The Bridge (Para-Earth Series)

by Krummenacker, Allan

  “That would be uncomfortable,” the fellow nodded.

  “Especially, since she’d be wrenching your arms behind your back to do it,” Alex added.

  Veronica laughed while the doctor stood up saying, “I think he’s going to be all right. But, I would like to get him on the table…”

  “Hang on, I’m not one of your regulars,” Alex interrupted weakly, “I’m still breathing here.”

  Ronnie playfully slapped him on the arm, “Dr. Wells is the Medical Examiner and he’s perfectly qualified to deal with the living, you twit.”

  “Police brutality,” breathed Alex, appealing to the older man. “You saw it…”

  Wells chuckled, “We’ll talk about that later. Here comes your ride.”

  A tall young man with red hair brought up a wheelchair and a moment later Alex felt himself lifted into the contraption. From there he was wheeled into a nearby office. In spite of the attentions of his girlfriend and the doctor, Alex could still feel that terrible cold. It wasn’t as severe as before, but he felt it linger deep inside. And the cry he had heard was still echoing in his head. But the thing that had left him rattled the most were the emotions he had sensed. Rage, fury, hatred and something else… anguish.

  Veronica watched her love shiver and said quietly, “Alex?”

  “Sorry Luv…” he apologized with a forced smile. “I’m not sure what happened back there…”

  “I think I do,” said Wells taking his pulse, “You don’t usually come to places like this, do you?”

  “Not, if I can bloody help it.”

  The older man nodded and pulled out a small light to check his patient’s eyes and ears. “I see some swelling in this ear on the left. Have you been coming down with anything?”

  “You were complaining about a sore throat yesterday,” Veronica remembered.

  The M. E. nodded and felt around Alex’s neck. “Uh-huh, your nodes are a bit swollen.”

  From nearby, Charlie began to sing. “Nobody nodes, the troubles I’ve seen…”

  Wells shook his head, “Hard to find good talent these days.”

  “You should see the recruits we get over at the station,” Veronica told him, while studying her lover closely. His face looked drawn and very pale. What happened to you back there, she wondered.

  Ten minutes later the Medical Examiner finished and said, “I think it’s safe to say our young friend has been coming down with a touch of flu. Has he been getting much rest lately?”

  This was question was directed to Veronica. She glanced at Alex who was giving her one of ‘those’ smiles. The kind that harkened back to handcuffs, showers, and four poster beds.

  To her credit, she did not blush. “He’s been pretty active lately. Do you think he should just stay put for a while?”

  The doctor nodded, “I do. Especially he should avoid heavy exertion for a about a week or so.”

  Ronnie glanced over and saw the smile leave Alex’s face upon hearing that. “Bugger that,” he said and jumped down from the table, only to find his legs unwilling to support him. Luckily she was quick enough to catch him before he hit the ground too hard.

  With Charlie’s assistance she got him back into the wheelchair. While Dr. Wells offered to arrange an overnight stay in the hospital for her lover.

  Immediately Alex shot an imploring look at her while shaking his head.

  It was obvious he was in bad shape. But to make him stay overnight could make things much worse. “I think he’d be better at home with me,” she said finally, hoping she was making the right choice. “I’ll keep an eye on him and make sure he stays put.”

  Wells nodded, but insisted she bring Alex back to the hospital if there were any signs of him getting worse. She readily agreed.

  With that settled Veronica remembered the original reason for her visit and asked about the two teenagers.

  With the attention of the others finally off of him, Alex thought about what had happened. He was still badly shaken by his experience, but the lingering chill was finally starting to dissipate slightly. Nothing had ever left him so weak or troubled before except… Harlequin House. He mentally shook his head. He didn’t want to think about that place right now, or ever again.

  Just then Veronica turned to him and said, “Dr. Wells and I are going into the Examination room. Stay put and don’t try getting up again or you’re toast.”

  Alex knew better than to cross her and simply nodded. Besides, he needed to be alone with his thoughts for a while.

  Twenty minutes later they were back in the car and heading home.

  “Are you okay?” Veronica asked him after they’d left the parking lot.

  “I think so,” he answered honestly. It was warm in the sun, but the chill seemed to have left an imprint, and he shivered again.

  Veronica must’ve noticed because she offered to turn on the heater. But he shook his head and said, “I don’t think it would help. It goes deep.”

  “Maybe we should go back and have you stay overn….”

  “NO!!! Please…” he begged, “I’ll be alright. I just need a bit of a lie down that’s all.”

  His lady’s mouth became a thin line of disapproval. “Is there anything I can do for you?” she asked.

  “Yes,” he said quietly, “lay with me once we get home.”

  “The doctor said you needed rest,” she pointed out with a grin.

  “I didn’t mean it like that!”

  “I know,” she wrinkled her nose at him, “I’m trying to take your mind of what happened back there. I’m worried about you.”

  “So am I,” he chuckled grimly. “So am I.”

  After a mile of driving in silence, Veronica asked, “Are you up to talking about it?”

  He nodded and told her everything. Once he’d finished she said, “I really wish I hadn’t let you come.”

  “I did insist, Luv,” he pointed out.

  “Why?”

  “I told you earlier why I had to co...”

  “No,” she broke in, “I mean why did this happen? You’ve never had this kind of thing happen to you before. Why now?”

  Alex shook his head, “I’ve been asking myself the same exact question and I keep getting the same answer.”

  “You don’t know, right?”

  He nodded.

  “I don’t want you getting involved any further,” she told him firmly.

  He looked at her in surprise. “Shouldn’t we try and find out why this happened? I mean, there’s got to be a reason…”

  Once more she cut him off saying, “And as a Police Officer I will investigate and find out what it is.”

  He wanted to protest but there had been definite finality to her voice. So instead he just gazed at his lady.

  After a while it started getting to her, “What?”

  “You’re bloody marvelous you know that?” he smiled.

  “Just doing my job,” she told him.

  “Is taking care of me a job all of a sudden?” he asked in mock dismay.

  “Not exactly,” she smiled and explained, “As a Police Officer it is my job to serve and protect right?”

  “Right.”

  “But when it comes to you, it becomes my solemn duty.”

  Alex raised an eyebrow, “Your solemn duty?” he repeated.

  “Yes, because then I’m answering to a higher authority,” she told him as they came to a stop sign. Then she turned to him and said, “I’m answering to my heart.”

  He looked adoringly at her and said, “Will you marry me?”

  Her expression changed instantly. “No. I’m sorry but...”

  “Still not ready,” he nodded. “I understand.”

  “No you don’t,” she snapped and stared straight ahead.

  He sensed her tension. “I’m sorry, Luv. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Now or back at the Morgue?” she asked all businesslike.

  “Just now,” he murmured, a little confused. “I thought we agreed that I’m a
llowed to ask you to marry me at least once a month.”

  “True,” she nodded. “And you’ve been good about that. But you know I’m not going to say yes, so why bother?”

  “Ummm… hope springs eternal?”

  Veronica kept her eyes on the road. “Look, I don’t usually mind you asking. But your timing wasn’t exactly the greatest.”

  “How do you mean?”

  With a sigh, Ronnie pulled the car over and turned off the engine. Then she turned to face him and said hotly, “You propose shortly after collapsing in front of me Alex, knowing I’m worried sick about you. That’s really classy.”

  As her words sank in he lowered his eyes, “Oh God I’m sorry, Luv. I didn’t think…”

  “Obviously!” she snapped. After a moment she continued in a more tender voice, “I know you love me now, but what about in ten or fifteen years? Will you start noticing my age more? Will you begin to wonder why you tied yourself down to someone so much older than you? The thought of one day seeing regret, instead of love, in your eyes scares the shit out of me. If we just stay living together and it happens that’s one thing. But to be married and wake up to find my greatest fear has come to pass, that would kill me.”

  “It won’t happen,” he told her honestly. “I gave myself to you four years ago knowing you’d always be older than me. But I also knew that I wanted you in my life, forever.”

  Deep inside, he could sense his words were chipping away at her resolve.

  “Don’t you want children?” she asked quietly. “I can’t give you any.”

  He knew she was referring to the car accident she’d been in back when she was only sixteen. She’d been sitting between the driver and another passenger in the front seat. The engine had been pushed into them and she’d barely survived, but minus certain reproductive parts.

  “I’ve seen you with your nephew and how much fun you have with him,” she murmured quietly.

  “Only because I get to take him places and fill him up with sugar,” he pointed out. “Then, when he’s bouncing off the walls, I get to give him back to my sister and let her deal with him.”

  “Uh-huh,” Veronica nodded, “So basically you see your nephew as a toy that doesn’t need batteries.”

  “Precisely.”

  Shaking her head and laughing, Ronnie started the car again. “You are so bad. As soon as we get home I’m taking you straight to the bedroom.”

  “Yes!” he cried, punching the air.

  “Then, I’m going back to the station. I should be back around dinner time,” she finished as they pulled away from the curb.

  Alex frowned, “I think I missed something.”

  “Must’ve been when you collapsed,” she replied glancing over at him, “You’re going to get some rest okay? You scared the shit out of me before.”

  “You’re not the only one,” he murmured. “It was practically brown trouser time back there.”

  “Change your pants before getting into bed,” she told him, “I just did the sheets.”

  “I said practically,” he replied, not missing a beat.

  She laughed at that and then became serious again. “I mean it, Alex. I’m worried. I want you to promise me you’ll stay put and just rest this afternoon.”

  “I thought you were going to stay with me.”

  She nodded regretfully, “I was but between what happened to you, and the condition of the bodies, I need to take another look at the scene of the accident. There’s something bothering me. I didn’t tell you this earlier, but that vehicle flew past me moments before it crashed. And I saw only two people in the front seat. Since then we’ve been told that both driver and passenger had drowned sometime last night. And there isn’t a body of water within a several miles of where they crashed.”

  “Bloody hell,” he breathed.

  “Yeah,” she nodded.

  “Were they moving when they drove by you?”

  She looked at him with admiration, “You think like a cop.”

  “I’ve had plenty of time to watch one in action,” he replied with a smile that quickly vanished. “So were they moving or not?”

  Ronnie looked away and said, “For the life of me I can’t say for sure.”

  They both fell silent and remained that way until they reached their driveway and pulled in. Killing the engine Ronnie turned to him and asked, “Are you going to be all right by yourself? I can tell you’re still shaken up.”

  He nodded.

  “You’ll stay put and rest?”

  “What do I get, if do as I’m told?” he asked playfully.

  “I’m still not going to marry you,” she told him.

  He snapped his fingers and gave her sad puppy eyes.

  She laughed and said, “I’ll bring Julie home with me and we can do some nude oil wrestling for you.”

  His eyes went wide at that, “You are worried about me.”

  Veronica nodded and added quietly, “And when I’m ready I’ll ask you to marry me. Okay?”

  Alex smiled warmly, “I can live with that.”

  “Even if it takes a while?” she asked hesitantly.

  He leaned closer whispered, “Even if it takes ten or fifteen years.”

  After a full two minutes of kissing in the front seat, Ronnie reminded herself she needed to get Alex out of the car and into the house. And he was doing quite well until they were inside and halfway to the bedroom, then he stumbled and nearly fell. Luckily she had been ready and caught him. He’d managed the rest of the way with her help. Once there, she realized the bed was still a mess from earlier.

  Sitting him down in a chair, she proceeded to change the sheets and made things nice and comfortable for her patient. Looking over at him she saw Alex was trying to get undressed with difficulty. He had managed to take off his shoes and socks, but was now fighting with his shirt.

  Finishing with the bed she went over to help him. Within minutes they’d gotten him out of his clothes and under the sheets were he immediately fell asleep.

  Veronica watched him for a few minutes and shook her head. “You didn’t make any jokes when I started taking off your pants,” she murmured. “I’d been expecting at least, ‘Ooo… getting friendly now are we?’ But you were quiet the whole time.”

  She reached a decision and pulled out her cellphone.

  the policewoman ponders

  An hour later at the New Swindon Police Station, Veronica threw down the report in her hand. Nothing was making sense. The vehicle had been seen driving erratically along four miles of curving roads before reaching her. And all of the witnesses reported seeing only two people in the vehicle.

  “How the hell did they drive all that way, when they were already dead?” she snapped out loud.

  “And where did they drown in the first place?” asked a clean cut young officer, standing in the doorway.

  Veronica looked up and smiled. Ryan O’connor had been with them for about a year now and was currently her partner. Tall, broad-shouldered, with short red-blond hair he not only had the look of a cop, but asked excellent questions like one. “And what are your thoughts on this mystery?” she asked.

  The young officer held up a finger and said, “One, we should have someone check over the vehicle for signs of a third party who must’ve been doing the driving.”

  “Already got Chase over at the Impound yard doing that,” she nodded approvingly, “Go on.”

  “Two, find anyone who saw last saw those kids alive last night. Where were they? Was there a body of water nearby where they might have drowned?”

  “Chief’s already set up a tip line and is talking with the editors over at the newspaper as we speak,” Ronnie smiled, he was doing good.

  “Three, go back to the scene of the accident and try to retrace their path using eyewitness accounts,” he finished.

  She beamed at him. “I hadn’t thought of that. Okay, partner let’s roll. You take the patrol car, and I’ll take my motorcycle in case we need to split up.” She knew
without looking that he would have a disappointed expression his face. What was it with her and younger men? Alex was not the first to be interested in her. She’d had a number of suitors during the last seven years.

  Some had backed off when they learned her age, but not all of them. She had names for the ones who hadn’t. “The Oedipus Boys” were the ones who longed for a mother figure. The “MILF’s” considered any mature woman with looks desperate and fuckable.

  Alex had not fallen into any of those categories. He was unique.

  “How’s your… friend?” Ryan asked with ill-disguised indifference.

  Veronica groaned inwardly. None of her male co-workers seemed to think much of her boyfriend. With the exception of their boss who enjoyed Alex’s sense of humor.

  “He’s resting at home. Came down with that bug that’s going around,” she answered casually.

  “Must be why he collapsed at the Morgue.”

  Ronnie stopped and glared, “How did you hear about that?”

  Stepping back, her partner began speaking in that professional voice they used for dealing with a dangerous individual. “Easy Sarge, my brother Charlie works there. He told me you showed up with a guy who fainted.”

  Ronnie laughed. She’d forgotten just how intimidating her manner could be at times. “Sorry, I’m just worried about him. Nothing like that has ever happened before.”

  Ryan waved a hand dismissively, “I’d feel the same way if it had happened to Charlie. We’re trained to deal with other people’s situations. But when something happens to someone you care about, it’s another matter.”

  “True,” she nodded.

  “Mind you, I still don’t know what you see in Mr. Scrawny,” Ryan added, ducking into the nearest patrol car and out of reach.

  “He’s got goooood moves,” Veronica replied, mounting her patrol cycle. “Stay close, I don’t want to lose you,” she added, putting on her helmet.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be sticking close behind you,” her partner replied with a smirk.

  Rolling her eyes Veronica started the engine and took off. Inwardly she was chuckling. It wasn’t just the men at the station, even a few of her female co-workers wondered what she saw in Alex. They all made the mistake of judging her ‘Boy-Toy’ by his slender frame. But, Alex had developed long lean muscles from years on the dance floor. She’d found that out when they first met in New York City four years earlier...