Loverboy

by Jaszczak, Trista

  I click the safety on and slide my gun into the back of my pants as I make my way over to her, checking every corner of the room as I do. I take a knee next to her, and she immediately flinches.

  “Charlie,” I say.

  She opens her eyes as much as she can, “Nick.”

  “Oh, God, Charlie,” I say, now seeing she’s much worse than I could see before. I quickly dig in my pocket for my cuff key. She cries out in pain as I touch her wrists to shove the key into the lock.

  “Nick, it hurts,” she says, her voice so weak it’s nearly gone.

  “I just have to,” I feel my heart sink. “It won’t work for some reason.” I try to the other side, to only find my key isn’t working.

  “Please, Nick, get me out of here,” she begs.

  I nod. “I promise I will.”

  “And, the others,” she cries.

  “The others?” I ask.

  She tries to nod her head. “I can hear them. In the other rooms. They cry, and I can hear them scream.”

  “We’ll get the others, too,” I reassure her as I glance around her for a key.

  “He has the key,” she says.

  I look down at her and have to fight my own tears. She looks as though she’s in worse shape than she was the first time. She’s covered from nearly head to toe in her own blood. He body is battered, beaten, and already bruised with deep shades of blues and browns. I bring a hand up to her cheek, and she winces in pain.

  “I’m so sorry, Charlie,” I tell her. “I should have never...”

  She manages to shake her head. “It’s not your fault.”

  Suddenly, the sound of footsteps scraping against the wet cement interrupts us.

  “Nick, you have to hide.”

  I nod. “I’ll get him.” I tell her before rushing to another door opening. I hear the sound of whimpering behind me, and I turn to see another girl sitting up and chained to the wall. I place my finger to her lips. “I’m here to help you. I promise.”

  She gives me a weak nod as a few more tears roll down her cheeks. I glance along the floor. I certainly can’t shoot him. It would just alert the other one to come. Finally, I see a good sized brick. It’s the only option I have. I take it in my hands and peer from the corner of the door. I watch as Charlie’s entire body shakes at the image of the dark figure that’s approaching her.

  “Still holding out that someone will find you?” He laughs. “Well, you shouldn’t, because Nicky isn’t coming.”

  I hear Charlie’s weak cries turn into full on sobs.

  “Count your minutes,” he tells her. “You don’t have many of them left.”

  I creep up behind him just as he shoves his foot into Charlie’s side. She coughs and tries to move as he laughs. I poise the corner of the brick to the back of his head and bring it down forcefully where the skull meets the neck. He crumples immediately as blood begins to seep from the small incision the rough and old brick made. I toss it to the side and begin digging in his pockets for the key to Charlie’s handcuffs. I find a small key ring that’s filled with various keys, and I kneel next to her.

  “I’ve got you now,” I tell her, trying the first key.

  She winces in pain again. “Just hurry.”

  I nod and move onto another key as I see how badly cut her wrists are, and then I move to yet another key. The fourth key is the charm, and the cuffs pop open. They’re saturated with both blood and parts of Charlie’s skin. Her arms crumple to her sides as she cries.

  I help her sit up and throw my arms around her. “I’ve got you now,” I tell her again as I feel her body shake and shiver in my arms.

  “Well, well, well, isn’t that just a sweet picture.” I turn around and place Charlie just behind me. It’s Edmunds, and his gun is pointed directly at my head. “Don’t you just love a story with a happy ending?” He asks. “Too damn bad that this one won’t have one.”

  “Edmunds, come on, Man. Don’t be stupid,” I tell him. “Put the gun down. You’re already a woman killer; do you want to add cop killer to that list, too?”

  “Why the fuck would I listen to you?” He asks. “Are you trying to be the hero now?” He asks. “Are you going to arrest me?” He asks, laughing.

  “If I don’t, then someone else will,” I tell him. “You’ve been caught. It’s simple as that. Now put the gun down.”

  He shakes his head.

  “Come on, Man, you know how we do things.”

  “I know how you do things,” he tells me. “You fuck her, and then you leave her alone. Nice move.”

  I think back. I had been the one to leave her. I left her alone. I had been the one to listen to Wilson and leave her in that office when I should have made her come with me. This was all my fault.

  “Oh that stings, now doesn’t it?” He asks.

  “I’m here now, though,” I tell him.

  “A little too late, don’t you think?” He says. “Look at her.”

  “She’s alive.”

  “Barely.” He smiles.

  “She’ll heal.”

  “Are you so sure about that?” He laughs.

  “Drop the gun, Edmunds,” I order again.

  He shakes his head. “Not in this lifetime, pretty boy.”

  I see the opening and go for it. I lunge forward, taking Edmunds by surprise. I hear the gun fire once and take the force into my own chest. I hear Charlie let out a shrill scream with what‘s left of her voice. I completely twist his wrist, forcing the barrel of the gun at him. It fires again, this time making Edmunds crumble lifeless to the floor. I quickly turn to Charlie, whose swollen eyes have glazed over as she leans against the wall.

  “Charlie,” I say. “Can you see to me? Flak vest. I’m not hurt.” I stare into her blank eyes. “Come on, Charlie, look at me. Come on, Baby. Look at me. Listen to my voice.”

  I see her blink slowly as a few tears slide down her cheeks.

  “Come on, that’s it,” I urge her as I take her face in my hands.

  “Nick,” she finally breathes.

  “That’s it,” I say.

  “He shot you.”

  I nod. “But I have my vest on.” I point to the bullet hole. “I’m okay.”

  “Vest?” She questions.

  “Bullet proof.”

  Charlie finally leans in and crumples into my arms. Her body is freezing as I wrap an arm around her. I yank out my cell phone and dial up the department. “The old Johnson Mill,” I say. “Bring medical care, and the coroner. I’ve got them.” I drop my phone on the ground and wrap her in my arms. “Think you can walk?” I ask.

  She gives her head a feeble shake. “I can’t move.”

  “It’s okay,” I say, “I have an ambulance on the way.”

  “Just don’t leave me,” she mumbles softly.

  “I won’t,” I tell her. “You have my word.”

  She pushes all of her weight into me, as she can barely hold her head up. Her breathing begins to slow, but her body trembles slightly as I rub up and down her back. I let out a breath as I can hardly open my mouth to speak. Instead, I find myself just holding her as I trace along the lines of the Phoenix on her back. Now, this bird had a deeper meaning…Charlie is the Phoenix, and not only did she rise from hell once, I have every faith that she’ll do it again. Soon, the dark old mill is filled with bright blue and red flashing lights. Uniforms flood the old mill. “It’s all over,” I tell her. “You’re safe now. But, we have to get you to a hospital.”

  I feel her nod slightly as I’m sure that’s all she can manage.

  “Andrews,” I hear Wilson’s voice just behind me.

  I look down at Charlie, who gives me an understanding nod to greet him. Instead of standing, I keep my arms around her, letting her continue to rest against me. His eyes fall on the hole in my tee shirt. “I’m fine,” I say, tapping the flak vest underneath. “I’m not sure how many girls they have.”

  A female officer steps in silently and finally drapes a wool blanket around Charlie’
s body. “She’s alive,” I say again, “but, not in good shape.”

  Wilson manages a nod.

  “I’m sure the other girls are in the same, if not worse, state,” I say, wiping my face.

  He only nods again. “Some congratulations are in order. You single handedly did what everyone in the city wanted to do.”

  “I guess it’s true when they say love makes you do crazy things,” I tell him.

  “Not to mention stupid,” he adds. “I should have your ass for this.”

  I nod, “I understand.”

  “But,” he begins, “I’m not going to.”

  I stare up at him in disbelief.

  “I would be the most hated man in New York City if I got the cop fired who took out Loverboy,” he tells me. “You do need to get her to the hospital,” he tells me. “Squads are here.”

  I nod and watch as he heads in another direction. I kneel again in front of Charlie. “We need to get you to the hospital,” I tell her.

  She nods. “Will you go with me?”

  I nod. “Of course,” I tell her, now listening briefly to the back ground. It had been confirmed that three other girls had made it out alive, but the body of their 10th victim had also been recovered. “The sooner we get you to the hospital, the sooner you’ll feel a little better.”

  She gives me another slight nod as I begin to help her from the ground. But, we quickly find that she has been so beaten she just cannot move, no matter how hard she tries. I lift her gingerly in my arms and place her lightly on the stretcher as two paramedics mumble their thanks. I give them a nod, and I suck back my own tears as she cries out every so often in pain.

  “Are you riding along, officer?” One young paramedic asks as they begin to gingerly load the stretcher in the back of the ambulance.

  Charlie’s eyes immediately shift to me. “Yes,” I say, following them into the back of the ambulance where they go to work on Charlie. Her body seems to sink comfortably into the fresh blankets and sheets that are on the stretcher, and I realize that I can’t imagine the relief they must be from the cold and wet cement floor. I hear her sigh deeply; if anything, out of relief. She looks over at me and smiles slightly.

  “Thank you,” she says, softly.

  “For what?” I ask, taking her hand in mine.

  “You saved my life, Nick,” she tells me. “On more than one occasion.”

  I smile. “You don’t have to thank me for that.”

  She nods as I move back to give the paramedics room, as they are now beginning to take her blood pressure, run IV’s, and a variety of other things. She grimaces out in pain every so often as they begin checking each of the deep abrasions and bruises that are lining her body. I watch closely as they carefully check her black and blue ribs by far the worst and most tender. Charlie slams her eyes shut and fights a round of tears. I take one long breath in and exhale slowly. This time, it really does feel as though it is my fault and seeing her like this is killing me slowly. I don’t take my eyes off the paramedics, however, whom seem to run down an entire list of tasks as we ride the distance to the hospital.

  I can tell we’ve reached the hospital as I feel the squad’s direction change as we begin pulling into the spot backward. I can see that Charlie’s hands are beginning to shake, and she seems to appear even more fragile. One of the paramedics unlocks and pushes the back double doors opening, giving me the go ahead to step down. I obey and stand to the side as they begin wheeling Charlie through the set of emergency doors.

  A nurse immediately allows the paramedics and Charlie to pass through. She sticks her hand out in front of me. “I’m sorry, officer, I’ll have to ask you to wait in the lobby.”

  I nod as she points to my right, and I head down the long, sterile hallway. It’s now that I see just how weak and tired my own body feels. I take another long breath and find an uncomfortable chair to sink into. I rest my elbows on my knees as I drop my head and place my face in my hands. I find myself starting to cry. Not just a few tears; really crying, sobbing uncontrollably, for the first time in years. I think of Charlie and how happy I am that I found her. But, I think back to those horrible bruises, the deeps cuts, and blood all over her body. I sink further into the chair and I let it all go. I feel my body shake as my cries turn into much heavier sobs as I suck in a gulp of air, and for once I don’t care if anyone is there to witness. I just cry. I cry for Charlie.

  * * * * * *

  It’s funny how crying can wear down an already tired and weak person. I wake in a most uncomfortable position, to a hand coming down on my shoulder.

  The nurse smiles. “You can see her now.”

  I nod and stand as she heads back to the nurse’s station. I take a minute to stretch and walk to the bathroom to splash my face with cool water before looking at myself in the mirror. I look at the hole in the front of my shirt, and run my finger over the mark where the bullet entered the flak vest. I can feel the bullet firmly lodged into the material. I let out a breath and shake my head before putting my back to the wall and sliding down it to sit on the bathroom floor. I pull out my phone, and, without looking at the time, I call Anna.

  “Nick, it's almost one in the morning. Is everything okay? I told you, you don't need to check up on me,” her normal happy voice rings through the phone.

  “I don’t know what to do, Anna,” I say, beginning to cry again.

  “Nick, what’s going on?” She asks.

  “Anna, I was on the Loverboy case,” I wipe at my face. “The girl who managed to get away.”

  She takes a breath. “Charlotte Murphy,” she says softly.

  “I was watching her, I did something,” I pause. “I got so close to her, I…”

  She stops me, “Nick,” I can hear a little smile, “you fell for her.”

  “I did.” I take a breath. “I told her I love her.”

  “Nick, that’s great,” she says. “That’s a good a thing.”

  “I know,” I say, trying to breathe through my own tears. “But, she was taken again. She was taken from the police station. The things they’ve done to her. I’m terrified of walking into her hospital room, Anna; I can’t see her hurting.”

  I hear a soft rustling noise on the other end of the phone. “Nick, she needs you right now. Probably more than ever.

  “I know,” I admit. “But, I’m so afraid to look at her, let alone touch her. If you could see her, Anna; her body, she looks…”

  She stops me. “Nick, do you remember the weeks after I was attacked?”

  I think for a moment. I didn’t like to remember it, but I could, quite vividly. “Yeah,” I reply.

  “Do you remember how afraid you were to even come near me?” She asks.

  I could remember it clearly. “You told me that all you needed was for me to be your brother again. To stop being afraid and worrying, and then you hugged me.”

  I hear a big smile in her voice. “You need to find the courage to not be afraid anymore. If you love her like it sounds like you do, then you should be with her. If anyone can do that, it's you, Nick. You're one of a kind, Nick; you can handle anything.”

  “It feels so different with her Anna,” I say. “I don’t know why.”

  “It feels different, because the love you have for your sister is different from the love that you feel for her,” she tells me. “Nick, go to her, be there with her, she needs you now more than she probably ever has.”

  I nod, even though she can’t see it, and rub my face and eyes. “Thank you, Anna.”

  “Anytime,” she says. “You be safe, and send my good thoughts to her, please.”

  I smile. “I will.”

  “Love you, Nick,” she says. “Bye.”

  “Love you, too,” I say as the phone line clicks dead. I take another long breath and lean my head back, looking at the ceiling before picking myself up off the floor. I splash my face once more before heading out of the bathroom and make my way toward the hospital rooms. The sterile smell wafts to my nose as the
nurse at the nurse’s station uses her pen to point toward Charlie’s room, as she continues a conversation on the telephone. I knock lightly a few times on the door before stepping inside. Charlie is now lying in a slightly more comfortable hospital bed, and has been changed from her underwear and blankets to the sensible hospital gown. Blankets are piled on top of her, and I can see the IV is now running up the length of a metal pole and several bags of clear fluids are hanging from it. All the blood and cuts have been cleaned and fresh bandages have been placed on the worst ones. Stepping closer, I can see her eyes are shut, but she’s relaxed as her head falls slightly toward me. It’s also easy to tell that she’s gotten something for the pain, as now she really looks peaceful.

  “Nick,” she sighs my name in such a perfect way that I feel myself nearly melt as it takes me one more step to get to her bed.

  “I’m here,” I tell her as I reach for one of her hands.

  She smiles slightly, and I take a seat just on the edge of the bed.

  “How do you feel?” I ask.

  “They gave me something for pain,” she mumbles. “They said it would take the edge off. And, aside from a few broke ribs,” she pauses. “They said all my tests came back great.”

  I smile. “That’s great, so you’ll recover in no time.”

  She lets out a faint laugh. “I think it may take a while,” she says softly.

  “Well, first you rest,” I say. “Rest is important. Let your body heal.”