by Jenna Payne
“Good girl. Look I have a few things going that might clear this whole thing up. I am waiting to hear more from someone I met last night before I can really get into it but have hope. I will call and let you know when I get all the facts nailed down. Is that cool?” She asked Lizzy. Lizzy wanted to know what she was talking about but she did trust Katy and was feeling so much better it was easier to let her handle her part.
“Sure, Katy, just don’t leave me hanging to long okay?” She said.
“I won’t, thanks for the trust, and I will get back to you later,” she said and hung up.
Lizzy told the guys what Katy had said and went to get cleaned up. She enjoyed a bath this time and when she finished she felt even better. She went through her bag,a little disappointed with her mad rush of random clothes before leaving her apartment. She had a mix and match of stuff. With a sigh, she found something that would work. She was glad she had intentionally grabbed clean underwear. She put on a sports bra and panties. Then she put on a red skirt to her knees, thick with frilly trim, and a green camisole medium curt neckline that hinted at her cleavage and covered her sports bra. Then she remembered and put on her knee brace before using her crutches to wobble out to the others.
Jack looked like he had just took a shower and Randy was nowhere in sight. Jack looked casual in sweats and a New York City t-shirt.
“You are looking fine, if I may say so,” Jack told her. She smiled prettily.
“I was thinking the same about you. So any plans for the day? We are to stay here according to Detective Linton,” she told him.
“We can hang out, take naps, maybe some other activities will occur to us,” he said with an eager smile. She knew what he was thinking and she thought it would be fun later. Although right then she was so relaxed laying down almost sounded good.
“I think I am still worn out from everything this week. Would you mind if I just tipped back on the couch for a while? I will apologize now if I fall asleep this time,” she told him and he laughed.
“No worries, Liz, it was very cute how you were just out and snoring in a minute’s time. Make yourself comfortable, seriously. We will look out for you, so relax,” he said and hugged her. She gave him a kiss and hobbled over to the couch. She sat with a sigh. Maybe it was the big breakfast and then a long bath but a nap did sound good.
“Where is Randy?” She asked with a yawn.
“Getting cleaned up. No worries, remember,” he said and she chuckled, reclining to her back and crossing her hands on her waist.
“Ah this feels good,” she said softly and she did fall asleep again.
Until it felt like the world was shaking and she heard shouting.
Lizzy pushed herself up and froze. There was a big guy with a Kansas accent and a gun kicking the couch to wake her up. Jack was sitting on the arm of a chair nearby with his hands above his head as another guy pointed a gun at him. He had one large foot on the coffee table keeping his leg in a forty-five-degree angle.
“Oh come on! Not again, seriously. This is getting old dude,” Lizzy told him angrily. She was really getting tired of this and as scared as she was she had just about had her limit.
“Shut up, slut. As your parents thought, holing up with some sports star. It is disgraceful. You are going to come with me, and you,” he said pointing at Jack, “are going to be tied up quietly or get shot,” he said and gestured for the other man to approach Jack from the living room entryway. As he approached Jack kicked the table he was resting his foot on and it slid across the room with some force and tripped the man coming at him. At the same time Randy made his appearance.
“Not this time!” Randy yelled as he appeared from the hallway in a running dive. He tackled the big guy threatening Lizzy. They went down behind the other couch, the gun flying through the air. Jack leapt across the room to keep the other guy down.
“If you are a fan, stay quiet and I won’t beat your ass as you deserve,” he shouted at him. Lizzy remembered a thief at the store apologizing to Randy. The guy Jack was kneeling over remained quiet and Lizzy struggled to her feet seeing Randy come up from behind the couch. Then he made a fist and swung it down. Once, twice, and a third time.
“Hold it Randy, I think you got him,” came Katy’s voice from the door. Lizzy spun and almost fell as the woman came in with her gun drawn. She glanced around and then saw Lizzy.
“Aren’t you supposed to stay off your feet for a few days?” Then she moved forward and handcuffed the guy Randy had taken down as another officer filed in and took care of the one Jack got. It took her a moment to figure out what Katy had said to her and she began laughing. She sat down again and took deep breaths to calm down because along with laughing she had begun shaking with reaction to the sudden shock of being woken at gunpoint. Lizzy remained there as the bad guys were ushered out and then Katy sat down across from her. Randy and Jack sat on either side of her.
“I suppose you are wondering why I called you here,” Katy said with a grin. They just nodded.
“First, sorry about being late. I didn’t think they would move that fast. Now then Lizzy, your parents are on their way to the station. They were down stairs waiting for you to be kidnapped. They told me all about it,” she said. Lizzy’s jaw dropped open.
“They were here? How did they know where I was?” She asked with a trembling voice.
“That is what is interesting. I received a call last night from your lawyer. He said he had been trying to call you but was getting a wrong number. I told him you still had the same number and I gave it to him. The one he had programmed into his phone was one digit off. Guess who programs his phone for him,” They thought about it for a second. Randy got there first.
“That Donna chick,” he said and Katy nodded.
“Yes. Apparently she was in constant communication with your folks. After the man they sent followed you to the jewelry store the first time, they did not have to follow you anymore. Donna knew every move you made because you told her or her boss. Her bank account has grown substantially this past week and the phone records all show the numerous calls she made with your mom and dad,” Lizzy was amazed.
“I am shocked they left Kansas,” she said softly, not sure what to make of the new development.
“They told me it had to be done to put you in your place. They are quite proud of their actions and are bragging about it even now I should expect,” she said, her nose wrinkling up in disgust.
“How did you find out they would be here?” Jack asked.
“We got Donna into a room with the man we caught last night and between them they gave it up. That big guy is a factory foreman for your dad’s company and everyone else are local morons looking for a payday. Donna told us the plan as she heard it and we rushed over here right away. They got past security by posing as delivery men. I have a feeling your building security, Jack, is about to be revamped,” she said. She looked at Lizzy carefully.
“Are you going to be alright?” She asked.
Lizzy gave a shaky laugh. “So it is over? I don’t have to worry about it anymore? Do I have to see my parents?” She asked, her only real concern. She had a feeling building within her she was not sure she recognized.
“Not if they keep bragging about their crimes. A judge will take care of them really quick,” Katy said. Lizzy felt a relief and then that elusive feeling she had never had. Freedom.
*****
Lizzy walked back into her apartment from her balcony that faced Central Park. She had made the move right after the last attack from her parents and was very happy in this building. She saw herself in her mirror and wrinkled her nose, then smiled with a shrug at her reflection.
“What are you going to do girl, it’s been fun,” she said to herself. She was wearing two tank tops, a red and a white, tucked into gym shorts showing off her new muffin top and pooch belly. She had spent the last month and a half spending most of her time on her rear after the surgery her knee ended up needing. So consequently, her love
of all things pastry had caught up to her. She did not mind though. She had enjoyed it and today was the first day of getting in shape. The guys were coming over to take her to their gym to work out. She spun on her leg happily. She barely had a limp now. Life sure was fine she thought.
Her parents were on their way to jail and none of her dad’s money could save them. It did not help them that they still bragged about their actions as if they were only saviors trying to get their daughter to repent. The judge was not impressed. The dumb-ass thugs they hired went away as well. Lizzy was truly safe and would be for a long time to come.
She had also fallen fairly hard for Randy. She loved Jack but the experience she shared with Randy in the Jewelry store had created a bond neither of them had recognized at first. Now that they had they had talked and decided to give it a try. She did not mind his celebrity status and he did not mind her trust fund baby state of living.
She had managed to finally buy two bracelets from Reginald’s Jewelry. He was doing well and his store was still doing fine. He refused to hire security, not wanting to destroy the atmosphere. She thought it was a good idea. She told everyone she knew with money to shop there because he was a brave man who had stood up for her. People listened and he had got some business from it.
She also had taken the time to attend the meetings at Wonders Woman Shelter. She spoke of her experiences and it seemed to help some. At least she hoped it did. After speaking she would sweep up as promised. She wasn’t sure if that itself didn’t help more people. It was the final actions that helped her get past her own past and truly embrace her future and she was delighted and in debt to the ladies there.
Lizzy heard a knock at her door and grabbed her gym bag and went to answer it. It was Jack and her man Randy.
“Hi guys, ready to go?” She said with a happy smile. They returned it.
“Damn right, if you are,” Jack said.
“Yeah I was wondering if I could bring along a friend,” she asked.
“Sure, who did you have in mind. Is she cute?” Jack asked and Randy laughed winking at Lizzy.
“Depends on who you ask,” said Kate Linton. She had just walked up behind them with a gym bag over her shoulder. The woman smiled at everyone and eyed Jack critically.
“With a little work you could be cute,” she told him. Randy and Lizzy busted up laughing as Jack humorously protested. Lizzy noticed he was eyeing the detective though. She was a good looking woman and Jack would be in for a time of it if he tried to date her. Lizzy was looking forward to it. She linked arms with Randy and followed the other two down the hallway. Life was good.
THE END
Bonus Story 26 of 40
Loch Morar’s Dragon
Maisie was no stranger to exploring the lands around her family's home on her own. She would never grow tired of the tall, rocky crags and sprawling lochs tucked away in all the nook and crannies. It seemed as if there was always something new to discover every time she left their little village, something that Maisie had managed to pass by no matter how many times she rode or ran through the same places. There were caves a person could lose themselves in, and some of the lochs, though small, were so deep it was impossible to see the bottom.
Maisie had never been afraid of anything that lurked in the hills around them. She never went too far from the village, as per her father's wishes, and even that small population meant that predatory animals stayed far away from it, lurking only in the thickest woods and deepest caves, preying on the wildlife that roamed there, the same as the villagers did. Recently, however, there had been rumors and news of a particularly brave pack of wolves in the area. Several of the shepherds in the surrounding villages had lost sheep to them, and had devoured them so completely that there was only a handful of bones left behind.
Wolves didn't prey on humans, however, at least that was what Maisie had learned growing up, so there was little reason for her to be afraid. If the pack was growing fat on sheep then she need not worry about them attacking her out of desperation and could continue her roaming free of fear, so long as she was back by sundown and had finished all she needed to do for the day, her father's only real requirements. Her brother wasn't quite so lucky, but he made a decent living as the village's sole blacksmith. Maisie missed wandering the highlands with him, but his income helped put food on their table, and she couldn't be angry at him for that.
The morning had brought with it the perfect weather for a romp in the endless countryside. Even with summer on the way, the air in the morning was still cool to bring the kiss of dew to the grass and settled in Maisie's long hair. She finished her chores with lightning speed, dumping out the pots and feeding the goats and chickens all before her father and brother had moved from their beds. She could have left a message to let them know where she had run off to, but they knew her well enough, and should they question, Maisie passed a small number of people on her way out of the village, all of whom could attest to her whereabouts. It was far too nice a day to spend inside slaving over the fire or helping Ramsay in his shop. No, it was a day for an adventure.
Determined to find something new, Maisie set out with nothing but the clothes on her back and a small satchel filled with food for the day. Even if she did nothing other than find a fair spot to sun herself, it was better than being cooped up in the village, surrounded by the noise and mess of people. She would far rather soak in the sounds of nature, and there was plenty of that to go around. With the ease born of years of experience, Maisie made her way through the rocks and trees, past what was familiar and seeking something new.
She slipped into the forest, letting her feet follow the well-worn hunting paths, letting her soul guide her on her way. Under her breath she hummed a quiet ditty. Around her the wilderness thrived, all but untouched by man, and perfect in its wildness. She was too far in for the wind to reach and rustle the leaves, but she could hear critters skittering about in the brush. She wondered if they could enjoy the weather as much as she did. She imagined no creature was immune to such a joyful day.
Her wanderings took her off the trail and into the thick of the woods, but still she knew where she was. At a very young age she had known what signs to look for to find her way home again, and the trunks around her were as familiar as the walls of her house. For eighteen years she had explored the woods, and they never failed to surprise her in one way or another.
For a time, Maisie walked aimlessly, humming, letting the trees and bushes around her brush against her skin and tug at her dress. The earth was cool and moist under her bare feet, though she had a pair of shoes tucked away in her bag along with her food, just in case. When hunger started to grow in her belly she stopped and looked for a decent place to sit and eat, only to realize that she didn't recognize where she was. She automatically glanced over her shoulder. She could see the trail she had made easily enough, and as long as she could see that then she would be fine. Just to be safe, she slipped her little knife from her satchel and whittled away a bit of bark off a nearby tree until there was a clear mark on the trunk.
Satisfied, she moved to where the trees were thinner and settled in a patch of pale sunlight. It had warmed the grass where it shone. Maisie curled her toes and broke off a bit of bread from the small loaf she had stuffed into her satchel. She nibbled at the fleshy part and closed her eyes, enjoying the sun on her skin. When the hunger in her stomach abated, she looked around the little clearing she found herself in. She had seen dozens like it, but it was exciting because it was new, and Maisie added it to the mental map she had in her head of the world around her.
She continued on not long after, and soon broke out of the woods and into more hills and valleys. She tipped her head back to peer up at the sky, judging the time by the position of the sun, when a black speck caught her eye. Initially she thought it was a bird, but it was so high and so large that it couldn't be. It circled overhead, but no matter how much she looked, Maisie couldn't make out any definitive shape. She picked her way down th
e side of the hill she stood on, heading down to the small creek she could see in the valley below.
It was a rather steep incline and Maisie went carefully, but the stones and dirt beneath her feet were slippery and one wrong step sent a shock of pain through her ankle and she tripped and tumbled down the rest of the hill. The world was a blur as she went head over heels to the bottom and struck her head hard against the rocks below. Her ears rang and she swore the earth shook as a sharp cry pierced the air. Her vision blackened at the corners, but before the darkness overtook her she felt something large and strong wrap around her middle and lift her body off the ground.
*****
The aches and pains in her body were the first things Maisie was aware of, tugging her away from the quiet peace of slumber and back into the world of the living. Her ankle felt swollen and tender, and when she gingerly prodded at the sore spot on her head with her fingers she found a lump and the ridge of a cut crusted with dried blood. She hissed in a breath and let her hand fall back down, not quite ready to open her eyes. She felt around gingerly. There was a bed beneath her, the mattress far softer than the pallet she slept on at home, and covered in furs and blankets. Several of them were tangled around her hips and legs.
She pushed at them and opened her eyes. The pain that followed made her almost close them again right away, but she settled for squinting until the light stopped being so bright and she could look around. She was in... a cave. A well-lit cave, with an opening in the roof to allow sunlight to filter in, in addition to at least a dozen lanterns and even more candles, making the enclosed space seem as bright as the world outside. There was furniture as well, though sparse; a table and chair, a wardrobe, and the bed. There seemed to be only one other exit from the cavern, excluding the hole in the ceiling. Candlelight flickered along the curved walls.