“A quiet table, Rodger, and I will be fine, it has been a bad day,” she told him.
“I heard something about that Miss. Since you brought it up, I must say everyone here at Lancers wishes you sympathy and hopes things get better soon,” he told her formally and with feeling. She thanked him.
“That is sweet, Rodger. Please tell everyone thank you and, as of this evening, times are better. How is that?” She asked him with an honest grin. He returned it and led her to her table. She ordered a bottle of wine and hors d’oeuvres. Sipping her wine, she relaxed some more. She found herself thinking of the robbery.
Reginald was going to be fine and Lizzy had promised she would be back to make that purchase from him. The tall man was named Randy Koch and was a starting forward for the National Championship basketball team. She knew she had seen him somewhere. She was not a fan of sports, but did watch the news. Him and his buddy Jack Trainer were the stars of the team. In fact, Jack had shown up just after the cops. He had been there to meet Randy, but had arrived after the robbery. The three had hit it off sitting around the back of the ambulance and they exchanged numbers. She took another sip of the wonderful wine.
The cops had told her to watch herself because the thugs had seemed focused on her. She found that ridiculous. She was not a Kardashian or any other media-craving rich girl. She had never spoke to the press and never would. It was her life and no one else’s.
The stuffed mushrooms and shrimp were amazing as always and she ordered her main course happily. Her injuries were not hurting as much and she was able to just enjoy herself. It was then that she got a surprise.
“From some admirers Miss Storm,” Rodger told her presenting another bottle of wine. She looked to where he gestured and she saw two very tall men. To her surprise she felt a greater happiness and waved them over. Maybe she did need some company tonight. She began getting her feet.
“Now way, you stay down with that leg,” Randy told her. She eased herself back down. Secretly relieved she did not have to stand right then. They sat on either side of her square table. She was amazed they fit with their long legs. Fortunately, even the small table were big at Lancers.
“So Randy filled me in a little bit about what went on during that robbery. You are one tough chick. When we saw you here in the restaurant we wanted to stop by and make sure you were okay,” Jack told her. Randy nodded as Rodger came back with menus.
“We don’t want to intrude,” Randy began. Lizzy chuckled.
“Please, join me. I have decided a little company tonight would be a good thing and it is good to see two also. Really Jack, I am not that tough. I had two things going for me,” she told them. The two men finished ordering dinner.
“What’s that Storm?” Randy asked. She hadn’t heard anyone call her that in years. It was nice.
“First off, I have plenty of practice ducking from my early years and secondly as strong as he was, he really did hit like a girl,” she told them and they all laughed as Rodger poured wine for the two men and refilled her glass. Jack had a great laugh and with his brown curly hair and sparkling brown eyes he was adorable.
“Here is to robbers who hit like a girl!” Jack toasted and she joined them laughing. Dinner came and they ate together and Lizzy had the best time. It had been a long while since she had just cut loose and enjoyed herself. She had to stop Randy from feeling guilty.
“Come on, man, the guy had a 44 magnum to the back of your head. If you had got yourself killed protecting a woman you did not even know, I would have thought, what an idiot!” She told him. Jack laughed and even Randy chuckled a little.
“She is right, Randyman, at least about not being able to do anything. I do think saving this lovely lady would be well worth the time, if you had the opportunity, which you did not.”
Lizzy blushed a little at the compliment, glad she had dressed up for the night. She thought it was funny too that Jack called Randy, Randyman.
They stayed for several hours after dinner, joking, and she heard many tales of life on the road for championship basketball players. Lizzy had a pretty good buzz going and decided regretfully, that she needed to go upstairs. If she stayed through another few glasses she would have a time getting home. She felt she had begun new friendships though and was proud of herself. It was not something she did easily, thus she had few friends. They insisted on seeing her to her condo after Rodger offered someone to see her home.
“We got this Rodger. It is good to know this little lady has people like you looking out for her though,” he told the man. Rodger smiled and bowed slightly before going back to work. Jack made her use him as a crutch and Randy held onto her other arm.
“Look, Storm, we are basketball players and know something of knee injuries. You may not feel it now, but if you don’t take it easy you could end up with more damage that you started with,” Randy told her, seconded by Jack.
“Okay guys, I promise to take it easy tomorrow. I actually don’t have any appointments until Thursday so that will be two days, how is that?” She asked cheerfully.
“That is good. Just take it easy okay? You didn’t deserve what you got so we want to make sure you are going to be good,” Randy said. Lizzy was touched and had a thought.
“You two didn’t run into me by accident did you?” Jack pretended ignorance but Randy grinned.
“Partly accident. You had mentioned were you lived and I knew they had a good restaurant downstairs. I did not really expect to see you here but when we did we figured, might as well say hello,” he explained. They stepped into the elevator and she pressed her floor button. She was two floors down from the top.
“I want to thank you guys. I was just planning on a nice meal and that was it. You made it much more fun and it is appreciated after today, so thank you. It is nice to make some friends,” she told them honestly. She got a hug from both of them and then they were on her floor. They helped her hobble to her door.
“Would you guys like to come in for a night cap?” She asked. Trying to be polite. They both looked tempted.
But Jack said, “Ah shit. We both have the final team meeting’s starting tomorrow, before the off season starts for real on Friday. We probably shouldn’t be too trashed when we show up.”
“Yeah, having a good reputation sucks sometime. Can we get a rain check, Storm? Maybe Friday night, we can try out the bar downstairs. Rodger was obviously pushing it,” Randy asked. Jack liked the idea too. That made three of them. Maybe it was the wine’s influence but Lizzy tugged them both down lower so she could give them each a kiss.
“Thanks again. I’ll get in touch on a good time for Friday, kay?” She said. They nodded and hugged her and she went into her apartment. It was not long before she was laying down on her bed and quickly fell into a deep slumber. When she awoke she was sore, but glad for the previous evening. She felt like her life was finally starting anew, despite the injuries.
*****
Lizzy spent the next two days puttering around the house and sleeping a lot. Her knee was not losing the dull constant ache and that bothered her. She went to dinner Wednesday night just to get out of the house though. It was wonderful as always and Rodger was as flattering as usual. Come Thursday she was ready to go out for the day, despite her knee.
Lizzy went to the doctor and he chastised her for being on her feet too much and gave her the number for a massage therapist who would work wonders, if she let her. He also gave her some directions for exercises to strengthen the injured part of her knee. The cuts on her arm were healing nicely and probably wouldn’t even scar so that was the good news of the visit. Then she dropped by her lawyer George Manster’s office for some paperwork she needed for her next appointment. When his legal aid, Donna, let Lizzy in to see him, he chastised her for being on her feet to much and informed her no progress had been made in finding the thieves yet. The police were watching pawn shops that might take stolen goods.
“Oh by the way, I haven’t heard anything from your parents so that is good news
. Maybe they just accepted it and are going to let you be,” he said. She truly hoped that was the case. Lizzy said her goodbyes and promised to be off of her feet more. She figured when she got home she would be able to rest a full day before her date with the basketball players.
She arrived at Wonders Woman’s Shelter on her crutches. It was taking a while for her to get used to using them. It had been since she was a child that she had an injury bad enough to need crutches. She noticed as she approached the door, after the cab let her out that her reflection showed her how her use of the crutches caused her large breasts to push up and together in the red turtleneck. No wonder guys had been giving her more than the usual once over. Once through the door the woman who ran the place saw her crutches and hurried over.
“Good Lord, Miss Storm, you could have postponed if you are injured,” she said, helping her to a chair in the office.
“I will be fine Mrs. Kale, thank you though. I felt this was important and you are my last stop for the day. Then I will be going home,” Lizzy promised the woman. Mrs. Kale was a shorter stout blond in a simple blue dress over a white t-shirt.
“Call me Martha, please,” she requested.
“Okay Martha, if you will call me Lizzy,’ she returned with a smile.
“It is a deal Lizzy,” Martha told her returning the grin.
The meeting went great for all concerned. Lizzy was donating a sizable amount of money to the shelter that did so much for battered woman. Lizzy felt like she should give back. Even though her own good fortune came with a hefty price tag of abusive parents, she still had more than most woman ever would and she was glad she could do something.
“Are you sure Lizzy? This is a lot of money,” Martha asked a little nervously.
“I am sure Martha. Will it help keep the lights on and the rent paid?” she asked.
“For most of the year, to be sure,” Martha said nodding.
“Good, then it is worth it. I also wanted to offer my services around here. When my knee is better of course, but I would like to make myself useful in other ways if I may. I can wield a broom like a badass,” she told her and that got her laughing.
“I will keep that in mind Lizzy. We always accept any help people are willing to give,” she was told.
As Lizzy was walked out by Martha she saw several of the residents and they all tended to look down and not make eye contact. Lizzy remembered growing up that way and she felt for them. A little grey haired lady approached though with more confidence than the others.
“Are you the young lady who is helping us out?” The woman asked.
“I am doing what I can. My name is Lizzy Storm,” she told her.
“I am Tracy Gentry. Thank you so much, Lizzy. The longer we stay open the better it is for many women. This place saved me so I wanted to say thank you,” Lizzy’s eyes moistened at her words.
“You are very welcome. I am glad I am in a position to help,” she responded. The older woman met her eyes and saw Lizzy’s emotion.
“You have experience with this sort of thing?” Tracy asked her, holding her eyes while gesturing to the other women around. Lizzy hesitated, but knew how tight secrecy was to these women. She knew it was safe to talk.
“Yes, I do, Tracy. My parents thought violence and insults were a good way to raise me. It didn’t work.” She said and found her voice had gone softer. Tracy took her hand.
“Yet you found your way through it. Bless you, dear. Would you maybe want to come to one of our meetings and speak, if it is ok with Martha that is? We get young women in here who don’t think it is possible and seeing another young one who is surviving, well that could make a difference,” she said. Martha agreed to come the next week, honored that she would be asked. Then Martha helped her out to the street.
“Sorry about that. Tracy was right however, it would be good for some of our ladies to be exposed to someone who got out,” Lizzy was pleased about that and said her goodbyes. Promising to be back the next week for their meeting.
As a cab pulled up Martha went back inside and as she crutched her way to the side of the vehicle she heard a shout and saw the cab driver pointing wildly. She started to turn and a crutch was kicked out from under her. She pivoted on her good leg and swung her other crutch with her full weight and momentum. It hit a man with a loud crack and a cry. She dropped the crutch as it sent a shock up her arm. Then her purse was yanked from over her shoulder. It spun her around the other way and she reflexively used her bad leg to support herself as her shoulder was wrenched. Her purse strap snapped and she fell forward toward the cab. She caught herself on the side of the car, grabbing the mirror. The driver was out of the vehicle and chasing the thugs down the street as her leg gave out. Her full weight on the mirror was too much.The mirror broke off. She fell onto her side with a gasp. Her leg throbbed. Not to mentioned a throbbing shoulder now too. Again! She thought angrily.
********
Lizzy spent some more time in the emergency room with cops while she was given the once over. Her knee had endured further tearing and bruising from hitting the cement but her shoulder was, thankfully, only a minor problem.
She had promised the cab driver she would pay for his mirror but the thief had run off with her money. She was highly annoyed now because she had to cancel her credit cards. The cab driver was a big black man named Clive who told her not to worry about it. He was pissed off that he had not caught the thieves. He was an extremely nice man and she made sure to get the cab number and company so she could find him to pay him. As she was finished dressing after she had been poked and prodded by the doctor, a detective came in. Her name was Kate Linton and she had met her on her last trip to the hospital.
“Hello Elizabeth. I have been assigned this case along with your other one. Here let me help you with that,” she said as Lizzy was trying to get her shoe on. She helped and then stood back.
“Thank you, detective. I appreciate the help. Do you think there is any chance of me getting my purse back, or more properly the stuff inside? Fortunately, my phone was in my back pocket and didn’t break when I fell, but my wallet and cards were in there. Not to mention several hundred dollars,” she told her. The answer was what was expected.
“Honestly it is going to be tough to find that stuff. At least the cash. The rest might be dumped in some trash can somewhere though. Did you cancel your cards?” Lizzy nodded.
“Good. I had a question I want to you to think about if you would. Who do you know who would want to hurt you? Because being involved in three robberies in one week is a bit much even for New York,” she said. Lizzy began shaking her head and then stopped.
“Wait a minute, three robberies?” She asked, confused.
“That is why I am here Miss Storm. We had a call your home has been broken into. That is why I came here. I will give you a ride over,” she said. Lizzy cursed and struggled to her feet. In the ride over she remembered something from the first robbery.
“Shit, shit! I am an idiot Detective. I just remembered something from the jewelry robbery. Damn!” She finished angry at herself and horrified where her thoughts were leading.
“What, tell me,” the detective said.
“My parents are especially angry with me. I managed to find a way to keep my trust fund and move away at the same time. Between you and me they have been abusive my whole life so it has been a relief. Now I am wondering if they are behind this,” she said. Her voice shook a little as she said it. It was amazing that her parents could reach out from the mid-west and still hurt here.
“Your parents, why?” was her reasonable question.
“I spoke to my Mom at the beginning of the week. I informed her about the no contact order I had sent to her, and the restraining order. They were not happy about it and I also told her I was recording the conversation. At the time it did not seem to bother her, but maybe Dad decided it was a risky thing to leave hanging out there. Especially since I think they were behind the attacks on me. It would be right up the
ir alley to try and scare me into running home. Not that I would, but still,” she said angrily and frightened now. Not only could they hurt her from a distance but they could still frighten her. Damn them!
“What happened at the jewelry story Lizzy?” the Detective asked quietly as they pulled up to her building.
“The guy beating on me had a North Kansas accent. It happens that is where I am from and my parents still live. I knew they would never leave Kansas, so I thought that made me safe. But they sent someone, the guy at the store yelled that I needed to learn how to keep my place. I thought at the time it was because I was trying to help Reginald, the store owner. Now though, I am sure it was something my Dad told him. It is something my Dad used to say to me just before he got violent,” she told her. The woman snarled disgustedly.
“Okay, it does kind of fit. You can’t think of anyone else who might be angry with you?”
Lizzy shook her head.
“We will find who is doing this Lizzy, trust me. I have a reputation to uphold and someone organizing multiple assaults on a woman is not a case I am going to fail!” She said determined. Lizzy could feel her determination and confidence and it made her feel better. Detective Linton helped her out of the car and walked with her into the building and to the elevator.
“You will need to let us know if anything is stolen,” she was told.
When Lizzy entered her home she was furious and even more scared. The place was trashed. Her wonderful home, her first after leaving her parents’ house. She felt violated and was absolutely positive her folks had something to do with everything happening to her. She felt herself begging to tremble and Katy took her arm.
“Here sit down for a minute,” she said leading her to one of her chairs so she could sit.
“It is just, just that I thought I had everything finally settled and I could live my life. I loved this place,” she said in a quavering voice. She lowered her head and hugged herself quietly rocking herself forward and back, trying not to cry. It didn’t work. She did not see that Detective Linton was herding everyone out. Finally, she wiped her eyes and looked up, surprised that only the detective remained. She was sitting in the chair next to hers. She handed her a glass of water and she drank it gratefully.
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