“So your plan is to kill me and you think that Brandon won’t hate you for the rest of his life?”
“Brandon won’t find out.”
“How is that? We are in his fucking condo!”
“I brought help and items to dispose of your body.”
It took me a few seconds to process what she had said. We continued to spin slowly. Was this going to be it? Was I going to die? Would I never see Brandon again?
“What about all the blood? How are you going to clean it up before he gets here?” I asked, trying to buy some more time while I tried to think my way out of this crazy situation.
“Like I said, I have help.” She lunged at me again. My back was at the top of the stairs. I bent my legs as I twisted again to the right. Christy missed me again, but this time she fell down the stairs.
I stood at the top of the stairs watching as she slid facedown with her arms reached out in front of her, clenching the knife in her right hand. Before she met the bottom of the stairs, her body curled up into a ball and continued to tumble down the stairs with her head facing the handrails.
When she finally met the bottom level, I saw the knife sticking out of her stomach. Blood began to seep through her blouse and onto the floor. Her eyes were closed and she wasn’t moving.
I stood there for a minute or so just staring at her in shock, waiting for her to make the slightest movement. She didn’t move. I ran into Brandon’s bedroom and grabbed the cordless phone on the nightstand and dialed 911.
“911, what is your emergency?” the dispatcher asked.
“Someone broke into my boyfriend’s condo and we fought… and there is blood everywhere!” I shouted into the receiver.
“Ma’am, calm down. Is anyone hurt?”
“Yes.”
“Are you or your boyfriend hurt?”
“No...I am here alone with her.” Tears started pooling in my eyes as I began to cry.
“Is the intruder hurt?”
“Yes, yes she is. There is blood everywhere and she isn’t moving.” Tears were rolling down my cheeks. I wiped them but the tears continued to roll down my cheeks.
“Okay, Ma’am. Help is on their way. Are you safe at this moment?”
“I… I don’t know. She isn’t moving.”
“Okay, I am going to stay on the phone with you until help arrives. If you don’t feel safe, please lock yourself in a room. Help will be there any minute.”
“Okay… thank you,” I sniffled.
I watched Christy as she just laid there with her eyes closed. Her blood had started to pool around her body. A few seconds later I heard the faint sound of the sirens in the distance.
“I hear the sirens,” I told the dispatcher.
“Yes, Ma’am, they should be arriving in less than a minute.”
“Okay thank you. I need to call my boyfriend.”
I hung up before the dispatcher could respond. I needed to call Brandon. I didn’t know how long Christy and I fought but I was expecting him at any minute. I sat on the first step at the top of the stairs looking down at Christy’s body.
“Hey Baby, Jason and I are just down the street. There is some commotion with cops and fire trucks so we are stopped in traffic to let them pass.”
“Bra...andon…” my voice cracked.
“Spencer, what’s wrong? You never use my name.”
“I… I think… I think I killed your baby.” I started to cry again as the words left my mouth.
“What do you mean?”
“Christy broke in…”
“She what? Stay there I am almost there.” I heard Brandon tell Jason that Christy had broken in and then I heard the car door open and a lot of white noise, like he was running.
“Baby, I am literally like a block away. Are you hurt?”
“No.” I sniffed again.
“Where is Christy?”
“She is lying on the floor not moving, there is blood everywhere.”
“Stay with me on the phone, Baby. Just keep talking to me until I get there.” I could tell Brandon was running. He wasn’t out of breath but he sounded a bit winded.
I started to tell him how Christy used a key that she made and entered the condo when I was getting out of the shower. Before I could go any further, firemen and paramedics were entering the apartment. I looked down at them where they were standing by Christy's body. Stunned, I stared at them for a moment, unsure how they had gotten in. Then I realized that Christy had probably left the front door open.
I hung up with Brandon. He said that he was getting in the elevator and a paramedic was walking up the stairs towards me.
“Ma’am, are you hurt?”
“No,” I answered as I looked up at him.
I clenched the phone in my hand as the paramedic turned around and walked down to Christy’s body. I sat there staring as the paramedics tended to her.
Brandon ran into the condo a few seconds later. He paused for a brief moment looking at the bloody scene. He looked up at me, our eyes met and he was instantly bounding up the stairs to wrap his arms around me, hugging me tight.
“Thank God you’re okay. Tell me what happened,” he said as he continued to hug me, holding the back of my head firmly with his right hand and with his left arm wrapped around my back.
I pulled my head back glancing at Christy and back at Brandon as I started to retell him what had happened. Before I could finish again a police officer and Jason walked up the stairs.
Brandon and I continued to sit on the top step of the stair case as I told the police officer what had happened. Jason leaned on the railing a little behind the police officer and listened to my story while Brandon rested his arm around my shoulders to comfort me.
While I was relaying everything to the police officer, the paramedics put Christy on a gurney and took her to the hospital. She was alive. We told the officer that she was pregnant with Brandon’s baby and he said it was up to me if I wanted to go to the hospital to see how she was doing.
I could tell Brandon was torn. I made the decision easy for him. I didn’t want to stay alone and I knew he needed to check on his baby. I left Brandon and Jason as I went to Brandon's room to finish changing so we could go to the hospital.
I put my bra on and put back on my black t-shirt that I wore that day for casual Friday at work; the back of the t-shirt was still damp from my hair. I put on my San Francisco Giants pull-over sweatshirt that I had hanging in Brandon's closet and slipped on my dark grey UGGS.
Pulling my hair back, I wound it into a loose knot on the crown of my head, but I didn't have the energy or willpower to put on any make-up. I didn't want to go out in public looking like a mess even though inside I was trembling.
Jason left to pick up Becca when Brandon and I left for the hospital. He said they would meet us there. I asked Jason to call Ryan for me and he said he would as he gave me a hug.
When Brandon and I arrived at the hospital, we checked in with the Emergency Room and were told to wait until a doctor could give us an update on how Christy and the baby were doing.
We waited and waited. Jason and Becca arrived followed by Ryan and Max. I recounted the horrific event as Becca and Ryan gasped several times. Everyone hugged me numerous times as they were thankful I wasn’t hurt. Brandon never let go of my hand.
Finally after waiting several hours a doctor came out to talk to us. She was reluctant to talk to us because we weren't family but we only had one question for her.
"How is the baby, doctor?" Brandon asked.
"Baby?” The doctor paused and checked his chart. “I'm sorry - I can't give you any information. You will need to speak with Ms. Adams regarding that."
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Brandon and I turned to each other searching for answers. Why was there a question after the word "baby" when the doctor answered Brandon? I heard our friends gasp and start whispering to each other.
"Please Dr. Ames, just tell me if my baby is okay," Brandon pleaded.
; "Sir, I wish I could tell you more; however, due to patient-doctor confidentiality, I am not able to give you any information. You’ll need to speak with Ms. Adams."
"Well, when can we see her?" Brandon asked.
"Visiting hours are almost over for the night and Ms. Adams is in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. She will not be able to have visitors until tomorrow at eight a.m."
We thanked the doctor and turned to our friends who were sitting behind us.
"How much you want to bet that she’s been faking the pregnancy all along?" Jason said.
Ryan, Becca and Max agreed with him. Brandon and I didn't say anything and then I remembered about the ultrasound.
"But... she gave us the ultrasound..."
"Yeah we went to a doctor appointment with her and saw the ultrasound," Brandon said agreeing with me.
"Is it possible she faked that, too?" Becca questioned.
"How can you fake an ultrasound?" Ryan asked.
"You would be surprised at what people are capable of. I have seen some crazy shit at my law firm," Max said.
"But we were there at the doctor's office," Brandon said.
I just stood there listening to everyone. I didn't have the energy. Not only had Christy tried to kill me tonight, but now she may or may not have been pregnant this whole time.
"Guys, can you take us home? I can tell Spence is tired. We can order pizza and talk there," Ryan said.
*~*~*
We left the hospital and headed for my house. When we got to my house I went straight for the couch and laid down.
"Babe, do you want to go lay down in your bed?" Brandon asked.
"No."
"Are you sure? I will lay down with you."
"Yes." I just wanted to be around people right then.
"Okay." Brandon brushed some hair out of my face and leaned down and kissed my forehead.
I lifted my head and he sat on the couch so I could rest my head on his lap. Everyone was talking around me, but I couldn't focus on what they were saying. I tried to close my eyes but all I saw were flashes of the knife being rammed in my direction.
Instead I laid there staring at the TV that wasn't on while everyone continued to talk around me. I wasn't paying attention to what they were saying, but I heard Ryan order a few pizzas. My stomach growled and I realized I hadn't eaten since lunch which was over eight hours ago.
The minutes seemed liked hours as I just laid there while Brandon rubbed my head as it lay in his lap. I caught bits and pieces of the conversations that everyone was having and I heard Brandon say that he was going to go to the hospital first thing in the morning and talk to Christy.
When the pizza arrived Brandon asked me if I wanted to eat. I was hungry but I could barely eat. After I managed to eat a slice and drink some of the diet root beer soda, I told everyone that I was going to bed.
I heard Brandon say goodnight to everyone else and he followed me to my room. I didn't realize how exhausted I was until I tried to remove my sweatshirt but could barely lift my arms. Brandon helped me change into my pajamas and then we both crawled into my bed.
I looked at the clock and it was only 10:34 p.m. What a way to spend a Friday night. We should have been out celebrating the new Seattle gym instead of lying in bed. I guess I could have been laying in a hospital bed like Christy or worse the morgue.
*~*~*
Even though I was extremely exhausted I couldn’t get the image of Christy coming after me with a knife out of my head. I tossed and turned all night. I know I kept Brandon up most of the night as well because he would hug me tighter when I turned my back towards him.
Brandon's phone alarm went off at 6:45 a.m. I think I had just fallen asleep and woke still feeling exhausted, but I knew that Brandon really wanted to get answers from Christy and I wanted to go with him to the hospital.
We arrived at the hospital a little before eight o'clock. Brandon asked the Nurse's Station what room Christy was in and when we finally found Christy's room, we saw a nurse exit and close the door behind her. Brandon slowly opened the door as he clenched my right hand. We walked into the room; the bed curtain was around the first bed. Brandon peeked in then turned to me and shook his head indicating that it wasn't Christy.
We walked a little towards the second bed that didn't have a bed curtain around it. I saw Christy laying there with her eyes closed; she looked peaceful. I noticed her medical chart was lying on a rolling table at the end of her bed. I grabbed it and scanned it quickly trying to hurry before the nurse returned.
Sure enough Christy wasn't pregnant. The medical chart indicated that when she was admitted to the Emergency Room, they were told she was pregnant by the paramedics based on what I had told them at Brandon’s condo. They did an exploratory laparoscopy... whatever that meant, and checked for the fetal heart rate only to find that there wasn't one.
During the operation they checked for the dead fetus but found nothing. There was a note on the file saying all medical evidence concluded that she had never been pregnant. The stress and pain that she caused us over the last few months was for nothing. I slammed the chart down on the table with frustration. Brandon jumped at the noise and looked over at me.
"Sorry," I whispered. "The chart says she was never pregnant."
Before I could say anything else, Christy moved. Her eyes opened and when she saw us standing there, she started to scream. Brandon reached down and covered her mouth––I just stood there in shock.
"We’re not here to hurt you, Christy. I just want some answers from you – some honest answers," Brandon said. "When I remove my hand, do you promise not to scream?"
Christy slowly nodded her head and looked over at me. I stood there glaring at her. Brandon removed his hand from her mouth. She didn't scream.
"We won't be long. I just want to know why you faked the pregnancy," Brandon snapped.
"I...I thought I could get you back," she whispered with a hoarse voice.
"But you were never pregnant. Didn't you think I would have noticed?"
"I was... I was going to pretend to have a miscarriage once we got back together."
"We were never going to get back together."
"I finally realized that." Christy’s head drooped dejectedly.
"And that is why you tried to kill Spencer?"
She paused and swallowed hard before answering. "Yes."
"You are really fucked up in the head, you know that?" Christy didn't respond to Brandon. Instead she started to cry. "We will see you at your trial, Christy," Brandon said as he started to turn to walk out the door.
I tugged on his hand to stop him and then turned back to Christy. "I just have one question. How did you get the ultrasound?"
She didn't respond at first. Then finally she spoke, "My friend works for the doctor's office. She printed someone else's ultrasound and gave it to me."
Brandon snorted in disgust, then tugged on my hand and we left the room not saying another word to her.
*~*~*
We drove straight to Brandon's condo. He had received a call that it was okay for him to return home and the cops no longer needed to do anymore investigating at the condo; they had everything they needed.
We arrived at his building and took the short elevator ride up to Brandon's floor. My hands became sweaty as he held my right hand firmly. When we stepped off the elevator and walked down to Brandon's front door, we saw that his door was covered in yellow police tape.
Brandon removed the tape and unlocked his door. We both paused. "Are you sure you want to see this?" Brandon asked.
"No, but we are here. We need to clean it up and move on."
"Baby, you don't have to be strong all the time. I can clean it up."
"I know. It's okay, I can handle it."
We walked into his condo. Blood was smeared on the floor where Christy's body laid after she fell down the stairs. Black dust was dusted over the railing of the staircase. It reminded me of the TV show Law and Order and how the cops would
dust for prints.
For the next hour we tried to get all the blood off the floor. But no matter how hard and long we scrubbed, we couldn't get it all. I had never had to clean up a pool of blood before, and apparently soap and water wouldn't work one hundred percent. Maybe it was because I knew what was there and it caught my eye more.
After we scrubbed and scrubbed, trying to erase the horrific event, we realized we weren’t going to be able to get it all out on our own. Brandon stood and took my hand for me to stand and walked us over to the couch and sat down.
Brandon turned to me and started to speak, "I'm going to call someone and have them come and clean it tomorrow."
"Okay."
"The hour that we have been here has been killing me inside. All I can picture is the story you told me about what Christy did and then seeing her body laying at the bottom of the stairs."
"Me too," I whispered.
It was hard for me to be in there, but I couldn't let Brandon deal with it on his own. We had been a couple for only a short time, but the bonds we shared made us a team. I knew that we would overcome anything after we managed to get past this hurdle.
I loved him so much and I knew that he loved me too. No one was going to break us apart. I managed to cheat death and we were still together, and I hoped we’d be together forever.
"I... I want to sell this condo and move," Brandon said.
"Okay, I completely understand."
"I want us to buy a place together. Move in with me?"
Wanted, the sequel to Where I Need to Be, coming soon.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First I would like to thank my husband, AG, JS, MS, SA and BP for all the advice and thoughts you have given me throughout this process. I really couldn't have done it without you all.
Thank you also to Teresa Mummert, Molly McAdams, Emily Snow and R.L. Mathewson for all the advice you have given me these last few months on how to make my dream come true. I swear I owe you all one hundred margaritas each for all the questions you had to answer for me.
Where I Need to Be Page 14