by Alexie Aaron
I got one hand under the tie and held it there while I beat at him with my free hand, but he was too strong for me.
There was a gurgling sound, and Kyle landed hard on my chest. I felt something sharp and painful slide though my stomach. Blood oozed out of Kyle’s mouth. He smiled and said, “At least we die together, Cin.”
I managed to scream before Kyle, with his last ounce of strength, yanked on the tie and blackness descended.
Act II
Resurrection
I felt myself rising to the ceiling. I didn’t know what to think. Usually, people who have these experiences are on the operating room table. They get to see the surgeons and nurses fighting valiantly to save their lives.
However, my view from above was of a young man between my spread legs, the two of us joined by a large curved sword. His face lay on my breast, his head turned, his eyes open, and he was smiling. Dave was being held back as Ed, a paramedic, and his partner Bill pulled Kyle off me and began dealing with my injuries. There was a whirling, whining sound, and my body convulsed.
I was still drifting upwards. I looked at the bloody, ruined dress, that I didn’t want to wear, lying open under me. I saw the green of the ivy tattoo mixed with the red of my and Kyle’s blood…
The whirl and the whine started again, and Ed bent over me. A woman sang an aria. I think it was from Carmen. Why couldn’t I be greeted with a chorus of angels? Did it have to be opera? I felt the gypsy move into me, and then there was nothing.
~
Pain, pain, so much pain. I tried to open my eyes and pull through what had to be the biggest hangover ever. I moaned. I felt my hand squeezed.
“Cin, the doctor is coming. Stay awake if you can,” Harry said.
“Harry, I don’t know what’s going on.”
“You were attacked and were injured very badly. Dave’s going out of his mind right now because…”
It all came back to me. “I was bait,” I managed hoarsely. “Now I know what a worm feels like.”
“The cops are here, and they want you to make a statement. I can’t stay long. It’s only because Dave said so that the hospital let me into your room.”
I started crying.
“Cin, don’t cry,” Harry said. “Alex is on his way home. We had a problem getting ahold of him at first, but he’s on a plane. They won’t listen to me because I’m not family.”
“But you are family. You’re as much my son as Alex is.”
“Damn straight. Here comes the doctor. Stay strong, Cin. I love you.”
“I love you too, Harry.”
I put up with the prodding and the questions on the promise that when the police were finished, I would get a comfortable dose of morphine.
I had expected Dave to come through the door, but instead it was Tony. He was still the pleasant-looking man that I remembered. He had a kind face when he smiled, although, his dark eyes took in everything. Tony was a married man well fed by his wife, whom I suspected was responsible for the highly-starched white shirts he wore regardless of the temperature or crime scene. He was a big man who carried the extra eighty pounds with grace. His lungs rebelled a bit. I suspected he was a closet smoker, but I’d never smelled cigarettes on him.
He puffed as he pulled out his notebook and smiled awkwardly as he said, “Hello, Fin-Lathen, we meet again.”
“Tony Curtis, sir, detective. What the hell?”
“Dave asked me to step in and do the interview. He thought you’d be more comfortable talking to me instead of a stranger.”
“Why not him?” I asked, grimacing.
“He’s a suspect,” Tony said.
“What are you talking about?”
“Kyle Martel is dead, Cin. He was found on top of your unconscious body. He had a chokehold on you. A saber was found stuck through his body from the back and into yours.”
“Kyle wanted to kill me. I think I died.”
Tony pushed his hand through his hair. “Cin, you remember the drill. Let me ask you the questions. Answer as completely as you can.”
“Can I have Dave here?”
“No, you can’t.”
“Harry?”
Tony scratched the back of his neck. “I’m not sure I’m up for Harry at the moment. I’ll get a nurse…”
“No, it’s okay. You’re not planning on jumping my bones, are you?”
Tony laughed. “You’re a piece of work, Fin-Lathen. You know that, don’t you?”
I tried to smile, but my head hurt too much.
“What was your relationship with Kyle Martel?”
“He was my conductor for the Palm Beach Opera Gala.”
“How long did you spend with Kyle?”
“With rehearsals and performing, a few hours, three maybe?”
“Alone. How much time have you spent alone with Kyle?”
“When?”
“Before opening night.”
“Two, three minutes. It was after the performance at the gala. He pushed me into the hallway. There he hit me so hard that I can’t give you an exact time.”
“He hit you?”
I explained the misunderstanding about Harry, and the young conductor’s unencouraged fixation on me. “I was kind of in shock. They fixed my face, and I agreed to let it go. How could I?” I started crying. “If I didn’t, and they locked him up, he would still be alive.”
“Cin, you don’t know that. Tell me about the night of the opera.”
“I didn’t want to come,” I started. “I don’t want to continue…”
“Cin, Dave told me it was his and Preston Steele’s idea to use you to flush out information about Eldora Capella. I know you don’t want to be disloyal, but, Cin, the truth is the only way I’m going to be able to sort all of this out.”
“We arrived almost at curtain time. Dave wanted me to walk in when we would get the greatest scrutiny. Our seats were a few rows behind the orchestra. Kyle came out and saw me, saw us. I do believe it was in that moment he decided to kill me. I wanted to leave, but I had a part to play.”
“When did you see Kyle next?”
“Onstage, he was accepting the applause of the audience. He looked at me with such fierce hunger…”
“Hunger?”
I sighed trying to find the words. “It was sexual. I held on to Dave’s arm, and Kyle’s look became more determined.”
“What happened after that?”
“Dave and I were headed to the banquet room. Preston pulled me away and escorted me into the room. He left me when the principal players and Kyle walked in. They received their accolades, you know, applause, and Kyle walked directly over to me. He said, ‘You look beautiful tonight, Cin.’ I thanked him and complimented him on the opera. He then asked me about my pupils of all things.”
“You mean, why do your eyes always look like you’re aroused?”
I was a bit shocked. “Tony?”
“Sorry, go on. What did he say exactly?”
“He said, ‘Why is it that your pupils are always so large?’ And I explained about the Datura poisoning. He then said in a very odd voice, ‘Who would want to do something so horrible to you?’ I replied that I asked myself that every day, and I asked to be excused. But Kyle wouldn’t let me leave. He said, ‘I do not.’ Kyle reached for me, but Marco D’Amore stepped in and sent Kyle away.”
“Marco D’Amore must have had some sway over Kyle,” Tony said, fishing.
“I don’t know. He’s a patron of the opera. Perhaps money speaks loudest,” I guessed.
“Where was Dave during this altercation with Kyle?”
“I don’t know,” I answered. “I don’t know where he was after Preston pulled me away. I don’t know where the fuck he was when Pello was pawing me and Kyle all but carried me out of the banquet room. Or where he was when Kyle assaulted me… I bit him like an animal to get free, Tony,” I said, crying. I sniffed and tried hard to regain my composure.
“Cin, I’m sorry. I know this is horrible, but I need to g
o backwards. You were with Marco. Why did you leave him?
“I thought that he insulted me, but I now think he was coming on to me. I crossed the room, and Ryan, Reed Asylums’ manager…” I took him through the whole painful situation in the alcove and Kyle manhandling me out into the hall and into the office. “I bit him. He dropped me, and I got out of there and ran to the exit, except it was chained…” I told him about getting lost in the halls and ending up in the workshop. “I could see the weapons, but I couldn’t get to them. I needed something sharp to defend myself with. Too soon, Kyle was at the door. He said, ‘I’m going to make love to you, and then I’m going to choke the life out of you.’ Those were his exact words, and I knew I was pretty much dead. I was in a room that was insulated to keep the sound of saws and hammers inside. There was no way anyone would hear me if I screamed. He came at me fast, but the lights went out, and I hid under the table. The table was then flipped over, hitting me on the head. Tony, I was so scared.”
“Who turned out the lights?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t care. I only thought of how I could get away in the dark.”
“Go on.”
“Do I have to?”
“Yes. Cin, we’re almost finished.”
“A hand caught my foot and pulled me from my hiding place. It was Kyle. He said, ‘You’re mine, you bitch,’ as he wrapped his black tie around my throat and pulled. I got one hand under the tie and beat at him with my free hand. I fought him, but he was too strong for me.”
“Did he penetrate you?” Tony asked, not making eye contact.
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t know. I was fuzzy from the hit on the head. I wasn’t at my best, Tony. I remember the strangest sound, like gargling or more like a gurgle. Kyle fell on top of my chest, and I felt something painful piercing my stomach. Kyle said, ‘At least we die together, Cin.’ I screamed, but Kyle yanked the tie closed, and that’s all I remember.”
It was quiet except for the scratching of Tony’s pen on the notepad. He had clicked his tape recorder off.
I turned away and burrowed under the blanket. Tony’s question, “Did he penetrate you?” kept repeating in my head. Did it matter? Did he have to break some boundary? Wasn’t the violent intent enough? Truth was, I didn’t know if he had. I couldn’t remember. I didn’t know who to ask. It’s not like I could ask Harry to find out. Maybe a nurse.
“I need to know,” I said quietly.
“Pardon?” Tony asked.
“Did he penetrate me? And if he did, and if he finished, how long have I been unconscious?”
Tony got up and moved to my bedside. “You’ve been out two days. If you’re talking about a morning-after pill, that ship has sailed. But Ed wouldn’t overlook that, Cin.”
“He was rather busy saving my life. When I was dying, I… nevermind.”
“Cin, I know I’m not your favorite cop, but talk to me. Let me help you.”
“I saw Kyle over me. He was dead, and he was smiling. They pulled us apart, and I saw the state of his undress. I concentrated on the ivy… the red, the green, the…” I started to sob uncontrollably.
Tony walked to the door and called for a nurse.
Dave pushed past him. “What the hell did you do to her!” he shouted, moving quickly to me.
I burrowed deeper under my covers. I didn’t want Dave to see me.
“I have to insist you leave,” Tony ordered.
“Cin, sweetheart, I’m here,” he said, moving my tangled hair from my face. “Look at me, freckles. You’re safe now.
“What happened to me?” I asked, not caring about the mucous that streamed from my nose. “Did he?”
Dave shook his head. “No. It was close, but he didn’t, thank God.”
“Where were you?” I asked before I shut down. I don’t remember Tony’s officers dragging Dave out of there or the nurse throwing Tony out of my room. I don’t remember Alex’s arrival or Harry sneaking in after hours. All I remember is that look of satisfaction on Kyle’s face as he killed me.
~
The psychiatrist was a mature woman who reminded me of Kathy Bates. I know this may have Stephen King’s Misery fans running for the hills, but I’ve always liked her. She’s always represented a capable, strong female to me. Dr. Andrews did not disappoint either. She was short, plump, and comfortable in her skin. Her clothes were expensive but casual. The doctor preferred soft knits to the perfunctory business suit. Bunny, Luke’s fiancée, hired her. I felt bad about making jokes about the diaper queen behind her back. Well, not really.
“Medically, you sustained a concussion, you have a third less stomach than you were used to, a dandy scar, and your swanlike neck has seen better days. But you didn’t die. Oh wait, yes you did. For three minutes, you were up cruisin’ with Elvis. What I mean is that you’re alive now.”
I lifted an eyebrow and sniffed.
“You can talk to me. Aside from some medical notes, I can’t gossip.”
My eyes teared up.
“I had the opportunity to interview your consulting partner, Harry O’Rourke. Cute kid. He said that you’ve been through more than your share of violence, but you’ve never been stuck before. Of course, it’s hard for men in particular to understand the helplessness we feel when we are brutalized.”
“I tried so hard. I fought him.”
“I know you did. Your nails are ripped to high heaven, and there is not one area of your body that wasn’t bruised.”
“I don’t remember all of it. Evidently, he didn’t complete what he set out to do. He didn’t…”
She wouldn’t give me the word.
“Rape me. There was no penetration,” I finally managed.
“You can look at this memory loss as a good thing. You may eventually remember, and we’ll deal with it when that happens. Why are you so bloody quiet, girl?”
I hunched my shoulders.
“Stop that! Come on, I want words. Yell them if you have to.”
“It was a runaway train. There was no way I could stop what I started,” I admitted.
“Explain that.”
“At the gala, Kyle hit me so hard he almost broke my jaw. I let myself be convinced not to press charges for the sake of the opera. I think I was in shock at the time. By the time I came to my right mind, it was too late. If I…”
“You know if I’s are useless. They have no value. You can have three million of them, and they won’t buy you a cup of coffee. Okay, let’s play if I for a moment. If you had him arrested, he may have stopped. But for all you know, he could have bided his time and stalked you until he got what he wanted. Maybe killed Harry too.”
I frowned.
“Didn’t think of that did you? We could continue with other scenarios, but the truth is: Kyle Martel tried to rape you, and while he lay on you dying, he choked you to death. Now that’s one mean bugger.”
“Yes.”
“Detective Anthony Curtis said that you were functioning and fine until you realized that you couldn’t remember all of the assault. You started crying uncontrollably, and when Dave Buslowski answered your question that Kyle didn’t penetrate you, my mighty amazon, you asked him where he was when you were fighting for your life. And then you shut down, for weeks. Everyone is very worried about you, even your ex-husband. The hospital would like to have your room, but they’re worried you’re going to kill yourself. So we had to have this little talk.”
“A confab,” I said.
“Confab is a good word.”
“Harry thought confabs were snails that the rich people in Savannah ate,” I told her.
“Now why would Harry think such a thing?”
“Because I told him. I told him that he would be considered rude if he didn’t eat one,” I said, remembering. I started to smile. “I want to go home, please.”
“I’ll see what I can do. I will want to talk to you at my office next week.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Good. I want to see this Cin Fin-La
then I’ve been hearing about. Hell, girl, you had a song written about you.”
“It wasn’t a particularly nice song,” I said, embarrassed.
“Cin, you are going to have a lot of adjusting to do. I hope you’ll get back on your feet. I understand there is a murderer to catch, and the police are, as Harry informed me, donut-sucking imbeciles.”
“Sounds like Harry.”
The doctor went over the medication I would need to take for my pain and for the small anxiety attacks I had been having.
The nurse had come in and taken my vitals.
“I want to go home, please.”
“We’re just waiting on your escort.”
I heard the pounding and sliding of expensive shoes on a slippery floor. Harry slid into the room and right into my arms.
“I’m sorry, Harry. Had you been there, I would have been safe. You wouldn’t have left my side,” I blurted out.
Harry was shocked by me admitting I was wrong. “I’d be on Tony’s list too. I’m thankful I have an alibi. Your boyfriend does not. He is still your boyfriend, isn’t he?”
“I haven’t seen him,” I said honestly. “Was he here?”
“Not that you’d know it if he had,” Harry said. “You had a major case of the zombies. Actually, he wasn’t allowed to see you.”
“Why?”
“He may try to kill you, again. At least, that’s what the cops think.”
“No, that’s not right.” I took the clothes Harry brought and went into the washroom to put them on. Nothing fit. They were all too big. I wore them anyway. I walked back out, and I asked, “What are the favorite scenarios?”
“One scenario is this: Dave caught you in a lover’s embrace and killed the two of you.”
“That’s not what happened.”
