Gabby scares me.
She shouldn’t be able to do what she does, see what she sees. I like to pretend her “gifts” are not real, even convinced myself she was faking it for attention.
I can’t fool myself anymore.
There’re vending machines in the closest waiting room, but I’m in no hurry to get back to the room. I take the long way around and go to the farthest waiting area to get her snacks. A few people sit in small, worried groups, filling less than half of the chairs. Dressed in full uniform, vest, belt and gun, I draw their attention. The mood shifts as I enter the waiting area, the waiting people sit a little taller, lower their voices, on their best behavior. It’s nearly imperceptible, but I sense it. An overly thin young man with a dirty baseball cap sits with what looks like his parents. He shifts in his seat, looks away. The body language of a guilty person.
I’m not interested in him right now, but I file his face in my memory just in case. A reflex action.
I dig out a few bills from my wallet and feed one into the vending machine. It spits the bill back out. I calmly feed it back in, but it comes out again. I want to kick the machine, but contain my anger. The bill finally goes in and stays in.
The Dr. Pepper button produces nothing. I have a lovely moment imagining taking out my Ruger and shooting the machine. I press the Pepsi button instead.
I purchase her Twizzlers, and wander back through the hospital in the general direction of the injured woman’s room.
I’m stalling, my feet taking slow, deliberate steps.
“Man up,” I mutter and force my feet to walk faster.
I peek in through the small window in the door before I enter, not wanting to intrude. The officer on duty looks at me in question. I glare at him and he steps a few paces to the left. He sets his shoulders, his hands on his belt, but looks away down the hall.
Leaving me alone to watch Gabby through the window.
My little sister sits next to the comatose woman, touching her hand. Her eyes are scrunched tight as if in pain. Her head tips sideways at an odd angle, as if her neck muscles lack the strength to hold it up. Her chest rises and falls in full gasps, sucking air through her parted lips.
She’s utterly vulnerable. Here, but not here. Unaware of her surroundings, but so aware of what no one else can see.
My gut wrenches for her.
Lucas sits nearby, watching closely. Concern etches his face, but he watches calmly.
I want to scream, shake her, make her stop.
I throw the door open instead.
She blinks and returns to the present.
My hopes that this was the only time she’d have to touch the girl fade as she explains what little she saw.
On purpose, I needle her about the lack of information. “A little girl hiding in a closet, a mean mom and another girl who hates her. That’s it?” I ask, rough on purpose.
“Well, you came in and I lost the vision.” Gabby tears into the bag of candy like she wishes she was tearing into me. Good, I like it better when she’s angry.
The woman in the bed lies absolutely still. I check the monitors to make sure she’s still alive. It’s my job to find out who stabbed her, made her run and forced her to give birth alone. I think of my wife, Alexis, my son Walker. Walker was born in a hospital, no complications, as safe as possible. I was terrified just the same. This woman, Addlynn, was alone and dying when she brought her son into the world. She deserves justice.
I have no other options. The coma keeps her from us, and we have nothing to go on. Gabby is our only chance to find out what happened.
I hate it, but I have to ask.
“Do you think you could try again?” I make my voice gentle. “Please.”
I knew the please would do the trick.
Sitting quietly on the couch as she requested, I watch her, give her space. One moment she’s talking to us, the next she’s away.
Her head slides to the side, and her breath gasps again. Emotions play over her face, mostly fear and pain. She lets out a few whimpers. Lucas moves to intervene, but I motion for him to leave her be. His shoulders tense another degree, but he lets her continue.
She stays in the trance a long time. The monitors attached to Addlynn beep in the quiet. The longer Gabby touches her, the faster the girl’s pulse gets. I watch the monitors, not willing to watch Gabby. Addlynn’s blood pressure rises along with her pulse.
Lucas looks at me in question, seeming to ask “How long should we let this go on?”
We wait another agonizing minute.
The machines beep wildly.
“That’s enough,” Lucas says and moves to shake Gabby awake.
Gabby suddenly crumples on the floor before Lucas can touch her. She lands softly on the floor, but we scoop her up as quickly as possible. Get her off the hard linoleum and onto the soft couch.
She’s crying. She’s shivering. She hides her face from us.
I break.
More than once, I’ve watched my sister nearly die. But this?
I did this to her.
I won’t allow it again.
“Detectives?” a nurse hurries into Addlynn’s room. Her cocoa skin gleams with a fine shimmer of sweat, visible even in the darkened room. “What’s going on here? The monitor alarm just went off.” She’s a good six inches shorter than me, and obviously nervous confronting two uniformed officers, but she stands her ground. I admire that.
“Everything’s fine.” I tell her brusquely.
She isn’t convinced. She checks her patient, checks the monitors. Then she notices Gabby on the couch.
“Visitors are not allowed,” the tiny nurse says pointedly. “You two shouldn’t even be here, but I understand you have a job to do.”
“And we appreciate that.” Lucas uses his smoothest voice, a tone I have never been able to master. His eyes make a quick slide over her name tag. I see him look, but the nurse doesn’t. “It’s Jada, right?”
She relaxes, impressed he remembered her name from earlier. “That’s right.”
“We’re finishing up now. We’ll let you get back to your patient. She’s lucky to have such wonderful care here.” His sweet voice annoys me, but it works on the nurse, the same way I’ve seen it work on other women.
“No harm done, I guess. She needs to rest now. Poor thing.” Jada turns back to her patient, adjusts her pillow.
“Be sure to call us when she wakes up,” I add.
“If she wakes up, we’ll call. Doctor says she might not,” Jada seems lost in concern, then snaps her professional mask back on.
“You guys leave now,” she shoos us towards the door. Jada’s eyes widen suddenly, recognizing Gabby.
“What’s she doing here?” The tone leaves no doubt how she feels about Gabby and her possible role in this.
Lucas sweeps in with his sweet voice once again. “Now Jada, I’m sure you understand we’re dedicated to catching whoever did this.” Jada nods, her soft afro bouncing. She’s staring at Gabby with barely hidden disdain. I step between the women.
“I’m also sure you understand that due to this being an ongoing investigation, not to mention the patient’s right to privacy, anything you see here in your professional capacity is privileged information.” Lucas’ tone is still sweet, but the words are purposely legal sounding.
Jada pulls her eyes from Gabby to look at Lucas.
“I understand.” She didn’t miss the threat lurking under the sugar and her voice has a hard edge. “Just keep her out of here.”
My hand clenches into a fist I would never use. Lucas’ back straightens. He tried nice, I’m more direct. “Basically, keep your mouth shut. And stay out of our way.”
Jada’s nostrils flare.
“I’m just trying to help,” Gabby pipes in from behind my shoulder. “We’re all trying to help Addlynn. That’s all that matters.”
“Addlynn?” Jada asks.
“That’s her name.” Gabby says simply.
Jada realizes how
Gabby learned her name and takes a step back. “Just get out.”
The tension in the room rises another degree and I feel more than hear Gabby’s sharp intake of breath.
I take Gabby by the elbow and lead her out of the room. The officer on duty takes another few steps to the left in the hall, away from the door, away from us. He has the good sense to look at his boots as we pass.
Once we’re down the hall, he steps back in front of Addlynn’s door, protecting her.
Chapter 8
Gabby
When the elevator doors slide closed and I’m alone with Lucas and Dustin, I can finally breathe. The reaction from the nurse so close on the heels of the terrifying vision sucked me dry. I put my gloves back on and I lean against the elevator wall, not trusting my legs to hold me.
Lucas looks over his shoulder, checking on me. I manage a faint smile.
“What’re we going to do with this information?” Dustin asks the room in general.
The doors open before either of us can answer. I push myself back to my feet and follow the men down the hall.
“We have a name now, we’ll run that. What kind of sick ritual did she have to go through? Where in River Bend would that kind of thing go on?” Lucas asks.
Their strides are longer and stronger than mine. I trail farther behind them down the long hall. I’m exhausted and truly hungry, but I’m reluctant to leave the hospital.
“We can look into it, although where do we start looking. Google crazy candle rituals?” Dustin tries to make a joke. They’re so far ahead of me now, I can barely make out their words.
They notice I’m not behind them and turn around.
“Where’s the baby?” I ask.
“He was in the NICU earlier,” Dustin answers.
“I want to see him.”
Dustin’s eyes narrow the tiniest bit. “Why?”
“I found him. I want to be sure he’s okay.” I clutch my purse.
“They told us earlier he was fine. Now let’s get you out of here.”
“I want to see him. I need to see him.” I won’t let it go, take a backward step.
“You’re not going to touch him, even if they would let you.” I don’t like Dustin’s arrogance, his authority.
“Maybe he’s out of NICU now, back in the nursery area,” Lucas tries to be helpful. He takes a step towards me in the hall.
“Then I can see him through the glass. I’m not going to touch him,” I snap at Dustin. “I just need to see him.”
Dustin rolls his eyes, bristles with tension.
“Make it quick.”
This time I lead them through the hospital, following the signs to the nursery. Once we find it, Lucas talks to the nurses and finds out the baby is indeed out of NICU. We sign in at the desk and are directed to the viewing window.
Only three babies are behind the window. Most mothers keep their children with them in their rooms now, only letting the babies out of sight when the nurses say they should. This baby boy has no mother to look out for him.
Two of the infants wear pink hats, making it easy to recognize the boy. I would have recognized him anyway. His shocked little features are burned into my memory.
He sleeps as we peer through the window. This morning he was an unnatural purple-blue color. Now his cheeks are a healthy pink. He looks so peaceful, totally oblivious to the circumstances that brought him into this world.
The three of us watch the baby silently. His tiny face pulls at my heart. Tears burn my eyes, but this time happy tears. He’s alive and doing well. He has a rough time ahead of him with a mother in a coma and a mystery man for a father. But he’s alive and safe. Addlynn made sure of it.
“Poor thing is all alone in there.” I touch the glass, wanting to be as close as possible. “Wonder who his father is,” I ask the question we should have asked before.
“Probably the same man who stabbed Addlynn,” Dustin says smoothly.
“I know statistically that’s true. I’d rather think it wasn’t someone she loved who tried to kill her.” The baby moves his mouth into a tiny ‘o’. Adorable and precious.
“Doesn’t usually work out that way,” Lucas says sadly, his eyes locked on the tiny miracle before us.
“If she was still close to the father, or trusted him, she’d have gone to him for help. Not run into the woods,” Dustin points out.
“Why couldn’t I see it?” I lean my forehead against the glass separating me from the baby. I don’t realize I said the question out loud until Lucas answers.
“You did the best you could.”
The kind words make me angry.
“It’s not good enough.” I smack the glass. The baby boy jumps at the sudden sound, opens his mouth to wail. “We’re no closer than we were before.”
The baby cries. I made him cry. Shame washes over me. I need to escape the sound.
I spin on my heel and storm away. I don’t wait for the elevator, but hurry down the stairs. I know they will follow me, but I don’t want them right now.
I want to go home.
I want to be alone.
I want to snuggle in my bed with my cat and forget this day.
It’s dark in the parking lot. The passage of time catches me off guard. Not caring who sees me, I make a full sprint to my car, my purse bumping my side awkwardly as I run. The door of my gray Charger is cold against my cheek as I lean against it. My face burns in contrast.
“You failed her,” I yell at myself. “And you failed him.”
From across the parking lot, I hear Lucas calling after me.
I dig out my keys, get in the car and manage to drive away before Lucas and Dustin catch up.
I’m half way across town before I stop shaking. I’m angry and confused and very, very hungry. Anxious as I am to get home, I make a detour for the golden arches.
There’re few delights as wonderful as fresh, salty fries. I shovel them into my mouth greedily. Munch them down before they can cool into limp pieces of potato. Driving with one hand, I sink into the burger next. Ketchup squirts down my chin, but I keep eating. A pickle slides out, sticks to my sweater, but I keep eating. The last of the burger gone, I search the bag for a stray fry. It’s empty.
I’m empty.
The food sits heavy in my gut, but doesn’t fill the hole inside me.
The sudden rush of food in my blood makes me drowsy. “Food coma,” Grandma Dot would call it. When I pull into my driveway, I struggle to keep my eyes open.
Grandma Dot deserves a phone call, an update on what happened with Addlynn. It will have to wait until tomorrow.
Exhausted, I manage to climb out of the Charger. The front light is on at Preston’s house next door. Most likely left on for me, inviting me to visit when I got home.
Preston will have to wait until tomorrow as well.
The only one I want to see right now is Chester.
He doesn’t disappoint. As soon as I’m inside my door, my beloved gray and white cat rubs my legs, meow’s his greeting.
“Hey, baby. Momma’s had a long day,” I tell the cat.
He rubs me again in reply.
“How about a nice long sleep?” I lock and chain the front door behind me.
Chester follows me down the hall to my room. I slide into soft pants and a t-shirt and curl into a ball under the comforter. Chester snuggles close to me, just happy to be near.
At least I didn’t disappoint him today.
When I close my eyes, I see visions of candle flame reaching for Addlynn’s palm. I hear the man’s voice chanting “This child is ours now, belongs to us.” Most troubling of all, I see the crowd seated behind her, hands raised in sick salute. Each one wears a matching scar on their palm and matching wild-eyed expressions.
The memory, her memory, makes me sick. It mixes with the heavy burger and fries in my belly. I pull my knees closer to my forehead, wrap my body around Chester, and let the exhaustion overwhelm me.
Chapter 9
Gabby
Then it crashes in.
I moan with the pain of the memory, with the weight of the responsibility. Grandma Dot was right. I was drawn to Addlynn for a reason. My work has just begun.
I don’t know what to do.
A hot shower and fresh clothes seems like a good place to start. My face in the mirror looks tired and crumpled. Dark smudges under my eyes make their usual blue seem cloudy and dim. I turn away from the mirror, disgusted with how I look, how I failed yesterday.
Hot water usually helps me think. I stand under the stream until it turns cool and I have to get out, but I still have no idea what to do.
I’ve slept too late to catch the morning news and see if there is a story about Addlynn. I turn on the TV anyway. Lacey Aniston smiles back at me with her over-bleached teeth and heavy lipstick. Just the sight of her makes my blood tingle with anger. Lacey has hated me since high school, and never misses a chance to make me look bad. I brace myself to see if she mentions my name. She’s reporting on Addlynn. “Mystery woman found in the woods near a local church yesterday. She was stabbed and apparently gave birth in the woods the night before.”
That’s it. The sound bite is part of a commercial, not the actual story. Useless.
I switch the channel to an old movie I’ve seen before and let it play as background noise as I make coffee.
My head hurts and my back aches. I rub my neck as I call Lucas.
“Any updates on Addlynn?” I ask.
“As of about an hour ago, she was still in a coma,” he says. “How about you? Did you get some rest?”
“I came home and went straight to bed.”
“No hot date with neighbor boy” He’s teasing, but there’s an edge to his voice.
“Too tired. Suppose I’ll have to make it up to him today.” I sip my coffee. It’s too hot and scalds my tongue. I spit it back into the cup.
“What was that?” Lucas asks, laughing. “You didn’t let your coffee cool, did you?”
Message in the Fire Page 5