Broken Faith

by Lois Cloarec Hart

  Shortly before noon, Rhi was still so absorbed in her research that she almost didn't notice the man crossing silently to her desk. When she glanced up, she was startled to find baleful black eyes staring at her.

  "I am Salam al-Rashid. You have hidden my sister Tahia. Where is she?"

  The voice was imperious and demanding, the man's thick Mid-Eastern accent obscuring his words. Rhiannon examined the angry man and realized this must be the brother of the Jordanian woman she'd escorted to the Immigrant Women's Shelter the previous week. She stood slowly and gestured to the chairs lining the wall. Calmly, she said, "Won't you take a seat, Mr. al-Rashid? My boss is with a client at the moment but..."

  He broke in brusquely. "I require nothing from you but the location of my sister!"

  Her mind racing, Rhiannon took a deep breath but was interrupted by a firm voice from behind her.

  "Is there a problem here?"

  Rhi turned, grateful to see Marika standing at her office door, monitoring the situation with a serious expression.

  "Ms. Havers, this is Mr. al-Rashid. He is looking for his sister, Tahia." She stared meaningfully into Marika's stern eyes and was relieved to see instant comprehension.

  The Jordanian had turned to see the lawyer, and Rhiannon could see the vein throbbing in his forehead as he snapped, "My sister-where is she? Our aunt told me that she came to you, and you would know where she is. Now tell me!"

  Concerned gray eyes met worried blue ones, and Marika briefly flicked her gaze to Rhi's phone before casually moving off to one side diverting the furious man's attention solely to her. Rhiannon, keenly aware that if the aunt had revealed that information, she'd undoubtedly done so under duress, discreetly lifted the receiver and punched in the code for security. As the lawyer tried to soothe the intruder, her assistant hurriedly whispered an urgent call for help, then softly replaced the receiver.

  Tensely, she watched the man advance toward her boss, waving his hands in angry punctuation of his demands. The volume of his voice had escalated, and he was clearly becoming more agitated by the moment. Curious office workers were starting to gather, drawn by the commotion. Rhiannon kept her eyes fixed on Marika and the livid Jordanian, mentally urging security to arrive-NOW!

  Suddenly the man plunged his hands into his jacket pockets and when Rhiannon saw the flash of metal, she instinctively threw her body across the short space between them, intercepting al-Rashid and bearing him to the floor by sheer force of momentum and surprise. He screamed and slashed wildly at the small fury wrapped around his waist.

  Rhi felt a blaze of pain across her back and rolled away, gasping as a large frame burst past her and tackled the Jordanian. Through tearing eyes, she saw Kefa pin the screaming, writhing man to the floor, wrenching the knife away and tossing it across the floor.

  In the bedlam of noise and movement, Rhi was only conscious of the fire lancing across the back of her right shoulder as she shivered in shock. Suddenly she was aware of arms cradling her, and Marika's anguished voice snapping at the crowd.

  "Call 911! Where the hell is security? Get me some towels!"

  Over the outcry of panicked confused people, Rhi could hear the agonized ululating of the Jordanian. Hazily, she wondered why he was screaming in such pain, but her attention was on the soft voice inches away from her face as her slight body was rocked comfortingly.

  "God, Rhi, why'd you do that?" the lawyer murmured, brushing the young woman's face with a gentle hand. "He could've killed you."

  "Could've killed you too," Rhi muttered, her eyes closing.

  "Damn it, where are those towels?" The increasingly frantic voice sounded over her head, but Rhi couldn't summon the energy to open her eyes and reassure her boss that she was fine. She couldn't seem to stop shaking, and she absently noted that it seemed hard to breathe even as she took reassurance from the slender arms that held her tighter.

  When something pressed firmly against her back, Rhi couldn't stop the cry that burst from her throat. The last words she heard before she sank into unconsciousness were, "I'm sorry-I'm so sorry. I've got to get this bleeding slowed down. Hang on, little one, hang on!"

  * * *

  Lee whistled off-key as she entered the office tower. Despite the gray, drizzly weather, it had been a good morning, and she was hoping to steal Marika and Rhiannon away for lunch. She was curious to see if the Sunday gathering had made any change in the dynamic between the two women.

  "Hey, Fred," she called cheerfully to the security guard as he waved her by with a grin. She was approaching the bank of elevators when she heard his radio go off in a frantic burst of sound and turned back curiously. When she heard, "Code Red, seventh floor, 712", she blanched. Whirling, Lee pushed through the crowd waiting for the elevator, Fred right behind her as another guard ran to join them.

  Punching the button for the 7th floor viciously, Lee cursed under her breath at the slowness of their ascent. When they finally reached the floor, she burst out between the doors and ran down the hall, the guards hard on her heels. She heard the clamour of excited voices long before they reached Marika's office, and her mind flashed through every occasion her friend had told her of angry clients and confrontations in the office.

  Rounding the corner at a dead run, she slammed to a halt at the scene in front of her. Oh God! A large black man stood with his foot on a screaming man's throat, holding him down with a chair over his chest. Marika was on the floor a few feet away cradling Rhiannon, blood soaking both of them and the carpet. For one awful moment, Lee was sure that her young friend was dead, but focusing intently, she saw the shallow rise and fall of Rhi's chest and sighed in relief.

  The two security men had run to the downed man and were trying to pin his arms together as he flailed around. Lee crossed to Marika who looked up with tear filled eyes.

  "Thank God you're here! Lee, she's hurt!"

  Lee knelt and laid a comforting hand on each of the women, gingerly avoiding the blood-soaked clothing and towel. "I know, 'Rika. The medics are on their way. She's going to be okay." The large woman uttered a quick prayer that statement would prove more than a palliative.

  Marika stared at the young woman resting in her arms, eyes closed, and muttered in disbelief. "She did it for me, Lee. He had a knife, and she took him down to stop him going after me. This should've been me."

  "Jesus Christ!"

  Fred's shocked voice grabbed Lee's attention, and she looked over to where the two security guards had managed to get plastic cuffs on the Jordanian who was still screaming in agony. Lee felt her gorge rise as she saw the reason. When they'd rolled him on his side, they'd exposed the scorched edges of clothing surrounding a circle of seared and bubbling flesh. Bits of broken glass lay on the blackened carpet.

  "He was carrying acid," the large African said somberly. He raised his head and met Lee's eyes before regarding Marika compassionately. "You were very lucky, my friend. That little one saved you from a terrible fate."

  Marika swayed in shock, staring at the mutilated flesh on the writhing man still gasping out screams in a raw voice. Lee hastened to her friend's side and wrapped a strong arm around the lawyer's thin shoulders.

  "It didn't happen, 'Rika! Don't let your mind go there. Stay here. Rhiannon needs you now." The words seemed to stiffen the blonde's resolve and she renewed her grip on the younger woman, pressing the soaked towel firmly to Rhi's back.

  Hearing tumult in the hall, Lee looked up to see the crowd part and two paramedics pushing a gurney into the office. They split up; the man going to the Jordanian, who had subsided to deep moaning; and the woman dropping to her knees beside Marika and Rhiannon.

  "Any of that yours?" the woman asked, nodding at the blood on the front of Marika's clothes. When the lawyer shook her head, the paramedic focused on the young assistant, easing her gently to the floor. Lee noted how reluctant her friend was to release her charge, then concentrated on the paramedic working swiftly to assess the seriousness of the wound.

  "Lee,"
Marika whispered.

  "Hmm?"

  "Can you get them out of here?"

  Lee glanced at her friend questioningly and saw the lawyer jerk her head at the crowd still gaping at the action. She saw the imploring look in gray eyes as Marika added quietly, "She wouldn't want them to see her like this."

  Nodding her understanding, Lee stood and strode over to the on-lookers, now including one of the senior partners. Using her imposing bulk and commanding presence, she quickly dispersed the crowd though she could hear the buzz of excited chattering as they moved down the hall and back to their offices. She saw two city police officers getting off the elevator and motioned them her way. The large woman was pleased to see she knew the senior man, and she quickly briefed him on the situation.

  When they made their way back into the office, as the paramedics were preparing to load the Jordanian onto the gurney, Marika protested angrily, "You should be taking her first! She's the victim here!"

  The female paramedic turned to her. "That's not how it works, ma'am. He's more serious, so he goes first. She's stabilized, and the second unit is on its way. It'll be here within minutes."

  Still incensed, Marika shook her head furiously and dropped back to the floor, gently lifting Rhiannon's head to rest it on her lap, stroking the short golden-brown hair. Lee regarded her closely, worried about how her friend would handle this.

  "Hey," Lee said, "maybe we should contact her next of kin; let them know, okay?"

  Marika nodded numbly. "Call Personnel. Just dial 2100. See who's listed and get the number from them."

  Lee did as bidden, watching as the first gurney was wheeled out and the second gurney arrived. While she waited for Personnel to call up the information, Lee observed Marika closely, seeing the tension and anguish in her large gray eyes before the voice sounding in her ear distracted her attention.

  "What do you mean, there's nobody listed? There has to be!" Lee protested.

  She listened a few more moments and then muttered her thanks before hanging up.

  Turning to Marika, who was watching as Rhiannon was loaded on the gurney, she said, "There's no listing on her NOK."

  The lawyer turned a puzzled face to her friend. "How can that be? She has to have someone. I mean, she lives with a relative or something, doesn't she?"

  "Yeah, I think so," Lee replied, shaking her head. "I got the impression they weren't close, though."

  "Well still, we have to inform someone." Marika turned to the paramedics who were buckling the straps around the unconscious woman. "Where are you taking her?"

  "Foothills, ma'am. Do you have her health card?"

  "Uh no," Marika answered, glancing quickly at Rhiannon's desk.

  Lee leaned over and tugged a gym bag out from underneath. With a muttered, "Sorry kid," she rummaged through the sparse contents and came up with an old wallet. Opening it, she found a bus pass, library card, social insurance card and the required health card. She extracted it and handed it over to the paramedic who hurried after his partner.

  "Any sign of something resembling next of kin in there," Marika asked urgently, clearly wanting to go after the paramedics.

  Thumbing through the rest of the contents, Lee found five dollars and a business card. Shaking her head at the meagre contents, she took a closer look at the business card. "Hmm, Father David Ross-He's a priest at St. Barnabas Anglican." Looking up at Marika she asked, "Her priest, do ya think?"

  "Uh, she did say something about working at a church," Marika said absently. "Come on, we should get going."

  "Ah, 'Rika? You got anything you can change into?" Lee looked dubiously at the lawyer's bloody clothes as she pulled the phone toward her and began to dial the number on the card.

  Marika glanced down as if seeing the mess for the first time and shook her head. "No, I'll just throw my coat over it. C'mon, Lee, hurry!"

  Lee made an exasperated face and concentrated on her call. When a woman answered, "St. Barnabas", she asked for David Ross. After a few moments, a warm masculine voice came on the line.

  "Father Ross."

  "Um, hi, my name is Lee Glenn. Do you by any chance know a Rhiannon Davies?"

  Instantly the voice became concerned. "Yes, why? Is something wrong? Is she all right?"

  Lee sighed. She hated bearing bad news. "No, not really. She was attacked in her office; I found your number in her things."

  "Good lord! Is she...?" The voice was clearly alarmed.

  "No!" Lee hastened to assure the priest. "No, I think she's going to be all right, but she has been taken to Foothills with a knife wound. Her boss and I were wondering who to notify for next of kin. There's no listing on her personnel files."

  There was a noticeable hesitation before the priest said slowly, "She has an aunt, but I don't know...-Look, I'm going to the hospital now, and I'll take responsibility for notifying her-family-if it's warranted."

  "All right. We're on our way there too. See you in the ER." Lee hung up the phone with a feeling of relief. Marika had grabbed her coat, wrapping it around herself and hovering anxiously.

  Lee grabbed the gym bag, stuffing the wallet back and zipping it up before joining her impatient friend. "Let's go." The words were barely out of her mouth before Marika was hustling her out of the office.

  Chapter Eleven

  LEE STOLE A SIDEWAYS glance at her friend as they walked briskly from the parking lot to the emergency room. Marika had been silent on the way over, and Lee, involved in her thoughts, hadn't pressed her companion. Now however, she wondered if it was wise to allow Marika to brood so fixedly.

  The lawyer had clearly been deeply shaken by the events of the morning. Lee knew that Marika had dealt with the occasional client angered by the failure of a refugee claim, but the worst physical violence she'd encountered previously had been having a book thrown at her, which she had easily dodged. Lee couldn't get the picture of the assailant's acid-seared flesh out of her mind, and she was sure that the same image would haunt her friend for a long time to come.

  Lee was certain too, that Marika had been profoundly affected by her young assistant's heroism. She'd caught the lawyer staring at her hands, where minute traces of Rhi's blood still lingered. The security expert hadn't been surprised by Rhiannon's actions. From what she'd observed, starting with the time the diminutive woman had faced down the King brothers in an alley, Rhi didn't lack for courage.

  Shuddering as she considered what could have happened if the young woman hadn't intervened when she did, Lee led Marika through the automatic door and into the ER waiting room. It was a sparse group at this time of day, but even had it been crowded, Lee knew it would have been no problem to pick out the priest she had spoken to on the phone earlier.

  A tall, thin, man in dark clerical garb sat on the far side of the room, his head down and obviously deep in thought. As Lee studied him, he absently pushed his glasses up his nose and ran a hand over his thinning blonde hair. She noticed that his white collar was slightly askew, and instinctively found that disarming.

  "C'mon, 'Rika. I think I see Rhiannon's priest." Lee cupped the lawyer's elbow and gently steered her silent friend across the room. When they came within a few feet of the man, he glanced up. The large woman was struck by the compassionate, intelligent eyes watching them approach. He stood and waited for them to speak.

  "Are you Father Ross?" Lee asked, extending a hand.

  He took it, shaking it firmly. "David, please. And you're Ms. Glenn?"

  She nodded. "Lee. And this is Marika Havers, Rhiannon's boss." The lawyer and the priest shook hands, and the three of them sat down. "Have you heard anything yet?" Lee asked anxiously.

  "I asked at the triage desk, and they're working on her right now. I left word that we would be here and to notify us when we could see her." David's words were calm and measured, but Lee could see the concern in his pale eyes. "Can you tell me what happened, please?"

  Lee quickly filled the priest in on the morning's events. He sat quietly, absorbing h
er words, and then asked, "The man who attacked her–he was brought in here too?"

  "I think so," Lee answered, not really caring one way or another.

  "Oh, my God!" Marika's exclamation caught the other two by surprise, and they stared at her. "The aunt!" Seeing a lack of comprehension on her companions' faces, she explained quickly. "If al-Rashid got the information on his sister from their aunt, he probably forced it from her. She may be injured at her home right now. I have to talk to the police!"

  The lawyer hurried to the payphone on the far side of the lobby, and Lee watched her momentarily before returning her attention to the priest. Strangers thrown together in a crisis, they regarded each other with discreet curiosity. Finally Lee broke the silence that had fallen between them.

  "So you're Rhiannon's priest, eh?"

  That elicited a genuine laugh. "No, I wouldn't say I'm her priest. She did attend St. Barnabas many years ago, but it was long before I arrived."

  "Huh. So you're her...what? Employer...friend of the family?"

  He smiled, and Lee was struck by the humanity that emanated from the homely priest. Gently, he said, "I hope that I'm her friend. I'm working on it anyway."

  Lee grinned ruefully. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Our Lady Mouse can be pretty prickly at times."

  "Yes, it's rather like taking tea with a porcupine. You're never sure if you're going to have a perfectly lovely encounter or end up with a hand full of quills because you reached for the scones at the wrong time."

  The two chuckled together at the image. "She's worth the effort though," Lee asserted firmly, even more convinced of that after what Rhi had done that day.

  "That she is," David agreed.

  Marika returned to them then, and Lee looked up at her inquisitively.

  "I contacted the police and gave them the information. I told them the office could give them the aunt's address. They're going to send someone over to check things out."