Picture Perfect (Butler Island)

by Nikki Rittenberry

  Ty wiped his hand down his face and then crossed his arms. “She wasn’t, um… he didn’t rape her, did he?” he finally asked.

  “Well, I can’t say for certain. It appears as though she did have intercourse, but nothing consistent with a violent rape.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Her attacker was obviously very rough with her. If he had raped her, it probably would’ve been rough, too… Professionally, I’d say it was possible; personally, I’d say the intercourse was most likely consensual.”

  Ty released a breath he hadn’t been aware he was holding and nodded to their longtime family doctor. “Thanks, Doc, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk.”

  Dr. Conrad placed his hand on Ty’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “My pleasure, although I would’ve much rather have seen the two of you under different circumstances.”

  Placing his hands in his pockets, he nodded. “Yeah, me too…”

  “Can you tell me the room number for Olivia Everitt?” Grant asked the kind elderly woman sitting behind the hospital information desk. He waited as she cautiously pecked at the keyboard in front of her with her two index fingers, fighting the urge to leap over the counter and type the name himself.

  “She’s on the second floor in room”—putting on her eye glasses, she leaned forward—“room 224.”

  “Thanks”, he said as he pivoted and rushed toward the elevator.

  Luckily the elevator door was just opening as he approached. He waited for the passengers to exit before boarding and then impatiently pressed the button to transport him to the second floor several times before the door finally closed. His mind was racing. He didn’t really know what to expect when he saw her. He only knew she probably looked a lot different from the woman he’d left last night.

  The door slid open and immediately he saw Kendall, Chief Handler, and several guys from the fire department sitting in the waiting area. News like this certainly traveled fast, he thought.

  Stepping off the elevator, he swallowed the mass of emotions threatening to expose him. Afraid if anyone looked too close, they’d realize he was a crazed maniac… for Olivia.

  He was madly in love with her. He’d left her house just after midnight, endorphins flooding his body with a high so spellbinding—so heavenly—he’d questioned whether he’d actually died and went to heaven. But the euphoria had quickly dissipated when he’d received a frantic call from Ty this morning, stating that Olivia had been hurt—badly—and was admitted to Mainland Hospital.

  He’d immediately rushed here, his mind accelerating faster than his speeding truck.

  What’d happened? Would she be alright?

  Kendall turned around as she heard the elevator open and observed Grant. He was consumed with panic, worry, and something else.

  Love.

  As if he’d realized how transparent he’d been, he suddenly suppressed it. “Grant”, she called out as he stepped forward.

  “How is she?” he asked.

  Kendall met him halfway. “She’s… she’s okay.”

  “Where’s Ty?”

  “Over there”, she said as she pointed down the hall, “talking to Dr. Conrad—”

  The words had barely left her lips before he turned and rushed toward Ty. Dr. Conrad had already walked away, leaving his distraught best friend alone to reflect on the events that’d occurred.

  “Ty, what the hell happened?” he asked frantically when he was finally within earshot.

  “Some sick bastard broke into the house late last night and beat the shit out of my baby sister!” Moisture clouded Ty’s eyes, the weight of the gruesome attack finally overwhelming his strong façade.

  “Someone broke in?”

  Ty ran his hand through his dark blond hair. “Well, actually, no. The son of a bitch knocked—and Liv didn’t find it odd that somebody was knocking at the door at one o’clock in the morning—so she answered it. He ambushed her at the door!”

  Grant closed his eyes. He tried to imagine how terrified she must’ve been, tried to comprehend how a man could lay his hand on a woman. When Grant opened his eyes, Ty’s hands were cupped around his mouth, fighting to regain his composure.

  “My lil’ sister is tough, though. She fought with every ounce of strength she had—all one hundred twenty pounds of her! I… I found her this morning lying on the kitchen tile—she’d been there all night—too weak to move!”

  “What did Dr. Conrad say? She gonna be alright?” God, please let her be alright!

  Ty nodded. “Yeah, she’s banged-up pretty bad, but it could’ve been a hell of a lot worse.”

  “What about the son of a bitch that did this to her—any idea what his motive was? Does he get-off on slapping women around or was he after something?”

  Ty shook his head and shoved his hands in his pockets. “It was our boy.”

  “Our boy? What do you mean?”

  “The arsonist.”

  “What? How can you be sure he’s—shit—he knows about the pictures Olivia took, doesn’t he?”

  Ty nodded. “Yeah. After he knocked her unconscious, he stole her new camera. He even searched the house and took the pictures she’d printed of him. Told her to quit sneaking around—taking pictures of him—or else he’d be back.”

  Grant relaxed his clenched fists and took a deep breath. The phone call he’d received earlier from Ty had his panicked mind simulating all sorts of scenarios. But none of them were as horrific as reality…

  “You look like shit, man”, he said as he slapped Ty on the back. “Why don’t you go to the cafeteria and get yourself a coffee and something to eat?”

  Ty glanced over his shoulder at Olivia through the small window. “Can’t. I don’t want to leave her by herself.”

  “I’ll sit with her. Go—she needs you to be strong for her.”

  With a heavy sigh, he managed a wry smile. “Thanks, bro. I’d really appreciate that.”

  Grant steeled himself with a deep breath before he quietly nudged the door open. Olivia was lying with her head turned toward the view from her second story window, so enthralled by the movement of the swaying palm trees, she hadn’t noticed him. He took the opportunity to observe her for a moment, hoping to eliminate the look of shock from his face by the time she became aware of his presence.

  “She’s banged-up pretty bad, but it could’ve been a hell of a lot worse”, Ty had said moments earlier. Looking at her bruised and battered body, he acknowledged if it had been much worse, she’d probably be dead…

  She had Gauze wrapped around her head to hold the bandage on the crown of her head securely in place. A large bruise on her left cheek stained her flawless complexion and her kissable pouty lips were slightly swollen, her bottom lip blemished with a small gash.

  Her attacker had clearly struck her with his fist, the realization caused Grant’s fists to clench again. He wanted to kill the son of a bitch that did this to her with his bare hands; wanted to witness him gasping for his last breath.

  His eyes continued their journey. He was unable to see underneath her gown, but he did notice that both her hands were wrapped in a light dressing. His heart convulsed with grief as rage like he’d never known before accumulated inside of him, threatening to explode every time he looked at her battered body. But now wasn’t the time for that.

  She was alive.

  He swallowed the uproar internally consuming him and forced a smile. There’d be plenty of time to endure the internal fury engulfing him later.

  “You need a new nickname”, he said as he took a step toward her. Olivia turned her head to meet his gaze. “I think Super Woman suits you much better.”

  She smiled as much as her swollen lips would allow. “You know me: I’m just an adrenaline junkie lookin’ for my next high! After that Ferris wheel ride, I needed another rush. Guess I need to watch what I wish for, huh?”

  Reaching for the extra chair wedged in the corner, he hauled it close to her bedside and then took a seat. Afte
r loosely intertwining her bandaged hand in his, he raised them to his lips and kissed the back of it. “You look beautiful”, he began.

  Olivia released a gut-busting laugh and then winced as she clutched her broken rib with her freehand. “Don’t make me laugh—it hurts”, she demanded, grinning. She examined his face as he furrowed his brow.

  “He didn’t, um”, Grant swallowed, “you weren’t—”

  “Raped?” she asked. “No”, she uttered as she shook her head, “he was far too busy slappin’ me around.”

  Grant released a breath he hadn’t been aware he was holding as relief washed over him. At least she’d been spared that. Running his fingers through his hair, he slid to the edge of his seat.

  He was struggling for control; she could see it in his body language, in his eyes. Uncomfortable with anyone making a fuss over her, she did what she’d always done: depict the carefree attitude she’d perfected years ago. “I’m okay, Grant, really. Everything is gonna be fine.”

  Grant met her gaze. “Don’t do that, baby”, he uttered softly.

  “Don’t do what?”

  “Try to comfort me—that’s what I’m supposed to be doing for you…”

  Ty made it halfway to the cafeteria before he realized he’d left his wallet behind in Olivia’s room. Pivoting, he boarded the elevator again, too exhausted to take the stairs. He pinched the bridge of his nose and clenched his eyes shut during the brief ascent.

  He still expected to wake any moment and discover that the nightmare he’d endured since stumbling upon his battered little sister this morning was just that: a nightmare.

  He knew better.

  How many times had he pinched himself this morning in an attempt to waken?

  Too many.

  In fact, if he didn’t stop, he’d end up with bruises all over his body, too!

  The bell from the elevator quickly brought him back to reality and when the door slid open, he drifted toward room 224. Quietly he opened the door, unsure if she’d finally succumbed to exhaustion. He didn’t want to wake her—she needed her rest. Voices indicated otherwise and that’s when he overheard…

  “I can’t help but feel responsible for all this”, Grant said as he waved his free hand over her body.

  “Grant, this isn’t your fault—”

  “I should’ve stayed with you longer. If I wouldn’t have left when I did, this probably wouldn’t have happened.”

  “The detective believes the man that did this was most likely watchin’ the house, waitin’ for the perfect opportunity for me to be alone. It wouldn’t have mattered when you left—he still would’ve been there waitin’…”

  “When did this happen?—how long after I left?” he inquired.

  Olivia shrugged her sore shoulders. “I don’t know—five—ten minutes?”

  Closing his eyes, he sighed. “Damn it, Livvy, when I got the call that you’d been hurt, I—”

  “Look at me”, she demanded as she gently squeezed his hand. “I’m only gonna say this one more time, okay? It. Wasn’t. Your. Fault. I’m gonna be just fine. I may look like a complete mess right now, but with a little make-up and a cute outfit, nobody will ever suspect I suffered any injuries!”

  And let’s not forget a little humor, she thought. That had been her longtime secret weapon against emotional trauma from her past.

  When you don’t have the strength within you—fake it. Because if she couldn’t overcome her personal struggles, she could at least gain satisfaction from comforting those that surrounded her.

  “You’re amazing, you know that?” he said smiling.

  “Why, yes, I do—I’ve been told that a time or two”, she explained as she gave him a playful wink.

  Amazing didn’t even begin to describe how he felt about her, he acknowledged. Her strength was contagious; he wanted to be strong—for her. He couldn’t think of another person who could lie there and make light of their circumstances. Her attacker may have inflicted physical damage to her beautiful body, but at least he hadn’t broken her spirit.

  Ty quietly closed the door.

  “I’d say the intercourse was most likely consensual”, Dr. Conrad had said earlier. He’d been so relieved to hear she hadn’t been raped, he’d overlooked the obvious: she’d had sex before her attack. Before her attack she’d been with Grant—his best friend fucked his lil’ sister!

  No—no that couldn’t be, could it?

  No—it had to be someone else. Grant and Olivia were friends—that’s all.

  But sometimes the way Grant looked at her, Ty wondered if maybe they were more than friends…

  Inhaling a deep cleansing breath, he raised his hand to the door, knocked twice, and then opened it. Startled, Grant removed his hand from Olivia’s and then leaned back in his chair.

  “Back so soon?” Grant asked.

  Ty stepped into the room and walked toward the tray on the other side of Olivia’s bed. “Got halfway there and then realized I forgot my wallet.”

  Once he had it in his grasp, he eyed Grant suspiciously for a several seconds and then asked, “Can I get anyone anything?”

  When both Grant and Olivia shook their heads, he started for the door. “I’ll be back in a few minutes—sorry to interrupt.”

  Grant watched as Ty closed the door behind him. There was no mistake about it: he knew about his relationship with Olivia. The bold stare and the “sorry to interrupt” comment were evidence of that.

  He glanced at Olivia; she appeared as though she was too exhausted to have noticed and mentioning it to her now would only upset her. Things were about to get real interesting on Butler Island.

  A very dangerous man was on the loose and once he was caught, Grant was pretty sure that Ty would be coming after him next…

  CHAPTER 17

  It’s show time, Olivia thought as she sat in the living room, surrounded by loved ones. She’d been home from the hospital for three days and was already uncomfortable with the attention she’d received from the worried residents of Butler Island.

  Her childhood home had become a revolving door: neighbors, friends, as well as members of her extended family at the fire department, had all made an effort to visit. In fact, she’d barely had a moment of privacy since Ty had discovered her almost a week ago, lying in a pool of her own blood on the cold slate tile.

  Today’s performance was of utmost importance: Kendall and Grant—the two people who knew her best aside from Ty—were flanked on either side of her, staring at her as though she were a house of cards on the verge of collapse. Their careful scrutiny was cumbersome, uncomfortable. Exuding strength and confidence would hopefully put everyone’s mind at ease—including her own.

  She hadn’t seen Grant in three days, his absence further signifying just how important he had become in her life. They’d spoken every day, but she’d missed his smile, his warmth, his touch. With Ty observing every breath she took, every move she made, they’d decided that distance would prevent speculation about their relationship.

  Sensing her need to be alone with him, Kendall spoke up. “Ty, do you think you can show me what your daily routine is in regards to caring for your pool?” she asked as she twirled a silky strand of black hair around her manicured fingers. “I’ve been thinking about getting an above ground pool for my backyard this spring.”

  “Now?” he asked incredulously.

  “Uh-huh—I mean, if it’s not too much trouble…”

  Ty was in awe of the beauty before him. Her ink-black hair settled around her shoulders, glistening under the lamp’s intimate glow. Two large amber eyes nearly pinned him with their intense gaze, and plump rose lips turned upward in a radiant smile, caressing the depths of his broken soul; mending him from the inside out. Clearing his throat, he offered his hand. “No trouble at all.”

  Grant eyed them as they advanced toward the French doors. The look of admiration didn’t escape him: Ty was clearly attracted to Kendall. But it seemed to be more than that.

  He’d
stood by as his best friend mourned the end of his marriage. There was no doubt that Cameron’s sudden departure created an unimaginable void in Ty’s life. He’d loved that woman more than she’d deserved and when she left, she’d taken his soul with her.

  For the first time in recent memory, he recognized life behind Ty’s green eyes…

  And lust. Maybe there was hope for him after all.

  Grant waited until they were out of sight before turning toward the beauty beside him. “How’re you doing, really?”

  Sighing, she answered, “I’m okay. Having a little trouble sleeping, but other than that…”

  Reaching for her hand, he ran his thumb against her palm as if trying to read her. “The cuts are healing nicely.”

  “Apparently, Super Woman has super healin’ powers.”

  Chuckling softly, he tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’ve missed you like crazy the last few days.”

  Olivia tore her eyes away from their joined hands and peered into his ice-blue gaze. His admission floored her. It wasn’t necessarily the words that’d shocked her; she knew he’d missed her. It was the way he’d said them—like he would’ve died if he’d had to wait a minute longer to see her, like he’d wither away if not for the warmth of her body next to his. And if that weren’t shocking enough, she realized that his absence had created a longing unlike anything she’d ever experienced before, too.

  “Ditto”, she replied, unable to articulate the mounting emotions threatening to fracture her guarded heart.

  “So with Ty going back to work tomorrow, what are you gonna do?”

  “Well, if it were up to me I’d stay here, but my overprotective big brother refuses to compromise on that.”

  “And I agree with him on that—you shouldn’t be alone.”

  “Looks like I’ll be seeing you at the fire station tomorrow, and as for tomorrow night… He’s planning on having Lieutenant Hudson cover his overnight shift.”