Witness Protection

by Holly Copella

  “Take the stick?” Holden questioned then looked at the doctor, who now hovered over her bed from the other side.

  “She has a concussion and is heavily sedated,” the doctor informed him. “Disorientation is normal.”

  Holden took her hand and clutched it firmly. She jerked and squeezed his hand with tremendous force.

  “Jackie, Jackie, stay with me,” he announced firmly.

  Jackie clutched the stick and attempted to keep the helicopter from spinning, but it was no use, they were spinning out of control! Why was the stick warm and soft? She heard a man yelp. Jackie looked at the man standing alongside her and again realized she was in a hospital bed. Did she crash? As she stared at the unfamiliar man holding her hand, she wondered where Monroe had gone. Certainly, he wouldn’t leave her at a time like this. She stared at the man and wondered if they’d met. She liked this man holding her hand. He was quite attractive.

  “You’re cute,” she announced and grinned.

  He fumbled slightly by the comment and attempted a smile. “Thanks.” His look turned serious. “I need you to tell me about your injuries, Jackie. Tell me about the gunshot wounds and how you ended up in that SUV.”

  Jackie stared at him with a puzzled look. What was he talking about? She’d never been shot. She felt the same pain sweep through her body. A series of images flashed through her mind as she attempted to ride the wave of pain until it eventually subsided. She remembered someone shooting at her. She remembered a man flirting with her. She remembered blood! Her eyes widened in horror as she stared at him and tried to make sense of his comment and the images in her head.

  “Was that real?”

  “Jackie, tell me what happened?” he asked more firmly and with determination.

  The image of Harris lying dead on the basement steps flashed through her mind and then another image of Vicki collapsing in front of her. Jackie suddenly began to sob. She couldn’t control her emotions, and that wasn’t like her.

  “They’re dead. He killed them!”

  Holden firmly squeezed her hand, snapping her out of her emotional tirade. She once more focused on him as he leaned over her. The pain again rippled through her, causing her entire body to tense until it finally passed.

  “Who’s dead?” he demanded softly.

  She couldn’t think. She knew his name, but it wasn’t coming to her. “His name, uh, there’s a card in my pocket.”

  Holden looked at the doctor. The doctor opened a nearby bag, fished around, and removed a business card.

  “It says Harris Benton, FBI,” the doctor gently informed him while frowning.

  The urgency in Holden’s actions and voice was now evident. “Jackie, where did you last see Harris?”

  “Harris?”

  “You had his SUV. You had his pistol. Where is he?” Holden demanded firmly.

  Jackie suddenly snapped out of her dazed state. It was all coming back to her in a tidal wave of horror and emotion. She stared at him with terror in her eyes.

  “The library--the fundraiser,” she gasped softly. “They killed him.”

  “Who? Who killed him?”

  “The governor.”

  Holden appeared surprised and stared at her with a look of disbelief. Jackie suddenly clutched his hand, startling him. She stared into his eyes while attempting to retain her lucid thoughts.

  “His goon, Dexter, pulled the trigger while the governor watched,” she announced sternly. “They killed the librarian and tried to kill me.”

  Holden stared at her a moment longer then looked at the doctor and indicated Jackie. “Doc--” He released her hand, removed his cell phone, and ran from the room.

  Jackie saw horrifying images of the library attack flashing through her mind. She trembled and sobbed uncontrollably. She wanted to stop acting so emotional but something was preventing her from controlling her actions. The doctor called the stocky nurse over to her bedside. The nurse carried a syringe with her and injected the needle into the port already sticking from the crook of her arm. Jackie felt a warm sensation flood through her entire body. Her pain was gone almost instantly. It was sweet relief. She flew the helicopter over lush fields and eventually to the East coast as the sun set. Jackie wished she had the time to fly over the coast more often. It was always so relaxing.

  Chapter Five

  It was early the following morning. Jackie sat up in bed and stared blankly out the window. The drugs had nearly worn off and it was the first time she was able to piece together events from last night. Her encounter with the governor and his hired gun was something she could barely believe. She couldn’t believe she’d escaped with her life. She couldn’t believe that poor librarian lost hers. Jackie didn’t know the woman, but she felt almost directly responsible for her death. If they hadn’t gone downstairs--? Her thoughts again strayed to Harris Benton. He was destined to die no matter what they had done. Jackie then thought about her own father. No, she didn’t want to think about him right now. Upsetting herself wasn’t going to do her any good. The pain in her thigh was almost unbearable, and she rubbed it in response. The same stocky African-American nurse in her early sixties entered the room and noted her hand gingerly rubbing her leg.

  “You want some pain killers, honey?” the nurse asked in the sweetest southern accent.

  The nurse was Celia, and she’d spent a better part of the night at Jackie’s bedside. Celia was a natural caregiver and did her best to make her comfortable while she drifted in and out during the night. Her shift had to be ending soon, and Jackie was going to miss her over-the-top personality.

  “No, they make me feel foggy,” Jackie replied softly.

  If the pills had helped numb her memories of last night, she’d gladly take them, but they almost made the visions more vivid and increased her nightmares when she did sleep.

  “You poor thing,” the nurse said sympathetically and leaned an elbow on her railing while facing her. “Is there anyone I can call for you?”

  “No, my father died three years ago,” she replied and attempted a smile. “There’s really no other family.”

  “A friend perhaps?”

  “None you’d be able to locate.”

  Celia straightened and conveyed sympathy with her eyes. Whatever she was thinking; she didn’t say it aloud. “There’s a policeman posted by your door, and some fed keeps asking to see you,” the nurse informed her. “I don’t know what happened to you last night, but you’ve got some serious attention from some pretty serious folks.” She gave a general nod toward the closed door. “The doctor refused to let the fella into your room. He’s cute, but he has a corn cob up his ass, if you know what I mean.”

  “FBI?” Her thoughts strayed to Harris, but she knew he was dead.

  “Yeah, he was here when you came out of surgery,” she informed her. “You spoke to him last night, but you probably don’t remember. I’m pretty sure you called him Monroe, but I know that ain’t his name.”

  Jackie attempted to recall with whom she had spoken last night, but she was drawing a blank. She gave the nurse a curious look. “Dark hair, dark eyes, sexy voice?”

  “Don’t forget ‘corn cob up his ass’.”

  “Is he here?” Jackie asked and immediately shifted in her bed. “I’d like to see him.”

  “Of course he’s here, honey,” she announced while waving her hand. “Boy’s been here all night bugging the shit out of us.” Her look was concerning. “Are you sure you want to see him? I don’t know that you’re up to seeing no fed.”

  “Yes, it’s important.”

  Celia reluctantly nodded, approached the door, and opened it. “Agent--”

  Holden bolted past her before she could finish her sentence and immediately approached Jackie’s bedside. Celia rolled her eyes with disapproval.

  “I need to ask you some questions about last night,” Holden announced boldly and without hesitation.

  Jackie looked past him to Celia, who glared with her brow arched and her arms f
olded across her broad bosom. She shook her head before leaving the room. Jackie looked back at Holden.

  “I’m fine, thanks for asking.”

  “I’m sorry if I seem rude, Miss Remus, but I need to know what happened to Harris Benton last night,” Holden remarked firmly. “We found faint traces of blood at the library, but we didn’t find any bodies.”

  Jackie felt her heart sink into her stomach. “No bodies?” she gasped with horror. “The librarian was just off the main room and the fed was in the basement at the bottom of the steps. They were right there.”

  He stared at her a moment and gave her a curious look. “Are you sure the agent was dead?”

  She fought the urge to jump out of her bed. “Of course I’m sure,” she nearly exploded.

  Did he think she was stupid? She attempted to compose herself. She’d had a stressful night, and she didn’t need to take it out on a federal agent.

  “He gave me his gun and said he’d hold them off so I could get away, but I wouldn’t leave him.”

  He looked puzzled. “Why not?”

  Jackie wanted to explode. She couldn’t believe he was asking such a stupid question but maintained her calm demeanor. “Because, Agent Falcone, no one should have to die alone,” Jackie informed him.

  Holden stared at her with surprise then attempted to remove all emotion. “Who killed him?”

  “I thought I told you last night.”

  “You also thought I was your father,” Holden replied. “You seem alert now, so if you don’t mind--”

  She found her temper oddly short this morning. It was almost as if she was speaking in code and no one understood her. She groaned softly and reluctantly gave in to repeating herself.

  “Governor Lyle Kempton gave the order, and Dexter Smyth pulled the trigger.” She studied him and suddenly realized what he was saying. “You really didn’t find their bodies?”

  “Makes murder harder to prove if you don’t have a body,” Holden replied matter-of-fact.

  “But I saw him do it,” she protested. “He shot me--twice, and I shot Dexter with Harris’ gun.”

  Holden appeared surprised and became suddenly alert. “You killed Dexter?”

  “No, but I gave him matching wounds,” she replied. “Arm and leg; same as me.”

  Holden seemed anxious. “I need to make some calls and see if there were any gunshots reported last night.”

  He hurried across the room while removing his cell phone and passed Celia as she was entering. As he left the room, the nurse watched him and shook her head.

  “He’s lucky he’s cute, or I’d put my foot up his ass,” Celia muttered.

  Jackie shut her eyes, drew a deep breath, and then looked at Celia as she approached. “I think I’ll take you up on those drugs now.”

  “I’m way ahead of you, honey,” Celia replied as she removed a bottle of pills from her pocket and gave them a vigorous shake. “After dealing with that boy half the night, I may need some of these myself.”

  Chapter Six

  It was later that same morning. Jackie now sat in the chair alongside the bed wearing a borrowed scrub uniform. She had no clothes so Celia found something for her to wear, hoping it would help cheer her up. She possibly felt sorry for Jackie because she’d been shot and didn’t have a single visitor to comfort her. Jackie’s situation was complex and nearly impossible to explain why she didn’t want anyone notified of her condition. Jackie stared out the window at nothing in particular. Despite the excess amount of drugs now in her system, she still couldn’t get her mind off last night’s horror show. The doctor had removed her IV lines earlier, since she was doing well, but she still appeared fairly bruised and battered. Some of her injuries were sustained in the car crash that followed the library attack. Despite Celia’s shift having ended an hour earlier, the older nurse found every excuse to hang around and keep Jackie company. She sat on the side of Jackie’s bed and stared out the window along with her.

  “So who’s this Monroe?” Celia asked, breaking the silence. “Is he someone I could call to come keep you company? I don’t feel right leaving you here all shot up and alone.”

  Jackie looked at Celia and smiled. She was truly darling, but she didn’t need anyone keeping her company. “Monroe was an old friend from a long time ago,” she replied reluctantly knowing Celia wasn’t going to let it go if she didn’t give her something. “I doubt he even remembers me.”

  “Oh, come now,” Celia announced boldly. “What man breathing could forget a pretty girl like you?”

  “Honestly, Celia, I never had much time for friends or a love interest,” she replied gently. “I moved around from military base to military base across the entire globe. Making friends seemed pointless. After my father died, I dedicated most of my time toward my career.” She drew a deep breath and looked into Celia’s sympathetic eyes. “When I fly, I feel my father is with me. In the sky is where I’m happiest.”

  “I understand, honey,” the nurse replied with a knowing smile. “I feel the same way about church. God is the only one who gets me. Took my husband and my son from me way too soon, but I’ve made my peace with him.”

  “You’re more forgiving than I am,” Jackie said softly while attempting a smile.

  Celia patted Jackie’s lower arm. “You know what you need? You need some frozen yogurt,” she announced while standing.

  Jackie laughed softly at the woman’s enthusiasm. “A little early for that, don’t you think?”

  “Honey, it ain’t never too early for frozen yogurt,” she announced cheerfully and extended her hand to her. “The walk will do you good.”

  “Really?” Jackie asked with enthusiasm. “I’d love to get out of this room.”

  She accepted Celia’s hand and allowed her to help her up from the chair. Her leg was sore and stiff. Bearing weight was extremely painful, but she didn’t mind. Her short, supervised trips to the bathroom had quickly become boring. The opportunity for a real walk sounded too good to be true. She clung to Celia’s arm and allowed the nurse to escort her to the door. As they stepped into the doorway, the officer at the door stopped them.

  “I’m sorry,” he announced firmly. “I can’t allow you to leave the room.”

  Celia appeared nearly as stunned as Jackie was. “On whose authority,” Celia suddenly bellowed.

  “Agent Falcone gave specific orders,” the officer replied. “You’ll have to take it up with him.”

  “I’ll take my foot up his ass,” Celia groused. “Now move yourself before you get the same.”

  “That’s threatening a police officer, ma’am,” he calmly replied. “Would you care to reconsider that last statement?”

  Before Celia could speak, Jackie tugged on her arm. “It’s okay, Celia,” she said gently. “Don’t get into any trouble on my account. I’m sure Agent Falcone has his reasons. I’ll be fine. You should probably go home anyway.”

  “Not until I get you some frozen yogurt,” she announced and guided Jackie back to her chair. She helped her sit and straightened. “You just relax, and I’ll be back in a jiff.” Celia hurried for the door, gave the officer a stern sneer, and then left.

  Jackie returned to staring out the window, once again at nothing. Only a few minutes had passed when she heard a familiar male voice at the door. She looked up as Holden entered the room. Jackie angrily bolted up from her chair despite the shooting pain through her leg.

  “What’s with the officer outside my door?” she suddenly exploded with rage and hostility she’d cleverly kept hidden from Celia. If she had let the nurse know it bothered her, she’d undoubtedly lose her job. She’d already ruined enough lives for one week. “He says I can’t leave my room! He won’t tell me why, but he says it’s on your orders!”

  Holden abruptly stopped his approach, appeared surprised by her burst of hostility, and held his hands up defensively. “The officer is for your protection, Jackie. I’m investigating the possible murder of a federal agent, and you’re either my star w
itness or my prime suspect.”

  His words nearly floored her. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” she cried out. “They were going to execute him! I did everything I could to save him!”

  “I guess they took you off the happy pills,” Holden muttered under his breath.

  “I’m the one who had to watch Harris Benton die, Agent Falcone,” she lashed out hotly. “My father taught me to never leave our men behind. Where were you when your man was dying? Where was his backup?”

  Holden seemed stunned by the scathing remark. He again held his hands up defensively and attempted to remain calm and soothing to her explosive temper.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to accuse you of killing Agent Benton,” he replied gently and lowered his hands. “I’d just like to ask you a few more questions. Please--”

  Jackie slowly returned to her chair and cringed with discomfort. She was in agonizing pain now, but she didn’t want to let him know, since it had been her own doing jumping up as she did. Jackie gently rubbed her thigh then glared at him.

  “Did you see Dexter’s injuries?” she asked. “That should be enough to corroborate my story.”

  He appeared slightly uncomfortable and fidgeted. “The governor and Dexter are out of the country on business. They left last night after the fundraiser.”

  Jackie was stunned by the comment. “How? I was supposed to fly them back.”

  “Your boss said they called him to report you weren’t at the departure location, so he sent out another pilot to bring them back,” Holden replied.

  She didn’t know why she was surprised, but she was. “Take me to the library,” Jackie said gruffly. “I’ll walk you through the entire evening. There has to be bullet holes to corroborate my story. You’ll believe me then.”

  “I don’t think your doctor--” Holden began.

  “I don’t give a shit what the doctor says,” she launched back. “You have authority, don’t you? Use it!”

  She’d caught him off guard and rendered him speechless. He turned to leave and nearly collided with Celia, who stood in the room with two cups of frozen yogurt. Her mouth hung open with surprise as she watched him leave the room. She looked at Jackie with a stunned look on her face.