by Marie Force
Truck seemed almost surprised to see him, which was no surprise to Blaine. The big man was known for his meth-fueled rages, and Blaine had been trying to get Daisy to leave the abusive relationship for as long as he’d been chief of police.
“Get the fuck outta here.” Truck’s eyes were red and crazed. “You got no business here.”
“When you’re beating up your girlfriend and destroying her home, I got business here.”
“I ain’t beating her up. She’s getting mouthy with me—again.”
“Put down the vase slowly,” Blaine said. “I want your hands on the back of your head. You know the routine.” To Wyatt, he said, “Call the paramedics for her.”
By the time the ambulance arrived a couple of minutes later, Blaine had Truck cuffed and on his way to the station with Wyatt. After ensuring none of her bones were broken, Blaine lifted Daisy free of the glass. She was so tiny he barely had to strain to pick her up.
“I’m sorry,” she said, wiping tears from her cheeks. “I promised you I wouldn’t let him in again, but he was so sweet and so sorry. I’m such a fool.”
“Don’t apologize, Daisy. I know you love the big lug. For some reason.”
“Not anymore I don’t. He broke my grandma’s china.” A new flood of tears wet her bruised and battered face. “That was all I had left of her, and now it’s gone.”
“We can help you get free of him, Daisy, but you have to want to. The next time he comes around looking to kiss and make up, you have to be strong.”
“I know,” she said with more conviction than he’d ever heard from her. “No more of this. No more of him.”
Blaine carried her out to the paramedics and shielded her face from the gathered crowd of neighbors. He deposited her gently on a gurney.
“Hi, Daisy,” Libby, one of the volunteer paramedics, said. She, too, had been here before.
“Hi, Libby.”
“Show me where it hurts,” she said as she got busy cleaning the cuts on Daisy’s hands and face.
Blaine stepped out of the ambulance and placed a call to David Lawrence. “Sorry to bother you at home, Doc, but I’ve got Daisy Babson on the way to the clinic.”
“Again?” David asked.
“Afraid so. She’s going to need some stitches.”
“I’ll be right there.”
“Thanks.” Blaine ducked his head inside the ambulance. “Is there anyone you want me to call for you, Daisy?”
She shook her head, as she always did.
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t want anyone to know.”
“I have to file a report, and I’ll need you to appear in court.”
She’d done it before, so she knew the drill. “I know.”
“I’d hate to see you go through this alone. You have friends.”
“Fine. Okay. Call Maddie.”
“McCarthy?”
Daisy nodded.
“I’ll have her meet you at the clinic.”
“Thank you.”
Her quiet dignity got to him every time. He’d gleaned a few facts about her past that had led him to believe that she didn’t think she could do any better than a violent drug addict named Truck.
“Everything will be okay, Daisy,” Blaine said. “We’ll take good care of you. Don’t worry.”
“That’s right, Daisy,” Libby said as she discreetly produced a tissue that Daisy used to dry her tears.
“You all are so nice to me when you must want to shake me for taking him back. Again.”
“We don’t want to shake you,” Blaine said. “We want you to be safe, and we want to help you make that happen.”
“Let’s get you to the clinic,” Libby said.
“I’ll follow you.” Blaine stepped back from the ambulance and closed the doors, rapping on the side of the vehicle when the doors were secured. “Show’s over,” he said to the neighbors. He took a minute to secure Daisy’s front door as best he could and placed a call to Mac.
“Hey, didn’t I just see you?” Mac said when he answered.
“Yes, you did, but duty called, and I need to borrow your wife.”
“What for?”
“A friend of hers had a bit of trouble tonight and could use some support.”
“Which friend?”
“Daisy from the hotel.”
“Oh jeez. Truck again?”
“Yep.”
“Shit.”
“Could you ask Maddie to meet us at the clinic? Daisy is pretty busted up, and she’s in for a long night.”
“She’ll be right over.”
“Could your folks stay with the kids for a bit?”
“Sure. What else do you need?”
“We broke down Daisy’s door to get in there before he killed her.”
“Say no more. I’ll get it fixed.”
“Thanks, Mac. Appreciate the help.”
“Happy to do it. Daisy is so sweet. I can’t imagine how anyone could raise a hand to her in anger.”
“I can’t imagine how any guy takes his frustrations out on a woman. Happens far more often than you think, even here in paradise. Thanks again for the help.”
“Any time.”
Blaine called for a patrol officer to stay at Daisy’s house until Mac got there. As soon as the officer arrived, Blaine gave him his instructions and headed for the clinic. On the way, he left a message for Tiffany to let her know he had to cancel their plans for later. This was going to be a long night.
David arrived at the clinic a few minutes ahead of the ambulance and set up an exam room with bandages and a suture kit. Hearing Daisy had been beat up again had him agitated and furious at her so-called boyfriend. After the last time, he thought he’d been successful in convincing her to leave the abusive relationship.
While he hated to hear that Daisy had been hurt again, he was glad to have something to take his mind off the fact that his ex-fiancée was back on the island with her devoted husband and due to deliver their first child in a couple of months. He’d heard from Victoria, the nurse practitioner/midwife he worked with, that Janey planned to have the baby in Ohio, which was a huge relief.
Ever since he’d saved Mac and Maddie’s baby Hailey when she arrived blue and not breathing during a tropical storm, the McCarthys had been a lot less chilly to him than they were after Janey caught him in bed with another woman. But it wasn’t like they were all bosom buddies or anything. Luckily, the island was big enough that he didn’t cross paths with them very often, and when he did, everyone was cordial enough.
Sometimes he still couldn’t believe how stupid he’d been. The Hodgkin’s diagnosis had thrown him for a loop and led him to do a few things he regretted—nothing more so than sleeping with one of his chemo nurses. It had taken him a long time to get back on his feet after he lost Janey and to stop thinking about her every minute of every day. Now she was back on the island after another year of vet school, happily married to Joe and about to have the baby that should’ve been David’s. They’d planned to have four of them and had even chosen names—David Jr., Anna, Henry and Ella. He wondered what Janey planned to name her child and then told himself it didn’t matter. It had nothing to do with him.
They would’ve been married nearly a year now. He could’ve had everything he’d ever wanted, but he’d blown it, and there was nothing he could do but get on with his life and hope that maybe someday he’d again feel for another woman the way he’d once felt for Janey before he screwed it all up.
The arrival of the ambulance interrupted his brooding. “Hi, Daisy,” he said when Libby rolled the gurney into the exam room. Daisy was pale from blood loss and looked a little shocky.
Libby listed her injuries, which included lacerations to her face and hands and a bruised knee. She had applied bandages to the cuts and stanched the bleeding.
“Hi, Doctor David,” Daisy said. “Sorry to make you come in after hours.”
“It’s no problem. I’d hoped we wouldn’t see you in here again.
”
“I know,” she said, lowering her gaze. “I made the huge mistake of giving him another chance. I won’t do that again.”
David had heard it all before, four times since he’d taken over the island’s medical practice when Cal Maitland went home to Texas after his mother had a stroke.
“I hope not, Daisy. I worry about him seriously injuring you one of these days. You’ve been lucky up to now to have bumps and bruises. This time, you’re cut. What’s next?”
When she broke down into heartbroken sobs, David wanted to shoot himself for being so blunt. “I’m sorry,” he said, wrapping an arm around her fragile shoulders.
She leaned into his embrace, startling him and firing all his protective instincts. He wished he could go teach Truck Howard a lesson or two about what happened to bullies who picked on women. But that wouldn’t do anything to help Daisy.
As he ran a comforting hand over her soft, silky hair, he let her cry it out until her sobs became hiccups. “Feel better?”
She shook her head. “I feel so stupid,” she whispered.
“Don’t feel stupid. All you can do is learn from it and go on. Blaine will make sure Truck can’t come near you again.”
“He…he…hurt me.”
“I know. We’ll get your cuts cleaned up and stitched, and you’ll be good as new in no time.”
“Not just there.”
David pulled back from her so he could see her face. “Where?”
She lowered her gaze, and her face heated with embarrassment.
“Did he rape you, Daisy?”
“He tried. I fought him, but he still hurt me.”
“Do you want me to call in Victoria to examine you?”
“No! You. I want you to do it.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have a woman?”
“I know you. I trust you.”
Her softly spoken words went straight to his heart. “I’ll take care of you. Don’t worry. Let me have a word with Blaine. I’ll be right back, okay?”
She nodded.
“Can you change into a gown for me?”
“Yes.”
“Take it nice and slow. You’ve lost quite a bit of blood, so you’re apt to be light-headed.”
“I’m okay.”
Leaving her to change, David stepped out of the cubicle and went to the waiting room to find Blaine.
“She said he tried to rape her.”
Blaine shook his head in disbelief. “Any sign of sexual assault?”
“I haven’t examined her yet. She said she thwarted him, but not before he hurt her.”
“We can charge him with attempted sexual assault.”
David nodded. “Hopefully, he’ll get put away for a good long stretch, and she’ll have a chance to move on without him.”
“Let’s hope so. I’ve had just about enough of this guy.”
“I hear ya.”
“I need photos and swabs.”
“I’ll do a rape kit, but I’m going to call in Victoria to help. She said she wanted me to do the exam, but I need assistance to do the kit. It’ll take a couple of hours, if you have other stuff you need to do in the meantime.”
“I’ve got to get to the station to process Truck, get him charged and call in the state police to transport him.”
“I’ll call you when we’re done.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
As Blaine turned to leave, Maddie McCarthy came rushing into the clinic. “Blaine! How is she? Can I see her?”
“She’s all right. I had to talk her into calling someone, just so you know. She’s upset it happened again after we talked her into leaving him.”
“I understand.”
“Right this way,” David said, leading Maddie to the exam room where Daisy waited on the table. The gown was huge on her, making her look even tinier and more fragile.
Maddie put her arms around Daisy and held her close. “Why didn’t you tell me you were back with him, honey?”
“I was embarrassed.”
“You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“I loved a man who hurt me.”
“It’s okay now.” Maddie’s voice was soothing and comforting. “We won’t let him get anywhere near you again. You’re safe. I promise.”
“Thanks for coming, Maddie.”
“I’m so glad you asked Blaine to call me. You shouldn’t be alone.”
“You all are so nice. Thank you.”
While Maddie comforted Daisy, David placed a quick call to Victoria, who promised to be there shortly to help with the rape kit. While he waited for her to arrive, he removed Daisy’s bandages to assess the severity of the cuts on her hands and face. Only one of the lacerations on her hand required sutures. As he prepared for the procedure, he felt Daisy’s big gray eyes watching his every move.
“Will it hurt?” she asked.
“Only a little when I numb you up, but then you shouldn’t feel a thing. When the numbness wears off, it’ll be sore for a few days, but I’ll give you something for the pain.”
“I won’t be able to work.”
“I’ll cover for you,” Maddie said.
“You don’t want to do that.”
“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to, so don’t give it another thought.”
“Ready for a pinch?” David said as he prepared the shot.
Daisy’s entire body went tense.
Maddie held her other hand. “Look at me.”
Daisy did as Maddie instructed, wincing at the burn of the shot.
“One more,” David said, trying not to be moved by the tears rolling down her face as he pushed the needle into the palm of her hand. “There. That’s the worst of it.”
“Breathe,” Maddie said.
Daisy took a series of deep breaths that restored some of the color to her pale cheeks.
“Daisy, may I have your permission to speak about your care in front of Maddie?” David asked as he applied the first suture.
“Yes, of course.”
“I called in Victoria, the nurse practitioner, because we need to do what’s called a rape kit. Do you know what that is?”
“Not really,” she said haltingly.
“It’s the collection of evidence that can be used in court. We’ll take photos, swabs and collect any hairs or fluids that might tie Truck to the assault.”
Daisy stared at him and then swallowed hard. “You have to take pictures down there?”
“If there’s bruising or abrasions, we need to document that.”
Daisy shook her head. “No. I can’t. I can’t do that.”
“Daisy, honey,” Maddie said, “if they can’t prove he tried to rape you, he’ll get away with it.”
“Maddie’s right,” David said. “The assault charges are serious, especially since he’s on parole, but the attempted rape charge will ensure he’s put away for a long time.”
Maddie brushed Daisy’s hair off her face and wiped the other woman’s tears with a tissue.
“Will you stay with me while they do it?” Daisy asked Maddie.
“I’ll be here every minute. For as long as you need me.”
Daisy gripped her friend’s hand. “I’m scared.”
“There’s nothing to be scared of, Daisy,” David said. “I promise we’ll be very gentle and do all we can to make sure Truck never hurts you again.”
Victoria came into the room and stepped up to Daisy’s bedside. “That’s right.” She rested a hand on Daisy’s knee. “It won’t be all that different from your annual physical.”
“Oh,” Daisy said. “Really?”
Victoria nodded. To David, she said, “Are we ready?”
“Whenever you are.”
“Okay, honey, let’s get this over with,” Victoria said as she guided Daisy’s feet to the stirrups.
Daisy closed her eyes and gripped Maddie’s hand a little tighter.
As Victoria raised Daisy’s gown and eased her legs apart, David took in the darke
ning bruises on her genitals and bit back a curse. He’d make sure Truck Howard paid for what he’d done to her, and then David would have to figure out why the idea of her being hurt made him hurt, too.
Tiffany ran into her sister the next morning when they were dropping their kids off for a few hours of summer camp.
“Why do you look like what the cat dragged in?” Tiffany asked Maddie.
“Because I’ve been up all night.”
“How come?”
“Have coffee with me, and I’ll tell you.” Maddie took her by the hand and dragged her to the South Harbor Diner.
“Um, okay,” Tiffany said. “I didn’t have to go to work or anything.”
“Ten extra minutes won’t ruin your day.”
“How do you know?”
“Sit,” Maddie said, full of big-sister authority.
Tiffany decided to humor her. “Fine. I’m sitting. What now?”
“Rebecca, we’ll take a couple of coffees and two egg-white omelets with veggies.”
“Coming right up, Maddie.”
“How do you know I didn’t already eat?” Tiffany asked.
As if she hadn’t spoken, Maddie said, “So where have you been the last few days? I can’t remember the last time I went so long without talking to you.”
“I’ve been working. Remember that?”
Maddie frowned. “Don’t razz me about not working. I’m still getting used to being retired. I’m not sure I’m going to like it.”
“You deserve the chance to be home with your kids, Maddie. Don’t feel guilty about taking that time with them.”
“Still, it’s weird. I’ve been working since I was fifteen.”
“You have a different job now—the most important job.”
“That’s what Mac says, too.”
“So why were you up all night?”
“You know my friend Daisy from the hotel?”
“Uh-huh. What about her?”
“She had some trouble with her boyfriend last night. I’m sure the police report will be public before the day is out, but he’s being charged with assault and attempted sexual assault.”
“Oh God, poor Daisy. Is she okay?”
“She will be, but she’s sore and achy. I only left her when they gave her something to help her sleep. I needed to get home to feed Hailey before my boobs exploded. David and Victoria are keeping an eye on Daisy, but I’m going back over there after this.”