Dark Euphoria

by Ronica Black

  And she wouldn’t be able to stand that. Not by any means.

  She forced a smile. Pursed her lips and blew him an air kiss. He pulled back and his face grew red. She had won. She stepped off the curb and walked quickly to her car. When she reached it and climbed inside, she glanced at him and found him on the phone, hunched over and pacing. Then he raced back inside the emergency room.

  She started the engine and steered toward home. Finley had not stopped her from finding out about Maria. He’d only agitated her more, and now she was convinced to find out what was wrong. Not only that, but she was convinced, now more than ever, to make Maria her own.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Maria awoke to muffled silence. She could hear movement and voices in the distance, but only quiet nearby. She opened her eyes and blinked with panic when the black spot in the center of her vision remained in her left eye. She raised her hand to rub it, but she was connected to wires and tubes. A quick glance at the small white room and monitors next to her told her what she needed to know. She was in the hospital.

  She pushed herself up and felt groggy, but tried to free herself of the tubes and cords regardless. An alarm sounded as she did so, and a woman in scrubs rushed into the room.

  “No, no, no, sweetie, those have to stay on.”

  “No, they don’t. I’m leaving.”

  “No.” She gently eased her back. “You need to stay to see the doctor.”

  “Don’t worry, I can handle her,” Finley said as he entered looking like death warmed over. His normally neat hair was askew and he had a day’s worth of beard on his jaw. His shirt and pants were wrinkled, and she knew he hadn’t been home in a while. He deposited two cups of coffee on the table next to her and then swung the tray toward her. The woman left the room and Finley closed the door behind her.

  “How long?” Maria asked, dreading the answer.

  “Over a day now.”

  “Jesus, Fins, we don’t have time for this.”

  He grabbed his cup of coffee and sat in an uncomfortable looking chair. He slurped. “Doesn’t matter.”

  “Doesn’t matter?”

  “Not right now, no. What matters is you.”

  “What matters is this case.” Her mind reeled trying to make up for the lost time. “How’s the sarge? He still pissed?”

  Finley rubbed his palms on his thighs. “He’s cooled off a bit. He blasted the press for interfering with an investigation. Said they very nearly cost us the case and outed an undercover investigation. That shut everyone up.”

  “He’s a genius.”

  “Yes, he can be.”

  He stared off as if in thought. “Is there a reason why Avery Ashland would be coming to the hospital to check on you?”

  Maria wasn’t sure she heard correctly. “She knows I’m here?”

  “Apparently.”

  “She…came?”

  “Right after you arrived. I caught her outside, trying to come in. She was arguing with old Bobby Luca. Remember that jackass? Quit the force to go private some years back. I’m guessing he now does her dirty work.”

  “She does seem to know things about me. Private things.”

  “Such as?”

  Maria shifted under his gaze. “She knew about a date I had. A few nights ago.”

  “I see.” He grew quiet, but she knew more was coming. “If she had Luca to check on you to find out what was going on…why did she come herself?”

  Maria heated although she had no idea. “I don’t know.”

  “That’s what’s eating me.”

  “Well, I have no answers.”

  “I think you do.”

  She glared at him. “What? Jesus, Finley, I can’t even hardly see you. I have a black blob in the center of my vision, I’m in the hospital though I don’t know why, and now you’re grilling me about the mind and motives of Avery Ashland? Cut me some slack here.”

  “I would if I could trust you.”

  “What the fuck does that mean?”

  “It means I think there’s more going on between the two of you than you’re telling me.”

  She wanted to cross her arms in anger and defiance, but she couldn’t. “Damn it.” She fumbled with the cords again and an alarm went off. She furiously reattached them and it silenced.

  Finley stared down at his coffee. “Did you sleep with her?”

  Maria wanted to yell at him, to argue, to scream, but she saw the hurt and seriousness in his eyes. She said nothing.

  There was a knock at the door, and a woman entered rubbing her hands together with what smelled like hand sanitizer.

  “Hello, I’m Dr. Torres.”

  Maria tried to smile but couldn’t make herself. “I’m Maria, and this is my partner, Detective Silas Finley.”

  “Detective, right, I remember reading that now. So, you are actively on the force then?” She directed the question to Maria.

  “Yes.”

  Finley tried to stand to leave.

  “Don’t. I mean, please stay.” She needed him now. She could sense it. The doctor, though mild mannered and attractive, carried with her bad news. Maria knew it.

  Finley eased back down, and the doctor came to her bedside. “Ms. Diaz. Detective. I’ve got some answers for you.”

  She waited.

  “Your partner told us you’ve been having strange symptoms lately.”

  “Yes. Very strange.”

  She nodded. “I also spoke to your family physician and neurologist, and the information they gave me concurs with what we’ve found.”

  She paused again, and Maria couldn’t hold her gaze. It was too warm, too sincere. She felt pitied.

  “I believe you have multiple sclerosis.”

  Maria took a deep breath. MS. MS. MS. She let out the breath and trembled. She inhaled and pushed out another breath, this one shook. She nodded.

  “Okay. Okay. I can handle this. I can handle this.”

  Finley came to her side and took her hand. She saw the tears welling in his eyes, and she had to look away. She glanced back at the doctor who had the same look of empathy and she couldn’t stand it. There was no safe place to look. She closed her eyes.

  “Do you know what MS is?” the doctor asked.

  “Yes. I, uh, researched it a bit.” It had been one of the diseases to come up in her symptom search.

  “Right now, you’re having a flare-up. So you’re symptomatic. But these should ease as the medication takes hold and does its job. Your vision should return to normal, and the pain and muscle problems should ease as well.”

  “Can I work?” The rest she could look up and read about and deal with later. Right now, she had the case. They had to finish the case. And she had to put Avery Ashland where she belonged. Whether that be prison or tucked away in her mind as a distant memory. Or perhaps…in her bed. She shook the thought away and tears formed just like Finley. Only they weren’t for herself or because of the MS, they were over Ashland and the mess she was in with her. She didn’t know how to think or feel or anything really.

  “At the moment, I would advise against it. But it will ultimately be a decision between you, your doctor, and your employer.”

  “You okay?” Finley squeezed her hand.

  “I don’t know. I don’t know anything right now.”

  “It’s a perfectly normal reaction to have,” the doctor said. “And we’ll send you home with plenty of information. I’d like you to stay another night until we can stabilize your symptoms some more, and then I’ll release you to the care of your neurologist.”

  She smiled softly and left them alone, closing the door behind her. Maria shifted, rubbed her eyes, and then pulled off the cords and slid out her IV. The alarm went off again, and she grew dizzy looking at the bloody IV, but she shook it off and swung her legs over the bed.

  Finley flew up next to her with wild eyes.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Getting out of here.”

  “Didn’t you hear the doctor?
”

  “Yes. She wants my symptoms to get better. Well, they can get better at home.”

  “Maria, Jesus.” He caught her by the elbow as she stood and the same woman in scrubs rushed in and turned off the alarm.

  “What’s going on?”

  Maria didn’t look at her. “I’m going home.”

  “That’s against doctor’s orders.”

  “I don’t care. Send me home with the medicine. I’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll go get the doctor.”

  “Don’t bother. I’m leaving regardless.”

  The woman stopped, started to speak, then changed her mind. She turned on her heel and left the room.

  Maria moved as best she could to the bathroom. Finley brought her her clothes. She dressed very carefully and tried to look at herself in the mirror. But she didn’t like what little she could see. Deep-set eyes, pale complexion, thick hair a mess. She reentered the room and sat on the bed. Finley slid on her shoes.

  “I want you to stay with me,” he said.

  She sighed. “I’m okay, Fins.”

  “Hardly.”

  “I’ll be fine at home.”

  “That’s fine as long as you let me call your mother to let her know what’s going on.”

  He straightened. She pegged him with a look she was sure could start a fire.

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “I would and I have.”

  She closed her eyes. “Finley, what the hell?”

  “They needed to know, Maria. You’re…not well. You’re going to need help. At least for now.”

  She stood without waiting for his help. “Take me home.”

  “Maria—”

  “Don’t even talk to me.”

  “When are you going to let someone help?”

  “When I need it.”

  She heard him sigh, and when he tried to take her elbow, she pulled away. She walked in a slow trance past the woman in scrubs holding paperwork and past the doctor who tried her best to stop her. She stepped out into the sun, squinted, and thought of only one thing.

  Why had Avery Ashland come to check on her?

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Avery watched as Bryce sat on her overstuffed chair and stirred the cream into her coffee. They were on the shaded veranda of Bryce’s elegant home, enjoying the slight cool of early morning. The birds came alive in the surrounding trees, serenading, welcoming the day. But Avery couldn’t enjoy it. Even her rich coffee tasted dull. But still, she hoped it would give her life and will her weary heart to beat.

  She rubbed her forehead and crossed her legs beneath the satin robe Bryce had given her. She’d arrived unannounced the evening before, distraught and anxious. Bryce had taken her in and comforted her. She’d slept in her bed, and when she’d tried to offer herself to Bryce, Bryce had declined, shocking her.

  “How are you feeling?” Bryce asked, curling her bare legs up under her. Her hair was perfectly set, and despite wearing little makeup, she looked stunning. Like the former cover model she was.

  “The same.”

  “I don’t understand. A few weeks ago, none of this would’ve caused you a second thought. Not Hale’s demise, the investigation, and especially the detective. What’s come over you?”

  “I don’t know. If I knew, I could handle it. I wouldn’t be here.”

  Bryce laughed. “I see. Using me to feel better. Sorry I couldn’t come through for you.”

  Avery sipped her coffee. “You know that’s not what I meant. I just feel…lost.”

  “I think the cops are getting to you. You need to keep your mouth shut and let Bruce handle it. And stop the obsession with this detective. It’s ridiculous. And it’s pointless.”

  “That’s just it. I can’t stop. She’s on my mind every waking second.”

  Bryce shifted and frowned. “Are you telling me she’s done what no one else has managed to do?”

  Avery saw the spark of jealousy in her eyes. And yet she’d turned her down last night. Why?

  Avery sipped her coffee and evaded the question. She’d shared her thoughts and problems with Bryce the night before, but she was only willing to go so far. She’d learned long ago, in part thanks to Bryce herself, that some things, the deep things, needed to be kept hidden. For if you shared those, you might as well offer your bare neck to the one welding the knife.

  “Who is the hickey from? You’re obviously not lonely.”

  Avery adjusted her robe which had fallen loose around her breast. She’d hoped it had gone away, but apparently, it hadn’t.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Ha, tell her that. I bet she’s dying to leave you another one.”

  “It was a one-time thing.” She’d called on Samantha Rogue with the hopes of seducing her, conquering her. She’d thought at the time that it would make her feel better in regard to Maria. But when the time came, she’d pushed her away after a brief make out session. She just hadn’t been able to go through with it. She’d only wanted one person, and that was Maria. Still, though, it hadn’t stopped her from warning Samantha to stay away from the detective. Samantha had taken instant offense, realizing that that was why she was there to begin with. She’d promised no such thing and then cursed Avery out as she’d left. Things had not ended on good terms, leaving Avery in an unusual emotional turmoil. She just didn’t understand what was happening to her.

  “Does she know that?”

  “Yes.”

  Bryce laughed. “Oh, maybe you haven’t changed so much after all, Avery.”

  “Maybe I haven’t. Maybe I still act just like you.”

  “Me? Oh, darling, don’t even.”

  The French doors opened, and Bryce’s housekeeper emerged with a tray of muffins. Avery could smell their fresh aroma, and she knew they were banana nut, right out of the oven. The housekeeper busied herself applying butter to one and then handed it to Bryce, who blew on it before taking a small bite.

  “Mm. Glorious. Mimi, you’ve outdone yourself once again.”

  Mimi smiled and turned to Avery. “I remembered how much you liked them, Ms. Ashland. Would you like me to butter yours?”

  Avery leaned forward to take one carefully. “No, thank you, Mimi. You’ve done plenty just by the smell of them.” She peeled down the cover and took a bite. Heaven.

  Mimi seemed pleased and left them to enjoy.

  “She misses me,” Avery said, amused.

  “So it seems.”

  “I think I’m still her favorite.”

  “Probably.”

  “I lasted the longest didn’t I?”

  Bryce stared at her, the corner of her mouth lifting. “You know you did.”

  Avery took another bite and allowed the spices to melt in her mouth. “Why did you turn me down last night? Surely you aren’t seeing someone. Even if you were, it never stopped you in the past.”

  Bryce set down her muffin and rubbed the crumbs from her hands. “You were distraught. I didn’t want to take advantage.”

  “Oh, come on.” Avery wasn’t buying it. Bryce was a woman hell-bent on serving her needs, consequences be damned.

  Bryce stood suddenly and tightened the belt on her robe. “I’m expecting company shortly. I assume you can show yourself out?”

  Avery stopped chewing. “You’re kicking me out?”

  “Of course not. I just have things to do. The day is flying away already. I’m sure you have plans as well.”

  Avery stood and tossed her muffin on the tray. She crossed to her and cupped her face. Then she kissed her hungrily, but Bryce didn’t return it. Avery pulled away, disturbed.

  Bryce stared into her with cold eyes.

  “A person can only want for so long, Avery. You ought to have learned that by now.”

  She turned and left Avery on the veranda.

  * * *

  Avery sat outside the modest house in the quiet neighborhood watching a small group of children run through a sprinkler. They jumped and shrieked and ran through
with their arms open wide, slipping in the wet grass as they stopped to turn. She wanted to smile at their joy, but she realized she’d never had times like that. There was no fun and games with her sister. It was always school studies, dressage, ballet, and business. A game to her father was chess, where he purposely outplayed her from a very young age until her early teens when she began to beat him, causing him to lose the will to play.

  She watched the children a little while longer and then started the car to drive away. But just as she put the car in gear, the front door to the modest house opened and Maria stepped out. Avery gasped at her appearance and the way she struggled to walk. She looked pale and weak, and she was using a cane to carefully maneuver to the mailbox. Avery sank lower in her seat. Maria made it to the mailbox wearing a worn terrycloth robe and slippers. She unlocked her mailbox and retrieved her mail. She dropped a few envelopes and struggled to pick them up. Avery had the urge to jump out and help her, but she remained in her vehicle. What was wrong? She was dying to know. Dying to help. Damn Bobby.

  She watched as Maria made her way back to the door. A lone envelope fell from her stack as she closed the door behind her. Avery waited a few moments to see if she’d return. When she didn’t, Avery crawled from her car and hurried up the walkway. She picked up the letter and read the return address. It was from a neurologist. Quietly, she slid it under the door and retreated. She climbed in her car and sped away, just as the door was reopening.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  She was walking down a dim hallway. Music was playing, thumping. She felt hot, very hot, and her heart was pounding as if she’d been running. She came to a corner and her leg began to tingle. She cursed it, knowing somehow that danger was just beyond. She pulled her weapon and held it in front of her with both hands. Quietly, she eased around the corner, first with her extended weapon, then with her body. She blinked sweat from her eyes and focused. A dark figure was at the end of the hall, its back to her. She called out, but her throat was hoarse. She tried again and again, but nothing came. She kept walking, agonizing step after agonizing step. At last, the figure turned, whipping around in a long black leather coat. She registered the face yet couldn’t place it.