don’t get this,” Archie said.
“My sentiments, exactly,” I said. “I don’t even have a car or my motorcycle. I don’t have anything.” I broke away from Chris. “I have to get to town. Those people would know what to do for me. They’d know how to handle me. Maybe I should become a hooker, so I can ask for help?”
Jim stared. It was as if no one knew what to do for me.
“She tried to get the clear vial,” Chris told them, again. “I stopped her. It’s like she’s on amphetamines or something.”
Jim took my shoulders and sat me down on the couch. He tried to hold me still, but my feet kept moving. It was the weirdest thing I could imagine. I couldn’t stop moving.
“Get my bag,” Jim said. “I have some sedatives in there.” Archie took off out the back door.
“No sedatives,” I yelled. “They’ll kill me.”
He stared into my eyes. “Sedatives will kill you? Why?”
“I just know they will. When dawn comes, this will all go away.”
“How do you know that?”
“The guy at the bed and breakfast told me he had a hangover the next morning, but he’s more normal. Just get me through the night, and Jim?” I wiped my cheeks. “Please don’t leave me.”
“I won’t. Ever. That should be the last thing on your mind right now. Something’s affecting you and I intend to fix it. The weird thing is it’s not affecting any of us, but just you.”
“Could it be because she’s smaller?” Chris asked.
“I don’t know.”
Archie ran inside with Jim’s bag and handed it to him.
“Hold her still,” Jim said to Jordan, who sat down beside me.
Chris pointed at my foot. “She hurt her ankle, too, when she jumped out the window.”
Jim nodded, put the stethoscope on his ears, and moved it to my chest.
“Doctors are so hot,” I whispered.
He grinned and put his finger to his lips. “Quiet.”
“Yes, master. I’ll try.”
He listened, and looked up at Chris. “Her heart�
�s racing like she’s on something.”
“That’s a given,” Chris muttered. “I could’ve told you that, and I’m not a doctor.”
I took a deep breath. “I didn’t take anything. I ate with you guys. I just want to get to town and have sex, honestly.”
Jim shook his head. “There’s no way you’re leaving here. Especially for that. Harley, something’s wrong and we need to fix it. Do you get that?”
“Sure, but if you felt like I feel right now, you’d be stripping. I’m holding back, just so you know.”
Jim looked baffled. “Did you eat anything else today?”
“There were cookies at work and I ate some. Does that count?”
Jim turned to Archie. “Cookies. Go get some at her work.”
I shook my head. “They’re gone. I was really hungry today. I think I have PMS or something, but they tasted really good, and the more I ate, the more I wanted to eat.”
“You don’t have PMS,” Jim said. “I should know.” He reached into his bag, pulled out a syringe, and unwrapped it. “I’m going to take some blood. It won’t hurt much.”
I wiggled out of the jail cell of his arms, stood up, and walked away. “Nope. No needles.”
“Get her,” Jim ordered.
I turned and ran up the stairs, followed by Archie, Chris, and Jordan. My ankle was finally starting to hurt, but I ran toward the bathroom, hoping the window was still open. Someone had closed and locked it, so I had to work fast. While I was trying to open the thing, all four of the men grabbed me. Jim carried me back downstairs. They held me on the couch while Jim took a gallon of blood from my arm.
“No.” I struggled. “Let me go. Please?”
“Unbelievable,” Jim said, pulling the vial out from my arm. “She’s never like this.” He walked out of the room, and I heard another door open. The guys helped me sit up, but there was no way I’d be moving, from the way they flanked my sides.
“Where is he going?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” Chris said. “Harley, think back. Is there anything else you may have eaten today? Did you drink any water?”
“I had bottled water at work.”
“Where was it manufactured?”
I snorted a laugh. “Like I’d know that. It was some off-brand I didn’t recognize. There are tons of them in the refrigerator at work. Mr. Moody said I could drink any of them that I wanted. I had three.”
Jim returned to the room and handed me a specimen jar. “Fill it.”
“With what? Spit?”
“Urine. I want to see what your body is processing.”
“Pee in a cup,” I said, standing up. “Check for pregnancy while you do.”
Chris’ hand was on my arm. “Do you think that has anything to do with it?”
“Who knows?” I said. “For all I know, I’m normal and you guys are in slow motion or something.”
All the men in the room seemed confused. They just didn’t understand.
Jim took me toward the bathroom off the living room. He entered with me, closed the door behind us, and crossed his arms.
“I can do this by myself,” I said.
“No way. I don’t trust you to be alone. Something major’s happening to you, and I have to find out what it is.” He looked down at my ankle as I pushed my pants and underwear down to the floor. “Are you in pain?”
“Sort of. But it didn’t hurt at first.”
“Narcotics, I’m sure of it.”
I grabbed the cup and sat on the toilet. That’s not an easy feat, but I made it work. As soon as I put the filled vial on the sink, he screwed on the lid, washed the outside, and lifted it to the light. “It’s got a green tinge. That’s not right.”
“So, I ate a lot of greens today.”
He lowered his gaze to my face. “No, you didn’t.”
I stood up and yanked my underwear and pants back up. He opened the door and I took a step, feeling major pain in my leg.
“Ow,” I yelled. “I think I broke my ankle.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.” After he put the bottle down on a table, he lifted me up and carried me to the couch. “Keep an eye on her. I’ll be right back.” He left the room.
I leaned back and stared up at the ceiling. “He’s leaving me, isn’t he?”
“Paranoia,” Chris whispered. “You’re on a bad trip.”
“You have no idea.” I lowered my head to my hands, but when the nausea started, I moved it down to my legs. “I don’t feel good at all.”
“Jim,” Chris yelled.
Jim ran back into the room with an elastic bandage in his hand, pushing a wheelchair. “What’s the matter?”
“She said she’s going to be sick.”
“I’m fine.” I lifted my head to see him standing in front of me. “I think whatever I had in my system is wearing off. I’m not seeing the colors and everything stinks.”
Jim grinned. “So you don’t want to get naked and have your way with me anymore?”
I stared up at him, the light bothering my eyes. “Did I really say that?”
“You don’t remember?” he asked, sitting beside me.
“Vaguely. I feel like I have a bad hangover, though. Got any booze?”
“No,” Jim said, laughing. “So that’s what’s going on in town. I have a feeling you just had a mild case because it happened really fast. I wonder what’s doing this?”
“I don’t know, but my left ankle hurts.” I stood up and looked down at it while holding onto the couch. “More than ever.”
I’d never be able to dig graves or do my job now. There went my mortuary salary.
Chapter 14
Jim helped me into the wheelchair and took me through the kitchen and out the side door. “This guy had a mini-hospital over here. I don’t think there are any other hospitals close by, so it was probably by necessity. I’m going to X-ray your leg and see what I can do. He even has a mini-operating room and a lab set up.”
“Nice to know. Now take away the pain in my foot.”
He smiled. “I’d love to.” He wheeled me into a small X-ray room and lifted me up on a table. Once I was lying down, he moved my pant leg up past my knee, took off my shoe and hose, and turned my foot to the side. “Stay still. I’ll be right back.” I heard a buzz and shut my eyes. He kept going back and forth with the moving and buzzing, but I kept my eyes shut.
“Are you done yet?” I asked.
“Yeah. Open your eyes.”
As I opened my eyes and sat up, he slapped the X-rays onto the lit panel on the wall. “Good job. Two fractures.”
“What does that mean?”
“You must’ve landed on your left foot when you jumped, because you have two fractures near your ankle.” He flipped off the light and faced me. “Does anything else hurt?”
“Just my ankle.”
“I’ll be back.” He left. When he returned, he wheeled a big cabinet-type of thing into the room. “What’s your favorite color today?”
“What for?”
“My sweetheart, you broke your ankle. That’s what a fracture is. And not only did you break it once, but you broke it twice. You need a cast on that foot. What color would you like?” He looked through the paraphernalia. “I have orange, purple, white, blue, and green.”
“This is like a bad dream,” I said, covering my eyes with my hand.
“You got that right. Now what color? You’ll have to deal with it for six weeks, at least.”
“Six weeks?” I moved my hand so I could see him. “In a cast? How can I work? How am I to go on a honeymoon in a cast?”
“I think we’ll postpone the honeymoon and I’ll be waiting on you hand and foot, literally.” He checked his watch. “Can we get this moving? I’m really tired.”
“Pick one and make it nice.”
“Blue. Fine.”
As he started to work, Chris walked into the room. “Well?”
“Two fractures.” Jim wrapped my foot and I hid my eyes.
&nb
sp; “But you were walking on it.” I assumed Chris was talking to me. “Didn’t you feel the pain?”
“Nope. Not until it started to wear off.”
Jim kept working while talking to Chris, until they were both quiet.
My hand was lifted from my eyes. “You can look,” Jim said.
I looked down at an electric-blue colored cast that went from the base of my toes up to the calf of my leg.
“Blue. I thought you meant real blue. This is neon and will glow in the dark.”
He chuckled and lifted me to the wheelchair. As he wheeled me out of the room, he grabbed some crutches from a supply closet and handed them to me. “Stay off that foot.”
“Crutches. I haven’t had these since I was about six, when I broke my leg.”
“You broke your leg?”
“Yep. I was dancing on a picnic table and jumped off, landing the wrong way.” I stood up and put the crutches under my arms. “I hate crutches. I hate everything. I feel yucky and have the worst headache.”
“I’m not surprised. I don’t want to give you anything right now. I don’t know what’s in your system and it’s risky.”
“Thanks. That’s probably a great idea, in theory, but in practice, it sucks.” I hobbled out into the kitchen, where the rest of the guys were sitting at the table. “Have a great night, and thanks for putting up with me.”
“Good night, Harley,” Archie said. “We’re heading upstairs soon.”
I hobbled out of the room, up the stairs, and into the master bedroom, with Jim close behind. I fell onto the bed from exhaustion.
“Are you going to get ready for bed?” he asked.
“I am. I’m lying down. That’s as ready as I’m getting tonight.”
He helped me to my feet, stuck the crutches under my arms, and helped me into the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and did everything I needed to do except change clothes. He helped me change, making me sob uncontrollably.
“This really isn’t like you,” he said.
“My head hurts, my body hurts, and I want to die.”
“I wish I could give you something.”
“Don’t worry.” I wiped my cheeks. “I’ll probably be dead by morning. Just give me a nice funeral, somewhere away from this town.”
Murders on the Edge Page 8
