by V. E. Avance
“Miss Dickson, I can’t help but notice the old bruises on your face. Can you explain what happened?”
Her eyes move to her hands that lie in her lap. From the years spent in law enforcement, James knows that Leanna must be feeling shame and embarrassment. The abusers break them down to the point that they believe everything they do is their fault and that they deserve all the beatings. “Um, yeah, my estranged husband beat me last week. This is why I came to Austin. I’m running from him.”
James has heard sad stories like this before and they all suck but hearing this from Leanna makes him feel emotions that he’s never felt for a victim before. He feels anger at the man that would hurt her and he feels the need to protect her from ever being hurt again. He shakes the emotions from his body. He can’t afford to feel this way toward a victim. His job is to serve and protect; not invest emotions into a victim. “I’m sorry, Missus Dickson. Do you have family or friends in the area that you can stay with?”
Leanna shakes her head. “No, I picked a large city from the list of departing buses. No reason, really, for ending up here. And please, call me Leanna.”
James can’t help the emotions building inside of him. Leanna seems like a strong woman who’s down on her luck. He wants to help her but he knows that he can’t do anything more than take down her statement while on duty. It’s at this moment that he made the decision to not go out with the other officers after his shift and come back here to check on Leanna. “Thank you for answering all my questions, Leanna.” He loves the way her name sounds. Leanna he thinks to himself trying to hide a smile that threatens to form. “I will follow up with you. I think you need to try to rest. You’ve been through a traumatic ordeal,” James says as he rises and extends his hand to her.
She places her small hand into James’ much larger hand as he helps her to her feet. She sways a bit and causes James to worry. He wraps his arm around her waist to keep her upright. “Hey, are you okay, Leanna?” he asks as concern spreads across his face.
She nods her head. “Yea, I just lost my balance. I’m sorry,” she apologizes. Does she always apologize for things she shouldn’t? Her husband really screwed with her head if she feels the need to apologize for things that aren’t even her fault. No one should have to apologize for every little thing.
“Hey, why don’t we get you to the hospital to get looked over? You may have a concussion or something worse,” James says as his concern begins to grow. He’s never felt this way toward a victim before and he’s struggling to keep professional when all he wants to do and scoop her in his arms and put her on the gurney and get her to Seton Hospital.
“N-No. I’ll be alright. I just got a little dizzy from the adrenaline rush and lack of food. I just need to eat something and rest and I’ll be as good as new,” Leanna states with a smile and a shrug.
James does not like the fact that Leanna is denying medical attention but his hands are tied. She’s probably afraid to register into a hospital because she’s on her husband’s insurance. He knows that that has to be why she won’t get checked out.
If she were his woman, she would be well cared for even if he had to throw her over his shoulder—caveman style. At this moment, his mind was made up. He would come back and check on her after his shift; no if’s, and’s or but’s. He didn’t like her on this side of town alone.
As Officer McMullen is helping Leanna to her room, the pizza delivery kid arrives with Leanna’s order. Leanna proceeds to her suitcase where she stashed a large majority of her money at. “No, I got this Leanna. You lie down and rest.”
She begins to argue against allowing the officer to pay for her breakfast/lunch, but decides against it. She would lose that battle anyway. “Thank you Officer McMullen. It’s greatly appreciated.” She lies on her side on the musty smelling bed. James knows that she’s trying to hide the tears that are beginning to come.
“Leanna,” Officer McMullen says as he places his hand on her shoulder. He knows that she’s trying to hide the evidence of tears that just poured down her face, but she was unsuccessful. “Leanna, hey, it’s going to be alright. We’ll find this guy and you’ll be safe,” James assures her as he hands her his handkerchief from his pocket. “Now, I have to get back to my beat. I want you to eat something and rest. Do not open the door for anyone. I’ll come by and check on you but I’ll call your room before coming to the door,” he says as he takes a business card from his pocket and writes something on the back of it. “This is my business card. It has the police department’s number on it as well as my business cell phone. On the back, I have included my personal cell number since I’m off work for the next four days. If you need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to call me.”
She accepts the business card and thanks him. He rises to leave, but not before looking at Leanna one more time. Her plump lips look so enticing that he struggles with the urge to kiss them. James quickly tells Leanna to lock the door behind him as he makes his exit. What the hell is wrong with me?
Five
Mark Dickson only sees red when he arrives home to find his wife’s letter to him. “That fucking bitch!” he yells out. Yes, he loses his temper on her from time to time but if she’d just do as she’s expected to do, he wouldn’t have to knock sense into her. Now, she left him and took most of his savings with her. This just will not fly with Mark.
Mark grabs the phone and hits it against the wall a few times before dialing the only person that would know where Leanna’s gone—Maryanne. That bitch has made his life a living hell since she blew into town. Leanna was training well until she met the likes of Maryanne. He’s not sure what she filled her head with but whatever it was, he began losing control over Leanna.
Maryanne picks up the phone on the first ring. “Where the hell is Leanna?” Mark growls in the receiver. Mark knows that Maryanne had to have helped Leanna. In the past five years of marriage, he made sure that Leanna lost all her freedom and was dependent on him but Maryanne was a stubborn old mule that refused to give up on Leanna.
As Maryanne sits quietly on the phone, Mark asks again, this time more forceful. “I do not like repeating myself, Maryanne. Where the hell is Leanna?” Maryanne doesn’t hesitate this time. She isn’t afraid of Mark and he knows it. The anger that’s been residing in her since seeing her friend’s face today surfaces. “Mark, I have no idea where Leanna is but even if I did, I would never tell the likes of you. You’re a cold son-of-a-bitch for the shit you’ve done to that girl and, wherever she is, she’s better off without you! Now, do not call my house again. You’re a woman beating piece of sh..” Mark hangs up on Maryanne before she can finish her sentence.
The crimson that fills Mark’s vision is becoming more prominent. He will get his revenge on Leanna. No woman leaves Mark Dickson. He provided for her and paid for everything for her. All he asked in return was a clean house, home cooked meals and the right to her body whenever and however he chose. Leanna will regret the day she took him for a fool. He will find her, that’s for sure, and he will release the ultimate punishment on her.
Six
James McMullen has patrolled the Sleep Tight Motel more frequently during this shift than he ever has before. There’s a pull to Leanna that he’s never felt toward anyone else, not even his ex-wife, Rebecca. James returns to the department to change into his civilian attire before climbing into his personal vehicle. He decided, before he left Leanna this morning, that she was not staying in that flea bag motel longer than she needed. He points his 2010 Chevy Silverado in the direction of the motel, still in uniform.
He phoned Leanna before exiting his truck and heading toward her room. Leanna opens the door before he has a chance to knock. “Good evening, Officer McMullen,” she says as she stands in the doorway. She looks like she had just awakened. Her pony tail is crooked and she rubs sleep from her eye. No matter what, this woman is gorgeous. “Please, call me James. I’m no longer on duty,” he says as she steps out of the way so he can make his way acros
s the threshold.
“Leanna, I came by because I don’t want you staying here alone. This is a bad side of town and, well, honestly, I feel drawn to you,” James says, never taking his eyes off of Leanna’s. He wants, more than anything, to touch her, to have his lips against hers and her body against his. This is completely against protocol but he just can’t stay away from her.
“That’s very nice of you, James, but I’ll be fine. I’ll just be here long enough to find work and save up for an apartment,” she responds without returning his gaze. Dammit, why won’t she maintain eye contact? If she just looked at him longer than five seconds, she would see how much he cares for her.
“Leanna, I don’t mean to come off as a pompous jerk, but I need to rephrase what I said. You will not stay here by yourself. I have an extra room at my place and I know you’ll be safe there. I can help you find work and you can stay with me as long as you need to,” James tells her as he looks around the motel room. The room smells of stale tobacco smoke and bodily fluids. The yellow, orange and brown wallpaper is pulling away from the wall. He wouldn’t allow Patches to step foot in here, let alone a gorgeous woman fleeing from a dangerous man.
Leanna looks away from James before finally agreeing. “Well, I don’t have to pack anything because I haven’t unpacked my things. Do you think that I trust my clothes in those drawers?” she says as she points to the dresser that had to have been fifty years old and hasn’t been cleaned during that time. “My clothes may walk away with some sort of STD,” she giggles at her own joke and James finds it refreshing. Her laugh is contagious.
James chuckles and bends to grab her suitcase. “Come my lady, your chariot awaits you,” he says as he places his hand on the small of her back and escorts her out of the run down motel. He gets her settled and climbs in his truck behind the wheel. He takes a look over at Leanna before starting the truck. The bruises have darkened since this morning and, he can no longer hold back from touching her. He reaches out with his right hand and traces the darkened area on her left cheek. “I promise you, this will never happen to you again,” he whispers before heading toward home. And he means it. He has never had the desire to protect someone as much as he does Leanna.
Seven
Mark’s anger is inhibiting his ability to think straight. “Where the fuck could she have gone?” he screams into the receiver at the person on the other end of the line. He knows he shouldn’t yell as his Pa like that, but he’s so irritated he can’t control himself. He grabs their wedding photo from the bookshelf in the living room and chucks it against the wall.
“Son, you need to calm down. You aren’t going to find her if you’re not thinking clear. Have you checked the bus station?” Pa asks. His Pa was always good at thinking on his feet. Marks Ma tried leaving his Pa on several occasions. She was a stubborn bitch and his Pa had to do what was necessary to prevent her from leaving the family again.
“No, I haven’t, Pa. Thank you!” Mark shouts before disconnecting the call. Why didn’t he think of the bus station? That’s the only place that Leanna could have gone if she thought about leaving him. He grabs his car keys and heads out the rickety old screen door. One way—one way or another, he will find her and he will make her pay for her stupid decisions. No one leaves Mark Dickson and gets away with it. Caroline learned that lesson the hard way.
Mark reminisces back to his high school sweetheart. She was a gorgeous girl who was dealt a bad hand in life. She was abused from an early age and ended up in foster care at fifteen years old. She was the perfect girl for Mark. She was beaten down to nothing and no one would notice if she went missing. Yeah, she was the perfect girl for Mark but he underestimated her hard headedness. He miss calculated her sense of self-worth.
Mark shakes Caroline’s thought from his head and focuses on the mission before him; finding and bringing Leanna home. It won’t be long, Bitch, and I’ll find you and teach you a fucking lesson, he thinks as his car slips and slides along the old dirt road.
Eight
James pulls into the driveway of his home. This house has been in his family for more than a hundred years. His grandfather was born here, grandparents were married here, father was born here, parents were married here and, eventually, he was born here. Rebecca wanted an over-the-top wedding on a golf course, so he didn’t get the pleasure of marrying his wife here. He should’ve known that the marriage wouldn’t last. This house is good luck for his family. By not marrying in the house his marriage was cursed from the start. If his mother could see how his marriage turned out, she’d surely be rolling in her grave.
“This is where I call home,” James announces as he put the truck in park and looks toward Leanna. His breath hitches as he sees her profile in the moonlight. Her eyes are closed and her breathing slow and steady. She looks like an angel when she sleeps and the moonlight gently touches her face. His lips turn up as he is content watching her.
He reaches over and gently strokes Leanna’s face. He hates having to wake her. “Leanna,” he sing-songs her name. “We’re here.”
Leanna squirms a bit and a groan escapes her. James removes his hands from her face. Her groan tugs on his heart strings. He knows that she’s in pain and she’s been through a lot in her short life. He never wants her to hurt again, especially by his hands. No woman should ever go through the hell that she has and he’s determined to right all the wrongs that she’s been forced to endure.
He exits his truck and circles around to her side. He gently eases the door open as not to jar her head as she’s lying against the window. He reaches his hand in and cradles her head before reaching in and unbuckling her seat belt. Wrapping her in his strong arms, he hoists her up and carries her to the front door.
Patches, excited to see him, jumps and barks and whimpers when the front door swings open. He jumps up on James trying to get a whiff of the new person entering his personal space. “Down, Patches,” James commands just moments before Leanna begins to stir, her eyes fluttering open.
Oh, her beautiful eyes. They are as green as emeralds. He could get lost in her gorgeous eyes all day long but the look she’s giving him now breaks his heart. Fear fills those gorgeous eyes. Fear that he can’t take away from her.
“It’s okay,” he whispers. “We’re home, er, uh, here and you were sleeping and I didn’t want to wake you.” His face turns red as a smile forms. “I guess I didn’t quite succeed in that.”
A small chuckle escapes her throat. “Yeah, I suppose you failed at that.”
“God, I love your laugh,” the words leave his mouth before he can stop himself. Leanna’s face turns a deep crimson. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” he places her feet upon the ground and runs his hands through his hair.
Leanna diverts her eyes to the hardwood floor. “It’s alright. I’m just not used to compliments. I’m sorry,” she twists the tip of her tattered tennis shoes against the floor in a nervous behavior.
James makes a mental note to buy her a new pair of shoes tomorrow. He can’t let her walk around in shoes that shouldn’t be on a homeless person’s feet, let alone a gorgeous woman’s feet. “You don’t need to apologize.” James hates that she’s always apologizing for things she shouldn’t be sorry for.
“I’m sorry…er, um, okay,” she tries to correct herself.
James chuckles at her statement. It’s not really a laughing matter but she’s just so damn cute that he can’t help but laugh. “Okay, would you like something to eat before I show you your room?”
“Um, no, I’m fine. I’m just really tired and would like to turn in for the night.”
“Okay, let me go grab your suit case and then I’ll show you to your room.”
He walks out the screen door to his truck. What am I doing? She’s a broken soul. I shouldn’t be growing so close to her yet but I can’t seem to help it. Her face is so innocent and her voice…it’s like a voice from heaven. I could never grow tired of hearing her sweet voice.
He quickly return
s back to the house as soon as he has her suit case. As soon as he steps on the porch he hears her soft giggles and sweet voice talking. He quietly approaches the screen door and peaks in. Patches has his paws up on her lap, giving her wet doggy kisses along her face. “You’re such a sweet puppy,” she says between laughter.
Watching Leanna and Patches warms his heart. Rebecca hated dogs. Patches couldn’t stand her. “It looks like he likes you,” James chuckles as he crosses the threshold.
“Well I’m quite fond of him, too. I grew up with dogs but I haven’t had one since before my parents passed away,” she stutters at the last three words.
James knows the loss of parents, however not as soon as Leanna. He was an adult and already married when his parents passed away. He’s curious as to what happened to Leanna’s parents but he refuses to push her tonight. He doesn’t think his heart could handle hearing more negative today. He’s seen and heard too much already. “How about I show you to your room so you can get some rest?”
Nine
Mark is fuming. Everything about Leanna is pissing him the fuck off. The way she left him, the money she took, the fact that she was only thinking of herself.
Mark skids to a stop in front of the bus depot. The dust hadn’t even settled before he jumps out of his car, slamming the door behind him. His strides are long and determined as he makes his way to the depot doors. He flings the door open so hard that it smacks the wall, shaking with the force.
Mark is seething red as his hands open and close into fists. “Listen you little fuck, I know my wife came in here,” he says to the cashier at the bus depot while holding a picture of Leanna. “I need to know where the fuck she went!” Mark is in no mood to deal with the prick standing before him.
The little guy behind the counter begins to shake as Mark’s lips purse together and his eyebrows slant. Mark isn’t a man many people would want to encounter and this guy is no exception. If Mark wanted, he could knock the prick out with one punch to the nose.