Lillian's Love

by Laura Marie Henion

The second he entered the kitchen, he could tell by their facial expressions that something was wrong.

  "What's going on, where's Lilly?” he asked, his voice sounding tired, drained.

  "There's been a change of plans, son. Lilly is staying here again tonight. She's meeting some friend of hers tomorrow about security."

  "What security? What are you talking about? I'm her security. The police department and the sheriff's department are."

  "She's scared son, but mostly, she's concerned about you and your safety. She's pushing you away. She doesn't want you involved."

  "Where is she now?” At this point, Michael felt the heat reach his cheeks. He was ready to shake some sense into Lilly.

  "I think you should calm down a bit before you try to talk things out,” Aunt June added.

  "Where is she?” Michael demanded to know. When they didn't answer, he went searching upstairs.

  "Calm your temper, son.” Uncle Phil yelled after him as Michael headed toward the living room, then up the staircase.

  * * * *

  Lillian sat on the bed, writing out her schedule for the week. She figured if she were to get someone to protect her, they would want an exact daily routine to plan her protection better. She jumped as the bedroom door swung open.

  Michael came barging in.

  He appeared angry, red in the face. She could see the exhaustion as well as the anger. She caused both, but he would have to understand.

  "What's this stupid idea you have about hiring your own personal security?” Michael yelled in a raspy, tired voice, with one hand resting on his hip next to his firearm and the other waving in the air.

  "I'm not sure what I'm doing yet, Michael. I'm meeting a friend tomorrow to discuss options."

  "No, you're not!” Michael snapped.

  Lillian got up off the bed to stand by the dresser. He slammed the door closed.

  "You can't tell me what to do. You can't control me,” she told him. It was exactly how she wanted things to play out. She would blame him for trying to control her, command her every move. He knew she feared that.

  "I can tell you what to do, because I know what's best for you. Now is not the time to start going solo, Lillian. I'm your personal bodyguard from now on. You won't make a move without my, okay.” He pointed at her.

  Lillian stood her ground. She wanted Michael safe, end of story.

  "No!” She turned her back to him.

  An instant later, she felt Michael abruptly turning her around by her shoulders.

  "What's gotten into you? Why are you pushing me away? I want to help you, I want to protect you. Can't you see that? Martin wants you. He's been watching you, stalking you. Bringing some outsider into this right now is not going to help."

  Lillian stared up at Michael as he held her shoulders tight. She had to do everything she could to not cry or embrace him or allow him to console her. She needed him to be angry with her so she could protect him.

  "I'm meeting Brian Gillson tomorrow for lunch. He wants to help. He knows a lot of people. I made my decision. There's nothing you can say to change my mind."

  Michael looked deep in thought for a second.

  "Brian Gillson? You mean that guy whispering in your ear at the premier, the one who couldn't keep his hands off of you? Of course he wants to help you, he wants to—"

  "Don't even say it, Michael. You need to leave. I'm tired. This conversation is over.” Lillian walked toward the bedroom door, opening it.

  He stopped in front of her. She couldn't help but wonder if Michael knew what she was doing.

  "Fine, you want it this way, you got it!” He left the room. She could hear him stomping down the stairs as she closed the bedroom door. Lillian began to cry.

  * * * *

  Michael went downstairs where he met his uncle in the kitchen.

  "I want you to call me the second you find out where she's meeting this guy."

  "No problem, son. Who is this guy, anyway?"

  "Someone she can't trust. Make sure you send a patrol officer with her."

  "What about you?"

  "I'll be there as well, without her knowing. Don't say a word to her.” Michael left the house.

  * * * *

  The following afternoon Michael sat in an unmarked patrol car across the street from the restaurant. Lillian arrived with a patrol officer to meet Brian Gillson inside.

  Michael watched as Gillson approached Lillian, gave her a kiss on the cheek, then a hug. She hadn't seemed to notice Michael's presence, nor the fact Brian let his hand gently glide across her ass. Michael had a clear, vivid view with the binoculars. He caught the slick move lots of guys used. It became obvious to Michael that Lillian hadn't had a clue what Brian's true intentions were.

  * * * *

  "I'm so glad to see you, I've been worried sick since your call yesterday. Come sit down,” Brian told her leading her to a small table in the corner of the restaurant.

  They spoke casually a few minutes while they ordered lunch, discussing the security company as they waited for their food to arrive. Brian moved closer to Lillian. She wondered if this were such a good idea after all. Brian liked her, but she knew it was more of a physical attraction. She tried to be polite as she nonchalantly moved her chair away from him.

  "So I spoke with someone this morning about personal protection. Basically, there are various types of packages, let's say. It depends on how often you want them around, what their responsibilities are, how dangerous the situation is.” Brian paused to take a sip of his soda.

  "Packages, huh? I'm not sure what to do. I guess I would be safe with the regular police around while I'm in the store. It's always pretty crowded. Maybe when I have to go out or when the evening comes, I'll have to improve my current security system, this guy got past the current one I really don't know what to do. Maybe this isn't such a great idea,” Lillian said as she brought her hand to her forehead in frustration.

  Brian placed his hand over her other hand, then leaned forward.

  "I could stay with you if that would help. Or, you could stay at my place. I have a good security system, top of the line, a guard at the gate. There are sensors around the property walls.” Brian stopped.

  Lillian smiled as Brian apologized.

  "I don't think any of that would work, Brian. I couldn't ask you to put yourself out like that. Besides the fact that things aren't exactly that bad,” she lied.

  Their food arrived and they spoke more about the security.

  "What about a security guard for day and night? Then you could at least sleep better, knowing you and your employees are safe? A private security company is going to provide better protection than just a patrol officer. These guards even carry weapons and receive intense training. Most of them are retired cops,” Brian added before he took a bite of his cheeseburger.

  "There's a good possibility it might actually work. Aside from the fact that armed guards in a small bookstore in Stony Point would surely hurt business."

  Brian smiled. “I suppose that would damper sales a bit."

  "Excuse me, miss.” A young man approached the table carrying a two-way radio.

  Lillian looked up at the young man. He couldn't have been more than sixteen.

  He handed Lillian the radio.

  "Some man asked me to give this to you. He said to lower the volume, then turn it on to listen.” Lillian looked around the restaurant, instantly worried.

  "He also said to leave this. Keep it on the floor,” The kid added as he placed the large brown shopping bag on the ground.

  * * * *

  Michael watched the scene unfold from across the street just as the patrol officer came closer to the table.

  As the young man left the restaurant, Michael had another officer grab him.

  Michael watched as Lillian did something to the radio.

  * * * *

  She heard the static, then the words “I know your every move!"

  Lillian heard a ringing. Suddenly, there was
a small explosion. Everyone in the restaurant screamed, especially Lillian, as the bag on the floor beside her exploded, instantly filling the room with smoke.

  The impact sent Lillian off the chair. She hit her head on the wall. Brian covered himself as others stared in shock.

  * * * *

  The patrol officer jumped backward onto the floor. People were running out of the restaurant as the smoke thickened. The fire alarms blared. Across the street, Michael called for assistance. He had to get to Lillian. He prayed she wasn't injured. No one seemed to have any idea what had happened.

  People were pushing through the exit doors while Michael attempted to get in. The seconds felt more like minutes as he finally pushed his way through, coughing at the smoke.

  He could see Lillian lying on the floor. Brian sat wide-eyed in shock.

  "You grab him. I'll get Miss Baxter. I think it was only a smoke bomb,” Michael yelled to the patrol officer as he pulled Lillian into his arms. Blood oozed from her temple. She was coughing from inhaling the smoke. Michael could hear the sirens in the distance. The firehouse was only a few blocks away. Some off-duty volunteer firemen entered the restaurant helping others out.

  Michael brought Lillian across the street to the safety of his car just as Jimmy arrived on the scene.

  Lillian sat speechless. She couldn't talk. Obviously, she was scared out of her mind.

  "Lilly, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” Michael asked as Jimmy opened the first aid kit, placing some bandages over the cut on her forehead.

  Lillian stared into Michael's eyes. It appeared she was in shock as her body began to shake.

  One of the firemen came over along with a paramedic.

  "Let us take a look at her, Detective. She may need to go to the hospital,” they told him.

  Lillian's eyes rolled back revealing the white of her eyes as she passed out in the backseat of the car.

  * * * *

  "What the hell happened?” Uncle Phil asked as he met Michael in the emergency room at the hospital.

  Michael paced across the room consumed with worry. Why did Lillian have to be so damn stubborn? How the hell did Martin get away with this? What if something happened to her in there? He couldn't even get to her in time.

  She looked so incredibly frightened and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. That Brian guy covered his own ass, never even seemed worried about Lillian.

  "Lillian was at the restaurant with Brian Gillson. Some kid delivered a package along with a two-way radio. Apparently, a voice came over the radio saying ‘I know your every move.” There was a ringing sound right before the package exploded. So far, it appears to have been one of those shock bombs like the SWAT teams use in surprise attacks. Michael said the place lit up in white, there was a loud sound, then smoke everywhere. He couldn't get to her fast enough. He's freaking out right now,” Jimmy told Uncle Phil. Miller and Jacks were on their way down the hallway.

  "Is she hurt?” Uncle Phil asked.

  "She passed out. The paramedics said she went into shock, banged her head up a bit, but they said she's doing better. They'll probably release her after the doctor checks her out.

  "I was afraid something like this might happen. Anyone else injured?"

  "No, just Lillian. She sat right next to the bag. He planned it that way. You know this is going to do a number on Lillian's head,” Jimmy added before glancing toward the ER entrance. Miller and Jacks immediately joined the conversation.

  "She's going to have to stay with Michael. There's no other choice,” Jimmy told them.

  "Maybe this was enough to make her see that. Her reasons for meeting Brian today were to keep Michael out of the picture,” Uncle Phil stated.

  "Why would she want to do that?” Jacks asked.

  "Martin threatened to kill Michael if Lillian didn't stay away from him,” Uncle Phil told them.

  * * * *

  "Detective Fields, you can go in to see her. Here are some sedatives to help keep her relaxed. She'll need them. Make sure she rests. She may feel a bit of a headache from the injury, but otherwise she'll be fine,” the doctor told Michael. He headed in to see her.

  Michael opened the curtain as Lillian attempted to get her shoes on. He quickly grabbed her before she lost her balance.

  * * * *

  Lillian felt dizzy, everything appeared hazy as if it were in a fog.

  "Let me help you with that,” Michael said as Lillian looked up at him with a blank face. Her ears hurt. Although Michael was talking to her in a normal tone, she only heard it as a whisper.

  She squinted her eyes. “What did you say!” she asked a little too loud. Michael repeated himself, telling her she was yelling. She couldn't think straight anyway, so she decided to stay quiet.

  She hadn't spoken a word to anyone as Michael led her out of the emergency room.

  She did everything she could to not cry in front of Uncle Phil, Jimmy, Jacks, and Miller. Thankful none of them pushed for a response from her, she stood silent.

  Uncle Phil embraced her. The others did the same, one by one, offering consoling words, telling her they were doing their best to find Martin. Lillian forced a small smile just as one tear escaped her eye. She tried to wipe it away before anyone noticed, but she wasn't successful.

  Michael held her around the waist, practically supporting all her weight as they waited for Jimmy to bring Michael's car to the back entrance. They were talking on their two-way radios. Everyone remained on the look out for Martin. Lillian felt as if she were in some kind of secret service movie, except she appeared to be the hunted.

  The exhaustion set in. She couldn't sit up straight, so she opted to lay down in the backseat of Michael's car. She closed her eyes as Michael drove out of the back parking lot.

  * * * *

  Lillian woke up in the middle of the night coughing, gasping for air as she held her ears with her hands. Everything echoed. Michael turned on the bedside table light.

  Lillian pulled away from him still half asleep as she tried to get her bearings.

  "It's all right, Lilly, you're safe. You're at my place. Everything is going to be all right.” Lillian slowly calmed herself down.

  She laid her head back down on the pillow, covered her face with her hands. Crying, Michael laid his leg and hip across her, covering her body with his own. Lillian wrapped her arms around Michael's neck, then continued to cry.

  "I'm sorry, Michael. It's all my fault ... someone could have been hurt or killed because of me."

  "Don't cry, Lilly. It's not your fault. This whole situation is crazy. I know you're worried about my safety, but that all ends right now. You are under my protection from this moment on. No stubborn thoughts, you got it.” Lillian whispered ‘yes’ still holding onto Michael.

  Lillian fell back to sleep. Michael held her in his arms through the night

  * * * *

  Michael got out of bed, then got dressed before heading downstairs and waited for Jimmy to arrive.

  Five minutes later, Jimmy was at his front door.

  "So how is Lillian?” he asked.

  "She's still sleeping. She only woke up once last night gasping for air, coughing. She feels terrible for what happened, blames herself."

  "That's only natural for her to feel that way. That's what Martin wants her to think. She was probably reliving everything when she woke up coughing."

  "Probably. I'm just glad she's here with me."

  "When you can't be with her, we'll have to make her stay here with patrol cars out front. This would be the safest place for her."

  "I know that. Do you want a cup of coffee?” Michael asked as they went into the kitchen. Jimmy accepted the cup. He sat down by the island on a wooden stool.

  "So what did you get out of the kid? A description, anything?” Michael asked.

  "Not much, except he made a hundred bucks. Martin was obviously wearing some sort of disguise. The kid said the guy had a beard, salt and pepper hair, wore sunglasses. He recalle
d the guy wearing dress pants with a blue button down shirt. No tattoos or distinguishing marks, but the kid said the guy was in good shape."

  "How could he tell?"

  "The kid's exact words were ‘He was pretty buff for an old man.’ That's what he said."

  "That had to be Martin. Have you guys got any calls asking about Lillian?"

  "No. We planted the story about some kids setting off a smoke bomb. The media ate it up. Luckily, no one in the restaurant noticed Lillian, the radio, or the package. The kid was warned that if he opened his mouth to anyone, he would be facing charges, sent to prison for interfering in a police investigation. I told him he could have gotten someone killed, still could if he were to talk. Jacks had a good time scaring the kid, as well. There is no way he's telling anyone,” Jimmy stated with confidence. Michael laughed.

  "Well I'm going to try to keep Lillian here today. It was a good idea to close the bookstore, but she may give me a hard time. Try to keep me up to date with any new information."

  "No problem, Mike,” Jimmy said as he patted him on the back.

  "Did you eat breakfast yet?"

  "With Carla this morning."

  "You stayed at her place, huh?"

  "Yeah, she's worried about the both of you."

  "I'm sure she is. Maybe I'll call her, see if she can come by here to see Lillian. That might keep Lillian here for the day."

  "I doubt that,” Lillian said as she entered the kitchen. She appeared showered, her hair still damp. She had dressed, looking like she wanted to leave for work.

  "Morning, Lilly, how do you feel?” Jimmy asked as he kissed her on the cheek hello.

  "Pretty good considering I have a constant humming in my ears. What are you two talking about?"

  "Not much, just how we're both working right from here today,” Michael stated as he began to make some scrambled eggs for breakfast.

  "I'm not working from here today. I never made it back to work yesterday, I can't not go in today,” Lillian insisted. Jimmy took Lillian's tone as a good sign to leave.

  "I'll let you two work this out. Give me a call. Let me know how the day is going. I'll see ya, Lillian.” Jimmy left the house.

  Lillian stood silently next to the counter with her back facing Michael. He asked her if she wanted some eggs. She nodded yes, she was starving.