by Dale Mayer
She looked down at him. “No, she preferred to be treated as a boy, and she always called herself a he – so we did too.”
“And this image?”
She shook her head, hating to think about when it was taken. “It looks like one of the rooms at the lab, but I don’t know for sure.”
“Did you ever see her like this?”
Again she shook her head. “No, not like this. But…” she tried to cast her mind back… “It’s hard to place her because of her aging issue.”
Dean stared at her again. “What aging issue?”
“She never seemed to age. She always looked like a ten year old girl.”
“Jesus. I can’t imagine.”
He stared at the image on his computer. “Take a closer look. Can you see if this might be an old image of her? Supposedly she’s deceased, remember.”
She pulled up the chair she’d been sitting in earlier, shoving the food cart out of the way, and sat down for a closer look. She studied the room first. “The walls are similar in that they are plain and appear to be smooth without a pattern. The bed she’s on is similar. It’s metal, smooth rounded corners. The floor… She tried to see the floor in the image.
Dean made a couple of clicks and enlarged it. She leaned in a little. “The floor is linoleum looking squares and could also be from the same lab. Then again if there were two labs they could both have been outfitted at the same time and in the same way.”
He nodded. “The bedding?”
“Now that is a bit different. The lab was always warm and we only ever had a sheet.”
“No blankets?”
The shock in his voice made her laugh. “Like I said it was always warm in there so no, no blankets. But…” she tapped the screen. “It appears she might have one.”
“Or it’s a hoody or sweater.”
They stared at the image, closely trying to figure out if the rumpled material under her head was either of their suggestions.
Then her eyes caught on the one new thing that was definite. “Well there’s that,” she said, her voice dropping as tears clogged her throat. “The chains were definitely new.”
He caught his breath back and leaned in. “I didn’t see them before,” he admitted.
“Neither did I. They are slightly hidden.”
“Not enough.” He pushed his chair back and walked to the big bay window. “You never had chains?” He waited.
“No. Never chains.”
She watched the relief take the starch out of his shoulder as he relaxed slightly. But she didn’t think protecting him would help. And the truth was likely to come out. In a way she really wanted it to come out. “We had leather straps.”
He froze. Slowly so very slowly he turned to face her. But the look on his face had her rushing to tell him. “They weren’t that bad. They didn’t cut into our wrists and if they did, they put a fur thing around the collar so our skin wouldn’t bleed.”
She didn’t dare tell him that the bleeding made a mess of the sheet, which was why they protected the delicate skin. She didn’t think he’d like to hear that bit.
He opened his arms and tugged her into them. Held hard against his chest, she couldn’t miss the tremor that raced through his huge frame. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. “It’s okay, you know. It’s over.”
“I knew that, but I didn’t really ‘get’ it until now.”
His arms squeezed tighter. “You really were a prisoner, weren’t you?”
She nodded. “Yes, I was. We all were.” She twisted in his arms to look back at the laptop. “I’m afraid some of us still are.”
There was a convulsive movement in his arms crushing her close, his breath hot at her temple. That he cared made her all rosy inside. “I’m sorry. I’d have preferred you never found out.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s painful for you. For so many people, stuff like this makes them uncomfortable.”
“So what if it does?” he snapped. “You lived a horrible life.”
“But others don’t need to suffer for it,” she said with a warm smile. “It’s enough that one of us did already.”
“And yet…” he nodded to the laptop, “someone might still be suffering.”
*
Dean stared at the photo on the laptop. Tia was getting dressed in the bathroom with the clothes he’d brought her from the house. They had to get to the station now before the captain showed up here – and that he didn’t want to have happen. This location must be kept safe. But they also needed more clothes for Tia. Jones was going to pick up some and bring them to the station.
Maybe they’d fit. Jones knew women, but even he hadn’t seen her long enough to be able to judge her clothing size.
She walked out, a set look on her face. He understood. Seeing Billy’s picture had affected them both. He was afraid it was going to get a whole lot worse before it got any better.
“Ready?”
She nodded. He sighed. She wasn’t even close to being ready, but it was what it was. He held out his hand, and when she placed hers inside, he tugged her close.
“We’ll get through this.”
“I know. Just the memories…”
“I’m sorry. We don’t know that she’s dead, so remember that.”
“We don’t know that she’s alive either.”
Yet given the paper work they were taking in to the office, he doubted she was. But he had to stay positive for Tia’s sake. And his own.
She was too damn important for him to lose. He squeezed her hand, ignoring the questioning look she gave him. She might not know what he was thinking, but he had a handle on it. This girl was special and his grandpa raised no fool. Now that he had her straight in his head, and why it took so long he didn’t know, he wasn’t going to let her go.
He wanted to hold her close so she couldn’t run away, and even if she did go invisible, and boy could that take some explaining to his son and mother, then he wanted to make sure he didn’t lose her.
What if Stefan hadn’t offered him the job at the psych ward? There’d been other guards there. What if some of them had found her as interesting as he had? He might not have made this connection – ever. His life was so much richer for having her in it. He was truly blessed.
“Are you okay?” she murmured as they waited for the elevator to arrive.
“Better than okay.”
She slanted another look his way but kept quiet. He grinned, and happier than he had been in a very long time, he started to whistle.
The elevator door opened and let two men out. They got in and took the ride down to the main floor.
Outside it had started to drizzle. They ran to Dean’s truck and dove inside the cab. Laughing like teens on a first date, Dean pulled out of the parking lot and headed for his station.
“Is your captain a scary guy?”
“What can I say, but maybe?” Dean knew he should likely warn her, but the captain was the captain. Big and badass, their captain was a man with a big temper but was also a man of his word. The guys looked up to him. He was a leader they respected. But God help you if you screwed up.
“That’s clear as mud,” she said, laughing. “At least you didn’t lie.”
No point. She’d find out soon enough. And boy did she. They walked into the station about twenty minutes later to hear someone roaring in the background. Dean winced.
Then they were spotted.
“Well about damn time. Did you think this is a bloody Sunday school party? You were supposed to get your ass in here hours ago.” The biggest male in the office roared toward them like a tornado on steroids. And Dean looked to be his target. “Did you see Dr. Loring like you were supposed to? He’s been asking about you. As if you were avoiding him.”
Dean cursed under his breath. He had missed the shrink’s last appointment. “I’ll call him.”
“Yes, you damn well will,” he roared. “We need you sound, physically and mentally.”
Tia gasped and tried to hide behind Dean as the captain bore down on them.
“See, what did I tell you,” Dean said. “There’s nothing to worry about. He’s a pussycat.”
The tornado whirled to a stop just feet in front of them. His mouth worked several times then he gave up. He stumbled backwards and swallowed hard. In a very low voice he said, “Conference room one, now.”
Dean raised his eyebrows but didn’t say a word. He turned and, tugging Tia along with him, took her to the first of several conference rooms.
“Take a seat,” Dean said, motioning to the big table in front of him.
“Okay,” she whispered.
And that’s when Dean understood. Tia walked carefully forward, pulled back a chair from the table and sat down. Except her body, her features, were translucent, as if more ghost than substance. Even he hadn’t seen that before.
He never got a chance to say anything before his arm was yanked and he was pulled from the room, the door firmly shut behind him.
Expecting to face his furious boss, instead Dean faced a man gone white from shock.
“Please tell me I’m having a migraine and that I did not see what I thought I saw?”
“Sorry,” Dean said quietly. “You absolutely did. But it’s not that bad. And if you don’t calm down, she won’t be able to pull herself together enough to talk to you.”
“I did that?” The look on his face was terrible to see.
“Anyone terrorizing her is going to do that. I don’t even know all that triggers this reaction, but I can guarantee you that fear does.”
The captain was a good man. Once he calmed down he took a deep breath and said, “Let’s go talk to her.”
“I’m getting a coffee for her.”
“I’ll wait,” the captain said, looking at the door. “I wouldn’t want to freak her out anymore.”
“No, of course not,” Dean muttered, adding, “Except yanking me out of there and leaving her alone isn’t likely to make her very comfortable either.”
“I didn’t know.” But he looked terrible, yet also very hesitant to enter the room. Dean remembered his initial reaction too.
“No, you didn’t.” Dean glanced around. “I was hoping to get through this without everyone seeing her do that.”
“I’ll keep them away.” He turned and glared at the very curious onlookers. “Get your asses back in your seats. The show is over.”
Dean poured two cups of coffee from the sideboard and came back to the observation room. The coffee from this area was generally a whole lot easier to get down than from the other side. “Can you open the door, please?”
The captain complied then followed Dean inside.
Dean set the mugs down and took a quick look around. Shit.
“Where the hell is she?” the captain roared. “She’s gone.”
Chapter 35
Tia watched the big black man like he was a viper in her midst or maybe a grizzly was a better analogy. Vipers were small and deadly, but she figured this guy would shout the world to death before he had to take a bite. Damn he was big. Dean had said big but she didn’t know he meant big. Like holy crap he had to be close to seven feet tall. And he had the manners of a linebacker. She almost smiled. She’d never met one so maybe linebackers had no manners. The thing was, she wasn’t prepared to deal with this guy, viper or grizzly.
Regardless of what Dean said.
“Tia, it’s okay.”
Like hell.
“Honest. His bark is worse than his bite. He’s not going to hurt you.” Dean turned to the captain. “Right?”
The captain glared at him. “What the hell are you up to?”
Dean ran a hand down his face. She felt sorry for him. He really had a shitty life if he had to face this guy every day. No wonder he had to take the month off. Big time.
She leaned back and closed her eyes.
“Please, Tia.”
Okay, that one kind of tugged at her.
“Dean, stop joking around. It’s obvious she’s gone. Where and how I don’t know, but you can bet by morning I’ll know. Even if I have to get some kind of security system in here.”
Dean groaned. “If you’d calm down…”
“Calm down? I am calm. Otherwise you’d be out on the street on your ass right now,” he roared.
Ah shit. Dean was going to get into big trouble if she didn’t do something. She really didn’t want to face him. But the coffee was looking mighty fine. Then again it was cop coffee – would it even be drinkable?
Not likely. But maybe…she reached across and dragged the coffee toward her. It wasn’t super hot. As the other two kept up their bickering, she lifted the cup and took a drink. Nice. Much better than she’d expected. She took another sip then another. Finally, she realized the shouting had stopped.
She glanced over to find them both staring at her.
“Tia? Honey? I know this is normal for you, but for other people it’s a bit of a shock.”
She started. Then realized to them, her coffee cup was sitting in mid air. Dean wouldn’t give a damn, but the captain pulled a chair out on his side and collapsed. The look on his face was the funniest she’d seen in a long time. With a sigh, she shifted her energy and let the edges of her form show. To hell with them. Now she should be more opaque, but that was all he deserved. Damn it.
Only the look on his face made her afraid he’d have a heart attack – like for real.
“Fine.” She tried to take the disgruntled tone out of her voice but knew she hadn’t succeeded when Dean tried to hide his smile.
She showed her full body and glared at him. “Happy now?”
“Yes, thank you.” He sat down and calmly reached for the spare cup. “The captain, now, he might need a moment or two.”
“Jesus.” And this time the captain’s voice was soft as a prayer. His whole demeanor had changed, shifted into a believer even if he never knew what that meant. Now he was facing a reality shift that he couldn’t have ever contemplated.
“Yeah, nice to meet you. I’m Tia,” she said impudently.
Dean shot her a warning look. She just raised an eyebrow back. “He yelled at me.”
“I did. And I’m sorry,” the captain said. To give him credit, he reached a hand across the table, still shaky but quickly trying to regain lost ground, toward her. “I’m Captain Bronsen.”
“Tia Hanniger,” she said with a nod, then eying his hand distrustfully she gave it a small, quick shake.
“I’m sorry I scared you earlier. In truth my wife gets on my case all the time about it. I do have a temper, but…” his eyes closed and his next words had her realizing he really did know who she was or her history at least, “I would never hurt you.”
She eyed him in disbelief. “If I was forty pounds lighter, you would have knocked me over with your voice alone,” she snapped.
He grinned. “But you’re not forty pounds lighter and you are fine.”
“Hmmph.” She eyed him carefully but the thought of being lighter brought back that it had been a long time since breakfast. “How long ago did we eat?” she asked Dean.
He rolled his eyes. “It must be hours because you’re hungry, right?”
She nodded. “Well, I am hungry, even if it’s only been one hour.”
“I’ll go grab something from a vending machine.”
“Don’t bother, there are dozens of donuts in the conference room,” the captain said.
Tia lit up at the thought.
“I thought you needed to eat healthy,” Dean muttered, narrowing his gaze at her.
“Donuts are a food group all their own,” she muttered. “Anyone who doesn’t think so, never ate them.”
The captain snickered. “Better bring a couple and I’ll have a coffee too.”
Being sent out as he was, there wasn’t much Dean could do, but he stopped at the doorway and looked back at both of them. “Play nice.” And he shut the door.
Left alone, Tia tried to gauge
the captain. As far as she could see, his energy was green and orange and had some red flares still sitting inside and poking at him, part of the temper issue, she was sure. She decided to bring it up. As she opened her mouth, she caught sight of small images floating around him. Football, oh look she had him pegged correctly. She saw pictures of a beautiful woman and two boys climbing all over him. He really was a family man. With a temper.
“If you’d let some of that go, you wouldn’t be so quick to fly off the handle you know?” She kept her voice low, her tone neutral. The wrong tone and people tended to get really irritated.
The captain asked in confusion, “What? Let what go?”
“That you didn’t get your chance to lead your team to victory at twenty-five. That’s when you blew your knee out permanently, isn’t it? And the team went downhill from there. You stood on the sidelines and screamed at them to get it right but because they needed you on the field, it wasn’t the same anymore.” She waited a half beat and added in a very gentle voice, “Was it?”
He stared at her in shock. There was barely any color on his face which being a mix of milk and dark chocolate looked very odd. But his red flares were lighting up again.
“It wasn’t your fault. It was an accident. You can’t keep that anger inside.”
She leaned back to see what he’d do with that. Likely ignore her. That’s what most people did. Not that she spoke to many like this over the years. But those in Land’s Edge had lots of issues. Some wanted to know and others…not so much. After all, who wanted someone else to poke and pry into their lives? No one.
And certainly not this huge guy. “You’ve got power and prestige, a beautiful wife and two sons. You’ve been to anger management and marriage counseling and still you can’t let go of the anger. That championship was yours. You can feel it. Taste it. And if you hadn’t had that damn accident you’d have made it. But…” she waited and watched, getting an idea as the truth hit her. “You blame the other guy. The one who tackled you to the ground and the fight that ensued. You were never the same again.”
He was past staring. His eyes had gotten huge but the red flares were still sitting spiking. Not erupting, and for that she was grateful, but too close for comfort. “It was a game. He paid a high price too.”
