Dirty Cops Next Door

by Summer Cooper

  “No, I wouldn’t. I just want you to pack your bags and leave so I can have Daniel back!” She said as she pulled a knife out from behind her back.

  “Oh my!” Annie May exclaimed, dropping the phone she’d forgotten was in her hand. She put her arms in the air, hoping to placate the woman with the knife.

  “Piper, just put the knife down!”

  “No, you came here with your strange accent and your weird hair and you ruined everything! I knew gingers were supposed to be soulless but I didn’t think you’d take everything away from me! Daniel doesn’t realise it yet but we’re meant to be together! That’s why my brother told him all of that about you when we were kids. He and Daniel used to play together, and then you came along and took him from Brian! I loved him even then, and Brian knew that too, so he told Daniel all of that about you, so he’d come back to us! Brian’s gone now; he’s moved to Australia, but I’m still here and still waiting for Daniel. He has to realise it soon too; my baby is coming and it needs a father!” Piper cradled her pillow clad stomach, humming a lullaby as she swayed again.

  “But Daniel loves me Piper, me, not you. I can’t believe you two did that to us as children! What a cruel thing to do! And so childish, Piper! Daniel doesn’t love you at all, he loves me!” The words were just falling out of her mouth now, fear, shock, and desperation combining as Piper walked closer.

  “You stay away from me! You stay away or I will hurt you, Piper! I don’t want to hurt anyone! You’re sick, and you need help. Don’t make me hurt you!” Annie May stuttered out.

  “But you took Daniel from me! You have to pay!”

  “Oh, God, where is Daniel?” Annie May thought to herself. She was backing up, trying to get away from the insane woman, when she tripped over a chair, and fell to the floor hitting her head on the table. The last thing she saw before the lights went out was Piper bending down, the knife coming at her face.

  Annie May regained consciousness, trying to figure out why she couldn’t move. She opened her eyes, seeing only blackness around her. Swallowing a scream, she realised she could feel vibration, as though she were in a car and moving. Oh no, she was in a car and moving; she could hear the car accelerating, and then slowing down. It finally came to a stop, and she assumed it was Piper coming around to the back.

  The boot opened, moonlight revealing Piper with the knife still in her hand.

  “Get out.” That was all the woman said.

  It took Annie May a few minutes but she managed to sit up, and then roll herself out of the car boot. She couldn’t see where they were, it was too dark now, and the moon was hidden behind some clouds. Piper pushed her with a foot to her back, sending her sprawling into some gravel. That’s when she realised something had happened to her hair. She turned over, expecting to have to get her hair out of her eyes but nothing happened. Where was her hair?

  Annie May’s eyes widened as she looked up at Piper, who was waving something around in her hand.

  “Recognise this? It’s yours, you should.” Piper snickered as she spoke, throwing the loose strands at Annie May.

  “He won’t want you without this. I’m guessing this is what made him want you, anyway, some demon trick with your hair! Well, that’s all gone now. He’ll be here soon. We’ll see then which of us he wants. I called him while I was driving over here.”

  “Where are we?” Annie May managed to croak out. She wasn’t worried about her hair at the moment; she was worried about her life and more importantly, Daniel’s. How was she going to get them out of this?

  Piper started to speak as Daniel’s car pulled up, blinding her for a moment.

  Annie May looked around, noticing they weren’t far from the stream and the tree that had been so much a part of her childhood memories. Looking at Piper, she pleaded with her eyes.

  “Please let me go, Piper. I’ll leave, just don’t hurt Daniel.” Tears were forming in her eyes as she spoke, she had little hope Piper would actually let her go.

  “No.”

  “Piper, what are you doing? Oh my God, Annie May, are you alright? What have you done to her Piper?”

  “Nothing darling, nothing that would hurt a human anyway. Annie May’s a demon, so I cut off her hair, the source of her power. You love me now, right?”

  Daniel stood looking at Piper in horror, his eyes shifting to Annie May tied up on the ground.

  Walking up to Piper, anger and fear warring on his face, he hit her, hard, knocking her out straightaway. He ran over to Annie May then, untying her quickly so he could use the rope to tie up Piper until the police came. They weren’t far behind him; he knew because he’d called them before coming here.

  “I’m sorry you had to see me hit her, Annie May. Normally I would never hit a woman, but it was all I could think of to do to get her away from you.” Daniel said as he rushed back to Annie May, taking her in his arms.

  She cried then, as she finally felt safe, and leaned into him, letting him take all of her weight.

  “She started all of this nonsense years ago, Daniel. It was her and her brother who started the thing with me being ginger when we were kids. Have you been dealing with her for that long?” She gulped out.

  “Yes, but no more. I’m pressing charges this time and I will insist her father deal with it. I have friends in higher places now. I thought he was taking care of her but apparently not. He’s going to have to this time. I won’t have you in harm’s way, ever again!”

  “This is not your fault darling; Piper is just plain crazy and her family should have been seeing to that. It’s not your fault at all!”

  Piper started moaning on the ground then, moaning for Daniel.

  “Daniel? Where are you, Daniel?” Piper sat up, hands tied behind her back, the knife well out of her reach, no sudden death-moves for her, Annie May saw.

  “I’m here Piper, what do you want? Haven’t you caused enough harm?”

  “You hit me, Daniel! You hit me! What about our baby?”

  “You mean the pillow under your dress? You need help, Piper, serious help.”

  “But you love me; the spell is broken now!” Piper cried.

  “There was never a spell, Piper, just decades of lies, deceit, and stalking. You’ve deluded yourself for years, Piper, this has to stop!”

  “But Daniel…” The woman said, tears falling from her eyes.

  “No, Piper, this is it! You’ve hurt Annie May. We’re going to be married, and you have to stop hurting the woman who is going to be my wife. You have to respect that and leave us alone, now! I love her, not you!” Daniel raised his voice to be heard over the sirens now pulling in behind his car.

  The police took Piper away to a mental facility, then. Paramedics looked Annie May over, declared her fit, and Daniel took her home to Ruby.

  “You’re fine now, my duck, Nanna has you! Here, sip this.” Annie May spluttered as the whiskey hit her throat.

  “Nanna, what is this? Rocket fuel?” She choked out.

  “No, it’s whiskey; it’ll calm your nerves.” Annie May hated the taste of it but swallowed the rest of it down, knowing she needed something. Holding a mirror up to her head she cried, seeing how patchy her hair was now. Piper had obviously used the knife to chop her hair off as close to the scalp as she could.

  “It’ll grow back, my love. And you’re beautiful, no matter what.” Daniel told her as he took her hand.

  “Look on the bright side my duck; it’s less hair to get tangled up in on your wedding night!” Annie May’s Nan cackled.

  “Oh, Nan, you are a bad one.” Annie May said to her, loving her even more for the teasing.

  “Well, some men like short hair on women anyway. So about this wedding?” Ruby asked.

  “As soon as possible, Nanna, as soon as possible. We may have to have a party or something if Mum and Dad can’t make it but I’m not waiting anymore. If this has taught me nothing else, it’s taught me that I have to seize what I’m given. There’s never a right time, there’s only the time y
ou have, and I’m not wasting any more of it; it’s far too precious, right Daniel?”

  “Right, my love, time is far too precious, just like you!” He replied, kissing the top of her head.

  “Oh, I’m going to have to find my knitting needles. I expect I’ll be having some great-grandchildren before too long that’ll need some special Nanna Ruby clothes! Where did I put those things?” Nanna muttered to herself as she wandered off.

  “I don’t know how it works here, but is the morning too soon, Daniel?” Annie May asked.

  “I’ve never been married before but we’ll go down tomorrow morning, first thing, and find out, if that’s what you want Annie May. I only want you with me, every night for the rest of our lives, so I can sleep soundly. I’m sleeping on your couch tonight, just to make sure you’re safe for the rest of the night.”

  “Thank you darling. You really have turned out to be my prince, and not a frog, after all. I love you so much.” Annie may whispered against his cheek.

  “I will always be here to save you, Annie May, always, now and forever. I will love you every day of my life and beyond. Always.

  “I know you will, Daniel, and I’ll be here to save you from psycho crazy ladies, one way or another too. Even if I have to look like I got into a fight with a lawn mower for the rest of my life.”

  Both laughed, as Ruby came back in with knitting needles and patterns, noticing how the light hit the frog on Annie May’s ring as she sat down. It was like the frog was winking at her and Ruby knew her plan had finally worked, and the heartache of the frog and the princess had finally turned into the happiness of the prince and princess, living happily ever after.

  The End

  Part III

  Bad Star

  Billionaire Romance

  About the Book

  Meet film star Jack Bradley.

  She came to me like an angel, so pure and beautiful. Not only does she have a face and a body that no supermodel girl friends of mine can compare with, she has a heart of gold.

  The money, the body, the fame - I have it all. The whole world knows it, except her.

  She can’t see how beautiful she is, and she can’t see how good looking I am.

  I want her in my life, I have to bring her down to my level.

  Meet blind musician Rainn.

  So he’s the guy in the movies. It’s a shame I don’t really watch movies.

  Jack is different. He’s a good guy, deep down... I know that.

  I feel as though I can see him, who he really is. If only he’d let me help him. His lifestyle, the drugs and the casual sex… he’s really not doing himself any favors.

  The only way I can get through to him is to join him.

  But what if I like it too much?

  1

  Rainn was out walking with her sister Yvonne near Liverpool Street; it was their tradition. Rainn would smell the curry, the vegan burgers and the coffee-shops. She would listen to the sounds of people chatting, looking through shop windows and checking each other out. Rainn would sense the change in the daylight and many other things that she could only imagine on the black canvas of her mind. With her newly gained French accent, Yvonne would describe the world to her. She made sweet, witty descriptions, highlighting the strangeness of human interactions before them.

  It was warm May evening and many people were out; walking; hurrying home; drinking outside pubs or simply enjoying the evening air.

  The two sisters were waiting at a crossing when Yvonne spotted a youth attempting to steal a woman’s handbag. She immediately ran to help. In the moment Yvonne left Rainn’s side, Rainn stumbled out into the street and was hit by a Porsche.

  Rainn woke up for a second. Someone was holding her head up, asking her to speak to him. She inhaled his woody, masculine scent. It struck her as natural and clean: reminding her of skin that was out in the sun all day. She passed out feeling strangely safe in his hands.

  She woke up again at the hospital: Yvonne told her she was hit by a car and suffered minor surgery for a broken arm. She told Rainn about the man who hit her and rushed her to the emergency room. Yvonne painted an intimidating picture of the wealthy stranger. Rainn remembered his smell and felt strangely aroused and in love in a very deep organic way. She felt he would come and see her soon, giving her mixed feelings that she just couldn’t understand.

  He walked in at that very moment. Rainn completely blown away by the now familiar smell, the happiness and worry in voice. They shared an emotional conversation together, brief yet intense. The wealthy stranger introduced himself as Jack.

  He left, as did Yvonne, and Rainn was left alone to rest. She drifted off thinking about all she was experiencing. She fantasized about Jack and remembered the conversation they had over and over. She imagined what she should have said and looked like. She felt excited and a little sad, already deeply in love but intimidated. What chances would she have with a man that any woman would die to get their hands on?

  She fell asleep knowing this accident would change her forever.

  Upon returning, Jack gave Rainn a book. She could feel the book was old and used. She told her it was his favourite book as a child. He read a story to her about a prince who never understood the joy of sharing his wealth. The prince died, with his soul remaining trapped, in a statue raised after his funeral. The statue was covered in gold and had two huge, blue eyes made from hundreds of sapphires. Through his precious jewels, he saw beggars, orphans and the elderly pass him every day. He had a bird that told him each of these people’s stories. The prince felt so sad for them that he asked the bird to give these people, one by one, the sapphires that made his gleaming eyes, leaving him blind. The bird became his sight. Towards the end of the story, the prince also gave his golden coating to the poor, losing all his shine. He became a simple statue, made of only lead. The prince was torn down and melted. When the metal melted, the only thing remaining was his heart. Jack ended the story and they both remained silent. Rainn asked Jack if his eyes were blue, like the prince. Jack replied that they were, adding that he would gladly give them away for a heart. He left her the book. Rainn fell asleep with it in her hand, as she wondered how this irony would unfold.

  2

  The day after Rainn was released from hospital her cousin visited her at home.

  “I’m sorry,” said Margaret. “I wanted to come while you were still in hospital.”

  Rainn laughed. “You mean you wanted me to stay in hospital longer?”

  “You know that’s not what I meant. I wanted to get an earlier flight, but I couldn’t.”

  “Margaret, you needn’t have. It’s such a long way to come and I’m fine, really.”

  “Rainn, you were hit by a car! Of course I was going to come. I’d have come to wherever you were.”

  “I’m not badly hurt. I was shaken but these injuries will heal.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” said Margaret. “I wanted to come.”

  She was silent for a while and Rainn knew what she was thinking.

  “Where’s Yvonne?” she asked, eventually.

  “At work.” She heard Margaret shift in her seat. It was enough to know how she felt.

  “Don’t be angry with her,” she said.

  “How can I not be angry?” said Margaret. “How can she be so negligent?”

  “It wasn’t her fault. It was me. I was stupid.”

  “It wouldn’t have happened if she had kept an eye on you.”

  “She can’t keep an eye on me all the time.”

  “You could have been killed.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  “That was just good fortune.”

  “Maybe,” said Rainn. “I’m not sure what it was.”

  Margaret poured tea from the teapot. Rainn took her cup and she listened to Margaret stir in her milk and sugar.

  “And the car driver?” Margaret asked. “What will happen to him? Was he speeding? Have the police spoken to him?”

  “It wasn’t his fault.
I stepped off the kerb straight into him.”

  “Well, maybe. But he should still apologize.”

  “If anything, I should apologize to him. I knocked the wing mirror clean off his Porsche.”

  “Oh, poor him,” scoffed Margaret. “He’ll probably ask you to pay to have it replaced.”

  “I offered,” blushed Rainn.

  “What?” Margaret spluttered on her tea.

  “He came into the hospital. I said sorry and asked if I could pay for the damage.”

  “Are you crazy?” asked Margaret.

  “That’s what he said. Anyway, he wouldn’t hear of it.”

  “Probably feeling guilty.”

  “Maybe.” Rainn nodded. “He didn’t seem like that though. He seemed . . .” she tailed away.

  “He seemed, what?” asked Margaret suspiciously. Rainn could imagine her eyes narrowing.

  “Nice,” said Rainn. “Kind. We got on very well.”

  “You got on,” repeated Margaret. “How many times did you see him? I meant meet.”

  “I know what you meant,” smiled Rainn. “A few times. He brought me gifts.”

  “Did he? I wonder what he wanted.”

  “I told you, we get on. There is no need to be suspicious.”

  Rainn cast her mind back to those conversations in the hospital ward. The smell of Jack, mixed with the heavy scent of flowers had lulled her into a pleasant mood, as she lay on the plump cushions. Maybe it was the medication, maybe it was the shock, but there had been something in that room, something in Jack’s melodious voice that Rainn had found soothing. She had never felt like that before.

  “You get on,” said Margaret, interrupting Rainn’s thoughts. “Do you mean get on or got on?”

  Rainn smiled. “I don’t know. We will see what happens.” She could imagine Margaret frowning at this.

  “And what do you know about this man apart from he drives a Porsche and gives gifts?”