"Oh hell," Aza gasped. "So you weren't after Renee?"
"Nothing personal." The man thrust the pillow aside, lay back and shut his eyes. At the same time a monitor above the bed began to beep.
"Trouble!" Renee gasped. "We'd better get out of here."
They almost collided with several nurses coming in, Renee muttered something about needing more equipment but didn't stop. They slowed, pushed the end door open and walked out past the security guard they had originally fooled.
"You need the police?" he asked.
"I doubt if they can help," Renee muttered.
"Just let any other doctors straight through," Aza added in a professional voice. "More equipment should also be coming."
The guard nodded and didn't query the fact that they were leaving the ward and not going in. A moment later with the white jackets discretely disposed of, Renee and Aza walked out of the building, just as a Land Cruiser pulled up to the kerb and Tyler waved at them from the driver's window and Sam barked from a back seat.
THEY ARRIVED BACK AT East Ridge to find their driveway cordoned off with a police vehicle and two other cars parked in the driveway.
A police officer waved them down. "Detective Sergeant Cleveland wishes to speak to you all," the constable said. "We took the liberty of using your shed as a base and lit the boiler there. I fed one hungry cat and gave some hay to the animals, too."
"Thanks Constable," Renee said. "Tell your sergeant to give us a few moments then come over to the house."
"Right Ma'am," he replied and spoke into his radio before moving the tape aside and waving them forward.
Renee had a pleasant surprise for she found the electricity was back on and the LPG heaters had automatically switched on so it was warm indoors. Apricot greeted them and followed by Sam, rushed up to her bowl to demand food.
"You've been feed," she laughed. "So don't pretend you're still hungry." She did though open two tins of pet food and fed the pair.
The detective arrived a few moments later along with a lady constable. "We need to take statements from you all," he said after the usual introductions and accepting an offer of refreshments and coffee. "These will need to be done individually so have you another room we can use?"
"Our office will be the best. That's where our main computer is. I'll take you through," Renee replied.
Tyler was spoken to first but had no time to speak to her before she was asked into the office.
"Just use your own words to tell me what happened in the few moments before and during the exchange of gunfire, Renee," he said. He sat at Tyler's desk but had added his own laptop and a small recording devise beside their own computer. "This is just an informal statement but it will be recorded and after a written copy is made up, you'll be asked to read and sign it. If necessary, we may need a formal statement from you. "
Renee frowned, nodded and began to describe the events. Brody said little except for asking a few questions to clarify about the red target light and when Tyler shot his rifle.
"So you visited the suspect in hospital?" he asked.
Renee blushed for she had not mentioned that fact.
"I wanted to find out why he shot at me?"
"And?"
Renee grimaced. "Apparently, I got it all wrong. It was Aza who was being targeted probably both times. When Sofia was hit but not killed a second gunman was hired to assassinate her. I think she..."
Brody held his hand up. "Don't speculate. I'll be interviewing Sofia shortly. Why, though, did you think you were the target?"
"My ex-husband ..." After Renee continued on to explain the details of her situation the detective just nodded without emotion.
"And did Tyler confirm everything I told you?"
"You'd better ask him yourself for I have no comment to make."
Renee felt annoyed. "So are Tyler, myself or any the others being charged with anything?" she asked. "If we are it is only fair that we are told so we can seek representation to defend ourselves."
Brody glanced up. "Oh we could charge Tyler for reckless use of a firearm resulting in wounding a victim but it would not be difficult for a good lawyer to argue that it was in self defence and perhaps impersonating a doctor could result in a charge being laid."
He stood up just as his mobile rang. He answered it, snapped a few curt words and turned to Renee.
"I have just heard that Lloyd Tate, the gunman you visited has died. This has complicated our enquiries. In the meanwhile though, you are all being considered as victims rather than perpetrators of any crime. Thank you for your co-operation and for the use of this office. After I have finished interviewing the others involved I will need to get back to your partner and yourself."
Renee nodded and left the room with that hollow feeling of uncertainty going through her mind. She remained expressionless as she walked back to where the others were waiting in the lounge.
"He died," was all she said. "The bastard who almost shot me has just died."
Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed her jacket and walked straight out the back door. Sam followed as she stepped out into the snow. Sometimes in a situation like this, an animal's company was better than that of a human.
AZA AWOKE FROM A NIGHTMARE of being attacked by some gangster and took a moment to realise that she was back at East Ridge. Something though was different! Of course, the electricity was back on and it was quite warm. Tyler had turned on the central heating and there was a faint hum of a distant fan that was quite different from the original thumping of the generator when it was going. She clicked on her watch and saw it was still a couple of hours before everyone awoke. Sofia was sighing in her sleep across the room.
She slipped out of bed and made her way along the hallway to the bathroom in darkness and turned on the bathroom light. It was nice to have the lights and not have to rely on the kerosene lamps of the previous days. She left and was making her way back to the bedroom when she bumped into someone for she was not alone.
"Oops, sorry," she muttered thinking that it must be Sofia. Instead a hand, gentle but firm held her.
"It's okay, Aza, it's only me," said Ian in the darkness. "I heard you coming."
"So?" Aza whispered. There was something about his presence that sent strange emotions through her body.
Oh hell, here she was in a dark corridor with a man beside her. Thoughts flashed through her mind. In her whole life she had actually had only a few encounters with men, what with her studies and later life back home where she had cared for elderly parents, the few brief times with men had never come to anything. Sure, at high school and as an undergraduate she had had fleeting moments with males and had sex a few times. These were mostly one-night occasions and had never been particularly enjoyable; it was almost as if she had been obliged to have sex that happened and afterwards, best forgotten about.
Now though, she found herself shivering in anticipation as she was swung around and hugged. His fingers touched her face and slid under her chin.
"What are you doing, Ian?" she whispered.
"Guess?" he replied. Fingers guided her face up and without warning, he kissed her on the lips.
"We can't," she whispered but just stood there in the darkness as all her senses began to be aroused. He smelt so masculine, not that sweaty drunken smell of the youths at university but the soft smell of a clean body with perhaps a faint aroma of shaving soap.
Hands touched her neck and dropped slowly down. She wore winter pyjamas with nothing beneath so she could feel his body pressed against her as he tightened his hug and kissed her again. This time she kissed him back and stood there as he moved slightly back. Oh hell, he was undoing her pyjama top.
"No," she whispered.
"Yes," he replied. He undid all the buttons and in one deft movement pulled her top off and she realised she was topless. Hands seized her breasts and she felt her whole body tremble as he gently squeezed them until fingers found her nipples that were reacting to the fondling.
She just held on and leaned back slightly as lips replaced fingers. Her pyjama string was unknotted and they dropped as his hands moved down. She found herself lubricated even before the fingers on her legs moved up to massaged her crotch.
Without a word, he moved away and grabbed her hand.
"My pyjamas," she gasped and frantically felt around in the darkness for the clothes. She found them but was grasped again and led across the hallway and through a door. It shut with a slight squeak and she knew she was in his room. He took both her hands and gently pushed her back on the bed.
She wriggled back, found a pillow to place her head on and moved her raised knees out wide. He mounted her and she let out loud moans as he made almost urgent love to her, not once but several times in various positions before the lust turned to passion and finally gentle fondling as she dropped to sleep in his arms.
SHE AWOKE TO SEE A faint predawn light coming through the top windows. Ian was snoring beside her and when she slid out from the blankets she realised she had no pyjamas on. After an almost panicky search around she saw them as a bundle on the floor. She hastily dressed and slid out and along to her own room.
Damn a light flickered beneath the closed door. Sofia must be awake. She swallowed, opened the door and walked in.
Sofa was sitting up in her bed with a bedside lamp on just staring at her. It was the expression on her face that was a shock. She was pouting and almost appeared hurt.
"Okay, where have you been for the last two hours?" Sofia asked.
Memories flooded back. Aza remembered that very first time when she had come home well after midnight and a friend's party to find her mother confronting her. She had just had sex with her friend's brother and was embarrassed and frightened by the completely unsatisfactory event.
"Ian was in the hallway when I went to the bathroom," she muttered. This was stupid. This wasn't her mother confronting her as a fifteen year old. "We had sex."
Sofia's reaction was completely unexpected. She just sat there with raised knees beneath the blankets and leaned forward to hug her arms around them. She looked up, her chin dropped and trembled as her eyes flooded into tears that rolled down her cheeks and dropped onto her pyjama top.
"What's wrong?" Aza asked. "Did you want him to do it with you?"
"No," sobbed Sofia. "You never got it, did you?" She glanced up, found a tissue from a nearby box and blew her nose.
"Got what?"
"Oh even with all your academic degrees you can be so naïve at times."
"Go on," Aza whispered.
"I'm not jealous of you having sex with Ian, I'm jealous of him having sex with you,"
"Meaning?"
"Oh Aza, my dear friend Aza. I know you've never been interested but to me you're more than a friend." Sofia reached for more tissues to wipe the tears from her eyes and cheeks. "I love you, Aza. It shouldn't have to be closeted this day and age. I love you and the thought of you having sex with Ian devastated me, that's all."
She stretched out, rolled sideways on the bed and burst into tears again.
"Just go away," she sobbed as Aza attempted to pacify her. "I'll be okay. I know you're heterosexual. I'll get over it." She pulled the blankets up and refused to say any more.
CHAPTER 9
Renee glanced around the breakfast table and noticed the differences, vibes perhaps, that showed from her guests. Ian for the first time, sat beside Aza and across from Tyler and herself while Sofia sat at the far end, a spot usually taken by Ian. He appeared to be fussing over Aza who appeared polite but quiet as she ate her breakfast, thanked Ian for the coffee he had handed to her and appeared to be deep in thought. Sofia in contrast, had a sullen expression on her face and barely looked up from her food.
Finally she did and looked at Renee. "Now that the highway is open, will a bus come through?"
"Probably," Renee replied. "We can look it up on the internet. Why?"
Sofia grimaced. "With my sore arm I am not much good at helping around here so I thought I'd take a bus back to Christchurch and fly home."
"There is no need," Aza said in a quiet voice. "I don't want you to leave."
Sofia glowered at her. "I'm hardly needed now, am I?"
"If you say so," Aza muttered and returned to her scrambled eggs.
Renee glanced at Ian who looked embarrassed but said nothing. She turned to Tyler who raised his eyebrows a little, meaning that they should have a chat in private when the opportunity arrived.
"So what's wrong with them?" Renee asked Tyler when they were alone sweeping up straw in the shed's animal stalls.
"Ian's screwed her," Tyler said. "I guess it was bound to happen."
"You mean he had sex with Sofia and Aza's got the huff."
Tyler grinned. "No, the other way around. I reckon he screwed Aza and Sofia's had her nose put out of joint. Perhaps he even screwed her earlier."
"Tyler!"
"Well he's a pleasant guy but we don't really know that much about him. Could be that with her sore shoulder Sofia turned down his approach and he turned to Aza."
"I don't think so," Renee replied. "Unless I am mistaken, I think it is an entirely different situation. There's a triangle here.
"You mean, one guy and two attractive woman who are competing for his attention."
"No, two lovers attracted to one person."
Tyler grinned. "Isn't that what I just said."
"No the one person is Aza and Sofia is jealous because she slept with Ian."
Ian said nothing while he pitched some clean straw across the cattle stall. Now that the snow was melting the beasts were outside finding exposed grass. Finally he looked up. "You mean they're lesbians?"
"I think Sofia is but Aza is more of those academics who hasn't been that interested in sex at all."
Tyler laughed. "Some aren't but many are quite promiscuous. Anyway, why worry; once they leave we'll probably never hear from them again?"
Renee stared at him. "I don't think so Tyler. I know we've only known them a short time but so much has happened, I think they'll continue to be firm friends and I'm going to help sort things out, if it is possible."
"Just be neutral, that's all I suggest." Tyler scooped up some old dirty straw into a pile and patted Sam who as usual, was never far away.
RENEE WAS APPROACHED by Aza later that morning when she was in the laundry sorting out sheets and towels.
"Can we talk?" Aza asked. "I don't want Sofia to leave."
"Come for a ride with me. I was going along to one of the cottages we let out. It needs fresh air and bit of a tidy.
Renee took out their quad bike and armed with cleaning gear and other bits and pieces, headed out with Aza seated beside her. The drive was now a squishy mess with melted snow turned to mud except in sheltered spots where it had turned to ice.
After they unloaded the gear in the cottage kitchen, Aza accepted the choice of having a cup of coffee.
"I'm not sure where to begin," she said as they sat around the kitchen table.
"How about last night?" Renee prompted.
"You know?"
"I know that something happened that involved Ian that affected both Sofia and yourself. She has hurt feelings but the reason for this is pure supposition on my behalf."
Aza sucked on her lip. "So what do you think?"
"Ian wanted to bed one of you and actually did."
Aza flushed a bright red and nodded. In a voice that was barely a whisper she gave Renee a surprisingly frank account of having sex with Ian and the episode with Sofia afterwards.
"So until then, you never suspected that Sofia was sexually attracted to you?"
"Not really but in hindsight there were occasions when I should have guessed. Whenever something good happened, for example if I came home after discovering something in my work, she'd hug me close and kiss me somewhat passionately; the opposite too. Once when I was having problems with that professor I told you about, she slipped into my bed late one night and cuddled up
."
"But nothing more?"
"No, I regarded her as a close friend but that's all."
"And Ian?"
Aza shrugged. "I needed comforting I guess, especially to that news that I was that gunman's target and not you. He was there and I responded."
"Another question," Renee said. "Does the thought of Sofia being sexually attracted to you make you disgusted or appalled?"
"I don't know," Aza replied. "It's not something I have thought about, I guess. No, I am not disgusted by Sofia's confession. However, my experience with Ian was so exciting."
"And you'd do it again?"
"Probably but it is up to him. It could be that he just took advantage of me when I was vulnerable."
"So jump ahead a couple of months. You're back home with one of them. Now who would you rather have with you, Ian or Sofia?"
"That's a hard one, Renee. I do love Sofia you know but like a sister, not a sexual partner. As for Ian, I'm sure it is just a physical attraction because of the circumstances. I don't love him but enjoy the physical side." She sighed. "Nothing's simple, is it?"
"Who would it be if you had the choice?" Renee pushed.
"Sofia," Aza whispered.
"There's a bus coming by here about three this afternoon that Sofia is about to book a ticket on. Tell her everything. Tell her you love her as friend and sister; tell you it was pure lust with Ian and perhaps even exaggerate the word 'lust'. If you want to stop her leaving this afternoon perhaps you could bend a little the other way, too."
"How?"
"Many women and males too, are bisexual. A wee lie in that direction could save a friendship, you know. She needs you and I think you need her, too. If you let Sofia get on that bus, it is going to be almost impossible to ever have her as a friend again. "
"A white lie?"
Snow Bond Page 9