Unbroken

by Natalie Debrabandere

  This made Pam quite furious.

  Liz saw it and she tensed, but fortunately the woman had enough sense to back down.

  “When can I see her?” she wanted to know.

  “How did you know we were here?” Liz enquired.

  “Small town. Everyone’s heard about the crash by now,” Pam snapped as if Liz were somehow stupid.

  “I’m afraid it will be a while before Miss Holt can have visitors,” Judith informed her coolly.

  Pam looked outraged.

  “But she gets to go in?” she said, gesturing toward Liz.

  Liz stepped forward in a very uncharacteristic loss of temper.

  “I get to go in because I am Kristan’s partner. Okay? I love her and she loves me, and nothing will ever change that. Get used to it and stop acting like such a fucking idiot, Pam!”

  The look in Pam’s eyes was so full of rage that Liz wondered suddenly whether the woman would try to hit her. Instead, she took a step back.

  Good move, Pam, Liz thought, and she was boiling inside.

  “Tell Kris I came by,” Pam barked one last time.

  Then she turned around and walked back out the same way that she had come.

  Exhausted, Liz swayed a little and leaned against the wall for support.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Judith asked as she caught her arm.

  “Yes, just tired,” Liz replied with a grateful smile.

  “Could have done without her, right?” the nurse nodded.

  “That’s for sure.”

  “You should go home for a bit and get some proper rest.”

  “No, I don’t want to leave Kristan,” Liz replied immediately.

  Judith smiled a little.

  “I knew you’d say that. How about I put another bed in the room for you then? You need to be able to recover properly too.”

  Liz gave her a tired smile.

  “That would be great. Thank you so much.”

  “No problem. And please use your crutches if you’re going to be walking around.”

  Kristan drifted in and out of consciousness for just over a day, and the next time that she woke up for good she was in a terrible mood and wanted to leave immediately.

  “I’ll never get better in this place, Liz,” she declared. “The food is horrible.”

  “You mean not vegan. And you haven’t even had any yet, so how can you tell?”

  “I just know. It’s awful. Not going in our cookbook any time soon.”

  Liz smiled a little.

  “Headache?” she asked, daring her lover to lie.

  Kristan looked her straight in the eye.

  “Yes. Full on. But it won’t kill me.”

  Liz shook her head, wondering how on earth she managed to look so sexy, with a bandage around her head, a badly damaged shoulder, and dark shadows under her eyes. Probably something to do with spirit, she thought.

  Kristan had endured a concussion and a dislocated shoulder with no drugs whatsoever, and Liz did not know exactly how she would be feeling right now, but good certainly was not an option.

  “I’ll go have a word with your doctor.”

  “No need. Just tell her we’re leaving,” Kristan advised. “My choice.”

  Liz smiled a little, amused at her commanding tone.

  “Okay. I will tell her just that, and I will get the paperwork sorted out.”

  “Thank you.”

  Liz hesitated on her way to the door.

  “By the way, Kris,” she said, “Omaru says we should disappear somewhere for a while…”

  Kristan’s smile immediately died on her lips.

  “He does have a point, you know,” Liz added softly.

  Kristan rested her head back against the pillows and she closed her eyes for a few seconds.

  “No. I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to give up,” she said after a while, and as she straightened up and looked at Liz again her eyes slowly filled with tears.

  Liz hated seeing that look in her eyes.

  “I know darling,” she said gently. “But that’s not quitting, we would just be going away for a few days to recover. Just you and me. Nothing wrong with that, right?”

  “Of course not. It’s the only thing I want,” Kristan murmured. “To be with you. Just us. But…”

  Liz simply threw her arms around her and pulled her close, mindful of her shoulder.

  “If I were your doctor you would not be leaving this room any time soon, you know that?” she murmured.

  “Guess I’m lucky you’re my lover then, right? And that you want me. I’m signing myself out right now.”

  “I am serious, Kris.”

  Kristan gave an impatient shake of the head.

  “So am I. I’ve had enough of all this. And you’re one to talk anyway. How is your leg?”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Why don’t I believe that?”

  “I don’t know, but you should. It’s nothing that some stretching and a knee brace won’t be able to fix. And I’ve been able to take pain killers for it so I don’t feel any pain.”

  “And you think we should take Omaru’s advice?” Kristan asked with a sigh.

  “Yes, I really do.”

  Kristan had a sudden vision of her office, with the phone ringing and people queuing to book flights. In three years she had never closed down once, not even for a day, and the thought of doing so now made her feel a little sick.

  “It would only be for a few days, darling,” Liz insisted.

  “What is Omaru hoping to achieve during that time?”

  “I don’t know. Perhaps he just wants us out of the way for a little while.”

  Kristan took a deep breath.

  She was feeling sore, tired, and very, very pissed off.

  “Okay,” she agreed reluctantly. “A few days away would be great, Liz.”

  “Really?”

  “Really,” Kristan said weakly, trying to convince herself that she really meant it.

  “That’s great, Kris. I’ll let Omaru know.”

  “I don’t suppose he has any idea about location?”

  “His words were ‘as far away from here as you can get’,” Liz admitted.

  Kristan rolled her eyes.

  “Okay. Well, Crystal Springs comes to mind.”

  “Where is that?”

  “Crystal Springs is a small town about six hours away from here. Not that far, but I have a house there. No one knows. I only ever told Mike.”

  “How come?” Liz enquired.

  Kristan tried to shrug and could not quite manage it. She winced a little.

  “When I first got here I loved the idea of being able to disappear, if and when I ever needed to. Crystal Springs is an old mining town and the best place in the country for whitewater sports. It’s great for walks and mountain biking too. I bought a house there and just never told anybody. I could fly us over.”

  “Maybe we could make a road trip of it?” Liz suggested, smiling and getting excited at the prospect.

  Kristan rested her eyes on her and nodded slowly. Her lover looked pale, tired and worried, but when she smiled like that her eyes sparkled and her entire face lit up, and she was still the most beautiful woman Kristan had ever known.

  “I love you,” she murmured. “And I love road trips too. We can do that. I can drive.”

  “Kris, give it a rest. I’ll drive.”

  “Not if your knee’s hurting…”

  “I’ll drive,” Liz interrupted firmly. “We’ll take it easy. Take lots of breaks and make it last. What do you say?”

  Kristan knew when she was beaten. She liked it that Liz could do that to her. She nodded and smiled a little, and she let her lover enfold her in a tight embrace.

  What had happened to Mike had come back to her now, and she was feeling tired and weak. She wanted out of that hospital room, and she wanted the world to give them a break. The thought of being with Liz on the road, alone, just the two of them was just incredible, and if she allowe
d herself to think about that and not her work, she had to admit that it was exciting.

  It was hard to forget about the Park though.

  “We’ll need to speak to James before we go,” she said.

  “I already have.”

  “Really?”

  Liz nodded.

  “He’s been here a lot.”

  “Really?” Kristan repeated, and her eyes filled with tears again. “I only remember the one time when everything was blurred. Is he okay?”

  “More than okay. You remember Paul?”

  “Who’s Paul?”

  “The paramedic who helped me get you out of the car.”

  “I don’t know,” Kristan said, frowning. “I can’t remember much about that.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Just turns out that Paul and James are very close.”

  Kristan looked into her lover’s eyes, and she smiled when she understood what Liz meant.

  “James has a boyfriend?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s great.”

  All of a sudden her colour was back, and she sat up a little straighter and rubbed her eyes.

  “Okay, let’s do this thing,” she declared.

  “I’ve got clothes for you,” Liz said tentatively. “If you really feel up to it.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Sure you can stand up?”

  “Yes,” Kristan smiled. “We’re leaving, babe. I’ll grab a quick shower and I’ll meet you outside.”

  Liz waited outside the room, feeling a mixture of anxiety and excitement, wondering if she was making the right choice in allowing Kristan to walk out of the hospital so quickly.

  Then Kristan walked out, wearing clean trainers, a pair of jeans and a simple white t-shirt, her hair wet from the shower and the bandage on her head gone. She was smiling, there was a sparkle in her eyes and Liz felt her heart jump in her chest at the sight of her.

  “How’re you doing, doc?”

  “Great,” Liz replied, smiling tenderly. “And you look amazing. How’s the headache?”

  “Kind of pounding,” Kristan admitted. “But I’ll get used to it.”

  She wrapped her arms around her partner and nodded a little as she looked down the hallway.

  “Oh, bummer. The cops are here.”

  Liz glanced behind her to see Omaru walking toward them, and he looked a little tense.

  “You guys are leaving then?” he asked.

  “Yes. I hear you got us a car,” Kristan replied. “Thanks.”

  He nodded at her, relaxing just a little when he realised that she was not on the war path.

  “You are planning on putting some mileage on it I hope?” he ventured.

  “We are. Do you need to know where we are going?”

  He could not help but roll his eyes a little.

  “I will know where you are going, Kristan, seeing as I’ll have a couple of guys on your tail the whole time.”

  “No way,” Kristan exclaimed disappointedly. “Isn’t it enough that we are leaving? You have to tail us as well?”

  He shook his head.

  “It is for your own good I’m afraid. But I can promise you one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You’ll be safe, and you won’t even know they’re there.”

  Kristan snorted and immediately regretted it.

  “Don’t make me laugh, Omaru, my head hurts.”

  Liz squeezed her hand, a gentle signal to be nice.

  “Safety first,” she said firmly. “We’re going to Crystal Springs.”

  “Crystal Springs,” Omaru smiled. “Nice place. A good distance away. Good choice.”

  Kristan sighed a little. Deep down she knew that Liz was right, but she hated having to share her plans with the police.

  “We might stop in Motuhano along the way,” she volunteered reluctantly. “Just so you know.”

  He nodded.

  “Thank you Kristan. I appreciate your letting me know.”

  “Any news on what’s going on?” she enquired.

  “The cigarette we found in your cottage was a Marlborough light, same as the one we found in that abandoned 4x4 several miles from here. The front is busted and it’s got your Ranger’s paint all over it. We’ll find him, Kristan. I promise you that.”

  Kristan nodded and she shook the hand he offered.

  “Thank you. And for the escort too. Will you be keeping an eye on the Park for me?”

  “Sure thing. You guys have a good time, and don’t you worry.”

  He caught Kristan’s dubious look and simply shrugged.

  “I know it’s easier said than done. But I am working on it.”

  “Sooner rather than later, Omaru,” Kristan reminded him.

  He smiled at her.

  “No worries. Keep your mobiles switched on; watch your six; and I’ll be in touch.”

  Chapter 16

  Kristan did smile when she saw the replacement car the police had arranged for them, and it did a lot to restore her spirits. It was enough to make her forget about her headache for a little while at least.

  “Doc, I don’t care what you say, I am driving this thing,” she exclaimed.

  Liz laughed a little and opened the passenger door to the brand new black Porsche Cayenne.

  “I promise you will, but not just yet.”

  “When?” Kristan protested.

  “Once you have some proper food in you. For now you get to ride shotgun.”

  Kristan relented, albeit reluctantly. She was feeling wound up, and the sight of the powerful car had triggered a desire to take it out on the road and break every single rule in the book at least twice and more.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “I was thinking about a quick pit stop in Paradise for lunch, and then we can swing by the Park to get some clothes and things. Then we can go. Is that okay?”

  Kristan nodded, making a conscious effort to relax.

  “All right. I might need to spend an hour or so in the office, to close down officially and let everybody know.”

  Liz glanced at her, catching the impatience in her voice.

  “Of course. Are you going to tell James where we’re headed?”

  Kristan hesitated.

  “No, I don’t think so...”

  “You don’t trust him?” Liz asked, surprised.

  “I do trust him, I just think the less people know about what we are doing the less they have to lie.”

  “Makes sense,” Liz agreed.

  She started the engine and laughed at the way that Kristan immediately smiled and leaned forward a little.

  “What is it with you and big machines?” she asked, laughing.

  “I don’t know. But I’m a nerd, remember?”

  “You don’t look like one. You miss your Porsche?”

  “Stop talking dirty to me,” Kristan muttered, and when she smiled Liz knew that she would be okay.

  In Paradise Kristan ordered sweet potato and spinach soup and soothing fruit tea, one of her favourites, but despite her initial enthusiasm she had to force herself to eat. Liz glanced at her over her quinoa and mango salad and smiled in sympathy.

  “It will get better,” she promised. “You are very fit. You probably just need a good night’s sleep.”

  “Hope so.” Kristan said morosely. “I hate being injured. And I don’t often struggle with food, as you know.”

  “Oh, do I?” Liz said mockingly.

  Kristan chuckled and gave her a knowing look.

  “It’s already noon,” she stated.

  She was feeling nervous at the thought of leaving and she did not want to delay things unnecessarily.

  “We need to get a move on if we want to pack and get on the road.”

  “Sure. Just one thing before we go, darling.”

  “Sure, what is it?”

  Liz leaned close to her lover and lowered her voice.

  “I don’t believe Robert is behind all this anymore,” she w
hispered.

  Kristan did not look all that surprised.

  “I was never a hundred percent sure that it was him,” she reflected.

  “I know. I think you were right.”

  “So what made you change your mind?”

  “Well, Omaru says they’ve been busy looking for him and yet there is no sign of him. And I was very careful, you know. When I stop being scared of him long enough to think clearly, I start to realise there is no way he could have found me.”

  Kristan nodded seriously.

  “That’s good. I wasn’t looking forward to hurting him.”

  “But who else could it be?” Liz insisted. “Who could hate us so much?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I pissed somebody off and I don’t even know it.”

  “And how do you feel about that?”

  Kristan shrugged.

  “I don’t feel any particular way about it. I don’t think I’m to blame for any of it. Or you,” she added, and there was a dangerous sparkle in her eyes as she spoke. “Somebody’s got a problem with us, and that is their issue, not ours. I want them found, arrested, and I want to go home and feel safe.”

  James was not at the Park when they arrived back at the cottage, and so Kristan simply left a note for him telling him they were going on a short holiday in order to recover from the crash. She left him her mobile number with a request to call her as soon as he found it.

  She went to her office, tidied up, switched her computers off and locked the doors. She called every single person on her staff and had a long conversation with them, explaining what was going on and answering any question they had, but not telling them where she was headed. She found it harder and harder to talk with every single call, and when she got to Kelly tears were running down her cheeks.

  “I don’t want to go away, Kel,” she said, her voice trembling.

  “I know that, Kris, but the police think it’s better, don’t they?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Then do what they say, please, Kristan. Trust them, okay? And if they want to give you protection, then for God’s sake, please go with that.”

  Kristan sighed loudly.

  “Omaru says he’ll have someone with us the whole time. And with you too.”

  “Good.”

  “And he said they’ll keep an eye on this place too.”