by S. J. Smith
As Lizzy was walked out by Martha she saw several of the residents and they all tended to look down and not make eye contact. Lizzy remembered growing up that way and she felt for them. A little grey haired lady approached though with more confidence than the others.
“Are you the young lady who is helping us out?” The woman asked.
“I am doing what I can. My name is Lizzy Storm,” she told her.
“I am Tracy Gentry. Thank you so much, Lizzy. The longer we stay open the better it is for many women. This place saved me so I wanted to say thank you,” Lizzy’s eyes moistened at her words.
“You are very welcome. I am glad I am in a position to help,” she responded. The older woman met her eyes and saw Lizzy’s emotion.
“You have experience with this sort of thing?” Tracy asked her, holding her eyes while gesturing to the other women around. Lizzy hesitated, but knew how tight secrecy was to these women. She knew it was safe to talk.
“Yes, I do, Tracy. My parents thought violence and insults were a good way to raise me. It didn’t work.” She said and found her voice had gone softer. Tracy took her hand.
“Yet you found your way through it. Bless you, dear. Would you maybe want to come to one of our meetings and speak, if it is ok with Martha that is? We get young women in here who don’t think it is possible and seeing another young one who is surviving, well that could make a difference,” she said. Martha agreed to come the next week, honored that she would be asked. Then Martha helped her out to the street.
“Sorry about that. Tracy was right however, it would be good for some of our ladies to be exposed to someone who got out,” Lizzy was pleased about that and said her goodbyes. Promising to be back the next week for their meeting.
As a cab pulled up Martha went back inside and as she crutched her way to the side of the vehicle she heard a shout and saw the cab driver pointing wildly. She started to turn and a crutch was kicked out from under her. She pivoted on her good leg and swung her other crutch with her full weight and momentum. It hit a man with a loud crack and a cry. She dropped the crutch as it sent a shock up her arm. Then her purse was yanked from over her shoulder. It spun her around the other way and she reflexively used her bad leg to support herself as her shoulder was wrenched. Her purse strap snapped and she fell forward toward the cab. She caught herself on the side of the car, grabbing the mirror. The driver was out of the vehicle and chasing the thugs down the street as her leg gave out. Her full weight on the mirror was too much.The mirror broke off. She fell onto her side with a gasp. Her leg throbbed. Not to mentioned a throbbing shoulder now too. Again! She thought angrily.
********
Lizzy spent some more time in the emergency room with cops while she was given the once over. Her knee had endured further tearing and bruising from hitting the cement but her shoulder was, thankfully, only a minor problem.
She had promised the cab driver she would pay for his mirror but the thief had run off with her money. She was highly annoyed now because she had to cancel her credit cards. The cab driver was a big black man named Clive who told her not to worry about it. He was pissed off that he had not caught the thieves. He was an extremely nice man and she made sure to get the cab number and company so she could find him to pay him. As she was finished dressing after she had been poked and prodded by the doctor, a detective came in. Her name was Kate Linton and she had met her on her last trip to the hospital.
“Hello Elizabeth. I have been assigned this case along with your other one. Here let me help you with that,” she said as Lizzy was trying to get her shoe on. She helped and then stood back.
“Thank you, detective. I appreciate the help. Do you think there is any chance of me getting my purse back, or more properly the stuff inside? Fortunately, my phone was in my back pocket and didn’t break when I fell, but my wallet and cards were in there. Not to mention several hundred dollars,” she told her. The answer was what was expected.
“Honestly it is going to be tough to find that stuff. At least the cash. The rest might be dumped in some trash can somewhere though. Did you cancel your cards?” Lizzy nodded.
“Good. I had a question I want to you to think about if you would. Who do you know who would want to hurt you? Because being involved in three robberies in one week is a bit much even for New York,” she said. Lizzy began shaking her head and then stopped.
“Wait a minute, three robberies?” She asked, confused.
“That is why I am here Miss Storm. We had a call your home has been broken into. That is why I came here. I will give you a ride over,” she said. Lizzy cursed and struggled to her feet. In the ride over she remembered something from the first robbery.
“Shit, shit! I am an idiot Detective. I just remembered something from the jewelry robbery. Damn!” She finished angry at herself and horrified where her thoughts were leading.
“What, tell me,” the detective said.
“My parents are especially angry with me. I managed to find a way to keep my trust fund and move away at the same time. Between you and me they have been abusive my whole life so it has been a relief. Now I am wondering if they are behind this,” she said. Her voice shook a little as she said it. It was amazing that her parents could reach out from the mid-west and still hurt here.
“Your parents, why?” was her reasonable question.
“I spoke to my Mom at the beginning of the week. I informed her about the no contact order I had sent to her, and the restraining order. They were not happy about it and I also told her I was recording the conversation. At the time it did not seem to bother her, but maybe Dad decided it was a risky thing to leave hanging out there. Especially since I think they were behind the attacks on me. It would be right up their alley to try and scare me into running home. Not that I would, but still,” she said angrily and frightened now. Not only could they hurt her from a distance but they could still frighten her. Damn them!
“What happened at the jewelry story Lizzy?” the Detective asked quietly as they pulled up to her building.
“The guy beating on me had a North Kansas accent. It happens that is where I am from and my parents still live. I knew they would never leave Kansas, so I thought that made me safe. But they sent someone, the guy at the store yelled that I needed to learn how to keep my place. I thought at the time it was because I was trying to help Reginald, the store owner. Now though, I am sure it was something my Dad told him. It is something my Dad used to say to me just before he got violent,” she told her. The woman snarled disgustedly.
“Okay, it does kind of fit. You can’t think of anyone else who might be angry with you?”
Lizzy shook her head.
“We will find who is doing this Lizzy, trust me. I have a reputation to uphold and someone organizing multiple assaults on a woman is not a case I am going to fail!” She said determined. Lizzy could feel her determination and confidence and it made her feel better. Detective Linton helped her out of the car and walked with her into the building and to the elevator.
“You will need to let us know if anything is stolen,” she was told.
When Lizzy entered her home she was furious and even more scared. The place was trashed. Her wonderful home, her first after leaving her parents’ house. She felt violated and was absolutely positive her folks had something to do with everything happening to her. She felt herself begging to tremble and Katy took her arm.
“Here sit down for a minute,” she said leading her to one of her chairs so she could sit.
“It is just, just that I thought I had everything finally settled and I could live my life. I loved this place,” she said in a quavering voice. She lowered her head and hugged herself quietly rocking herself forward and back, trying not to cry. It didn’t work. She did not see that Detective Linton was herding everyone out. Finally, she wiped her eyes and looked up, surprised that only the detective remained. She was sitting in the chair next to hers. She handed her a glass of water and she drank it gratefully.
&n
bsp; “I am sorry, detective; I must seem like a fool. A little rich girl crying about her problems,” she said in apology. The officer frowned.
“Rich or poor you are being assaulted and robbed. How much money you have is not going to affect how you feel inside. You can call me Kate if you like. Let me know when you are ready and we can look around your apartment and see if anything is missing. Oh, they did not get into your safe. It looks like they tried but ran out of time when your neighbors noticed something was wrong,” she told her. Lizzy immediately wanted to check her safe. When she opened it she reached in.
“Here is the conversation I told you about. If you can keep it safe I would rather you have it. I thought originally that my parents would try to sue to get the money back and proof of their abuse would come in handy. Now I think it might be more important,” she said. Detective Linton agreed.
They went over the rest of the place and could not find anything else missing. By then the rest of the cops were going over everything and Lizzy was beginning to wonder where she was going to stay for the night. She felt creeped out by her own home now. Her phone rang and she jumped. Everyone looked at her as she checked her phone.
“It is my lawyer’s office,” she told them answering it.
“Hi, Miss Storm. This is Mr. Manster’s legal aid Donna. Remember I took your information when you first came to us,” she said.
“Hello Donna, is something wrong? Did my parents call?” She asked.
“Good heavens no. I was just letting you know we received confirmation that the certified mail was delivered to the house in Kansas. Everything is going through as you planned,” she said. Lizzy bit her lip. Knowing she was about to ruin the woman’s day.
“I was robbed again Donna, twice. I am beginning to think my parents are behind it. The police agree with my theory. My apartment is a mess and to be honest this isn’t a good time,” she told her.
“Oh dear, I am so sorry. Mr. Manster is going to be in court for the next few days. I will let him know, though and I am sure he will get in contact with you, or the police when he can. Do you have somewhere safe to go?” she asked.
“I will let you know Donna. Thank you for calling, it makes me feel better that you guys are checking in on me. Tell Mr. Manster to call when he can,” she asked and Donna agreed before hanging up.
“Then knowing I am checking in on you must make you feel worlds better,” she turned at the sound of Randy’s voice and she felt a surge of relief. He was scanning the room from the door where a cop blocked his path,
“You can let him in Officer,” Katy told her sergeant.
“Oh man, it does make me feel better. It is not Friday is it?” She asked startled at his appearance.
“Nope, just checking in. I was worried and thought you might not mind company. I am glad I did. Robbed twice?” He asked.
“She was assaulted and robbed again as well as her apartment ransacked,” Katy told him coming over. “Fortunately, I have no worry about you Randy. You guys have very obviously been elsewhere when this second attack took place. I saw the press conference. Besides, in this town you would be noticed if you were behind anything, so you are safe,” she said with a grin.
“Not to mention I had a gun to my head at the store where she was attacked,” he replied.
*****
Before she knew it Lizzy was in her friend’s corvette and driving across the city. The detective had allowed him to take her someplace safe. He was taking her to Jack's place.
“I would have you at mine but it is pretty well known I was at the jewelry store robbery. Not so much Jack. Besides, the security is better at his building. No one gets in. I had a problem once and they know me,” he said and she laughed. She was feeling better since he had appeared on the scene and was very glad for his company.
“So we only tell Detective Linton, right?” He asked.
“I have to let my lawyer know. I had him checked out fairly closely, he is good and Kate agreed,” she told him. He nodded and she began filling him in on what happened and their theory. She was holding his hand by the end and it helped her immensely.
“Well I may not have been able to help you before but I am not going to let anything happen to you now, we will keep you secret and safe, I promise,” he said. Lizzy leaned back and closed her eyes. It was begging to get dark out and she wondered at how much stuff happened in such a short time. Then her stomach rumbled hungrily and they both laughed.
“Don’t worry, Jack will have some food when we get there. Knowing him, take out Chinese and a lot of it,” he told her.
“I love Chinese food so I am glad he is getting a lot. Since I am off my diet for the foreseeable future, bring it on.” she told him with a sigh. As they pulled into an underground garage her phone rang. She answered hesitantly.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hi, Lizzy, it is Detective Linton. I don’t mean to bother you but I wanted to update you on some things,” Kate told her.
“Sure, we are just getting to Jack's place,” she said and gave her the address.
“Great, thanks. I will have officers patrolling the area as a precaution. I wanted to let you know that the guy you clocked with your crutch showed up in an emergency room. You cracked his head pretty good. The cabby rushed over and identified him since they were not wearing masks this time. He hasn’t said anything yet but he will. His accent is Brooklyn and that makes sense,” she said.
“Why,” Lizzy questioned.
“Because if your parents sent someone out they would hire locals with a promise of big money. It would be easiest in my view. Oh, and it turns out that whoever broke into your place had a key. Probably from your purse. They must have headed straight there after assaulting you. I am guessing they wanted to scare you but also look for the recording. Taking care of two things at once. We are getting closer so hold on, Lizzy, okay?” She asked.
“Okay, Kate, thank you for all your help,”
“Anytime, talk to you soon,” she finished.
While talking Randy had parked the car near an elevator and there were two men in suits waiting by the doors. She filled him in on what Kate had told her and he was encouraged. She squeezed his hand.
“Thank you Randy, you and Jack are being very nice to me and I have to say I am growing quite fond of you both in a short time,” she said to him shyly. He smiled and squeezed her hand back.
“You are very welcome. We were both smitten with you when we chatted behind the ambulance at the jewelry store. We will keep you safe as we can, hungry?” He said as her stomach rumbled again. They got out and he grabbed her bag, and she her crutches. The security nodded to them as they got on the elevator and they went up.
Lizzy got a hug from Jack and he informed them that the food was on its way (Chinese). She begged a shower from him and hobbled into the bathroom to get cleaned up, it had been another rough and tumble day.
She spent some time in the shower despite her hunger and it felt decadent. It had multiple shower heads and spray so she reveled in it. Her knee was still bruised and did not look good and she was really beginning to get worried about it. If she did not get some downtime she really could do some serious damage to it. The third time her tummy rumbled in the shower convinced her it was time to get out. She toweled off and dressed from the clothes in her bag. She had been in a hurry and just thrown some things in. She put on some underthings and then a V-neck, white t-shirt and red spandex exercise shorts. Her shirt was long but snug and she thought she looked okay considering her day. She quick dried her hair with a towel and brushed it out before hobbling back to the big living room. The food had arrived.
If anyone had told her two hours earlier she would have been spending the evening with two handsome men coddling her she would not have believed them. They had set up the couch with pillows and an ottoman to put her leg up on and served her while sitting on either side of her. Randy had heard her complain about pain pills so there was beer to help her discomfort. In no time she w
as stuffed with excellent food and drinking her second dark beer. Jack broke out some cigars and she found smoking them relaxing somehow. Then again, she thought, it could be the import beer too.
“So, Lizzy, what are you going to do about your apartment? I know I would be pissed about it and wanting to make a change,” he said. She glanced at him and saw his curious expression. His brown eyes were sparkling as usual, with compassion along with his curiosity.
“I don’t know. I loved my place but now I don’t know if I can stay there. How is this building to live in? I like what I saw of the security,” she said. She felt violated with the ransacking of her apartment and trembled a little with upset. She took a long pull on her beer and a drag on the cigar. Releasing a big exhalation of smoke. She tried to force herself to relax again. They noticed her change of mood and became even more attentive and cheerful.
“Don’t worry, Liz, you are going to be fine. This building would be great for you too. It has a lot of amenities and as you say, great security. I think I have Randyman convinced to move to the building too,” Jacks nickname for Randy made her giggle and she looked to her right at him.
“Yeah, I am thinking about it. Another floor though, this guy is to flipping loud,” he said with a grin and his green eyes danced with good cheer. Lizzy finished her beer and cigar, accepting another beer from Jack. Just relax, she told herself. This is not helping.
“I am not worried about you Lizzy; you want to know why?” Jack said and then belched. She giggled.
“Why Jack?” She asked turning to him with a smile.
“Because, like I said before, you are a tough chick. Randy told me who you think is behind it and that sort of thing is hard, but here you are, moving forward and tackling it. Lady you are going to kick your problem's ass and come out happy and beautiful. Believe it!” He said reaching out to rub her shoulders comfortingly. She laughed and leaned into his big hand.
“Let’s go with that, Jack. I will beat this shit and be happy. Screw the world, it is my time!” She said and belched a small, little lady-like belch, that got approval from both guys, as well as a laugh. Jack continued massaging her shoulders and she could feel them loosening up. They were so tight she really needed it. She sighed followed by a groan of pleasure in his touch.