Erica took a deep breath and tried to will the room to stop spinning. Her head pounded viciously and her stomach churned. She was lying on the dusty bed, it helped a little but not enough. She heard the scrape of the lock and forced herself to sit up. She wasn’t going to face her attacker lying down. The door creaked when it opened and Erica felt as if she was trapped in a B movie with bad lighting. She didn’t like slasher flicks anyway she definitely didn’t want to be the helpless victim. She held her breath waiting for the sinister villain to come into view. When her kidnapper finally came into view her breath whooshed out in shock.
“Jade?”
“Surprised?”
“Um, well yes. Frankly I am shocked. You ran me off the road? Kidnapped me? Why?”
“He was mine, he was mine and you took him away.”
“I… Ethan?”
“We were going to be married and you ruined it.”
“Ethan?” She asked again.
“You just couldn’t stay away though could you? You should have stayed in San Diego.”
“Stay away,” Erica muttered, remembering the brick.
“And when you came around it was like I didn’t even exist. He loved me and you lured him away.” Jade’s voice went up a notch, her eyes took on a wild look and she practically screeched, “You little tramp.” The sudden change in the woman’s demeanor made Erica jump. Just as quickly her expression and voice returned to normal. For the first time since her kidnapper had been revealed, Erica was afraid.
“It doesn’t matter. Why should I want a man whose head could be so easily turned? A man who would say such beautiful things to me and then dump me the second you are back in town.” A million questions sprang to Erica’s mind but she refused to voice them. She told herself that the woman was delusional and not to play into her delusion but it wasn’t easy. Instead she tried a different tact.
“I need a doctor.” Jade’s only response was a smile. “How long do you plan to keep me here?”
“Not long, Ethan will come for you.”
“Does he know I am here?”
“Not yet. First he has to pay.”
“A ransom?”
“To begin with.”
“And then what?”
“And then he can watch you die.” Jade laughed. Erica gasped and pain surged sharp and bright through her head. “Or maybe you can watch him die first.” Jade’s voice took on a childlike glee, “I know, you can both die while he tries to save you. Won’t that be romantic?” Jade clapped her hands happily and Erica wondered just what had caused this woman to be so seriously unbalanced.
“I thought… I thought you said you loved him. You were going to marry him. You can’t do that if he’s dead.” Erica’s heart pounded and she blinked back tears. She wasn’t sure it was possible to convince this woman to spare Ethan but she had to try.
“It’s too late for that now. You have tainted him. I needed him to be pure.” Jade pouted.
“Pure?”
“When he dies he will be pure again.” Erica, could not follow the conversation. Either the woman was seriously disturbed or her head injury was worse than she thought. At the moment she really didn’t know which. She did know she needed to escape, the door was still open but Jade was in her path. Jade was slender and about average height. Much smaller than Ethan and she had practiced her self-defense moves on him.
Aware of all of her injuries, she knew she would need the element of surprise, so she launched herself from her position on the bed, attempting to tackle the other woman. Jade bore the brunt of their collision but much to Erica’s shock she remained on her feet. She actually caught Erica against her chest. Erica felt a sharp sting at the back of her arm. When she looked she saw Jade push down the plunger on a hypodermic needle.
“Nighty-nite.” Jade laughed, the room swam before Erica’s eyes and her muscles fell slack.
Chapter 22
“I think I have it.” Jace strode through Ethan’s office door with a printout in hand.
“What?”
“Diane is a rock climber.”
“Okay.”
“She belongs to a climbing club. I called the manager and emailed a picture, he says that she has a climbing partner.” He put the picture on the desk. “Look familiar?”
Ethan looked at the picture, it was of a person on a rock wall, their face wasn’t visible but the position on the wall looked just like the image of the figure climbing up the brick wall on the back of Erica’s apartment. Jace tossed down another photo, it was two women one was Diane and the other a dark haired woman. According to the club her name is Jade Smith. When I put her through the system it popped out her maiden name as Jade Clements.”
“Are they related?”
“Sisters.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, so I did a property search, I got nothing for Jade but Diane has a small rental on the edge of town and there was a house outside of town that apparently belonged to their father. It was just foreclosed on.” Ethan stared at the two addresses then looked at Sean who was still there.
“If I hand this all over to Edgepark PD will they follow up on it?”
“Of course they will but not with the kind of speed you’re looking for. Right now there is nothing at all to connect Diane to Erica’s disappearance except for that text which could mean just about anything. Unless Diane cracks, and she hasn’t yet, we don’t have enough for a search warrant.” Ethan nodded his understanding then he ripped the piece of paper in half and handed one half to Jace. You check out the rental, I’ll check out the foreclosure.”
“Shouldn’t we go together?”
“No time.”
“Ethan you cannot go out there alone.”
“I’m coming with you,” Sean spoke up. Ethan nodded and then met Jace’s eyes.
“All right,” Jace sighed, “I’ll take Darren with me.”
“Call me if you find anything.”
Erica fought to open her eyes but she was so tired, she had never experienced such exhaustion. She could barely make her limbs move. Even her fingers were heavy. She told herself she had to wake up. She had to warn Ethan, or convince Jade to leave him alone. She had to do something. She forced her eyes open. The angle of the light shafts coming through the window were different, she thought she must’ve slept for a few hours but she couldn’t tell what time it was or even if it was the same day. She was thirsty but still too nauseated to be hungry. Her eyes drifted to the door and she jolted with surprise when she realized it was open. She channeled every ounce of willpower into pushing herself up.
At least the sedative had dulled the pain, she was still aware there was pain but it wasn’t so sharp that it kept her from movement. She moved slowly down the hall, leaning heavily on the wall out of necessity. The dirty brown shag carpet muffled her steps. She could smell old cigarette smoke and something flowery. She couldn’t hear anything at all. No voices, no television. It was a little creepy. She tiptoed forward past a bathroom and an empty bedroom. The hallway was long but she could see a door at the end of it. Unfortunately she could see that she was going to have to cross into the open in order to get to the door. There was a window to her left at the end of the hall but it appeared to be an old louvered window that had to be cranked open.
The sound of tires on gravel sped her steps to the window. She looked out and saw Ethan’s truck as it eased up the driveway. She held her breath waiting for the chance to shout a warning to him. He parked and opened the driver’s door, a uniformed police man stepped out the other door. She began to shout but the sound was cut short when someone yanked her backwards from the window and clamped their hand over her mouth.
“Is this right?” Ethan leaned over the steering wheel looking around.
“Yeah look; a fire department address marker, there laying in the grass.” He saw the metal post with numbers on it where Sean was pointing but it was little reassurance.
The property was littered with junk, old cars, a bicycle wit
h a bent front rim. It was overgrown with weeds and grass, and at the end of the drive sat a single wide trailer. Three slightly off kilter wooden steps led to the doorway. He expected to see a dog chained in the yard, it was just that kind of place. But there wasn’t one. It looked deserted, he didn’t even see birds.
“Look!” Ethan looked where Sean pointed and saw a white Ford with a lot of front end damage. His heart rate accelerated and he threw the truck in park. He stepped out pulling his .45 at the same time. Then he heard a shout. It sounded like Erica, like she’d called out to him but then it was gone and there was only the ticking of his cooling engine.
He raised his gun toward the trailer but he knew he had to be careful, he couldn’t shoot if there was a chance he might hit Erica. He kept the truck between him and the trailer while Sean moved to cover in the yard. He was just about to move forward when the door opened.
“That is far enough.” A female voice shouted. “Unless you want me to put this bullet right in her head.” He saw the gun at Erica’s temple and his chest seized. Erica’s form filled most of the door way. The other woman was behind her holding the gun to her head. “Did you bring the money?”
“What money?” Ethan asked before he caught himself.
“The ransom.”
“Oh, yeah of course. I have it right here. You want to come down and get it?”
“Don’t lie to me Ethan! You didn’t know what money.” The woman protested. Something about the way she spoke made him think that she might be just a little slow.
“No, I was just a little confused. I have the ransom. I brought it. So just let Erica go.”
“Oh you’d like that wouldn’t you?” The woman’s voice turned angry. “You want your little tramp back.” Ethan’s grip tightened on his pistol as he leaned across his hood. He didn’t have a shot. Not with the woman hiding behind Erica.
“Don’t you see? She ruined it. She ruined everything. She has to pay! You’ll see, you’ll see once she’s gone, then we can be together again. She won’t distract you anymore.” Ethan’s heartbeat erratically, this woman was not making sense but she clearly believed what she was saying. He knew that Sean had radioed for backup he just had to buy time. He needed to get the gun away from Erica’s head.
“No, you’re wrong. It’s not Erica’s fault. It’s my fault, she didn’t distract me.”
“Then you should pay.” She turned the gun pointing it at him instead.
Erica didn’t hesitate the moment the gun wasn’t pressed to her head she brought her elbow back hard straight into Jade’s stomach. Jade stumbled backward and pulled Erica with her. Erica heard an explosion just before she hit the ground and her world went black again.
Chapter 23
“I need a doctor!” Ethan bellowed, rushing through the automatic doors of the emergency room. A triage nurse rushed forward to meet him and began firing questions at him. Unfortunately, he couldn’t answer any of the questions. He had no idea why Erica was unconscious. Why he couldn’t get her to wake up. Her hair was matted to her head with dried blood, he was having visions of a traumatic brain injury that she would never wake from, and that scared the shit out of him.
Erica was rushed away and he was forced to stay behind. Not knowing what was wrong was bad enough but not knowing and not being able to see her was torture. He paced until Jace finally made him sit. Sean tried to get information but they wouldn’t tell him anything either. They cited privacy regulations until Ethan wanted to scream. When he saw Zoe rush through the doors he realized with a guilty start that he’d forgotten to call her. He looked at Jace and he nodded.
“I called her.”
“Thanks.” He watched her show something to the receptionist then a heated argument ensued. He couldn’t hear what was said, and before he could move closer it was over. The receptionist pointed at a bank of elevators. Zoe happened to glance back over her shoulder before heading that way and caught sight of him. He surged to his feet as she started toward him.
“They have moved her upstairs to the ICU.” Ethan went weak with relief that someone knew something.
“How did you get them to tell you?” He asked, following her to the elevator.
“I have a medical power of attorney.” Zoe was very matter of fact and Ethan found it somewhat reassuring.
The ICU waiting room was nicer than the ER waiting room and even better it was empty. They only had to wait a few minutes before a doctor came out. He approached Zoe but Ethan surged to his feet and met him in the center of the room.
“Is Erica all right?”
“Are you related to Ms. Sanders?”
“I am her b-boyfriend.” His voice hitched on the word and he clenched his teeth to maintain control.
“I am Zoe Wilson, I have a medical power of attorney.”
“All right.” The doctor glanced at Ethan.
“It’s okay doctor, tell us how she is.”
“Ms. Sanders has been given a powerful sedative, I understand the police found a vial at the scene. The good news is it should simply wear off without adverse effects. We’re doing blood work. She has a fractured wrist and a severely sprained ankle. She is at this moment undergoing an MRI to assess her head wound. Bottom line I think she will recover completely." The air whooshed out of his lungs and he began to shake. Jace pushed him down into a chair and he was grateful, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could’ve stood.
“Ms. Sanders, Ms. Sanders?” Erica flinched away from the voice, it wasn’t Ethan’s voice. Wasn’t Ethan here? She remembered his arms around her but now she felt cold and bereft. She forced open her eyes and saw a man with glasses leaning over her. As soon as she opened her eyes he started flashing a light in them making her want to close them.
“I am Dr. Gonzales. Do you know what day it is?” She couldn’t remember but she took a shot.
“Friday?” He didn’t tell her if that was right, he just fired several more questions at her.
“Someone gave me something.” She mumbled; her lips felt numb. “A drug.”
“Do you know what it was?”
“No.” Her eyes were drooping again.
“Don’t worry, we’re going to get you all patched up.”
Erica’s world was fractured, flashes of people, some of them asking her questions, some of them talking around her. Every time she managed to open her eyes she saw something different. Saw someone different. She had no concept of time.
Finally she was able to open her eyes and feel some awareness. She tried to move and found her right hand immobilized in a splint. Judging by the lump on the bed her left leg was splinted or casted. There was an IV running to her left arm. She felt her head and found stitches along the side.
“I wouldn’t let them cut your hair.” Erica looked up and found Zoe in the doorway holding a cup of coffee. “It figures the minute I step away to get some coffee you wake up.”
“Sorry.” She said tiredly. Zoe came close and took her hand in a tight grip.
“I am so glad you are okay.” Erica managed a weak smile.
“Ethan?”
“He is in the waiting room. They wouldn’t let him back. Not a relative and all that. He’s not very happy. He’s about ready to tear the place apart I think.”
“You couldn’t authorize it?”
“I probably could have…”
“Zoe!”
“I just wanted to make sure, ya know?”
“Thanks.” Erica smiled. The doctor walked in before Erica could ask the hundred questions that were invading her mind.
“Ah, Ms. Sanders; glad to see you awake.”
“I’ll just go let Ethan know you are awake.” Zoe excused herself.
“How do you feel?”
“A little like I’ve been asleep for a week but I am still tired.”
“Probably should get used to that.” The Doctor chuckled. “My wife slept through the entire first trimester.” The Doctor kept talking but Erica’s mind stalled on the word.
“Di
d you just say trimester?” The doctor stopped talking and looked at her.
“You didn’t know you were pregnant?”
“I’m pregnant?” Her hand slid down to her abdomen.
“We did blood work before x-rays. One of the things we tested for was pregnancy.” She struggled trying to sit up.
“I’m pregnant?” She said again.
“We did a sonogram. It is still very early; you are only about seven weeks. We were able to hear a good strong heartbeat.” Erica’s mouth dropped open and her eyes filled with tears.
“I’m pregnant.” This time it was more of a sigh as she leaned back against the bed.
“Risk of miscarriage is high in the first trimester, but this little episode doesn’t seem to have harmed the little one.”
“The little one.” Erica whispered a sense of awe leaching through her. Deep inside she felt a warm tingling sensation. She was going to be a mother. The doctor looked at her for moment before awkwardly clearing his throat.
“Of course if it is an unwanted pregnancy, there is still time...”
“No.” She said quickly putting her hand over her abdomen in an unconscious protective gesture. “I want it, him, her.” She stammered. The doctor smiled and she could swear he looked relieved.
“How many children do you have Doctor.”
“Six.” He straightened up proudly and Erica had to smile. Her thoughts flew to Ethan and the elation she had felt a moment before sunk. Would he be upset? Would he want to be in the baby’s life?
“You have several injuries, but I would say, in all you got lucky.” The doctor reclaimed her attention. “Most concerning is that you have a serious concussion. You also have a fractured wrist and a badly sprained ankle. You are going to need to take it real easy for the next few weeks.”
“She’s not going to lift a finger, doc.” Erica looked up and saw Ethan in the doorway. He looked haggard, as if he hadn’t slept in days. The doctor looked at Ethan and then back at Erica as if seeking permission to continue Erica gave a slight nod.
Morning After (A Reynolds Security Novel) Page 20