Dhampir Secrets

by Lewis, Shirlee

  Officer Sean pulled up at the Brown’s home to talk to Max. Don Brown, Max’s father, came outside when the police car pulled up in the driveway.

  “What can I do you for, officer?” Mr. Brown asked.

  “Do you happen to own a Dodge Dakota?” Officer Sean asked.

  “Yes sir, I do. Is there a problem?”

  “No problem. Does your son drive it?”

  “Yes, Max drives it. He uses it to get back and forth to work,” Mr. Brown said, scratching his head. “Has the boy wrecked the truck?”

  “No, he hasn’t wrecked the truck. Is Max here now?”

  “Not home yet from work. I expect him in about an hour. Do you need to talk to him?”

  “Would you mind bringing him to the station when he gets home? Just a few routine questions I need to ask him.”

  “Sure thing, Officer,” Mr. Brown said. “I’ll bring him in as soon as he gets here.”

  Officer Sean got into his patrol car and slowly pulled out into the road looking the house and land over. A barn sat behind the house, empty and run down. Trees lined the back of the barn overgrown with tall grass and weeds. Mr. Brown couldn’t afford the gas to mow back behind the barn so he let it go.

  Officer Sean drove back to the police station to wait for Mr. Brown and Max. Detective Cooke was coming out of the station when Officer Sean pulled up in his parking space.

  “I got the test results back from the rape kit on Jessica,” he told Officer Sean. “I talked to Max Brown and Johnny Cox today,” he said, walking back into the station with Officer Sean. “They both have an alibi, but only Johnny’s checked out. I haven’t had time to check on Max’s alibi yet. I was headed out to do that when you pulled up,” he said, heading to his desk.

  Detective Cooke handed Officer Sean the results of the rape test. Looking it over, Officer Sean smiled. He knew he had Max and now he needed a confession. He thought of Jessica having to endure such a thing. The door opened to the police station. Officer Sean looked up from the paper to see Mr. Brown and Max coming through the door. Taking the test results, he placed them face down on his desk, greeted Max and Mr. Brown then offered them a chair.

  “Max, I’m Officer Sean Lewis. I asked your father to bring you here for a few questions. You are not under arrest and this is solely voluntary. Do you understand?”

  “I understand officer,” Max said, rubbing his hands together.

  “Where were you Saturday night?”

  “I was on a date with (looking at his dad) Megan Pierce.”

  “Boy, you were told to stay away from her. What are you doing seeing her?” Mr. Brown said, angrily.

  “Mr. Brown, I just need to ask him. You can take that up with him at home,” Officer Sean said, calmly. “Now, Max, did you know that Sharon Wilson was attacked and ended up not making it?”

  “No sir, I did not know that,” he said, wringing his hands harder in his lap.

  “Where were you five nights ago?”

  Looking at his dad, he said, “I was with Megan, sir.”

  “Someone saw you Max,” Officer Sean said calmly. “And it wasn’t with Megan was it?”

  “No sir, that wasn’t me. I swear. I was on a date with Megan,” he said nervously with sweat starting to bead on his forehead. “You can ask her.”

  “I need to know one more thing, Max. Where did the television come from you were putting in the storage shed?”

  “What television? We don’t have a storage shed. Max, you better get to explaining yourself and quick, boy,” Mr. Brown said angrily.

  Max hung his head. He knew he was caught, and he wouldn’t be able to talk his way out of it. Tears were starting to form in his eyes.

  “Max is there something you’d like to tell me,” Officer Sean asked quietly.

  “Boy, tell him what you know,” Mr. Brown said.

  Max sat in the chair and started sobbing. He knew he shouldn’t have beaten the women and had sex with Jessica, but his obsession was getting stronger because the small burglaries weren’t enough for him anymore. He wanted more and more to keep up with his drug habit. He was supposed to stay away from Megan, but Megan had been giving him sex until about two weeks ago. She only wanted the drugs and not the sex. He couldn’t talk her into it either. Megan was only fifteen.

  “I did it, I hurt those women. I didn’t mean to. They weren’t supposed to be home. Sharon was supposed to be out of town, and Jessica was supposed to be at work. I need money.

  “What do you need the money for?”

  “Drugs,” he said, hanging his head.

  Mr. Brown jerked Max up by the scruff of his neck. Officer Sean ran around the desk and pulled Mr. Brown off of Max. “Mr. Brown, if that happens again I will arrest you. Sit down, and act human,” Officer Sean said, in a demanding voice. Mr. Brown let go of Max and sat down. Max sat down and put his head in his hands.

  “I am sorry. I needed valuable stuff to help support my drug habit. My job doesn’t pay very well, and Mr. Snowfield cut my hours. I can’t ask my dad for the money. He asks too many questions.”

  “You’re right I ask questions, I’m your father,” Mr. Brown said, huffing. “Under my roof, it’s my rules boy.”

  “Megan doesn’t know about my stealing or beating up of the women. I told her to say I was with her if anybody asked where I was. She said she would because I support her drug habit, too.”

  Officer Sean read Max his Miranda rights then locked him up in the only jail cell the police station had. Max sat down on the hard bed and cried.

  Mr. Brown got up from his chair. “I don’t know what to say. I tried to raise that boy right. Where did I go wrong? Now I have to go home and tell his mother,” he said, looking at Officer Sean.

  There wasn’t anything to say. Mr. Brown left the station to go break the news to his wife. He was regretting having to tell her because it was going to break her heart.

  Detective Cooke watched the interrogation of Max and how calmly Officer Sean handled it. He was proud of him for breaking the case wide open. He put all the results, statements, and evidence on his desk, grabbed an oversized manila envelope, and put everything in it. Reaching into his desk, he took out a stamp “Case Closed,” and stamped the outside of the envelope. Putting the envelope in the filing cabinet, he turned to Officer Sean. He was amazed at him for solving the case. A rookie police officer solved it. Right then and there, he promoted Officer Sean to detective. The town was going to get back to normal thanks to him.

  Chapter Eight

  Doctor Lucas came into the room early, usually showing up around ten, but today he was here around seven. “Jess, you’re looking better. I have some good news. You get to go home today.”

  “That sounds good. When can I go back to work?”

  “Not for at least six to eight weeks, and you’ll be on bed rest until your ribs are completely healed. I’ve spoken to Mr. King, and he has taken care of your shifts until I release you back to work. “I’ll go get the paperwork started,” Doctor Lucas said, and left the room.

  Tony smiled big and got up from the recliner. He had a thought and couldn’t wait to share it.

  “What are you thinking?” I asked him.

  “I was thinking that you could stay at my house until you’re well enough to be at yours.”

  “Tony, I will be perfectly fine at my house.”

  “Complete bed rest,” he said, raising his eyebrow. “That means you won’t be able to get out of bed so I figure you’ll need me to take care of you, and the only way I can do that is if you’re at my house.”

  “I don’t want to put you out.”

  “Put me out! Hardly,” he said, with a smile. “It will be my pleasure to take care of you.”

  “Tony, I—”

  Doctor Lucas came back into the room. “Jess, I forgot to mention one more thing. You won’t be able to stay alone and you’ll need someone to help you get in and out of bed, go to the restroom and most of all getting dressed. Your discharge papers are ready. Michel
le will be in shortly to go over the dos and don’ts.”

  Doctor Lucas left the room, Tony was grinning from ear to ear and I knew from his raised eyebrow I’d be staying at his house so there was no point in arguing with him because I would lose.

  Michelle came in with the discharge papers informing me to take my medications as prescribed and do not get out of bed alone, etc. I had read them a hundred times to my patients, but I laid back and let her do her job. When she finished, I signed on the line.

  “Sir, could you pull your car to the front door please?” she asked, Tony.

  Tony left the room. Michelle went to the hall and brought back a wheelchair and helped me from the bed. Standing up made it hard to breathe so I breathed slowly, which helped ease the pain a little.

  Tony was waiting at the car with the passenger door open. He moved out of the way when Michelle pushed me over to the car. Tony and Michelle helped me into the passenger seat. He got in the driver’s seat, started the car, and headed to his house.

  It was odd sitting in the passenger seat of my car, I’d never sat in it before. Tony pulled up into his driveway, got out of the car and helped me into his house. Stopping in the doorway, I glanced over at my house and remembered the horrible ordeal. I worried how my house looked. I would deal with it when I could, but for now all I wanted to do was lie down.

  Tony gently wrapped his arm around my waist, helping me to the spare bedroom. In the doorway, I smiled. In the middle of the room sat a canopy bed topped with a Santa Fe print bedspread, lace draped down the four poles and across the top. It was beautiful. To the right of the room was a door, the bathroom.

  “Tony, will you untie me please.”

  Tony reached up and untied the hospital gown I had worn home. I let it fall to the floor causing Tony to raise his eyebrow. He didn’t have a clue it was normal for me to sleep this way. I hated the restrictions of bed clothes. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Tony helped get my legs up on the bed. The mattress, so soft, felt like a cloud. Lying back on the bed, I made myself comfortable.

  “I haven’t had time to get the room ready,” he said, pulling the covers over me.

  “Tony its fine and I love this spread,” smoothing my hand over it.

  “Is there anything you need from your house? I could run over real quick and get it.”

  “I can’t think of anything right now,” I said, looking up at him.

  “Okay, I’ll go make you some chicken noodle soup. Be right back.”

  “Tony, I do need something.”

  “What’s that, sweetie?” he asked, stopping in the doorway.

  “I need a television please. The walls aren’t very good entertainment,” I said.

  Tony came over to the side of the bed, leaned down and kissed the top of my head. Reaching out for him, I grabbed his arm stopping him. I needed his lips on mine more than anything right now. He looked at me and smiled then kissed me on my lips before he left the room.

  “Be right back.”

  Tired, I fell asleep. When I woke up, a television sat on the dresser against the wall in front of the bed and the remote was lying on the bed beside me. Turning on the television, I flipped through the channels for something to watch. Nothing good was on, so I turned it off, closed my eyes and saw myself lying in my own bed bound by ropes and Max raping me. Opening my eyes, Tony was standing beside the bed.

  “Jess, you okay?” he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

  “I’m fine. I just can’t wipe the image of Max from my mind.”

  “It will take some time for you to forget. If I could take it all away I would. Try to think of peaceful, nice things, and see if that helps.”

  “Okay, I’ll try,” I said.

  He kissed me on my forehead again, but I wanted his lips on mine. He started to get off the bed when I caught his arm stopping him. “Kiss me,” I said, saying it softly.

  He gave me a small kiss on my lips.

  “He called me horrible names. You were my first and only before…” I couldn’t finish the sentence because I started crying again.

  Tony lay down beside me wrapping his arms around me the best he could. He kissed my cheek and held me until the tears stopped flowing.

  “You’re my first and only too,” he said. “I’m falling in love with you, Jess.”

  I am too, Tony. ” I said, wiping the tears from my eyes.

  “I need to get that soup for you.”

  “I’m not real hungry right now. I just want you to hold me.”

  Tony stayed with me and held me until I fell asleep. If he left I didn’t know. I slept peaceful and dreamed of sailing on the ocean. I woke up to Tony sitting on the edge of the bed. “You need to eat, Jess. You need your strength to help heal faster.” He got up, took the tray he had placed on the dresser and brought it to me. I sat up slowly and drank the broth. I didn’t care too much for the noodles.

  “Tony thanks for everything. Taking me into your home and being so nice. “I’m really happy being here with you.”

  “You’re welcome, it’s my pleasure,” he said. “The first time I saw you; you were coming out of your house and getting into your car. I watched you come and go. I knew then I wanted you, but I was afraid you’d reject me like other people had done in the past. I was at the hospital that night you were standing in the window. I wanted to know everything about you. The first night in the diner when I sat in the booth in front of you, I watched to see how you’d react to me,” he said, looking down at the carpet. “You treated me like a real person.”

  “You are a real person, Tony, with feelings. You’re no different than any other guy in this world.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re much more. You’re kind, soft hearted and thoughtful and I’ve never met a guy like you. All the guys I grew up with had one thing on their minds, and believe me when I say; they had “IT” on their minds badly. Malinda, the waitress at the diner, she found out the hard way. Everybody in town knew, the minute she slept with Marcus Sims. He told everyone exactly how they did it with his chest stuck out proudly. Malinda never dated anyone after that.”

  “You didn’t date before me?” he asked.

  “Nope, I wasn’t interested in any of the guys in town.”

  “I’m a guy in town,” he said, jokingly. “Aren’t you interested in me?”

  “Yes, you are, and I’m more than interested in you. You are definitely no Marcus Sims.

  Tony had waited on me hand and foot never showing any signs of being put out. How could I ever repay him?

  Four weeks into my recovery, I decided to get out of bed without Tony’s help. Slowly edging myself in a sitting position to the edge of the bed, I stood up, took in a deep breath and surprise, my ribs didn’t hurt. Going to my bag Tony had brought from my house, I found my sleeping shirt. Right in the middle of lifting it over my head Tony came around the corner. “What are you doing?” he asked, wrapping his arms around my waist in case I fell.

  “I had to get out of bed and walk around a bit, my ribs feel better,” I said, putting on the shirt.

  “Jess, I think it’s too soon,” he said concerned.

  “Nonsense,” I said, and walked to the living room with Tony on my heels in case I needed his help.

  Stopping at the front door, Tony asked, “Now what are you doing?”

  “Going for some fresh air, care to join me?” I asked stepping out on the porch.

  Taking in a big breath of fresh air felt good and my lungs welcomed it. Looking toward my house it looked lonely and I thought of the little yellow kitten looking for milk.

  Sitting in a chair facing the sun, closing my eyes I concentrated on its warmth lightly touching my skin. The visions of Max completely gone, I smiled. The sun dropping behind the trees told me I needed to go back inside. Standing up, I looked at my house. Finally the ordeal was over.

  Tony followed me to the bedroom, stood in the doorway watching me take off my shirt and get back into bed. “How
are your ribs?” he asked coming to the side of the bed. Pulling the blankets over me, I smiled because it wasn’t the blanket I was wanting. It was Tony.

  “They’re fine and don’t hurt at all,” I said, reaching up and pulling him to me lightly kissing his neck.

  “Jess, sweetie, we need to wait until you’re completely well.”

  “Uh huh,” I moaned going to his lips, then back to his neck.

  Tony squirmed and said, “Careful now.”

  Releasing my lips from his neck I asked, “How does the neck thing work?

  Tony raised an eyebrow, smiled his half-grin and said, “It runs in the family.”

  It didn’t hit me about his comment because I knew when he gently moved his lips across my neck, it never failed to bring me on a passionate mood wanting him.

  Tony sat up and said, “Believe me, Jess I want to, but we need to wait until the doctor releases you. I don’t want to hurt your ribs,” glancing down at me. He slowly covered my nakedness with the blankets. I responded and laid my head on the pillow, pouting. Tony sighed a little too loudly and I giggled.

  The next two weeks recovering at Tony’s I refused to wear my shirt in hopes he’d come to his senses and gave in. But he didn’t.

  “Jess, you don’t have the slightest idea how tempting you are?” he told me as I walked to the kitchen.

  Getting a cup of coffee, I said, “Sure I do.”

  Tony groaned. I smiled.

  “I feel like the diner tonight.”

  After drinking my coffee, I went to my bag and found a dress Tony had packed. It was wrinkled. I put it on and straightened out the wrinkles. My black pumps lying on the floor beside the bag and my travel case sat on the bathroom counter. Tony thought of everything. Looking in the mirror, I had a small scar above my right eyebrow which makeup would cover. Makeup on and hair brushed, I was ready to go.

  Tony insisted he drive. He didn’t feel I should be driving yet. So I got in the passenger side. Tony driving my car was something I could get used to.