Jenna didn’t need to hear anymore. She ran past the old woman, heart pounding, tears welling up at the thought of Ash hurt, his mother dead. She cut across the same property, sprinting up the driveway, through the empty carport and over Joel’s fence. She started banging on his back door, screaming his name.
Hollering obscenities, Joel poked his head out of his window, then stopped, his expression no doubt surprised because of her tears. She rarely cried and could even get punched full in the face without losing a drop. Oh, she’d cried with Ash, but never in front of other people, everyone else assuming she was a stone cold bitch.
Joel’s head disappeared, then a few seconds later he reappeared at the back door in trackies and a Bob Marley shirt. “What happened, Jenna?”
“Ash… His mother…” She pointed in the direction of Ash’s house. “Police…”
Joel directed her to sit. “Calm down; take it slow.”
She sat on the steps and tried to get herself under control. She’d seen this happen to her mother. Hyperventilating – or ‘Woman’s Paranoia,’ according to her dad. She slowed down her breathing, then spoke, “Ash’s mother was murdered, Ash was attacked. They took him to the hospital.”
Joel’s mouth dropped open for a moment, then he let out a string of swearwords. “They should never have let that arsehole out of prison.” He stood up, both anger and upset battling a war across his face. “I’ll ring Hunter.”
Jenna followed him inside. “Where’s your family?”
“They’ll be walking home from church.” He grabbed the phone and dialled. After a few seconds he spoke. “Hunter, what happened to Ash? Jenna said his mum wuz murdered.” Joel’s expression changed from intense concentration to a look of disbelief. “Nah, that can’t be right… But, his father…”
“What, what?” Jenna screamed.
“Can I see him?” Joel said into the phone. He closed his eyes, then opened them as noise came from the front of the house. “Why not? No, I don’t bloody understand; if he isn’t badly injured then why can’t I see him?”
Joel’s family walked into the kitchen, their combined voices asking what was wrong.
Joel ignored them as he continued talking with Hunter. “I’m coming to the hospital. No! You listen to me; I have a right to visit Ash.” He moved the phone away from his ear as yelling came from the other end, Hunter’s voice spewing swearwords and rage loud enough for everyone to hear. Visibly shaken, Joel hung up.
“What happened?” Jenna shouted.
Joel appeared in shock. “It’s not right, Hunter can’t be right.”
“What did he say?”
“Ash’s stepdad attacked Ash and killed his mother.”
***
Lavinia had insisted on picking up Tiana before they went to the hospital, so Joel drove them to Tiana’s house. Too antsy to stay in the car, Jenna followed the others to the front door. Tiana’s hot brother answered on the second knock, his left ear covered with a bandage. He looked upset until he saw Jenna.
A large smile split his features. “How ya doin’, babe?”
She remained silent, too upset to talk.
“You guys look like someone has died,” Tiana’s brother said.
“Someone has,” Lavinia answered. “Can we please see Tiana?”
“Okay.”
They followed him inside. He disappeared down the passage, calling out Tiana’s name. Jenna barely noticed the décor as she stood in no-man’s-land, waiting. She wondered whether Tiana would react like she did. Hysterical was the word, something she’d never felt before.
Tiana entered the lounge looking terrible, like she was ready to spew at any moment. Her hair had gone crazy and she was dressed in plain track pants and a blue sweatshirt, far from her prim and prop self. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Lavinia started crying. Joel gave his stepsister a hug. “Ash’ll be alright,” he said, his expression not matching his words. He looked like a vulnerable kid at that moment, not the foul-mouthed bastard she knew. It made Jenna want to hug him, and to say that everything was going to be alright too, but she was never the optimistic kind.
Tiana’s voice went higher, “What happened to Ash?”
Jenna wiped her eyes. “His mother was murdered. Ash was also attacked, but they won’t tell us how bad. He’s been taken to Middleton, but his damn cousin told us to stay away.”
Disbelief flickered across Tiana’s face, then her face crumpled and she started crying.
Tiana’s brother walked back into the room. “Why’re you crying?”
Tiana’s expression changed in an instant. She shoved her brother into the wall. “I told you Isaia would hurt Ash! I told you!”
“I don’t know who Isaia is,” Jenna interrupted, “but it was Ash’s stepdad who attacked him.”
Tiana turned back to Jenna. “What? Chaz wouldn’t do that, he’s nice.”
Jenna sniffed. “He was never nice to me, almost shoved me out of the house once when I was dating Ash. I knew there was something suspect ‘bout him, which is pro’bly why he hated me.”
“But, why would he attack Ash? It doesn’t make sense, especially after what he did for me and Ash on Friday.”
Jenna frowned. “I have no idea, but Hunter said it was definitely Chaz.”
Tiana disappeared down the passage, leaving Jenna and the others standing there unsure of what to do. Several seconds later, she returned with her purse and headed for the front door. “I’m goin’ to the hospital.”
Jenna moved forward. “But Hunter said no.”
“He has no right to keep me or any of you away from Ash.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Lavinia and Joel muttered agreements.
“I’ll drive you,” Tiana’s brother said to his sister. “Don’t look at me like that, I wanna help.”
Tiana nodded and they all headed for the hospital.
***
The only time Jenna had been to Middleton Hospital was when she’d visited her Grandma Ivy. That was why she stopped in front of the sliding doors, scared that she was going to see someone else she loved die. She’d been close to her grandmother, but her parents had Jenna late in life, so Grandma Ivy was closer to the age of a great-grandmother. Dead at eighty-five, a good innings, her grandmother’s body having packed up to go to the glorious heaven she’d always talked about. Though, Grandma Ivy was a wicked one, her wit sharper than a devil’s tongue. Her grandmother had joked about it, saying that although St. Peter should let her in it was still a fifty-fifty chance, and that if she didn’t succeed she should at least get into purgatory. What were the exact words her grandmother had used for purgatory? Oh, yeah, a graffiti heaven—heaven and hell living hand in hand.
Jenna snapped out of it, realising that no one had waited for her. She ran in after the group, who were heading for the nurses’ station. Lines of yellow chairs spread out on her right, with patients and their family members warming the seats. She hoped she wasn’t going to be doing the same, sitting there twiddling her thumbs, or more likely gnawing on them as she worried about Ash.
Tiana took charge, asking a nurse about Ash. The girl’s temper quickly flared up when the woman refused to give out Ash’s room number. “We have a right to see him!” Tiana shouted, her usual polite manner gone. It was like she’d become a different person, ready to strike out at any moment.
The middle-aged nurse appeared unimpressed with Tiana’s outburst. “Miss, keep your voice down or I’ll have you and your friends escorted out.”
“He’s my boyfriend, why can’t I see him?” Tiana swept a hand out towards the others. “They’re all his friends.”
“Only family are allowed to visit him at this stage. I’m sorry for your predicament, but we have to abide by the rules for the sake of the patient, and in this case your boyfriend may not wish to have visitors either.”
Tiana straightened. “You know what happened to him then?”
The nurse frowned, as though she’d slipped up
. “He’s in a unit that is only open to family members, which is all I can tell you.” She shifted her attention to Joel as he started walking towards the lift. “Sir, he isn’t in this building.”
Joel turned around. “I’m family, which building is he in?”
The nurse breathed out. “I can’t tell you, and there’s no use in walking around looking because Middleton is massive.”
“Why can’t you tell me? I’ve just told you I’m related.”
“Mr. Hunter Rata has expressly forbidden the room number to be given out. He said family members should contact him for further information.”
Joel looked like he was about to blow up, but instead he put an arm around Lavinia’s waist and directed her towards the exit without a word. Tiana’s brother did the same to his sister, but got his arm flung away and yelled at. Tiana stormed towards the exit.
Jenna gave Tiana’s brother a sad smile. “She’s just scared. I’m sure she didn’t mean anything by it.”
He sighed and shrugged. “I don’t blame her.”
Jenna cocked her head towards the doors. “Let’s see if Joel can get any more info out of Ash’s cousin.”
Tiana’s brother nodded and followed her out to the car park, where Joel was yelling into his father’s mobile phone, his expression telling Jenna he was getting nowhere with Hunter.
Joel hung up. “Hunter’s bein’ a bastard. I reckon he’s bullshitting me, cos his story keeps changing. Now he’s saying that Ash is sick, not injured.”
“Sick?” Jenna said.
“Yeah, he isn’t making sense, just keeps saying we hafta wait until Ash is ready to see us.”
“Well, I’m not waiting. If Ash’s house is swarming with cops, the rest of his family are pro’bly at Hunter’s place. We should head over there. Maybe the others will tell us where he is.”
“They could’ve gone to his grandparents’ place,” Joel added.
“I highly doubt it. Dargaville’s a three hour drive away.”
“Yeah, you’re pro’bly right.”
“I know I am, so let’s stop talking and go.”
They separated into two cars and headed for Hunter’s house.
27
Ash
Ash woke up feeling like he’d caught the worst flu bug in history. A hand touched the back of his head as he leaned over the side of the bed and threw up into something thrust under his face. After he’d emptied his stomach, he flopped back in bed, too exhausted to clean himself or say thanks to whoever had helped him. His body ached, his head hurt and he felt like he was burning up. What did he do last night to get like this? A pint of beer came to memory, then another one, then another…
A damp towel wiped his face. “You’re gonna be alright, Ash. I’ll look after you.”
Hunter?
Ash turned towards the voice. Even that action was exhausting. “What’re ya doin’ in my room? Am I still dreaming?” He’d had the worst nightmares ever, too horrible to think about. They had felt both vivid yet distant … It was hard to explain. Like it was happening and not happening at the same time, if that was even possible. He’d been exhausted in them too, unable to move.
“You’re not home, you’re in hospital,” Hunter said, his appearance messier than normal. It looked like he’d slept in his clothes, his white button-down shirt crinkled. Hunter was twenty-five, tall and slightly overweight, his harsh features so similar to the twins.
His cousin’s words finally sunk in. Ash took in the green curtains surrounding his bed. Squeaking came from outside the room, along with muffled voices. The smell of disinfectant mixed in with his vomit made him feel sicker.
“Why am I in hospital?”
“No one could wake you.”
Ash went to raise a hand, but felt too tired, as if every last dreg of energy had been drained out of his body. He wanted to sleep so bad. “This is what a hangover feels like?”
Hunter breathed out, sounding like an asthmatic. “Yes, yes, a hangover. It’s a hangover. Now, go to sleep, Ash. We’ll talk some more later.”
Ash closed his eyes, then sleep took him…
***
Voices tugged Ash awake. He blinked, trying to focus. He was still in hospital. The drawn curtains made his enclosure appear dark and the only light he could see came from his left, a soft glow set against the green material. On the other side of the curtains voices continued to whisper. He managed to push himself up, then flinched as he felt something attached to him below. He swept the blankets aside and lifted the hospital gown. He yelled out in surprise. The curtains were pulled back and Hunter grabbed his arms, stopping him from ripping out the tube attached to his penis.
“It’s a catheter,” Hunter said. “So you don’t pee the bed. You’ve been sleeping for a while now.”
Ash looked up as his grandmother appeared next to Hunter, the realisation of what she was seeing horrifying him. “Don’t look!”
His grandmother turned around, but Hunter kept his grip on Ash’s arms. “Calm down or you’ll hurt yourself. I’ll get a nurse to remove it.”
Ash shook his head. “I’m not having someone touch me down there!”
“Too late, someone had to put it in.”
“Then cover me!” Ash shouted, humiliated.
Hunter let go and laid the blanket back over Ash. Ash’s grandmother moved around the other side of the bed, her eyes puffy, the bags under them more pronounced than usual. Like most of the family she had black hair, but with a sprinkling of greys.
“You poor darling,” she said, brushing the back of her fingers across his cheek.
He wondered why she was here and not in Dargaville. “Where’s Mum?”
Her face went still.
He dropped his gaze, knowing he was in deep shit for drinking too much. “I’m sorry, Baba,” he said, using the Croatian word for grandmother.
“Love, you have nothing to be sorry for,” she said, in a soft twang. Unlike his grandfather she was born in New Zealand, so didn’t have a Croatian accent. “Do you remember what happened?”
Ash paused, trying to think of what to say. He didn’t want to get his stepdad into trouble, and it was his own fault for being such a lightweight with alcohol… although he normally wasn’t. Maybe the beer at the pub was stronger.
“I drank some beers,” he said slowly.
“Where did you get them from?” she asked.
“At the…” He sank into the mattress. “…pub.”
She didn’t seem surprised. “Do you remember going home with anyone?”
“No.”
“Ash, please be honest. Did Chaz take you home?”
He nodded.
“What do you remember after getting home?”
“Chaz put me in bed, then I woke up here.”
“You remember nothing else at all?”
He’d screamed as pain ripped into him below. His face was pushed into the pillow and he’d blacked out. Pain woke him up, and he’d cried for Chaz to stop. He’d blacked out again, then yelling brought him back and he saw his mother attacking Chaz with a knife, then…
… No! That was a nightmare.
He shook his head.
“Don’t you remember your mother and Dante coming home?”
Unnerved, he shook his head again.
His grandmother continued talking slowly, like she was carefully picking every word. “It’ll be the drug you were given. It can wipe memories. Did you have any dreams last night?”
“I didn’t take any drugs.”
“Love, can you tell me about your dreams?”
“What have my dreams gotta do with anything?”
“The doctor said the drug you were given usually causes blackouts, but it can also confuse people, making them think they’re dreaming when they’re not.”
“No one gave me drugs.”
She breathed out, her voice shaky. “Chaz did.”
“No, he didn’t.”
She covered her eyes, her hand shaking like crazy. “I can
’t do this.”
Hunter placed a hand on her back. “I’ll tell him, Vesna. You get some rest.”
Ash’s grandmother left the room, her crying audible from the passage. It slowly petered out along with her footsteps. Both her crying and her words upset Ash. He didn’t want to think about his dreams; they scared him and made him feel sicker.
“Did your dreams involve Chaz?” Hunter asked.
“I don’t wanna talk about them. Lemme sleep.”
“I need to know, it’s important.”
Ash closed his eyes. “I’m tired.”
“Okay, Ash, it can wait. You get some sleep, then we’ll talk later.”
***
Monday, August 28.
8 A.M
Pain ripped into Ash. His eyes shot open and he screamed. Someone held onto his shoulders as he bucked, desperately trying to get free.
“Ash, you’re safe.”
“Get offa me!”
The weight lifted off him. “It’s a dream, it’s just a dream.” His cousin’s voice broke through Ash’s panic. It took a few seconds before Ash stopped struggling, his brain and body now working in sync. He rubbed his chest, the tightness making it hard to exhale. He yawned, knowing it was the only way he could breathe out when he got worked up. With a couple of exceptions, he hadn’t had a breathing problem since his father had moved out. He yawned twice before the breath was released, but still felt terrible.
“You alright, Ash?”
He yawned again, pushing out another breath. “I had a nightmare.”
“It’s alright, he can’t hurt you now.”
Ash continued to rub his chest. “Who can’t hurt me?”
“You were dreaming ‘bout Chaz again. You said his name.”
Ash’s eyes widened. Shit, he hoped he hadn’t said anything else. He used to talk in his sleep when he was little, to the point that he got his own room because he’d woken up Dante too much.
Graffiti Heaven (Graffiti Heaven #1) Page 15
