by Andrew Hess
“I can’t make the paramedics get there any faster sir.”
“Fine, just tell them to hurry. While you’re at it, call the Ulster County Police Department and tell them Detective Ali Ryan has been attacked and thrown into the Mid-Hudson River.”
Matthew hung up, threw the phone in his pocket and dropped his jacket on the ground. He stripped off his shoes, socks, shirt and pants; leaving him shivering in his boxer briefs. He placed a foot on the rail and pulled himself up. Matthew stared at the choppy cold water; spotting Ali’s body sinking about twenty feet from where she’d fallen.
“Hold on Ali, I’m coming for you,” he shouted while leaping off the rail. His feet hit the water first causing another big splash.
He submerged his head under the water and searched for Ali. Each time he resurfaced it felt like ice filled his lungs. Each breath felt like a knife digging deeper into his chest. He swam a bit further and dove straight down. He refused to give up and pushed himself to swim deeper until he felt Ali’s cold wet skin. He grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her back to the surface.
Chapter 109
Bright white lights; that’s all I could remember seeing when I opened my eyes. My body was sore. My skin felt like it had been ripped off a block of ice. The last thing I remembered was running as hard as I could until I was unable to breathe. Then some nice man was helping me, or rather some guy that appeared nice until he dumped my body into the river below. And then I was staring up at bright white lights.
“Ali…Ali,” a soft voice said soothingly in the distance. “Can you hear me?” The voice seemed to get closer by the second.
I wanted to reach out and grab a hold of the woman who was calling my name, but felt a surge of pain every time I tried to move my arms.
“Detective Ryan,” a man’s voice shouted. It was stern and forceful; somehow familiar.”
Am I dead? Oh god did I die? Did that son of a bitch kill me?
A shadow of a man slid into view. “No, get away from me.” My arms shot up into the air; pushing, punching almost clawing the shadow of the man in front of me, but my arms were pinned down to a bed.
“Relax Ali,” Rodney’s voice said with a loud burst of realization that I was not where I thought I was. “It’s okay; you’re safe now.”
“R-Rodney; i-is t-that y-you?”
“Yeah partner; it’s me.” I felt his large hand grip mine. “You gave all of us a big scare Ali.”
“W-what happened?” Where am I?”
I heard a few grunts, moans and sighs before Rodney bent down and pulled up a chair. “You were attacked on the bridge this morning and thrown into the Mid-Hudson.”
The image of me doubled over clutching my chest replayed in my mind. I remembered a man helping me and then my body hitting the water.
“He was there,” I muttered.
“Who was,” the stern voice asked.
I pushed myself in the bed feeling the pain shooting through my arms and torso. “Nick, I’m sure it was him. He was the one who attacked me.”
“Did you see him?”
“No, I couldn’t get a good look at him. I couldn’t focus; not until he threw me over the bridge.” I turned my head to face Rodney. His face was twisted with concern and anger. “How did you guys find me?”
“Wasn’t us; it was Matthew?”
“What? How did he find me? Why was he there?”
“Does it really matter? The man just saved your life.”
“Amanda,” I blurted out. “I need to make sure she’s okay.”
Rodney pushed me down onto the bed. “She’s safe. We have a uniformed officer standing guard outside her dorm room.”
I swatted his hand away and tried to shove the covers off of me. “It’s not good enough. He knows our schedules. He must’ve been stalking me for a while. There’s no telling if and how long he’s been stalking her.”
“So what do you want us to do?”
“You can start by helping me get out of this bed.”
Lieutenant Esposito approached from the other side and grabbed my hand. “You’re not going anywhere. Someone just tried to kill you. You’re lucky to be alive right now.”
“I’ll be fine. I just need to get to Amanda.”
The Lieutenant grabbed my arm tightly. “And do what collapse in front of her? You’re staying here tonight.”
“But…”
“But nothing. I don’t care if we have to handcuff you to the bed. You’re not leaving this hospital until the doctor gives you the clearance.”
I made a move to get out of bed but felt the cold steel of handcuffs snap around my wrist.
“What the hell Rodney; let me go.”
“Sorry partner. You heard the Lieutenant.”
“I need to get Amanda out of here.”
“And take her where?”
“I wanna put her and Shawn on a train back home. My parents can pick them up and keep them safe until we take down the son of a bitch that put me here.”
Chapter 110
After debating and arguing with Rodney and the Lieutenant for nearly an hour, I finally conceded and accepted that I had to stay in the hospital at least for the night. In return they offered to work out an arrangement with the police department in Glenn Falls to have officers watching my parent’s house and a car ready to pick Amanda and Shawn up from the train station when they arrived.
The nurse walked in. She was a woman in her mid-forties with short curly blond hair with a few gray streaks mixed in.
“How we doing tonight,” she asked.
“Good, but can’t wait to get outta here,” I replied.
The nurse put the Velcro wrap from the blood pressure machine around my arm and squeezed momentarily before letting the pressure go. She put the thermometer in my mouth waited a minute for it to beep and took it out.
“Well so far I don’t see why you can’t go home tomorrow, but we’ll let the doctor check you out then and see what he says.” She noticed me roll my eyes at her comment and laughed. “Just get some rest and it’ll be morning in no time.”
“Sorry, that’s impossible. I need to be out there catching the guy that did this to me.”
“Well, you’re not going anywhere tonight, but I can get ya something to help you sleep.” The nurse wrote a note into my chart, exited the room and came back a few minutes later with a paper cup filled with two little pills. “Now, take these and get some rest.”
She watched me take the pills and handed me a cup of water from my tray. I swallowed the pills and felt better knowing that I had someone there to take care of me like I did when my mom took care of me when I was younger. The nurse gave my hand a gentle squeeze; told me if I needed anything to push the button on the remote and she’d see me in the morning.
The nurse clicked off my lights and closed the door behind her. The pills she gave me worked their magic instantly. My eyelids became heavy, my arms became numb, and my body felt weightless. In my head I was already on a first class trip to paradise.
Chapter 111
I opened my eyes to see the crystal clear waters of Saint Lucia, a place I only dreamed of going to. My body was sprawled out on the beach with the hot sun radiating against my bikini clad body. I plunged my hand into the warm sand and let it sift through my fingers. It felt so real and I wanted nothing more than to be there with Matthew. And then a tall dark shadow stood over me.
I looked up to see Matthew holding two drinks in his hands. He smiled at me and bent down to hand me a blood orange margarita. I threw my arms around him; nearly knocking him over and pummeled him with kisses.
“I guess someone missed me,” he laughed.
I didn’t care if it was a dream or real. I was happy to see him and hear his voice. “I’m sorry we fought. I’m sorry I’m such an idiot. I’m sorry…”
He put a finger to my lips, waited for me to quiet down and planted a long passionate kiss on my lips. “I say we finish these and jump in the water for a bit.” He chugged down hi
s jack and coke before sprinting down to the water. I let the margarita slide down my throat and stood up. I was a bit dizzy but hurried to find Matthew.
He was already waist deep in the water by the time I dipped a toe into the cool refreshing water. It was clear and felt great to let the waves bring in the tide and wash over my bare feet. I looked up and smiled as Matthew raced back to the shore splashing water in my face.
“I’m gonna get you for that,” I shouted and chased him along the shoreline. But as I ran after him, my scenery changed. I couldn’t feel the warm sand and cool water in between my toes. No, I was running along a bridge; a bridge I knew too well.
My feet slapped the pavement in a new pair of pink and white sneakers. I was in my black yoga pants and pink tank top. I could feel someone coming after me. I looked back and saw no one, but my feet kept going; making me run faster and further away as if they had a mind of their own.
I couldn’t shake the feeling someone was there; so I glanced over my shoulder again. This time there was a man dressed in black from head to toe. He was chasing me; gaining on me no matter how fast I ran. He was at my heels within seconds and slammed his body into mine. I fell to the ground scraping my hands and knees along the concrete.
I felt his hand grip my arm and pull me to my feet. I tried to strike him, but could barely lift my arms. The faceless man picked me up and threw me in the water. I was reliving the nightmare that I survived. I fought against the waves desperately trying to keep my head above water. And then my arms became too tired and I sank to the bottom of the river.
It’s just a dream, I reminded myself. I just need to wake up and everything will be fine.
I opened my eyes; half expecting to see the water but breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the dark hospital room.
“Thank god that nightmare’s over,” I whispered.
“It’s only just begun,” a man’s voice replied.
I strained to see who was talking but couldn’t move. My wrists were bound by the cold steel handcuffs restraining me to the bed.
“Who’s there? Show yourself.”
A man dressed in a black shirt and pants approached from a dark corner in the room. I could see the white coat flash momentarily in the moonlight.
“Who the fuck are you,” I spat.
The man smiled and removed a piece of duct tape from a roll and placed it on my mouth. “There that’s better.” He paced around my bed; stepping closer every time. “I love that you’re at my mercy again. Now what should I do with you?” His hand skimmed the smooth skin on my leg and I tried to kick him away. “Feisty; I like it. You won’t go down without a fight.” I tried to kick him again. “Oh don’t worry Detective; I don’t wanna kill you; not yet anyway.”
I kicked and pushed my feet trying to keep this man at bay while I dropped my head as low as I could. My fingertips just reached the edge of the tape and were able to rip it from my mouth.
“HELP,” I shouted. “HELP, THE KILLER IS IN HERE.”
The man grabbed my ankles and taped them to the bed rails. I was defenseless; helpless. He made his way to the top of my bed and placed another piece of tape across my mouth.
“Keep that up and I’ll really give you something to scream about.” His fingers slid down my chin and dropped to my chest. He traced them along the bottom of my breasts; teasing another attack this time a more vicious and sexual one. He leaned in closer. I could feel his hot breath through the hospital gown. “Oh don’t worry. I’m not gonna do anything to you, but I might enjoy spending some intimate time with your sister.”
I thrashed and pulled at my shackles; trying to find some way to break free from my restraints. The man smiled and pulled the tape from my mouth.
“Don’t you dare touch a hair on her head.”
“It’s okay Ali, I won’t touch her hair, but I will enjoy watching her die slowly; very slowly.”
I continued fighting to get free while I screamed and cursed at the man hovering over my bed; shouting I was going to kill him.
“Ali…Ali wake up,” a man’s voice shouted above me. His hands shook my shoulders forcing me to wake from the intense nightmare. “ALI!”
“I’ll fucking kill you.”
“Ali, relax,” the man shouted again. “It was only a dream; you’re safe.”
I opened my eyes and saw Matthew sitting on the edge of my bed. Sweat was pouring down my face and I was scanning the room for the man that threatened Amanda’s life.
“Where is he?”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. Someone was in here. I was handcuffed to the bed and…” I looked down and saw there were no handcuffs on me or attached to the bed rails. “I swear someone was here just a few minutes ago.”
“No one’s been in or out of your room in hours,” Matthew reassured me. “I’ve been sitting outside since eleven.”
I looked at the clock and saw the red digits telling me it was three in the morning. “Amanda,” I gasped.
“She’s safe. Rodney has three officers monitoring her room, patrolling the hallway and watching the building. No one is getting anywhere near her.”
“Where’s Rodney? Where’s the Lieutenant?”
“They went home to get some sleep. They’ve been working all night to arrange a way for your sister to get out of town and get all the protection she needs.” Matthew wiped away the sweat from my face and fixed my curly hair behind my ear. “Ali, I…” I didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. I pulled him in and kissed him as hard and passionate as I did in my dream.
“Stay with me tonight. Just hold me and don’t leave.”
Chapter 112
I woke to the scent of fresh flowers and opened my eyes to a room filled with colorful bouquet arrangements and get well cards which were overshadowed by the oversized get well card signed by all the officers from my precinct.
My right hand moved to where I had been resting comfortably, but all I felt was the cool fabric of the hospital sheets and pillows.
“Matthew,” I called out hysterically.
He barged through the door instantly and ran to me. “What happened? Is everything all right?”
I threw my arms around his neck and squeezed tightly. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just…I didn’t know where you were.”
“It’s okay. I was just outside. You have a few visitors that have been waiting very impatiently.”
I let out a light hearted laugh and half smile before raising my hands to my hair. “Eh I probably look like shit right now.”
“No, you look beautiful,” he replied charmingly. “Are you ready to see them?”
I nodded and let Matthew open the door. Rodney and Amanda were the first to enter. Amanda wasted no time before she hurled herself onto my bed and latching her arms around me; pulling me so tight I almost couldn’t breathe.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” she whispered.
“I won’t; I promise. Besides, I don’t want you to have all the fun of being an only child.” We stared at each other and giggled; the kind of giggle that sisters share when they’re younger. “Did Rodney go over everything with you?”
Amanda’s eyes went from being lively to depressed in a matter of seconds. “I don’t wanna go. You need me here.”
“I need you to be somewhere safe. This psycho has made this personal which means he could easily target you too. I can’t chase him and keep an eye on you at the same time.”
“I don’t need you to keep an eye on me. I’m a big girl; I can handle myself.”
Rodney stepped forward and placed a hand on our shoulders gently. “Amanda, she’s right. We don’t know what this guy has planned and can’t risk you being caught in his crosshairs. You’ll be safe with your parents in Glen Falls.”
Amanda made a motion to protest but was shot down immediately as I sat up in the bed. “You’re going and that’s the end of it.” Amanda stood up and stormed out the door.
“I’ll go after her,” Rodney said. “Don’t wor
ry Ali; I’ll make sure she gets there safely.”
Rodney exited the room before I could stop him. The door remained open which allowed the Lieutenant to enter.
“There’s the big hero,” the Lieutenant smirked.
“Thanks Lieu, but I wouldn’t call being overworked and being dumped in the river by a psychopathic killer being a hero.”
“I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to your boyfriend; you know the guy that saved your ass.”
I felt my cheeks glow with a red tint. He was right. Matthew was a big hero. He was my hero. He rescued me from the freezing river and I had yet to thank him.
“Matthew I uh…”
“You don’t have to say anything Ali. I’m just glad I was in the right place at the right time. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“Oh god, I didn’t come here for this mushy love story nonsense,” the Lieutenant barked.
“Why are you here,” I snapped in return.
He looked down at the tiled floor; fixated on the shoelaces on his polished black dress shoes. “I don’t wanna do this but I gotta. I’m officially pulling you from the case.”
“What,” I shouted. I was enraged. I had been chasing lead after lead for months trying to track down the killer; even worked harder to convince the Lieutenant that there was a killer in the first place and now I was being removed from the case. I demanded to know why.
“I’m sorry Ali; my hands are tied on this one.”
“Why; because the son of a bitch attacked me? That’s no reason to pull me from the case.”
“You’re a target Ali. He painted a bullseye on your back, on your chest and the whole station. I can’t let you on the street; not yet; not until we catch him.”
“I’m not leaving. You can’t make me.”
Matthew touched my hand and I jerked it away from him quickly. “Ali, we can’t let you go up against this guy. He knows your routine; where you live; where you work.”
“I don’t care; that’s not going to stop me.”
“Well, that’s not your call to make Detective.” The Lieutenant looked up with his face turning bright red in anger. “Because of the attack on you and the two deaths from last night, the Commissioner has brought in the F.B.I. to take over the case. They’ll be here sometime this afternoon to consult you about the case.”
