“You think he sabotaged my garage door don’t you?” She looked at him and the other detectives in the room turned to look at him too.
“I do.” He said without any hint of doubt in his conclusion “I think he’s a hunter. Hunters hunt their prey.”
“And I was his prey.”
He nodded his confirmation. “Hunt them, and find ways to trap them. If it wasn’t at your place then he would have found someplace else to grab you. He set up the perfect bait.”
“And I took it.”
“You couldn’t avoid it. It’s not like you knew somebody was hunting for you because if you did the garage door opener would have seemed less like a technology fluke and more like trouble waiting to happen.”
The other detectives just took notes. They didn’t tell him he was overstepping his boundaries. They didn’t get upset at the detour from their ownership of the conversation. Either this man was a commander, or these men were just grateful for whatever help they could get.
“Add to that the lights that were out on the street and that is trouble.” Sanchez mumbled.
“Yeah, I heard about that.” Takahiro looked at Sanchez.
“Just a couple loose wires in the box…” Sanchez looked at his partner like a light had just gone off in his head. “Oh man. Call the Captain and get him to get somebody over there to dust for prints on that box.”
The other guy nodded and left the room while she sat there thinking about everything both men had said Hunters hunt; that’s what they did, and it’s what they were skilled at doing.
“A couple weeks ago it felt like somebody was watching me when I left the gym. I mean it just felt off, but I looked around and didn’t see anybody so I just shook the feeling off.”
“What gym is that?” The one who said his name was Detective Sanchez had asked her.
She rattled off the name and address to the men as they took notes. “Was this the first time you had that feeling?”
“I think so.” She tried to think a bit but she didn’t know for sure. “I think so,” she nodded. “But I guess I should tell you all, in case my bosses didn’t mention it, that there was some trouble a couple weeks back too.”
Takahiro stood up and came toward the bed and stood at the footboard.
“What kind of trouble?” Sanchez scribbled some more notes.
“No…it can’t be related.” She shook her head nearly chastising herself for being so paranoid post the attack. Not everything was trouble waiting to happen and if she allowed herself to believe it was she would barricade herself in the home and become a severe agoraphobic.
“Don’t discount anything, Shelia.” Takahiro nearly glared at her letting her know he was on official duty and would act like the man of the law he was.
She told them about the information that Eddie got about the picture of her and the article. “Thing is,” she said, “that picture was taken of me outside work. They figured somebody at the office had to have done it. They hired a lawyer and got mostly all of the pictures taken down as hate speech, but things that couldn’t be lumped under that are still up with the whole free speech thing. And of course once something is online…”
“It stays online,” Sanchez nearly snarled. “Were they able to find out who took the picture?”
“No. It was after work hours, we think anyway. I didn’t stay past six that day. I know what day it was because I was wearing my blue and yellow lace croquis.”
“Cro…what?”
“It’s a dress I designed and made. At any rate, the picture looked later in the afternoon so it’s not real easy to figure out who took it now. I don’t think it’s related to this. Why would it be?”
“It could be,” both men said at nearly the same time.
Sanchez gave her a soft smile. “I’ll do some research and talk with your bosses to get their input on it too. Now, has anybody at the office been bothering you?”
“Yeah…but it’s like typical office drama.”
“Jealous of your position?”
“No. Let’s just say I get picked on about clothes and my weight. At first they did it where I could hear them but when they saw I didn’t care they just started giving me weird looks during the day or when I entered a room.”
“Your weight?” Sanchez’s eyes roved up then down her body.
“Yeah. They say I’m too skinny. I think I’m normal. But you know people who are unhappy with themselves will always try to uplift themselves by tearing somebody else apart and knocking them down. Thick, thin or anything in between doesn’t matter…everybody catches it one way or another. But I really think they were following Rebecca Sharp because that girl hated me.”
“Hated, explain.” Sanchez scribbled some more.
“Not that I think she had anything to do with this mind you, but the job I got is apparently the job she wanted. She was there long before they hired me.”
“So the bosses…do you have something with one of them.”
“No! They are both married by the way. Justin told me they both think of me like a daughter. But I think I got the spot and my promotion because they liked my style, my ability to stand up for myself and not sway the way of the wind. Working with Justin and Eddie means you have to be strong. You have to sometimes stand up to them when they’re wrong, but you also have to be able to call the shots they want you to call to get the magazine out right. I get the feeling they’re training me for something, but I don’t know what yet. Maybe an expansion…a new magazine….I don’t know. But while the rumors went out that maybe there was something, there isn’t anything maliciously sexual or otherwise between us.”
Sanchez nodded. “Sounds like a cat fight.”
“Well it is a fashion magazine. How could you not have fashionable drama queens with something like that?” She shrugged her shoulders as if to say she didn’t care because she didn’t need those people to like her at all.
They talked about that day, that night, and everything that came after in more detail. She had gone through so many boxes of Puffs, thanks to the nurse bringing more and more in, that she was starting to think she should have bought stock in the company.
“Anyway,” she wiped her nose with the tissue. “When do I get to go home?”
“You don’t.” Sanchez said as if that was the final answer.
“I can’t stay here forever.”
“We’re looking for someplace to put you.” She was about to say something when he held up his hand to stop her. “Your bosses are leaving you out with pay and they’re not bringing you back in the office for at least a month.”
“I’ll fix that.”
“Look I...”
“I need to work. If I don’t work I’m going to go crazy. I’ll fix it.”
“Yeah I don’t think so,” Takahiro finally opened his mouth again. “I’m assigned as your protection detail…”
“You’re SWAT.”
“Direct orders.”
“Well fine, put a cop with me while you work. You and I both know what you do takes skill; missing a month sitting on me could get you killed.”
She saw the fight leave out of his eyes because she knew that he knew she was right. “I’ll sit where you guys put me until I can cover some of these bruises and sit without feeling like I’m torturing myself, but I won’t do it any longer than that. I won’t let this guy take everything away from me; he’s already taken more than enough.” As scared as she still was she couldn’t give them this. They had already taken the important things from her—safety being the most important. She wouldn’t feel safe anywhere now, but she wouldn’t let them take away all of her sanity. She had lived; now she needed to learn how to survive and she couldn’t do that hiding.
Both detectives looked at her with almost pity in their eyes, but she knew it was more than that. They saw the unthinkable in her and for that she was sorry for them. What they saw would never leave their mind just like what happened to her would never leave hers.
“Are you real
ly ready for this?” Takahiro came to sit beside her on the bed.
“No. But I have to do this. When the plane crashed and I survived but both my parents died I swore I wouldn’t fly again. I was too afraid to even think of getting on a plane. And I haven’t done it since. And I won’t do it. But with this, if I don’t get back out there soon I fear that I’ll lock myself in my house and never leave it. I know Justin and Eddie would let me work from home. I know they love me enough to make sure somebody did my grocery shopping for me because they told me they think of me like family. And they did this for me,” she waved her hand out toward the room as she got to her feet. The bed was really starting to hurt her more now. “But those guys who took me have already taken so much from me—my safety, my dignity…I can’t let them take my sanity and my measured freedom. If I don’t find a way to get back out there soon I know I never will.”
He came to her, taking her into his arms gently, being careful not to squeeze her or touch her back. He just used his hand to hold her head against his chest. It hurt to have her chest and stomach pressed against him, but it felt comforting too.
“You still have your dignity, Shelia. They don’t have any, but trust me when I say there isn’t a man in my squad or on the force that doesn’t respect and admire you greatly. This thing went worldwide and people were sending out prayers for you.”
She lifted her head so their eyes could meet. “Really?”
“Really,” he nodded again. “This is a lot bigger than you know. A lot of people’s hearts broke for you and a lot of people are happy we found you alive. You’ll survive this, but I think you need to speak to a counselor.”
She shook her head no. “I just need to work through it in my mind without having to tell the story over and over again. Besides, I like talking to you.”
“You can’t…you can’t think of me as your safety blanket.”
“I know. It’s not that at all. I can’t explain it right now because I don’t understand it myself, but when I can sort it all out I’ll know how to articulate it so you’ll understand.”
He stroked his fingers through her hair. “Then I’ll operate on your time, and I’ll wait for you for however long it takes.”
“Thanks,” she shifted out of his hold. “As much as I love being in your arms my chest and stomach feel kind of raw in places too.”
“I’m sorry. I should have thought of that.”
“Don’t even apologize. Trust me; I needed that touch of goodness. When I can tolerate a real hug, I’m holding you to a really strong one”
He winked at her. “Now that I can do.”
Their conversation was cut short when the doctor came in to check on her injuries and do all the usual blood pressure, heart rate, and typical medical checks. She had to go in the bathroom to get back in the dress gown and for that she really did need help so she called on Takahiro to help. He had already seen her in various shades of nudity anyway so why not have somebody she was comfortable with help her get undressed this time?
He was careful not to be too swift or too rough getting the dress up over her head. What she wished she had done was been facing away from the mirror because having a full on gaze at her body just verified what she thought in the first place. She turned and then looked back to see her back. The red welted flesh made tears come to her eyes again.
She sniffled. “I had hoped it wasn’t as bad as it felt.”
“It will heal.”
“Yeah,” she took the gown and put it on, leaving her panties on so she could cover that portion of her body before trying to get them off. The doctor would need to look at the welts on her behind too. But the moment she bent to try to do it she realized she couldn’t. Takahiro dropped to one knee, looked up into her eyes reassuringly and then reached under her robe. His fingers were so gentle as they found their way to the waistband of the panties, took hold and slowly pulled them down. In any other situation this would feel like a lover undressing his woman, but this wasn’t any other situation.
She respected him so much for treating her with respect and honoring her dignity by trying to allow her some privacy to her body. But now she had to go out where the doctor would look at it all.
“Do you want to stay in for the exam?”
“I’ll leave you and the doctor alone. It might be easier for you that way. I can wait outside the door.”
She thought it would be easier for her if he held her hand, but she would allow him the escape. The images he saw were a lot to handle and he deserved some air to breathe and not have to see the damage done to her. She nodded and gave him a lopsided smile.
“If you need me to stay, Sheila…”
“You need a break,” she inhaled slowly. “I’ll be okay.”
He kissed her forehead yet again. She realized she liked it a lot when he did that. “Yeah, you will. If you need me just scream and I’ll come in with my guns drawn.”
“Oh, both of them huh?”
“Both of them.” He guided her out the bathroom door and over to the bed where the doctor was now accompanied by a female nurse.
“I’ll be outside the door. Please get me as soon as your exam is done so we can all discuss what I need to do to help her heal those wounds.” Takahiro had such a stern voice that Sheila figured even the doctor knew not to defy his orders.
Chapter Six
Two Weeks Later…
“Whoa,” Takahiro looked at Sheila dressed in a fitted blue skirt with a soft pink fitted vest like top. The blue suit jacket in her hand told him she thought she was going to work. No way in hell was she going without protection and he needed more than five minutes to get an officer to drive her up to Scottsdale to work. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Today? Nowhere actually. I know you have been super busy with work but I have dressed like this, or close to it, every day.”
He checked her up and down again. She was always still in bed when he had to go in—not sleeping, but working. The first week, after he got her out of the hospital and took her straight to his house, he had spent the mornings and the nights attending to the welted flesh on her back. He had also woken up several times to her fitful cries for help. He knew it was going to be hard for her to go to sleep without seeing the terror she had just gone through, but that didn’t make it any easier.
Each morning, after he had smoothed the creams and oils over her flesh and taken his own shower, he had gone in to let her know another officer was downstairs to watch over her and that he had to go to work. She seemed more concerned about him, reminding him to focus and not to worry about her. “Don’t even think about me because it will distract you,” she had said. How could he not think about her, on so many levels?
She had been right; thinking about her did distract him. By the time he got back in she had a note that dinner was warming in the oven and that she was upstairs in bed, not sleeping, she had been sure to write. So he saw her in night clothes, which happened to be a tank top and cotton panties only. Yeah, he had missed a lot of her daily wear but he wasn’t missing it today.
“But they do need me back at work tomorrow. They called yesterday to tell me.”
“And you’re just telling me now, because?”
She shrugged. “I forgot. You were doing so well putting the cream and oils on my back that I fell asleep.” She smiled at him what seemed like a real smile for a change. “It doesn’t hurt so much anymore. I thought I would put this one on today with the suit jacket just to be sure I can wear a similar one tomorrow for work.”
He grumbled. “What happened to them giving you a minimum of a month out of the office and then a month of working from home?”
“The layout got contorted and this one has to go to print in two days so they need me.” She laughed as she looked at his face. “You make the most serious facial expressions when you’re not happy” She laughed again. One thing he could say was that it was good to hear a laugh come from her even if it was over his facial expression. It was the first
laugh he had heard, and the first real teeth bearing smile that went clear up to her eyes.
“I’ll get an officer on you tomorrow to go up with you. You will not stay there by yourself.”
“Got it,” she held up her hands in surrender. “You’re too cute, Takahiro.”
He loved the way she said his name He had told her she could shorten it like everybody else did, but she seemed to like letting his full name roll off her tongue as much as he liked hearing it come off it.
“You must really love this job if you’re going to drop recovery to go to it.”
“Recovery…hmmm…the doctors cleared me. I guess it’s as good as it’s going to get without some time for the marks to fade and some of the pain to go away. The scabs are done itching too, so that’s good.”
He was glad the scabs had formed over the parts with the broken skin because he knew that meant they were healing and not in great danger of infection now. The doctor had told him when he checked her out of the hospital that infection was a big threat so there was a strong need to keep it covered and treated.
“So you love this job that much huh?”
“Don’t you love yours?”
Question with a question—he hated that. It must have been a woman thing.
“You put your life on the line every single day for people you don’t know. Officer Keller, sweet and young as he may be, admires you all so much. He’s planning to try to get a recommendation so he can do the training and with hopes join your team. He tells me you didn’t know how many guys were in that house, how heavily armed they were, yet you came in anyway. Then he showed me some videos of SWAT tactics in action. It was very impressive if I do say so myself. So I figure you must love your job a whole lot if you’re willing to go through that every day for people who you don’t know, who probably hate you because you’re a cop, and who don’t care what happens to you in the process. Then you get those like me, who respect your job and you as a person, but you don’t know that going in. So you love your job; yes?”
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