"I'm sorry," I said. "He made me angry."
She looked down at me. "I am so proud of you."
"Man," said one of the men. "I hate that guy. That was beautiful, Felicia."
"The part that is really going to get him," said the other man, "is when he realizes he used cash and didn't get a receipt. He can't write it off on his taxes."
"It was stupid," I said. "To pick a fight over something so simple. Any third grader knows that."
"I didn't," said the woman who had looked it up. "I was willing to let him call it a pyramid."
The conversation continued for a while longer before we moved on.
"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you," I told her.
"You didn't. Were your questions serious?"
"Yes," I said.
"They provide water bottles with built in filters. One bottle costs a few dollars and can produce enough water for one person for several months. I don't remember the details."
"Oh. This check is a little rich for my blood, but I could write a smaller one."
"As far as I am concerned," she said. "You just gave them a thousand dollar donation. It isn't like Jeremy was going to donate anything to them. He comes to these to let people think he is a charitable guy. Keep your check book in your purse."
Throughout the evening, we encountered more people Andrea knew. "Is this the woman who owned Jeremy?" One woman asked. "I heard about that."
"Everyone has heard about it," said her husband. He shook his head. "So stupid. Any third grader knows that."
"That was my point," I told him. At that point we each recognized a kindred history buff spirit, and we spent the next ten minutes dominating the conversation over vague facts regarding some of the more intriguing obelisks around the world.
"All right, you two," his wife said eventually. She looked at Andrea. "He could go on for hours if he finds a willing audience." She looked at me. "It was nice meeting you, Felicia. I hope to see you again."
"Have someone call me next week, Andrea," the man said. "We may have some business."
* * *
After the event, she drove me home.
"Was that what you meant by 'date'?" I asked her.
"Yes, although I wasn't quite expecting you to steal the show."
"I'm sorry," I said.
She laughed.
* * *
Dream Petra was laughing as she stroked my arm. I curled my fingers and tried to catch her hand, but only the hand worked, not the entire arm, and I could not catch her. Finally she laid her hand in mine and I squeezed gently.
The kiss she gave me left me breathless.
Or maybe it was the pair of cats sitting on my chest when I woke up.
* * *
"Thank you for inviting me last night," I told Andrea when I saw her on Friday. "I've never been to an event like that."
"You're welcome," she said. "And thank you for joining me."
She sent me home early that afternoon. "It's Friday. Go home. Enjoy the weekend."
* * *
My dream with Dream Petra that night was long and lovely. It started the same as always. I was on my back, naked, and unable to move. She was humming and speaking her unknown words, kneeling over me, smiling.
I looked into her green eyes and felt like I could get lost in them forever.
I wanted to talk to her. Twice I tried to say something. She didn't hush me, but she looked sad for a moment when I failed. Then she reclined next to me, her entire body pressed along my length, her head on my shoulder, and continued to touch me, humming and speaking her words.
I couldn't see what her hand was doing, but I could feel as she lightly touched my skin, drawing little figures with her fingertip. She drew fingers on my stomach and on my ribs. One on each leg. She teased my belly button for a moment, then her hand slowly worked towards my chest.
She drew figures on my breast, playing with the nipple. It felt amazing.
She kissed me, her hand still on my breast, and I woke.
* * *
"So," said Beth that night. "Any good dreams lately?"
Even over the phone, I blushed.
Invasion
My dream Saturday night felt like it went on for hours. I held her hand, and she looked so pleased. As always, Dream Petra hummed and sang her words to me while stroking me. I looked up at her from the floor and tried to smile.
It must have worked! As suddenly she offered her own radiant smile and caressed my lips.
She continued to caress me, and she looked so amazingly beautiful. We were holding hands, and I used a finger to draw a straight line on her hand. An "I". Then I drew an "L".
Suddenly she appeared startled and looked away. She stopped humming. She squeezed my hand tightly then looked back at me, her face full of concern.
"Felicia," she said. It was Petra's voice, and the first time she'd said any words I had understood except "Mine". She continued. "You are in danger. You need to wake up. Your cell phone is on your nightstand. Grab it. Arrange your pillows under the covers so it looks like you are still there, and hide between your bed and the wall. Not in the closet or under the bed! He'll look there. Call 9-1-1 and be very, very quiet. Wake up now!" She slapped me.
And I woke.
The dream was still fresh in my mind. I reached over and grabbed my phone, then I heard a noise. Someone was in my apartment! He had bumped into my sofa and swore quietly. Oh shit! Oh shit!
I arranged the pillows the way Dream Petra had told me, then crawled between the bed and the wall. I woke my phone and dialed 9-1-1.
"9-1-1-. What is your emergency?" came the voice over the phone
I spoke quietly into the phone. "Someone is in my apartment! Oh god, someone is in my apartment!"
I heard footsteps in the hallway. My heart was pounding a hundred miles an hour. Afraid he would see the glow of the phone, I jammed it against my chest. Holding the phone in one hand, I slammed my other hand over my mouth to hold back the screams.
I heard him approach the bed. I was sure he'd hear my heart beating in my chest.
There was a thump! As he hit the bed. Then he swore and ripped the covers off the bed, tossing them over my hiding spot, further concealing me.
My bed has a dust ruffle. Even with my eyes near the floor, I couldn't see past it, but that meant he would have to pull all the covers off where he had tossed them and look between the bed and the wall to see me. The bed creaked, and then a voice from near the floor said, "Shit! Where is she?"
The bed creaked again. I kept my hand pressed against my mouth. I followed his footsteps as he walked over to my closet and slammed the door open. There were rustling noises.
I heard the sirens. My apartment building was only two blocks from the nearest active precinct house. The sirens stopped outside my building.
"Shit!" he said again. I listened as he ran from the apartment, slamming my door against the wall on the way.
I pulled the phone back to my ear. "Are you still there?" I whispered.
"Yes, Ms. Connor. The police are inside your building and approaching your apartment. Are you safe?"
"I think he ran. Oh god, I think he wanted to kill me."
And that's when I started to scream.
I heard heavy feet in the hallway, then a shout of, "Police! Police!" I continued to scream. I continued to scream as the feet pounded into my room. "Police!" I screamed louder when the bed was pulled away and the covers pulled off of me. I didn't stop screaming until a lady police officer crouched down on the floor in front of me and pulled me into her arms. Then I cried, clutching her desperately.
Someone gently took my phone away and spoke into it briefly. Several officers searched the apartment, yelling "Clear! Clear!" to each other.
The lady police officer held me whispering, "Shhh, you're safe now. We're here. You're safe. He's gone, long gone." She rocked me gently. I continued to clutch at her, quivering and crying.
One of the officers walked over and wrapped my blankets ar
ound me gently.
Slowly I calmed down as the lady police officer whispered soothingly to me. "What's your name, honey?" she asked me quietly, still holding me.
"Fe-Fe-Felicia," I stammered.
"Felicia," she said. "My name is Sally. My partner, Daniel, is the one who wrapped the blankets around you. You're safe now. We won't let anything happen to you."
Someone spoke, "Lock was jimmied."
She held me for a little longer before I pulled away and looked at her. "Was it a dream?"
"No, Felicia. Someone was here. You're safe now."
I clutched at her again but willed my heart to slow down. I pulled away and looked at her. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she said.
She gave me another minute to calm down further, inspecting my face. She must have seen what she needed to see. "Are you ready to get up? We need to ask you some questions."
I nodded. She helped me stand up.
"Can I- Can I get some clothes and clean up a little?"
"Of course, Felicia," she said. She let me go. I walked to my closet. The door hung open and the clothes were disarrayed.
"He was in here," I said. "Do I need to leave it?"
She walked over and said quietly, "No one was hurt and it doesn't look like anything was taken."
"And police investigations are expensive," I said.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"I understand." I stepped into the closet and retrieved jeans and a sweatshirt. Holding the blanket tightly around me, I walked out of the bedroom and to the bathroom and closed the door.
I was in there for several minutes, and when I came out, I was still wrapped in the blanket. But I had proper clothes on underneath and my hair wasn't such a fright.
Officer Sally was standing with three other police officers. As soon as I exited the bathroom, she stepped over to me and put her arm around me again. "Where would you like to sit?"
I pointed to the sofa and pulled her along with me. We sat down together, and I clutched at her through the blanket.
"Daniel is going to ask you some questions," she said gently. "Do your best."
I nodded.
Her partner walked over slowly, pulling one of my dinette chairs with him. I think he was trying to avoid startling me. He sat down a couple of feet in front of me and offered a concerned expression. The other two cops hovered around, listening, but giving me some distance.
I took a deep breath and said, "I won't start screaming again."
"No one blames you for being scared," he said. "I am Officer Irwin. I need to ask some questions."
I nodded.
He asked my name, then whether anyone lived with me.
"My cats. They're probably hiding."
"We haven't seen them," he said.
"They're small. I wouldn't stick my hands under the sofa if I were you."
He smiled.
He asked me where I worked. When I answered, I noticed the other two cops offer each other a look. One of them stepped outside the apartment.
Then he asked me to explain what happened. I told him the story, starting with waking up and hearing a noise and ending when I started screaming.
When I finished, he went back to clarify a few points. Then he asked if I had a boyfriend or if I'd recently broken up with someone.
"No, no boyfriends in a long time." I paused. "I'm not really girlfriend material."
He frowned, then asked more questions.
I heard voices in the hallway. I looked up and Andrea was talking to the police officer out in the hall.
"That's my boss," I said.
Daniel looked over. "Do you trust her?"
"Yes."
"Let her in," he called.
Andrea walked straight over to me. She looked around for just a moment, then sat down on the sofa next to me. Sally moved away a little, and Andrea put her arm around me. I leaned against her.
"How did you know?" I asked her.
"Officers Bartlett and Nickols are old friends," she said. "I hope you don't mind."
"No. You didn't have to come."
"Hush."
I looked over at Officer Irwin. "Were there more questions? What now?"
"I think we have everything we need," he said. "We'll patrol the neighborhood. He jimmied the lock, but it doesn't seem broken. If you give us your keys, we can test it for you."
"My purse," I said.
Sally stood up and retrieved my purse from the table, handing it to me. I dug the keys out and handed them to her.
I looked over at Andrea. "Oh god, I was so scared. I think he wanted to hurt me." The tears started down my cheeks again.
"Oh Felicia," she said, wrapping her arms around me and holding me. "I'm so sorry."
After a moment, Sally was back, sitting on the chair that Officer Irwin had been using. She handed the keys back to me. "The lock is working fine. Do you want us to stay?"
"Ms. Darkangel and I can take it from here," Andrea said. I looked at her, then at the door. Petra was there.
"That's my other boss," I said to Sally. "I trust her, too."
She nodded and gestured. Petra walked over.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
I nodded, then stood up, letting the blanket fall from my shoulders. I stepped up to Petra and wrapped my arms around her. "Thank you for saving me," I told her quietly.
"Saving you?" she asked.
I blushed. "Oh. I mean." I pulled away. "You came to me in my dreams and warned me. You told me what to do."
I looked away, but she put her hands on my shoulders and turned me to face her. "I'm glad you're safe."
The officers gave me their business cards, asked me once more if I was sure I was okay. Sally pulled me to the side and asked me if it was okay leaving me with Andrea and Petra.
"Yes," I said.
"If you think of anything else, you call us."
I thanked her again and she said, "I'm glad we were able to help."
She closed my apartment door behind her.
"Did he take anything?" Andrea asked.
"I don't think so. He wasn't here very long. My laptop and purse are both here."
"Where are the cats?" Petra asked.
"I haven't seen them. Hiding. They like it under the sofa."
"I'll find them," she said.
"They scratch," I warned her.
"I'll be careful," she replied. "Thank you for the warning."
She went into the kitchen, and I heard her rummaging around. Then I heard the can opener. She had found the stash of tuna. It took about three seconds for both cats to poke their noses out from under the sofa then dash into the kitchen.
Andrea and I stared after them, looked at each other, and laughed. "That was efficient," I said. Then I looked at her. "How could you get here so quickly?"
"I was already awake and in my car when I got the call," she said. "I had a little bout of insomnia. I called Petra right away and we both headed here."
Petra exited the kitchen. "I found the cats," she said, grinning. "I split a half can of tuna between them and put the rest in the refrigerator."
I nodded. A half can each would make them sick, but a quarter can each was fine.
I looked between the two of them. They were each looking at me with concern. "I appreciate you coming," I said. "But you don't have to stay with me."
"Actually," said Petra. "We want to show you something." She paused. "Can you put on something other than that horrible sweatshirt? Then grab some shoes and your purse."
I looked down. It was a horrible sweatshirt.
I nodded and disappeared into the bedroom for a minute. I selected one of my old blouses, the ones Petra wanted me to replace, and put it on. I found some tennis shoes and stepped back out.
"I know I'm a fright," I said.
"You're fine," Petra said. "I'm sorry, I just can't stand sweatshirts for anything other than sweating in."
She walked over and grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the door
. Andrea grabbed my purse and followed behind, closing up the apartment. She caught up and took my other arm. "Your car," she told Petra.
We took the elevator down then exited the building. Petra led the way to her car. Andrea held the front passenger door for me, so I climbed in and she closed it before climbing into the back.
"Is there a coffee shop?"
I pointed. "Around the corner, take a left, it's on the right. They have a drive through."
"Excellent," said Petra.
Petra put the car in gear and drove to the coffee shop. "Mocha, Felicia?"
"I love them, but the calories."
"Three large mochas," Petra ordered. "No silly bean on top, please make sure they are a drinkable temperature." She paid for the coffees and handed them out. Mine was perfect.
Petra pulled away from the coffee shop.
"What are you showing me?" I asked them.
"You'll see," Petra said.
We rode in silence. I was out of things to say and couldn't bring myself to make small talk. I was also a little overwhelmed that they were giving me so much personal attention.
We pulled into the parking lot of a very expensive-looking high-rise apartment building. Then she turned towards the building, opened her window, retrieved a card key, and ran it past the scanner. There was a pause before the parking garage door under the building began to open.
She drove in and pulled into a spot that was marked with her name.
"You live here."
"Yes."
We climbed out of the car carrying our coffees. Mine was half gone. Petra took my free arm. We took the elevator up one floor and got out in the lobby. There was a guard desk with computer monitors on the desk. We stepped up to the desk.
"Hello, Samuel," Petra said.
"Hello, Ms. Darkangel," he replied. He nodded to Andrea. "Ms. Benson."
"Samuel, this is Felicia Conner. We're going to show her around. Would you show her the security monitors?"
"Of course," he said. "Ms Conner, if you would care to step over here."
Petra nodded to me, releasing my arm, and I walked around the guard's desk. On the monitors were several video camera feeds. One appeared to be the entrance to the parking garage. Where were several in the garage itself, two elevators, two of the lobby, and a variety of empty corridors.
He tapped some buttons. All the images on one of the monitors disappeared and were replaced with one large image of the garage entrance. "This is when you arrived," he said. There was a car in the image and I could see Petra and me sitting in the front seat. "You can also barely see Ms. Benson in the back." He pointed. Then he tapped more screens and the images shifted, following our progress into the building, all the way to the security desk.
Pulled to the Dark (The Siriena Series) Page 4
