Bed Of Lies

by King, Dean

  His eyes drifted back to the monitors. She was at her desk, working on something. Rafe felt a great need to make her eyes sparkle with laughter and her heart pound with love for him, for the rest of their lives. Most of last night was spent wrapped in her arms, his head nestled between her full breasts as he considered how he would propose to her. Having a wife and children had never really entered his mind. But now the thoughts were with him everyday. Is it hard to be a father? He wondered. Will her kids accept me? Or would they resent me for taking their father's place? All those thoughts had stalled his attempt at romance. They caused him to postpone his proposal. There had to be a better way and a better place to declare his love. Creeping out of her room this morning, he regretted leaving without saying the words in his heart.

  Right now he watched her at her desk, digging around in a drawer. Rafe thought long and hard about what happened to her car. He decided Randy and Cathy must have been behind the whole thing. They may have hired this blond guy to scare her, Rafe thought. The only others ones who fit the bill are Ben and Rick at the club. But neither one had a reason to hurt Nina. Maybe Cathy and Randy were trying to get back at her, or some nonsense like that. But he had to be positive before he confronted them. The first attack had yet to be explained. If anything else happened to Nina he’d end up killing someone with his bare hands.

  Rafe found his eyes drawn back to Nina. She stood. Walking out of her office, he saw her new secretary. Rafe turned to his new security officer. “Can you turn up the volume on camera three, John?”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Do you need anything, Ms.?” The short and plump dark skinned woman asked. But Nina waved her away.

  “No thank you, Leatha, I have it.” Nina stepped past the woman.

  “You know, all you have to do is tell me and I'll get it for you, ma'am.” The woman offered.

  Nina turned back with a small, but distracted, smile. “I know, I just need to get up and move around that's all.” Leatha had been her secretary for two months now, but Nina couldn’t look at her and not think of Sharon. “I'm going to the storage room. I'll be right back.” She left her office and headed down the hallway. Lately, Nina had taken to letting her hair hang free, and the contacts did wonders for her. She even smiled more often.

  Right now the shy smile playing across her lips nearly drove him crazy. He wanted to be able to have her by his side here at the office, as well as at home.

  He wanted to introduce her to the world as his wife, but something held him back. The unfamiliar sensation of uncertainty had him in its clutches. Suddenly there was a movement at the right of the screen. Then it was gone.

  Nina opened the door to the storage room and leaned in, obviously looking for the light switch. When the light didn't come on she wedged the door open with a book.

  “John, can I get some volume in camera twelve please?” Rafe said, he thought he saw her mouth moving.

  “Yes sir.”

  At that moment, Rafe heard someone say, “This'll fix her. I’ll teach that bitch a lesson. She’ll learn whose boss around here!” A hand came from the right, just out of the camera’s view. The book was pulled from its place and the door slammed shut.

  A grinning Cathy then stepped into view. Taking what looked like a chrome rod, she pushed at the handle under the doorknob to wedge it tight. “Let's see how high and mighty you are after spending a few days in there!” Laughing, she put a sign that warned: Hazardous Area Stay Out! Then she hurried away.

  Angered, Rafe listened for a moment, hoping someone would let her out. No one was around. The prank answered an important question: Cathy had to be behind it all. Then Beth's young voice returned to him from last night. Did your light go out? He frowned. Was Nina afraid of the dark? He had forgotten to ask her. His pulse raced, he had to get to her despite the risk of exposing himself.

  Minutes later Rafe was at the door of the storage room. He listened for a moment, his frown deepened, all was quiet inside. He yanked away what looked like a walking stick and opened the door.

  “Nina!” Rafe called, but only darkness greeted him. He checked the light switch. Nothing. “Nina?” A soft whimper reached him and he walked deeper inside.

  “It’s alright sweets, I'm here.” He strained to see but he could only hear slight movements. He went back to the door. Opening it as wide as he could, he wedged it in place so that light from the hallway flooded the area.

  Walking back inside, he stopped in his tracks. She was kneeling on the floor, her hands clasped so tight the whites of her knuckles were showing. Her eyes squeezed shut, but her lips raced in silence as if she were praying.

  Rafe rushed to her. “Honey what is it? Tell me what’s wrong...” He touched her, she flinched, her eyes popped open to stare at him, and she prayed harder. He didn't understand it; her skin was cold and clammy. Her eyes were blank.

  Panic rose to almost choke Rafe. “Listen to me, Nina, I’m going to take you out of here.” He reached for her again but this time she became animated.

  “No, no! I didn’t mean it! Don’t touch me! I’m sorry! Don't lock me in!” She screamed and kicked at him.

  Rafe fought her off as best he could without hurting her, finally holding her struggling body to his chest. “No, honey, no one is going to hurt you. Listen to me, Nina!”

  “Don’t touch me! Don’t you touch me!” She screamed, her voice screeching as panic held her in its grip. Her sobs came hard as she fought him. “Sister, please! I’m so scared, I won't do it again. Please don’t make me!”

  He caught her hands and struggled to constrain her, but the screams were deafening. He did the only thing he could think of: drawing back, he delivered a blow to her lower jaw.

  She dropped like an autumn leaf. Quickly, he gathered her into his arms. Disturbing questions rang in his mind. He shouted at the monitor. “John, call my mother! Tell her to meet me in Ms. Manchester’s office.”

  *****

  Miranda raced down the hall and flung the door open only to find Rafe leaning over a sleeping Nina. “What happened Rafe?” She hurried to him.

  “She was locked in the storage closet. She had to be in there for only a few minutes but when I opened the door she was…” He stood up and began pacing the room. “I don’t know. She was scared out of her wits, she kept telling me not to hurt her. She kept saying don’t touch me, and that she didn’t mean to do it. Mother, she was shaking and sweating and screaming. I didn’t know what to do. I had to knock her out.” Rafe raked his hands through his hair, totally at a loss to understand what had happened.

  Miranda smoothed the hair back from Nina’s still face, her eyes falling on the small bruise darkening her chin. “What did they do to you, child? How could nuns have been so cruel?” Miranda shot a quick look at Rafe. She knew he was dating Nina again, she also knew Nina thought herself in love with him. There wasn't a night that Nina didn't call her to talk about this new love. But had Nina confided in Rafe? Had she told him everything the nuns had done to her? Miranda dismissed that thought. Nina hadn't even told her everything.

  “I have to find out, mother,” Rafe came to stand beside the couch. “I have to know what happened to her.” Miranda’s dark eyes flew back to his face.

  “Why Rafe? Why don’t you leave it alone? I can handle this.”

  Rafe opened his mouth, then remained silent for a moment. Now wasn't the time to tell her of his feelings for Nina. “She’s my employee, I can’t have this kind of thing. What if she’d been seriously hurt?”

  Miranda shook her head, and opened her mouth to tell him what she thought of his lies, but Nina moaned. “You should go Mr. Boss man.” Miranda snapped not at all liking him right now.

  Rafe didn’t like her tone. But what choice did he have? He couldn’t just jump into details and that was what she would want. Still, he was reluctant to leave, but he knew if he didn't, he’d have a lot of explaining to do. Frustrated, he stormed out the door.

  Nina blinked, and lay still, she stared
into the light overhead. Then licked her dry lips and turned to find Miranda’s concerned face leaning over her.

  “What happened?” She sat up and Miranda moved to the side, then Nina swung her legs to the floor. “What are you doing here, Miranda?”

  Miranda moved to sit beside her. “You had an accident.” She caught Nina's cold hands in hers gently caressing them.

  Nina pulled her hands away and cupped her face, “I remember the darkness.” She shivered, her eyes closing briefly.

  Miranda pulled her into her arms. “What did they do to you, dear?” Concern creased her brow as she gently rocked Nina against her chest. “You told me this wasn't a nice place, but I never thought it was…”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Nina was shaking her head. “I can’t think about that right now.” Her voice caught on a small sob.

  “Listen to me, if you talk about it and get it out of your system, maybe it will help the wound to heal. Maybe you can get past it.” Miranda insisted, the vise around her heart squeezed tight at the pain Nina must have suffered. She caressed Nina's bowed head.

  “But it hurts, Miranda, it hurts so much. I thought I had gotten over it, but I haven’t.” She looked up her eyes filled with tears. “How did I get here?”

  “A security officer brought you in here, and then called me. He saw what happened.” She sighed, lying again. Her lips twisted, she was becoming very good at it.

  “This job has been nothing but a headache for me every since I started. Now I'll have to start looking for another one.” Nina said softly as if trying to change the subject. But her shoulders shook as tears began to flow.

  “There, there, honey, everything will be fine.” Miranda hugged her, gently caressing her shoulder. She felt the hot sting of tears behind her own eyes but she willed them away. “Everything will work out for the best.”

  “But you don’t understand,” Nina cried. “I can’t stay here, not after this. Why would they do this to me? I thought everyone was starting to like me, they were all trying to get to know me, they started talking to me. It was as if some curtain finally lifted and they could see that I was there.”

  “Darling, I know how bad it’s been for you,” Miranda tried to explain but she didn’t want Nina to think her a hypocrite. “All I can say is you were different, and sometimes people need to pick on others to make themselves feel better.”

  “So, what now? I’m more like them.” She shrugged her shoulders and kept though tear filled eyes on Miranda. “Tell me what to do, I just want to be left alone.”

  Miranda pulled Nina’s head down to her shoulder and held her as she cried. “There, there dove. You cry it all out. After this I don’t want to hear any more self doubt. You are a beautiful girl. You always have been and whether you hide it or not, it’s still there plain for everyone to see.”

  “I’m so tired of all this, sometimes I just want to make it all go away.”

  “There is no doing that,” Miranda whispered. “But you can report it to Wayne, he’ll find out who’s behind all these pranks and that person will pay.”

  Nina lifted her head and wiped her eyes. “You think it maybe be just one person?”

  “Of course, you’ve made lots of friends here, and I believe Wayne fired the man who was always spilling ink on you.”

  “Randy is gone?”

  Miranda shrugged. “I don’t know, but I think he is.”

  “So who else could it be,” Nina murmured, her eyes thoughtful. “I’ll look into it and find out on my own. I’m not some weak little ninny they can push around. From here on out I’m pushing back.”

  “That’s my girl, just be careful.”

  *****

  Rafe needed to lash out. His fury knew no bounds. Charging down the hall, he headed for Cathy’s office. Thrusting the door open, he stepped inside to see her giggling with a co-worker.

  “I’m sure you find your handiwork very amusing.” He growled. “As a matter of fact, I find it so amusing that I don’t think you belong here. Pack up. You’re fired! And when you see Randy on the unemployment line, tell him I said hello!” Rafe slammed the door, leaving Cathy sputtering for something to say.

  Back in his office, fury rolled through Rafe. If it were possible for him to hit a woman, he would've taken pleasure in beating Cathy senseless. His eyes fell to his telephone. He dialed his mother’s number.

  “Mother, how is she?” Rafe cringed as he heard weeping in the background. His arms physically ached to hold her.

  Miranda stiffened. “Now is not a good time. Call me back.”

  “No, listen, mother, I need to see Nina. Can you keep an eye on her children for me?”

  “No,” her voice unyielding. “Not now.”

  “Mother, I need to talk to her, that’s all.” He snapped. “Why are you treating me like this? I’m not Frank! I won’t hurt her!”

  “You already have,” she hissed. “Many times over. Now, I said no.”

  Rafe ignored the anger in her voice. He steeled himself against it. “Fine, if you won’t do it for me maybe you’ll do it for Nina.” He hung up, quickly dialing Nina’s office number.

  At the shrill ring of her telephone, Nina’s head popped up. Blotting her tears with a towel she sniffled but moved from Miranda’s comforting arms and went to her desk. “I have to get that.” Her voice wavering.

  Miranda stiffened, “No, I don’t think you should. I think you need to get the kids and spend the night with me. We can sit up and talk.”

  “Thank you, ma’am, but I really need to get it. Hold on for just a moment.” Taking a deep cleansing breath Nina paused for a moment then picked up the receiver. “This is Nina Manchester.”

  “Nina, it’s Rafe. I need to see you.” His voice was urgent.

  “What happened? Are you okay?” Concerned she clutched the phone tighter, her own drama temporarily forgotten.

  “Something very big happened today and I need you so bad baby. Please, say you’ll come to my place.”

  “I don’t know, Rafe. I just don’t know...” Her eyes shot to Miranda who was shaking her head.

  Miranda beat down the urge to scream, she wanted to tell Nina not to listen to him. But all she could do was stare. She bit her tongue against the urge to reveal everything.

  “Please, I need to talk to you. I may be getting transferred.” That was met with silence.

  “Are you sure? Where are they sending you?” Nina swallowed the lump that formed in her throat.

  “Overseas,” Rafe said, his voice strangely quiet.

  “Are you going to go?” The wind knocked out of her, her skin paled. Hot tears pricked her eyes, but she wouldn't cry.

  “That depends on you.” She shivered, swallowing hard at his tone.

  “What do you mean?” she whispered.

  “I need to talk to you.” He paused, “I have to give them my decision tomorrow.”

  “But that's not fair, Rafe,” she argued, “How can they just spring this on you with no notice?”

  “Will you come?” Nina sighed, he sounded impatient.

  “Yes, I'll come, when?”

  “As soon as you get off work.”

  “I’ll be there,” Nina looked away from Miranda who was shaking her head.

  “I’ll e-mail you directions on how to get to my place. I have to go, I’ll talk to you later.” They hung up Nina stared at the phone, her heart in her throat.

  “Nina, you can’t let men rule your life.” Miranda said from her seat. “That was him, wasn't it?”

  “Yes,” Nina said, her head hanging. She sat on the edge of the desk.

  “What's the matter?” Concerned, Miranda went to Nina.

  Nina lifted tear filled eyes, “He's leaving me.”

  Miranda's eyes stretched wide in surprise, “Why would he do that?”

  Nina shrugged. “The same reason everyone in my life leaves me.”

  Miranda laid her hand on Nina’s arm. “I don't understand, Nina. What are you talking about?”


  Nina produced a quivering sigh and wiped her eyes, “There is something wrong with me. I know there is. The nuns were right about that.” She stood up and walked to the window. One curl caught between her fingers, she worried the strand. “I don't know what it is, but I can't have a normal relationship with anyone. Maybe it's something I've done. Maybe this is God’s way of punishing me for breaking not one, but two, of his rules.” Her shoulders started to shake. “I love him so much.”

  Miranda went to her, taking her into her arms. “There, there sweets,” she crooned, “It's okay. Those nuns were so very wrong, Nina.”

  “Then why is this happening to me? Why can't I ever be loved? Every time I try to improve my appearance, something bad happens.”

  “Look, we are going to get you some therapy. Those evil witches screwed up your thinking and never bothered to fit it.” She caught Nina’s arms and gave her a little shake. “You have been left with very little self esteem, you think God in all his mighty glory is going to come down here just for you and punish every little thing you do. It’s ludicrous! Get over it, show some backbone! What if this man wants to ask you to marry him? Have you ever thought about that?”

  “No, I never thought seriously of that. I’ve dreamed of that, hoped for that, prayed even for that, but why would he want to marry me?” she cried, an pulled away from Miranda. “What do I have to offer him? Nothing! I’m just damaged goods. I know I’m not perfect. I’ll never get over what they did to me. I don’t want to put him in the middle of that, so even if he asked, I couldn’t accept.”

  “Nina no!” Miranda gasped. “If he asks you have to say yes.”