by Dale Mayer
He stared. “Wow. Okay, that’s good.”
“Is it?” She scrunched up her face. “How does any of that relate to what just happened?”
“Well, some of this might seem a little off but when we have an out-of-body experience, our return trip can be a bit rough and leave us feeling paralyzed for a few moments. In your case your ethereal body was shocked into paralysis and we had to direct you back to your physical body.”
“Nothing you’re saying makes any sense.” She shuddered. “What does is too unbelievable. I have no idea what sent me running in the first place but this weird paralysis came after the creepy woman terrified me.”
“What woman was that?”
She sighed. “I saw her – both of them when I went for a walk.”
“Explain.”
“I woke up and Trevor, you were sleeping. I was restless, hoped to find somewhere to get a coffee…some fresh air but the air was…” She frowned. “Stagnant. Old. I didn’t get it. Everything was flat.” She shrugged. “I met a woman who appeared to know me. But she was terrified for me. She told me to run, and I panicked.” She stared off in the distance. “I must have blacked out,” she said softly because when I woke up I was back in my bed and running in a panic again. The first woman’s terrified cry sent me racing outside again. That’s when I saw the second woman sitting on the patio. I stopped and she talked to me. Something about being the same as I was and something else about little girls needed to be safe…” Hannah dropped her gaze.
Trevor got it, but knew she had no idea she’d been walking in the dimension between life and death. Or that she’d returned to her body only to flee yet again. Interesting though that a person from that space told her to escape. “Did you recognize the older woman?”
She shook her head. “No. But her head had a scarf wrapped around it, and she had a shawl around her shoulders.” She snorted. “She said she was exactly like me.”
“But you didn’t recognize her? She didn’t seem familiar at all?”
“No way. The younger woman I saw the first time I ran out there almost looked familiar, but I can’t place her.”
“Sounds like you had quite the adventures there,” Trevor said, his voice calm and gentle.
“I don’t understand any of this.” She yawned. “What was that about coffee?”
“How about a nap and I’ll chase down coffee.”
She latched on to his arm. “I’ll nap but please don’t leave me alone.”
“Easy.” He patted her hand. “Just rest. The coffee will be here soon. I’ll wake you then.”
She searched his gaze for a long moment then nodded. “Not sure why I’m so sleepy.”
“Healing takes effort. A quick nap will do you some good.”
“And then what?”
“Coffee and beignets, followed by a trip to the grocery store and then on to a friend’s house.”
“Are we going into hiding?”
“That’s one way to think of it.”
In fact, the more he thought of it, it seemed like that’s what they needed to do and fast. “You nap and I’ll make the arrangements.”
She closed her eyes.
He got busy on the phone. By the time Glenda walked in with the long awaited coffee, he was ready for it. And as he glanced over at Hannah, he saw she was awake and ready too.
Chapter 16
Hannah buckled her seat belt. They were back in the same small car they’d driven on the way to Dr. Maddy’s Floor, minus the bandages and wounds. Although her head still ached, it wasn’t so bad as it had been. The bleeding had stopped, and the wound had healed enough for Dr. Maddy to remove the stitches. So long as she didn’t get another head injury, Dr. Maddy had said it would heal fully by morning. Hannah had had enough injuries to last forever so she was good to go. To return to Maddy’s Floor would likely mean she was injured so that was out. Although the woman herself would make the most caring friend and Hannah could use a few of those. She still didn’t believe Tasha was dead. How could that be? It was too horrible to believe.
She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
“I think all you do is sleep.”
“Really.” She sighed. “You could be right. I was just thinking about Tasha and wondering if there was any update.”
“Outside of the police treating this as arson…nothing new. They’re working on it.”
“I feel so bad. I should have been there for her,” she said in a low, guilt-ridden voice.
“There wasn’t anything you could have done,” he said firmly. “If you’d been there chances are you’d have died with her.”
“Maybe I could have saved her,” she said softly. She’d never know if she could have helped or not.
“How long had you known her?”
“Not long. Just while she worked for me. But we hit it off immediately.” She gave a short, soft laugh. “She was a good worker, fun and friendly. She loved people.”
“Do you have a photo of her? A description?” he said seriously.
“She was a few years older than me.” She shrugged. “Brunette, slim, always smiling. She wasn’t looking for a career job. I think if she didn’t work for me she would have gone back East where her family lived.”
She looked around. “If my phone was still around there would be photos of her. I remember taking a few when we were photographing the flower arrangements. She was dynamite at those.”
A melancholy silence filled the car. Thinly, she asked, “How long a trip do we have?”
“About twenty minutes. But I thought we’d stop at a market on the way and pick up some fresh groceries.”
“As long as you’re cooking,” she said with a spirited smile. “My cooking sucks.”
He gave a great shout of laughter. “Well, I am cooking so we’re safe.”
“Good. Sounds like I made the best deal out of this marriage. A lawyer and psychologist and a cook.” She giggled. “I’m nobody compared to that.”
“That isn’t true.” He grinned. “You are you, and there is no reason for you to be anything other than that.”
“Seems like that was never quite good enough for anyone else.”
“Not true.” He reached over and covered her hand with his. “Your life has been a roller coaster ride so far. It’s time to live a little.”
“Sounds good to me.” She was looking forward to whatever came next.
The market was around the corner. He pulled in and parked. They walked the aisles picking out fresh fruit and vegetables. “Pick anything you want to eat,” she said. “It all looks good.”
“Any allergies?”
She shook her head.
“Anything you won’t eat?”
“Nope. I love food. All of it.”
He laughed and filled the basket. “That makes it easy.”
Before long they had their purchases and were making their way back to his car. “Now we have just a few moments to get to the house.”
Only the few minutes turned to twenty minutes and when they still hadn’t arrived, she turned to ask him and caught him looking in the mirror. She twisted to look behind them. “What’s the matter?”
“I was afraid we were being followed.”
She gasped. “Have you lost them?”
“I think so.” However, he kept looking behind him. “Do you know anyone who drives a black Mercedes sedan with smoked mirrors?”
She sighed. “My father has a fleet of them.”
“Right. Well, let’s make sure we don’t let them know where we’re going to be for our honeymoon.” With that he whipped into a large parking lot, pulled into an empty spot, and parked. He pulled out his phone. “Hey, Jeremy, can I borrow your car for a few days?”
Hannah couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation, her mind still locked on his words – honeymoon – something she had never thought to have, but now that the subject had arisen, her mind was warming to the thought, her body as well. Her husband was one sexy man, but they were exit
ing the car and moving to…holy crap, a hot red Mustang.
She grinned. “Can I drive?”
*
He couldn’t believe he let her drive Jeremy’s car. But she drove the mean machine like she owned it. By the time they got to Kali’s house, unloaded the groceries, had a simple meal, Hannah was tired again. By then, Trevor was feeling the need for a good night’s sleep himself. That’s when they realized there was only one bedroom. Talk about a reality check and a reminder they were newlyweds.
It had been Hannah who’d laughed and said, “It’s fine. This is a huge king bed. I won’t even know you’re here.” And she was true to her words. She washed up and crawled into bed with a sleepy goodnight.
Trevor wanted to join her in the huge bed, but he also needed few minutes alone. It was the first he’d had after the continuous shocks that had shifted his world. He sat down in one of the only two chairs in the living room and stared down at his hands. He had to regain his center of balance. The talk with Stefan had thrown him off. He’d not had a chance to ponder the implications. Mr. Niggard had been a great teacher. An accident was so much easier to accept than a verdict of murder. But, he didn’t doubt Stefan. Plus, he hadn’t had a moment to consider the ramification or Dr. Maddy’s assurances that he and Hannah had a history of sorts.
Both thoughts were unsettling. The memories were bad enough. He hadn’t done anything wrong, at least not majorly wrong back then, but every time he revisited those years of his life, he felt like he had. The girls he’d taunted, the boys he’d laughed at. All in an effort to make himself feel bigger, more powerful and less a victim himself.
He was ashamed of all he’d done.
He had hurt other people. He’d intended to at the time because he was coming from that same hurting place in his life. A place he’d finally escaped after Mr. Niggard’s death. He’d been a passionate chemist, but an alcoholic. The students all knew. They’d all laughed behind his back. Trevor included. But Mr. Niggard had managed to share his interest in chemistry and caught many students up in its wonders.
He remembered that last day. Mr. Niggard had given them a pop quiz. No one had been ready. Everyone had been pissed. They’d muttered dire threats the whole time. As they’d left the class the threats had gotten deeper and darker. But he still hadn’t thought anything of it. The kids groused about everything back then. Sure, many kids were in danger of failing. But, chemistry wasn’t the only subject causing them trouble.
All anyone wanted was to get through school and get out.
To them, Mr. Niggard represented a block to that goal. The threats had rumbled through the school. Why they were directed at that teacher alone, Trevor didn’t know. Many teachers had given quizzes that day. It was as if they’d had a meeting and agreed to ruin the kids’ day. But for some reason it seemed that Mr. Niggard held the key spot. The anger was directed at him. It was evening before Trevor heard about the fire. At first he’d been shocked, then had laughed like everyone else. He’d only found out in the morning that his teacher had perished in the blaze.
It had bothered him for a long time. The cops too, as they’d spoken to the kids at length, but eventually the furor died down. He admitted to being relieved. There’d been plenty of rumors flying around. He’d been so afraid that one of them had done something. There’d been an uneasy silence for a long time then tension eased and eventually the temperaments returned to normal. But not for Trevor. It had been the turning point. Now, he pondered those friends from so long ago.
They’d all had nicknames back then and those were what he remembered. Sticks, his girlfriend Stones, Rags, and Streets. Those four names popped up instinctively. They’d chosen names that spoke of their lack of place in life. His nickname had been just as bad. Boots. Jesus, he’d actually been called Boots. Worse, he’d chosen that name.
Then boots had ruled his life – as in they kicked the shit out of him. The group had been bigger, but months before the fire several members had broken off. He tried to set his mind back, but his memories struggled to fill in the blanks. These two had chosen names from a popular TV show – Starsky and Hutch. Could they have been responsible? Not likely. Although both were sneaky and arrogant. He’d lost track of them after he moved on.
He didn’t consider any of the group his friends now. They were all loners who’d been flung together due to circumstances. With the change of circumstances they were no longer together. In fact, they were no longer friends from that moment on. He hadn’t seen any of that old group in years.
It was part of his history. And that’s where he wanted it – and them – to stay.
Chapter 17
Hannah studied Trevor’s face. “Are you okay?” She poured coffee, walked back to the toaster, and brought over the golden colored bread, placing both slices on the table.
He snagged up one piece and buttered it. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.” In fact, he looked disturbed, discomforted. Almost ashamed.
“I’m fine,” he said shortly.
“No, you aren’t but you don’t want to talk about it.” She nodded. “Got it. Rule number one as a new wife. Don’t push for answers that husband doesn’t want to give.”
At that he laughed. Then he stood up and said, “Sorry, I don’t want to be so distant.” He reached for her and hugged her close. “Good morning, Mrs. Johnson. I’m just pondering some news I got yesterday that I’m not sure how to react to.”
“Bad news?”
“It’s never good news, is it?” He took up the same seat on the recliner she’d seen him in before. “A death of a beloved professor when I was in school has been determined to be murder. Someone in their wish to cause me – you – difficulties – has sent a tip to the police suggesting that I was involved and to take a closer look at me as a suspect.”
“And that would be my father?” She reached out for his hand. “I’m so sorry. He’s good at that. I warned you he thought nothing of crushing his opponent.”
“That’s all right.” He squeezed her hand gently then went back to buttering the toast. “Let him crush away. I didn’t kill the teacher, and I was cleared of that a long time ago.”
“Good, but you know the rumor causes as much damage as the truth.”
“Let’s not worry about me, how are you? We need to know everything in your head is going to be fine.”
She snorted. “How can it ever be that way? My head is a mess.”
“Dr. Maddy is waiting on the test results.” He smiled, reassuring at her. “Hopefully we’ll find out more soon.”
“Are we staying here for long?” she asked. “My father’s going to find us anyway, so we might as well go to your place.”
“I’m not so much trying to hide as to stay out of sight until the papers are filed. Besides Monday is your birthday. We need to do something special.” He flashed a smile at her then frowned. “I would like your permission to go through your financials and make sure you are free and clear. If there is any chance of your father using your money or needs it for some other reason…”
“As far as I know I have none,” she said honestly. “There is some money in my bank account and a set amount arrives every month.”
“So a trust.”
She nodded. “But it’s from my mother.”
“May I look into it?”
She studied this man who seemed to have no other interest in her but to help and wondered if he was safe to trust. And laughed. She’d trusted him with everything, including her life so far. Was money any different? “On one condition…”
He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“You explain to me what you find,” she said honestly. “I get an allowance every month that has been sufficient to my needs, but that’s it. I don’t know if I have more, can get more…” She looked out the window, images of her home surfacing. “I don’t know anything for sure but some of my memories are returning – like my home.”
“Great,” he said. “Where did you
used to live?”
“My mother’s old home on one of Father’s estates.” She studied him. “I presume that at least for a little while, we’ll need to be giving the impression of being happily married and therefore will live together.”
“I have a house a couple of blocks away from Maddy actually.” He grinned. “It’s not going to be close to the luxury you’re used to.”
“Luxury is lonely,” she said.
He nodded. “It can be. But it’s not that way for everyone.”
“Tell me about your house,” she said curiously. “Are you really into mowing lawns?”
“I’ve got no problem mowing lawns, walking a dog, fixing a leak under the kitchen sink.” He waved his hand. “I’m just a regular guy.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You are anything but a regular guy. Regular guys don’t step up and be heroes for strangers.” She picked up her coffee and took a sip. “And you certainly did that for me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he said in a serious tone. “It’s the circumstances that make the regular guys step up. It’s only when the shit hits the fan that the need is to be a hero there.”
That made a sad kind of sense. “Let’s hope you’re not called to do this on a regular basis.”
“Amen to that.”
“What’s on tap today?”
“You’re going to stay here and rest.” He stood up and refilled his coffee cup. “I’m going to work from here for the morning.”
She nodded. “Good.” She got up and picked up her coffee cup. “I’ll do dishes.”
“I can help.”
“No.” She waved him off. “It’s the least I can do.
She waited until he headed into the living room, her mood reflective as she finished wiping the table. She’d woken up with her mind on overload, consumed with the stuff Dr. Maddy had spoken about. She wanted to do some research but she had no cell phone or laptop to use. She didn’t know what to do.
“Problems?” Trevor stood in the doorway, his gaze narrowed.