by Suzy Shearer
I pulled off the Kevlar and handed it over, as well as the Glock in my waistband. After pulling off the mic, I handed them over, never taking my eyes of Anabelle. Cooper spoke quietly.
“She going to be okay?”
“I don’t know.”
He tapped my arm a few times until I faced him.
“They’re the best. They’ll get her to hospital, and she’ll be fine.”
I just hoped he was right. He held out his hand and we shook.
“Thanks.”
I nodded my appreciation and went back to staring at Anabelle’s feet, the only part of her I could see. They were filthy and bloody. At least another long ten excruciating minutes passed until finally one paramedic climbed out and went to the driver’s door. The other looked at me and nodded. “We’ve got her stabilized and are taking her to Gosford Hospital.”
“I’m coming.”
“You can sit in the front.”
As I went to move to the passenger door, Inspector Clemson stopped me. “We’ll need a full statement from you, John. Cooper has told me what went down, but I’ll still need your report. Understand?”
“Understood.”
“I’ll meet you at the hospital. We also need to know what happened with Miss Rowley, get a statement from her.”
I nodded as I climbed into the front seat, and we took off. Thank goodness it was normally only a five-minute drive, but we made in three and a half—sirens blaring loudly, cutting through the silence of the night. I followed the stretcher into the Emergency Department. I’d heard the ambulance driver call ahead to say they were bringing Anabelle in which meant the staff were prepared as we went in the door. I stayed close to the wall, out of everyone’s way but where I could keep my eyes on my Anabelle. I was more determined than ever not to ever let her out of my sight again.
I groaned, flinching and shaking my head in agony when they removed the sheet covering her body. She was already black and blue as if she’d been used as a punching bag. Her face was a Technicolor mess. One man was actually looking between her legs and swabbing. I cried silently inside, please don’t let that monster have raped her, but I knew Carruthers would have if given half a chance. Riley had bragged that he had. My only hope was he’d lied when he said he’d killed her. I was hoping that meant he’d lied about the rape as well, but to tell the truth, I doubted it. I knew what the pair of them had been like.
One of her beautiful breasts had a large bruise with the imprint of fingers on it and I knew who would have done that. I wished I’d put more slugs into his fucking heart instead of only one. A technician wheeled in a portable machine, did an ultrasound, and then left.
“Okay, let’s get her up to CT. I want a full body scan.”
I pressed myself tight against the wall as they gathered equipment together and pushed her past. Knowing they wouldn’t let me in the scanner, I grabbed the man who’d be examining her legs. He had been writing something up.
“Tell me she’s going to be okay?”
“And you are?”
“Her partner.”
“She’ll live. Nose is broken and I wouldn’t be surprised if her cheekbone is as well. She’s been badly punched about and I’m concerned there may be internal injuries from the blunt force trauma to her abdomen and chest. The ultrasound showed bleeding in her belly, and I need a clearer picture from the CT scan. It will also show the broken bones. Her feet have been cut and once she’s back, we can treat her and clean her up.”
“Was she raped?”
“I won’t know until we get the results back from the rape kit, but she has a cigarette burn on each side of her labia majora.”
I groaned again as he continued. “They’re not too deep but will be excruciatingly painful because of the nerves around the area.”
“Why is she unconscious?”
“She was sedated by the paramedics because she was hysterical, in a huge amount of pain, plus she was fighting them.”
He touched my arm in sympathy and left the bay. I couldn’t think straight. I hoped those bastards rotted in hell. Inspector Clemson came in with Cooper. He spoke with one of the staff before they came to me.
“She getting scanned?” Cooper asked.
I nodded.
“She going to be okay?”
I nodded again.
Clemson held out my jacket.
“Your phone has been going crazy.”
“Thanks.”
I pulled it out and checked the screen—seven missed calls.
Five from my old boss and two from Charlie—I rang Charlie.
“John? John, is she…?”
“She’s alive. I’m at Gosford Hospital. They’re scanning her at the moment.”
“We’ll be there.”
I hung up. I didn’t want to ring my boss with Clemson and Cooper around. Cooper nodded and said, “You knew they’d be killed.”
It was a statement rather than a question.
“Yeah.”
“That why you wanted a blackout and the smoker?”
I knew what he was thinking. We could have tossed in a few more smoke grenades and maybe got them alive. I shrugged.
“Less chance of one of us being killed. They would have taken down as many as they could. At least between the blackout and the smoke, they couldn’t see where to shoot. I told you they would shoot first.”
“True. That Riley had a couple of machine pistols—Mac.10s. He had us pinned down ’til you took him out. Smithers is still alive and singing like a canary. Said he’d been paid five thou to drive the car and act as lookout. He’s a junkie and wanted money.”
“Thought it might be something like that.”
Clemson looked daggers at me. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Cooper told me Riley knew you, said you’d killed his brother. Why were they here? This had everything to do with you and nothing to do with Miss Rowley.”
“I knew him.”
“That all you’re going to say?” Clemson glared at me furiously.
I shrugged.
“Does this mean we can expect more, er … visitors to our shores looking to settle old scores?” Clemson asked angrily, and I didn’t blame him one bit. I’d be pissed off big time too.
“No. It was personal with Riley.”
“You’d better be right or I might request you get sent back to Blighty. I expect a full report by noon. I’ll give you a few hours to get it done and spend time with Miss Rowley, but I’ll be here to talk to her tomorrow afternoon.”
“Okay, Chief, you’ll have it.”
He glared at me, his anger radiating off him in bucket loads. Cooper didn’t speak again. I thought he was keeping his head down in case Clemson took his anger out on him.
“Say thanks to Henderson for me, Cooper.”
He nodded as Clemson grunted and the two of them left after the inspector told me again he’d get Anabelle to tell her side tomorrow afternoon. She still wasn’t back from the CT when I rang my old boss.
“So you killed them all.”
No hello, not good.
“No. I killed Riley and Carruthers. The TOU guys put a couple of slugs into Carruthers and also wounded Smithers.”
“I want a report emailed to me by tomorrow lunchtime.”
“Shit, sir, it’s almost one-thirty at night here. I’m at the hospital.”
“I. Don’t. Give. A. Fuck. Midday.”
With that, he hung up. Great. I had no car, I had a cop breathing down my neck for a report, and now the agency wanted a piece of me too. Great.
I heard a rolling noise and looked out to see Anabelle coming back. They parked her bed in the bay and hooked her up again. She was still unconscious, but I could see she was coming around. The same doctor who had spoken with me came over.
“Scans show a broken rib and nose. She also has a fracture of the zygomatic arch.” He pointed to his face around the cheekbone area. “We don’t think there is any problem with her eye. It’s reacting well. There isn’t any si
gn of displacement and she’ll be monitored over the next few days. We’ll also monitor the bleeding we found in her abdomen.
“The liver appears fine and at this stage we don’t think it’s necessary to operate, but she’ll be observed continuously over the next few hours to see if the bleeding stops. The rib will heal by itself over the next month or two. The nose is back in place and not a bad fracture. We have a cosmetic surgeon coming down to check on her, but I think she’ll heal naturally. There is actually a lot of internal and external bruising. She’s going to be very stiff and extremely sore for a few days.”
“When will she wake?”
“Soon. We haven’t given her any more sedation so anytime, you can see she’s coming around. She’ll be rather groggy and confused at first. We’ve upped the painkillers in her IV.”
“Thanks.”
As I watched, he cleaned the soles of her feet. They started bleeding again, but he put a couple of stitches in one of them and seemed satisfied. When he left, I pulled over a chair to her right side, taking her hand where it was cannula free. Both of her wrists had ugly rope burns where she’d been tied. There was blood in a couple of places where she’d obviously pulled and where the rope cut deep into her skin. The more I looked at her, the more depressed I became. I waited silently as people came checked her and went until finally she began to move and groan. A nurse came in and checked her again, staying alongside of her.
At last, she opened her eyes, then her mouth, and then a loud terrifying scream rushed out, filling the room. The nurse leaned over, directly in Anabelle’s line of vision.
“Miss Rowley, you’re in hospital. Just relax. It’s okay. You’re safe.”
Anabelle tossed her head back and forth, silently screaming.
“Miss Rowley, Anabelle. You’re in hospital!”
Guttural sounds issued from her mouth and my heart broke anew with each one. She was flinging her arms about and the nurse was trying to hold her down. I got a tight grip on her hand as she screamed over and over again—a raw animalistic scream.
“Anabelle! You’re safe!”
Anabelle finally focused on the woman in front of her. At last, a ripple of understanding crossed her face as she gave one more visceral shout. Then she stared at the woman in wonder.
“Hos … hospital?”
“Yes. You’re safe now,” she reiterated.
“Safe?” she moaned.
“Yes, Anabelle, very safe. Please relax. Tell me do you have any pain?”
She gave another moan and said, “Yes.”
The nurse injected something into her line and spoke again, “I’ve given you a top-up. That should help with your pain.”
She manage to gasp between groans, “What happened? Sore.”
“You’ve got a few broken bones and bruises, but nothing that won’t heal with some rest and time.”
Anabelle sighed painfully. Then she turned her head and saw me.
“John?”
“Hello, my darling.”
“John.”
“It’s me. You’re safe now.”
One eye was almost shut from the swelling, but tears squeezed out and ran down the side of her face. She peered at me again and then searched around the room as if to reassure herself she truly was in hospital.
She took a huge breath just as Charlie came in with Justin.
“Is she—?” He looked at me in fright.
“She’s going to be okay, Charlie.”
He took one quick glance at her and paled. Justin had tears running down his cheeks and he buried his head on Charlie’s chest.
“Oh, Belle, Belle.”
Anabelle tried to give him a lopsided smile as the nurse spoke.
“She’s going to be okay. She’s got some broken bones and bruising, but she’ll recover, won’t you, Anabelle?”
Charlie patted Justin on the back and lifted his head.
“See, dear one, she’s going to be okay.”
“It was the shock.” Justin gave Anabelle a half-hearted smile and asked worriedly. “Are you sure you’re okay? How can I help make you better?”
She mumbled, “Justin, I’ll be fine”
The pair of them nodded and Charlie kissed her cheek softly. I knew these two admired and loved her as much as I did. Charlie held out my keys.
“We brought your car up. Justin thought you’d need it.”
“Thanks, guys, I thought I’d have to get a cab back.”
“It’s in the car park. Three rows back and on the left. The gate’s open for the night and you won’t have to pay.”
I nodded as I put my keys in my pocket. Finally, Anabelle looked at me fully.
“John.”
“Hello, my darling.”
“They tried to kill me.”
Fuck, it was as if someone had stabbed me.
My eyes filled with tears as I almost sobbed my reply, “I’m so sorry.”
“Because I knew you, I almost got killed.”
She pulled her hand from mine and gently touched her mouth as if I were nothing but scum. I couldn’t handle it.
“Anabelle, please, I’m so sorry.”
She shook her head a little then grimaced from the pain the movement caused.
“You need to go now…”
That did it. I knew this was all my fault. My beautiful Anabelle had almost been killed because of me and she wanted me out of her life. I turned and quickly stumbled from the hospital bay before I could hear another word of recrimination. I rushed to my car, wrenching the door open, and then tires screaming, I took off into the night, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
I drove like a maniac for five minutes. Then I pulled over and cried. I howled like a baby. She was right, my dearest Anabelle was right. This was all my fault. I never should have gotten involved with her, I never should have fallen in love. Because of me, she was lying in a hospital bed in pain. As far as I knew she’d been raped and almost killed. No wonder she blamed me, no wonder she looked at me as if I were the lowest of the low.
Gone, she was gone from my life.
My heart shattered into a million pieces as I sat there and bawled nonstop.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Anabelle
“You need to go now…” I watched, stunned as John stumbled from the hospital bay. “…and kill those bastards for me.”
What was going on? I looked at Charlie and Justin, but they appeared as confused as me. I went to ask Charlie what happened when a Doctor came in.
“Miss Rowley, my name is Grant. I’m one of the Emergency doctors here. How are you?”
“Sore, everywhere.”
“That’s to be expected.”
He was about to speak when I started to cry and I whispered, “Did he … did he rape me?”
“You don’t know?”
“He was…” Oh shit, this was awful re-living what happened. I took a deep breath and whispered, “They held me down and he was about to while the other guy started hitting me in the head, and I don’t remember, they knocked me unconscious. Everything went black until I woke up here.”
“Hush, don’t get upset. We’ve done a rape test and the swap came back negative.”
I burst into tears. All I could see was that fucking monster waving his dick at me.
Howling, I cried, “I want John. Where’s John?”
Grant turned to Charlie and Justin, who shrugged.
“John’s her partner,” Charlie said. “He was pretty upset. I’ll see if I can find him. He’s probably out in the hall.”
He went out and the doctor turned back to me.
“Now, Miss Rowley. Your face, we have a cosmetic surgeon coming down to check you, but I’m pretty confident he is going to tell you everything will heal naturally. There’s a fine crack in your cheekbone and your nose was broken, but they should heal by themselves. You need to not clamp down hard on your jaw. One eye is badly swollen, but we don’t believe your vision has been impaired. We’ll do some more tests to check, a
nd we also have drops that will go in both eyes to help them heal fully.”
I gave a half-hearted, “Okay.” I wanted John. No, that was wrong—I needed him.
“The other injuries will all heal. You’ve got a little bleeding in your tummy area and we’re going to give you another ultrasound later. We’re confident it should resolve itself without surgery. There are some cuts on the soles of your feet. One is a little deep, but we’ve put a few stitches in it.”
“I want to go home now,” I cried.
“Anabelle, I’m sorry, but not yet. We’re going to keep you for a couple of days. If things go okay, maybe Saturday or Sunday.”
That made me cry some more. He left, but not before a nurse had come. She checked if my heart was still beating—it must have been, because she left too. Charlie came back in, looking worried.
“He’s not there. I couldn’t see him anywhere.”
Trying to hold back a fresh round of tears, I stammered, “Where is he? I need him.”
“I’ll ring his number and find out. Don’t worry, Bellie.”
He left us again and Justin took the hand that wasn’t attached to anything else but my arm.
“Charlie told me John took over the search for you. The cops virtually told him to get lost. Instead he made some phone calls and next thing everyone’s bowing down, deferring to him.”
“What? But how?”
“Beats me, I only know what Charlie said. Why the hell would the police do that? Who the hell is he?”
I couldn’t answer, but I had a good idea that I knew who he’d called. Charlie still hadn’t returned and I was getting worried. My head hurt. It was hard to see through the slits of my eyes, my chest felt like shit, my stomach ached, and my nether regions?
Nothing had ever made them throb like they were now. I wanted to screech the place down, I wanted to howl. When were the pain meds going to kick in and give me some relief?
Justin was still crying a little so I tried concentrating on him.
“I truly am going to be okay, Jus.”
“We were terribly worried. Charlie kept telling me John would rescue you, but I couldn’t see how, even if he was in charge. There were so many police in the salon.”
“That should have made you happy seeing all those men in uniform.”
