Star Bright

by Christina OW

  “Soon, I promise.” Miguel moved to sit next to her. Edna looked at him, her eyes reflecting the doubt she felt. Miguel hugged her, “It will be over soon Edna.”

  “I want to believe you but...” she paused, “I’ll believe it when it happens.”

  “We could always send them away, maybe to Mexico until we find Ricky.”

  Edna looked up at him, “It’s not that easy anymore. She has ties to this place and Dave isn’t just going to allow us to take them away.”

  “He doesn’t have to know.” Miguel pulled her back, “Once you are all far away, I’ll break the news to him.”

  “He’ll have you arrested.” Edna chuckled, nervously.

  “I’ll risk it.” Miguel shrugged, “What’s the worst he could do?”

  “Try taking her away and you’ll find out!” Dave’s angry voice bellowed in the room. Edna and Miguel looked up to see the livid man standing at the door way.

  Maria paced around her room bored out of her mind. She had already walked around the hospital corridors, paid a visit to the nursery and admired the little tiny creatures, which made her have a pang to be a mother again. Chatted with the nurses, gone down to the cafeteria to have something that wasn’t white and gooey to eat. She shouldn’t have sent Dave home, but the kids needed him home, and she was tired of having him hover over her all the time like she was going to break if she did something for herself.

  She sat by the window and looked out at the night life of New York. The different colored lights looked beautiful in the dark, like stars in the sky. It was amazing how noisy the city was even at night, when everyone was expected to be asleep or at home with their families or having a quiet dinner with their friends.

  Maria laughed happily, she was looking forward to having a normal life. Dinners with Carol and Todd, family movie nights, going home after a long day at the university, once she enrolled or work, making dinner or ordering pizza when she felt too lazy to cook, putting the kids to bed early so that she and Dave could have some time alone, then finally going to bed to sleep or to make love like a normal couple would. This was the life waiting for her once she left the hospital and she was anxious to start it as soon as possible.

  Maria turned to the ringing phone and laughed, she was sure it was Dave probably worrying himself out of his mind. She walked to her bed side table and picked up the phone, “You worry wart, you should be working. It’s only being a few hours since you left here.”

  “Really? I thought it had been nine days since we were last together.”

  Maria froze at the sound of Ricky’s voice. She wasn’t sure if she was imaging it or if it was a bad dream, but this couldn’t be happening again, he was dead!

  “Did you miss me that much? Oh I missed you too.”

  “How...you got shot....you’re dead!” Maria cried, as she sank to the floor. She felt her whole body shake as his voice sent cold chills all through her body. This couldn’t be possible, Dave assured her he was dead.

  “No I’m not, but there is a five year old who’s going to be.”

  “Don’t you dare go anywhere near my son!” Maria yelled, into the receiver.

  “Why so mad?” Ricky cooed at her, “He does need one of his parents with him, you know, with you locked up in a hospital and all.”

  Maria pulled herself up from her knees, “Ricky, I swear I’ll kill you if you go near Michael!” she spewed out angrily

  “Oooh, is that a threat?” Ricky laughed.

  “No, it’s a promise!” Maria pulled her bag out of the closet and took out some clothes. She painfully pulled off her sling and began changing fast.

  “Well you are over there and I’m here, very close to him.”

  Maria felt her heart stop for a second, “What do you mean very close to him?” She rapped out, with a quivering voice.

  Ricky laughed coldly, “Why don’t you find that out for yourself.” He hung up.

  Ricky turned and looked at the baggage in his back seat, he didn’t think it would be so easy to pull it off, especially with the heavy guard duty around the house. He rubbed at his wound in his torso, that had been a close call, a very close call. He had been too excited to notice how careless he had been before, not taking into account the body guard who was always following her around, which he was sure she knew nothing about. But this time he was going to be careful, take the fight to her and delay the alarm that was going to be raised.

  He turned around and started the car, “Sorry it had to happen like this little man, but what better way to attract bees than with honey.” He drove away proud, laughing even louder at his accomplishment.

  “That’s enough, no one is doing anything to anyone and anyway, it’s Maria’s decision.” Edna yelled, curbing the argument before it turned into a fist fight.

  “It will be our decision, we are a family now and we do everything together.” Dave spoke firmly. He wanted so much to kick Miguel’s ass and an opportunity had presented itself, but Edna had managed to quiet the man down.

  “What’s the use if he’ll find her again?” Edna spoke, into her palms, already exhausted by the mere thought of Ricky finding her daughter again.

  “Do you really love my daughter or are you just interested in finding a permanent nanny for your daughter?” Miguel accused. Dave didn’t say a word, he just gave him a lethal gaze as he contemplated throwing the first punch. “Or is she some kind of project for you, I mean this is the most excitement you’ve gotten from a court case, being so involved with a victim and seeing the criminals work first hand. Tell the truth, you find her life intriguing, don’t you?”

  Dave hated being put on the spot, especially by the truth. Yes it was intriguing and exciting at first, but when everything got so real he wanted the game to be over. But one thing he wasn’t sure of was his love for Maria, did he love her more as a mother to his daughter or as a woman?

  “You are the last person to be judging me. You could have left your life in the fast lane if you wanted to, but why leave an exciting life just to be a husband, father and farmer in dull old Jacksonville?”

  “I’m not going to deny the fact that I’m a bastard, but when will you admit to yourself that it was pure lawyer curiosity that attracted you to Maria.”

  “You don’t know me.” Dave said, defensively.

  “But I know people like you.” he took a step closer to Dave, “for all we know it could have been your digging around that set Ricky on Maria’s trail. Not only can’t your gun for hire shoot straight, he can’t snoop around without raising eyebrows.”

  “That may be my fault, but when we look at the whole picture, the person to blame for all of this, is you.” Dave smiled when he saw Miguel clench his jaw, “And anyway, aren’t you using this situation to your advantage, trying to kill Ricky to save face in front of Maria.”

  “Ricky is dead!” Edna said firmly, trying to convince herself of it. She needed to believe he was dead, for her own state of mind. If she was going this crazy, Maria would have certainly lost her mind if she knew there was a possibility he was still alive.

  “No he’s not.”

  The trio turned to find Maria standing at the entrance of the living room, her arm held against her chest with a tired look on her face.

  Maria felt exhausted, in pain and strained, but after the call she got from Ricky, she didn’t have time to pause and lick her wounds, she needed to get out of here, fast.

  “Where are the kids?” She panted out, ignoring the incredulous looks Dave and her parents gave her, “Could someone please answer me, preferably in this century!” She went on impatiently.

  “They are upstairs sleeping.” Edna answered, standing up from the couch, “What are you doing out of hospital?”

  “I wasn’t going to just lay there and wait for Ricky to come back and try to kill me again.” Maria stared at them, her anger for them mounting higher with each passing second, “How could you lie to me?”

  “What are you talking about?” Miguel asked him, he
knew it was a stupid question the second it made its way out of his mouth.

  Maria stared at him, astound by the man’s persistence, “About Ricky being dead!” She yelled at him, before turning to Dave, “You of all people kept it from me.” Maria pushed her hair back exposing her bruises, “What am I even saying, this has you written all over it.”

  “How did you find out?” Dave asked, quietly.

  “I got a call from the dead man himself.”

  “How sure are you it was Ricky?” Dave was reaching, and he knew that, “For all you know it could have been a crank call.”

  She cut her eyes at him, and then turned for the stairway, she had wasted enough time already, “I’m taking the kids with me.”

  “Where are you going? You are still hurt.” Dave caught up with her and stopped her before she went up.

  Maria pulled her arm out of his hold and turned to him, “Hurt or not, I’m taking the kids and getting as far away from here and from him as I possibly can.”

  “You don’t have to go anywhere.” Dave began desperately, “We have people looking for him, they will eventually catch him.”

  Maria laughed coldly, “Eventually?” she asked, “Before or after he kills the kids?” Her voice flat yet sharp.

  “Maria...”

  “I’m doing what a mother does, protecting her children.” Maria said, interrupting him, “I’m taking Izzy and you can’t stop me.”

  Dave brushed his hand over his tired face, “Running won’t solve anything.”

  “You think I don’t know that?” She could feel the tears sting her eyes, but she wasn’t going to cry, not now, “Look at me, that point was driven into me several painful times.”

  Edna moved to stand next to her and held her injured arm up for her, “Listen to him, your father and Dave will find a way to end this.”

  “Forgive me mama, but my trust in men, especially these two is a little shaky and anyway you told me to run in the first place!”

  “He would have killed you if you had stayed then, you know that!”

  Maria stepped away and used her good hand to point at the new additions to her body, “His intentions haven’t changed mama, the only difference is that they are more intense.” she turned to face Dave, “He threatened Izzy too, and I’m not about to risk her life just to see who can play hide and seek better.”

  Dave knew his threat against his daughter, he’d heard it from the horse’s mouth himself. But he wasn’t going to tell Maria, that would only give her a stronger conviction to leave and Ricky would still find her.

  Miguel moved to the door, he opened it, and yelled out in Spanish before he moved to stand next to Maria, “I’ll give you some men to escort you, the rest will track and kill Ricky.” Two men appeared at the door and waited quietly for their next order.

  Maria looked at him, and then at his goons. They did look scary and she was sure they were packing heat under their heavy leather jackets. They could protect them until she knew for sure Ricky was dead, then and only then would she come back.

  “Now that’s a plan!” She said, before she ran up the stairs, her mother hot on her heels.

  Dave looked at him, frustrated, “You are only making things worse by playing his game.”

  “I’m protecting my family the best way I know how.”

  Maria ran to Michael’s room, “Mama, please get Izzy ready.” she opened the door and walked in, “Michael, wake up we are leaving.” her voice died out when she saw the empty ruffled bed, “Michael! Michael!” She yelled, as she frantically searched the room for him.

  Edna went into Michael’s room, “Maria, is Izzy here because she’s not...” she stopped when she saw Maria on her knees checking under the bed, “Please tell me they are both under there.” she asked worriedly, her heart already doing a mile a minute.

  Maria sat down against the bed, her hand fisted over her chest, “He took them mama.” she cried, “he said he was very close to Michael I thought he meant he was outside watching the house... I didn’t think...” a sob caught in her throat choking her.

  Her mind was already going crazy, thinking of all the torture her children were going through, making her chest tighten in pain and anguish.

  Edna knelt down beside her, “Honey, take a deep breath.” she turned her face towards her, “One at a time, slowly.”

  Maria hadn’t noticed she was hyperventilating. She did as she was told, her eyes glued on Edna’s as she coached her, rubbing her back gently as she soothed her.

  Dave and Miguel walked into the room confused by the state Maria was in, “What’s going on?” Dave asked, moving closer to Maria.

  She jumped to her feet and pointed at the empty bed, her eyes shooting daggers at Dave, “There is your eventually!” She yelled at him.

  Dave swallowed the lump lodged in his throat. This was going to be a very long night for him. He didn’t want to ask, he already knew the answer, but he couldn’t help, but hope “Izzy?”

  Edna stood up, “She’s gone too. I’m so sorry Dave.”

  “Maybe.” he choked. He paused and took a deep breath before he went on, Maybe Michael tried to go to the hospital, he did say he would.” He knew he was lying to himself as the words came out. Ricky worked fast, faster than he thought.

  “No, Michael may be a child, but he is mature enough not to leave without telling me, especially if he was going to take Izzy with him.”

  “We’ll find them.” Dave chanted, quietly to himself, “We’ll find them.”

  Maria grabbed and shook him, “By doing what, calling your men who are apparently tracking him down, or are you going to shine a bat signal in the sky with a ‘I’m going to throw you in jail if you don’t bring my kids back’ warning!”

  Dave rushed out and came back to the room after a few minutes, with his laptop. He sat on the bed and opened his laptop.

  Maria looked at him, shocked, “Please tell me you’re not working, now of all times!”

  Dave turned the laptop around and showed them two beeping lights over a road map, “The pendants they got for their birthday have a tracking device in them.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” she was still mad, but a little relieved. She wouldn’t have believed it if it was anyone else, but with Dave, she had learned to expect anything.

  “If I told you that, you would have known there was a reason to know their whereabouts and have them protected at all times.”

  Maria felt like she was going to blow up with rage, “Will you stop that! You keep hiding things from me, in the name of protecting me. If you had told me about Ricky being around, I wouldn’t have ended up in the hospital, if you had told me he wasn’t dead, our kids would still be in their beds sleeping and not with that maniac!”

  Dave put the laptop on the bed and stood up, “I know that, riding me about it isn’t going to change what’s happened.” he stepped away from her, “Miguel lets go get them.”

  “You aren’t going anywhere.” Maria yelled, forcefully turning him around to face him.

  “Why the hell not?” He asked, looking down at the short now very red pixy.

  “If Miguel gets caught he’ll need someone to defend him and Dave you’re the best.” Edna answered, as she tucked herself under Miguel’s arm.

  Miguel pushed her blond bangs back and kissed her forehead, “I can get out of any jam without getting into a court room.”

  “That’s great Miguel, but the reason why Dave isn’t going anywhere is because Ricky will shoot him!” Maria felt her body itch with anxiety. She knew Ricky would do more than just shoot him and it tormented her just thinking about it.

  Come to think of it.” Miguel looked at Dave thoughtfully, “We need the distraction and what would be better than the new man in his mujer life.”

  “Miguel!” Edna exclaimed.

  “Papa!” Maria also exclaimed. She caught herself, shocked by how the title slipped out of her lips. She looked around the room, at the shocked faces and knew they were as shocked as
she was. The stares made her feel uncomfortable, like a spot light was been shone on her.

  “He’s right, Ricky made his feelings very clear when he paid me a visit today. Let’s go.” Dave spoke, as he rushed out the room and down the stair way.

  “You saw him?” Maria felt her heart had stopped beating out of fear, “Dave, wait, this isn’t your thing.” rushing behind him.

  “And what is my thing?” He picked up his keys and pulled on his jacket.

  “Police, judges, court rooms, non-violent ways.” she moved closer to him, “your weapon is not a gun it’s....”

  “His ability to dial 911 on his cell phone.” Miguel said, sarcastically. Edna punched him hard in his shoulder, “What? Real men take matters in their own hands, they don’t hide behind the cops.”

  “Of course, I’ll further prove my manhood by going on the run or probably spend my life behind bars.” Dave spoke, irate, “Come on, we’ve wasted enough time.”

  “Yeah, sure, go ahead get yourself killed.” Maria spoke, annoyed, “Better yet, why don’t we put a bull’s eye on your back and make things easier for Ricky!” Slapping Dave’s back.

  Dave cringed at the blow, then pulled her in front of him, “Maria you are over reacting.” he hugged her tight then placed a light kiss on her lips, “Everything is going to turn out fine and in a few hours we’ll have our children home with us.”

  Maria looked up at him, her eyes full of tears. She could already see it, Ricky killing Dave before he killed the children, or worse yet, he’d make Dave watch him kill the kids before he finally killed him. It’s what he threatened to do to her, why wouldn’t he do it to him?

  Maria turned to her father with pleading eyes, “Papa, take care of him, and don’t let anything happen to him.”

  Miguel felt his heart warm up again when he heard her refer to him as papa. He never thought it would happen, not in this life time. He looked at Dave with amusement, before he turned back to his daughter. The thought of protecting a man like he was a woman, to him was a sign of disrespect to the man. But this was a different life than the one he is used to living. It would also earn him a lot of points taking care of him.