by Lyn Gardner
A sliver of a smile appeared on Kate’s face as she walked to the car. With Frank’s Mustang in the shop and his machismo preventing him from being seen in Kate’s sub-compact, today they’d been driving around town in a standard-issue police vehicle. The BMW was a few years old, but it was clean. It didn’t smell of cigarettes, and brightly checkered in yellow and blue, it could easily be spotted by naïve drivers who actually believed all police officers practiced what they preached.
Kate got into the car, slammed the door, and fastened her seat belt. She tugged at the restraint, and tightening its grip on her body, she waited for the inevitable. Frank started the engine, and with a jerk, they were off, the sounds of screeching tires behind them signaling Frank’s chronic disregard for everyone else on the road, no matter what car he was driving.
As usual, Frank drove at lightning speed through the streets of London, weaving in and out of traffic and laughing under his breath each time he forced another vehicle to slow or swerve. Unconsciously, Kate yanked her seatbelt tighter as they narrowly missed yet another parked car, but it wasn’t until a pedestrian walking too slowly to meet Frank’s standard had to dart out of the way when Kate had reached her limit for the day. “Could you please, for the love of God, just slow down? There’s too much traffic to drive like this. You’re going to get someone killed.”
“Christ, do you ever not whine?” Frank said, glancing at Kate. “You have been on my bloody back for months about my driving, and we’re both still here, aren’t we? So, do us both a favor, Kate, and just shut the fuck up about it already. All right?”
Kate wanted to unleash on Frank, let loose all the rage that had been building inside of her, but most of it didn’t belong to him. Most of it belonged to Kate, and it had gnawed at her for months, so she bit her tongue. The less she talked, the more Kate prayed Frank would keep his eyes on the road. After all, the traffic was bad, and eventually, he’d have to slow down. No sooner had the thought crossed Kate’s mind when she felt the BMW lurch forward.
“Son-of-a-bitch!” Frank snarled, slamming on the brakes to avoid a dark blue sedan that had pulled out of a side street. A moment later, he flipped the switch controlling the blue warning lights and gave chase.
“Frank, what in the hell are you doing?”
“He ran a stop sign, love. Didn’t you see him?”
“You’ve run at least four of them today, Frank. Just call the plate into the traffic unit, and let’s get back to the station. Shall we?”
Frank’s lips twisted into a sneer. “Not on your life, Kate. That lad broke the law, and I’m going to make sure he knows it,” he said, pressing the accelerator to the floor.
Kate watched as the speedometer began to climb, and as each hash mark came and went, the moisture in her mouth evaporated. “Frank, please, you need to slow down. This is crazy.”
“Sorry, love, but that bloke’s speeding,” Frank said as he maneuvered the BMW across two lanes of traffic before returning to the first. “And I gotta catch him.”
Kate looked up the road. They were approaching a busy intersection, and relaxing just a bit, Kate put her hand on the dash, preparing for when Frank would step on the brakes, but as they neared the junction, Kate stiffened. They weren’t slowing down. They were going even faster.
“Frank, what in the hell are you doing,” Kate yelled. “The light’s red for God’s sake. You have to stop!”
“I have no intention of stopping, Kate,” Frank said as an arrogant smirk smeared its way across his face. “Don’t you know? It’s called going on red.”
It was like a dream. A slow-motion kaleidoscopic minute of Kate’s life filled with snippets of reality and sounds of terror. The front wheels of the BMW crossed the point of no return, and she heard the screech of tires, the crunch of metal, and the shrieks of fear. A horn blared and then another, and then the world spiraled out of control. They were hit in the side, the force spinning the car once, twice, and then Kate lost count. Her head hit the passenger window, but before the pain could register, she was being pushed back in the other direction, and suddenly, there was another scream. It was Kate’s.
Brick, red and mortared, seemed to be chasing them, or was it the other way around, and then there was a force so strong it drove the air from her lungs. A deafening explosion followed, and for a split-second, Kate couldn’t breathe…and then the world went black.
Chapter Thirty
Kate sat on the bed with her feet dangling over the side, staring at her torn nylons, bloodied legs, and the splotches of black and blue that had already begun to form. She drew in a breath, wincing as her lungs and chest announced their location, and ever so slowly, she buttoned what was left of her blouse. There wasn’t a part of her that didn’t ache, and she’d already been told by the doctors that it would get worse before it got better.
She had a concussion, courtesy of the window, and scratches, scrapes, and bruises seemed to be everywhere. X-rays and scans showed no breaks, punctures, or skull fractures, and when quizzed on her name, address, and phone numbers, Kate had passed with flying colors. She was told the dizziness and nausea would pass in a few days, as would the headache, and properly treated, the cuts she had received wouldn’t scar…not that Kate cared. She was alive. That’s all that mattered.
“How are you feeling?” Elliott said, peeking around the curtain.
Without thinking, Kate popped up her head and immediately regretted it as a bolt of pain shot down her neck and across her shoulders. “I’m okay,” Kate said, trying to hide her grimace. “What are you doing here?”
“Are you kidding? Half the department is outside.”
“Really?”
“We almost lost two of our own today. You really think we wouldn’t be here?”
“Oh right,” Kate said, lowering her eyes. “Sorry, I…uh…I wasn’t thinking.”
“Understandable,” Elliott said, nodding.
“How’s Frank?”
“Two busted legs, so he won’t be putting the pedal to the medal anytime soon.” As soon as Elliott saw Kate frown, he said, “Kate, it’s no secret Frank likes to drive fast. We’ve all heard you two argue about it at the station.”
“I suppose,” Kate said, looking down at her hands.
Elliott’s eyebrows knitted. He wanted to tell Kate he thought Frank was an arrogant prick. He wanted to tell Kate that none of this was her fault. He wanted to tell Kate all the details he knew about the accident, implant the truth in case some was lost in the fog of Kate’s concussion, but like the woman across the way, Elliott had taken an oath. He had sworn to do his job with fairness, integrity, diligence, and impartiality, so Elliott bit his tongue…hard.
“You know what?” Elliott said a little louder than he intended. “We really shouldn’t be talking about any of this until the investigators are done with their interviews.”
“I’m surprised they’re not in here already.”
“The doctor told them to back off,” Elliott said with a laugh. “Between the concussion and the drugs, they said your mind wouldn’t be clear for a few days.”
Kate drew in a slow breath. “Can you tell me if anyone else was hurt?”
“I’m not sure if—”
“Please? Please, Elliott. I need to know if anyone else was hurt.”
Elliott’s resolve wavered when he heard the emotion in Kate’s voice, and he let out a long breath. “Yeah, a few,” he said. “Five already went home. Two are still in surgery, and the other two are supposed to be released sometime later tonight after they’re done with some tests.”
“Shit.”
“If it helps, I was told nothing was life-threatening.”
“It doesn’t help,” Kate said, locking eyes with Elliott. “It doesn’t help at all.”
“You weren’t driving, Kate,” Elliott said, and then a split-second later, he held up his hands. “And I really need to stop interjecting and do what I’m supposed to be doing.”
“Which is?”
�
��The Chief said your sister is out of town, so I volunteered to be your taxi since the doctors said you’re refusing to spend the night,” Elliott said, and taking a few steps, he looked Kate in the eye. “That is unless you’ve changed your mind about staying?”
“No. I hate hospitals,” Kate said, wrinkling her nose. “They smell funny.”
Elliott’s eyes creased at the corners. “Yeah, I know what you mean,” he said, glancing at the door. “Well, let me go find you some wheels, and we’ll get you out of here. Be right back.”
As soon as Elliott left the room, Kate closed her eyes in hopes the room would stop spinning. When she opened them again, Elliott was standing in front of her with a wheelchair.
“Look…um…you’re a bit gray,” he said softly. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay the night? The doctors said you’re pretty banged up and—”
“Please…please, I don’t want to stay here,” Kate mumbled. “I don’t want to stay here.”
“Okay, then let’s get you into this thing,” Elliott said, locking the wheels on the chair. Seeing a handbag on the bed, he picked it up. “Is this yours?”
“Um…yeah.”
“All right, I’ve got it,” he said, slinging the handbag over his arm.
Elliott watched as Kate, moving slower than he thought possible, stood and took a few baby steps toward the chair. Once she slumped into the seat, he let out the breath he’d been holding, unlocked the wheels, and began to push her from the room.
“Wait,” Kate said, holding up her hand. “Is everyone still outside? I’m really tired, and I don’t think I want—”
“You don’t have to worry about that. Once I offered to be your driver, the Chief told everyone else to get out of here. The coast is clear.”
“Oh…good.”
Elliott didn’t say a word as he pushed Kate through the hospital and car park, all the while smiling at the nurses, doctors, and orderlies he passed along the way. Kate’s head remained bent until they reached the car, and it seemed to Elliott that it took every ounce of strength Kate had to get herself out of the chair and into the car. He shut the door, and handing off the wheelchair to an attendant, Elliott trotted to the driver’s door and climbed inside just in time to hear Kate cry out in pain.
“Jesus, what’s wrong?” he said, swiveling in his seat. “Should I go get someone?”
“No,” Kate said, agony carved into her face. “I…I just can’t buckle this. It hurts.”
“Hold on. I got it,” Elliott said, and taking the seat belt from her hand, he let it slowly retract. His eyes met Kate’s, and he winked. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“Thanks,” Kate said, closing her eyes.
“So, where do you live?” Elliott said, starting the car.
“I…um…I don’t want to go home,” Kate said softly. “There’s nothing there for me.”
“That’s not a problem. We can stop at a market on the way. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll go in and get it.”
“No,” Kate said, opening her eyes. “That’s…um…that’s not what I mean.”
“Okay,” Elliott said, flashing a quick grin. “So, where would you like to go then? I’ll take you anywhere you like. I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
Kate didn’t even need to think about the answer. “Brodie’s.”
“Who’s Brodie?”
“She’s my…” Kate stopped, allowing the memories to flow freely. Easy banter and a suggestive glint in eyes brown and beautiful, whispered words and endless sighs, heated arguments and equally heated lovemaking, and then the sounds of a crash filled her head…a crash that could have ended her life.
Kate took a slow breath, grimacing at the pain in her chest as her lungs expanded. She slowly turned to look at Elliott, and the softest of smiles graced her face. “She’s my partner.”
***
Brodie placed what remained of the casserole in the refrigerator, and picking up the stress ball on the counter, she began her nightly routine. Walking through her flat, she tidied with one hand while she exercised the other with the soft rubber until Brodie finally ended up back where she started. She tossed the ball onto the sofa, and grabbing a beer from the fridge, she made her way through the flat. She climbed the stairs leading to the roof, and as she opened the door, she heard what sounded like her doorbell. Brodie stopped for a second to listen, totally forgetting the door had an automatic closer until it slammed on her hand. “Fuck me!” she howled, and clutching her hand against her chest, she sat on the step, rocking as she waited for the pain to pass. “Fuck me.”
It took almost a minute before Brodie was willing to inspect the damage, and she held her breath, praying she hadn’t just broken her hand again. She held it out slowly, and seeing no bruising or cuts, Brodie flexed her fingers and wrist, finally daring to exhale when everything moved without incident. “Thank God,” she said, getting to her feet just as the doorbell rang for the third time.
Brodie stomped down the stairs, her anger at her own stupidity about to be let loose on whoever was disturbing her peace. She took a quick drink of her beer as she marched through the flat, and slamming the bottle down on the kitchen counter, she went over and yanked open the door.
For a few seconds, Elliott and Brodie stared at each other. Both were trying to place where they’d met before, and while one was taking the time to connect the dots, the other wasn’t so patient.
“Just who the hell are you?” Brodie snapped. “And what the hell do you want?”
“My name’s Elliott. I’m a friend of Kate’s,” Elliott said, glancing to his left as Kate stepped into view. Without giving it a thought, he wrapped his arm around her waist as she began to sway.
The instant Brodie saw Kate, her anger faded, but when the handsome stranger put his arm around Kate’s waist, Brodie went from zero to sixty in a split-second. “Well, I see it didn’t take you long to find what you were looking for,” she growled, glaring at Kate.
Brodie didn’t know that Kate’s escort now had his hands fisted, and she didn’t know that his jaw was set because all her attention was on Kate. Blinded by her own annoyance, it took a few seconds for Brodie to notice Kate’s appearance. Her coat was torn and dirty. Her face was chafed, and the look in her eyes was dull and blank.
“Kate?” Brodie said, moving a bit closer. She waited for a moment, and when Kate didn’t reply, Brodie looked toward Elliott for answers. “What’s going on?”
“She was in a car accident today.”
“What? When? Is she all right?” Brodie said, looking back and forth between the two people standing in her doorway. “Kate…Kate, are you okay?”
“Do you think we can come in?” Elliott said, adjusting his hold on Kate.
“Oh, Christ,” Brodie said, stepped back to let them enter. “Yes, of course. Come in. Please come in.”
As soon as Brodie closed the door behind them, she leaned down to look Kate in the eye. “Kate, are you all right?” Again, Kate didn’t answer, and again, Brodie looked at Elliott for guidance.
“They gave her something to help her relax, and something for the pain,” Elliott said, putting Kate’s handbag on the floor.
“Pain?” Brodie said, standing straight. “Wait. Should she even be here? Why isn’t she in the hospital?”
“Her injuries aren’t serious,” Elliott said, keeping his voice low. “They did suggest that she spend the night, but she refused. I work with her, so I volunteered to take her home.”
Brodie’s eyes traveled from Elliott’s zippered hoodie to his baggy sweat pants and back again. “You’re a copper?”
“Yeah. I was just going for a run after work when the call came in. It sounded bad, so I jumped in my car and went to see if I could help.”
Brodie barely managed a nod before her attention was drawn back to Kate. “Kate…can you hear me?”
Through the fog of muscle relaxants and painkillers, Kate managed to dip her head slowly, blanching at the ache the simple movem
ent had caused. She raised her eyes, and when she found Brodie’s, she whispered, “I’m tired. Can I…can I stay here tonight? Please…please, Brodie, can I?”
Brodie’s heart was breaking. All she wanted to do was hold Kate, comfort her, and tell her she still loved her, yet she couldn’t. Brodie knew all too well about Kate’s fears of being outed, so when she spoke, she chose her words carefully. “Of course, you can, Kate. That’s what friends are for.” Brodie moved closer, and as Elliott removed his arm from Kate’s waist, Brodie’s took its place. “Now, let’s get you into bed.”
At a turtle’s pace, Brodie guided Kate toward the bedroom, glancing back at Elliott as she did. “You said you were off duty?”
“That’s right. For a few hours now. Why?”
“There’s beer in the kitchen if you’d like some. Please don’t leave yet, though. Okay?”
“Yeah, sure,” Elliott said, unzipping his sweat jacket. “I’ll stay.”
Once past the dividing panels, Brodie turned on a light. Helping Kate to the bed, she gently turned her around and lowered her to the edge. Without asking, Brodie unbuttoned her coat, and her eyes misted over when Kate whimpered as Brodie eased it off her shoulders. “I’m sorry,” Brodie said, tossing it aside. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”
“I know.”
“Would you like me to run you a bath?”
“No…no…I’m tired,” Kate said in a breath. “I’m so tired, Brodie. All I…all I want to do is sleep. Is that okay?”
Brodie knelt in front of Kate. “Of course, it is. Let me just go find you something to wear.”
Without waiting for an answer, Brodie went to her dresser and opening a drawer, she pulled out a set of flannel pajamas. She returned to Kate a moment later, and when she saw her sitting motionless on the bed with her eyes closed, Brodie paused. “Kate? Are you awake?”
“Yeah,” Kate said, forcing her eyes to open.
“Then let’s get you out of those clothes. Shall we?”
The fog was getting thicker, and it took a second for Brodie’s words to register. “Yes, please.”