Saving Valentines: Love and the Alpha Male

by Cate Mckoy

  She cried silently, shaking her head. Defeatedly she imparted, “I have no accomplice. I wasn’t trying to hurt Chastity. I was trying to help her. I love Chastity.”

  Murdock smirked, using a duh tone, “Yeah, we got that from your messages.”

  “No! No. I don’t mean like that. I love her like a friend or a sister. I wouldn’t hurt her. I only gave her drugs.”

  Danes snatched up a piece of paper from the table. “I did a quick lookup of some of these drugs and they don’t seem particularly friendly or sisterly to me.” She began to read off the list.

  Dr. Salandar shook her head and started to cry again. Suddenly she stopped. “Wait. What did you say? Read that again.”

  Danes rolled her eyes but complied, reading the list of drugs found in Chastity’s system.

  “Oh, God, no. I didn’t give her that.” Salandar shook her head. “Let me see that.”

  Danes placed the lab report on the table in front of Sydney. “I didn’t give these to Chastity.”

  Murdock looked from the doctor to Danes. He asked with his eyes what Danes thought. Danes shook her head and shrugged.

  The doctor read the paper with dawning horror. “I wouldn’t give her this. It would very nearly mimic a date rape drug. She would lose time, possibly pass out, be in a trance-like state, she’d be out of it and sleep a good portion of the dosage.”

  That got the detectives’ attention. Danes spoke first. “She did seem to be in a trance a couple of times.”

  “She was out of it too a few times. The only person she’d respond to is the lieutenant. And, she had those weird bouts of focusing on an object. The lieutenant seemed to be the only one to bring her out of that focus.” Murdock was remembering Chastity the day her office was broken into, but nothing was taken.

  “That was the coping exercises I taught her to ward off her panic attacks. The drugs must have made her feel panicky.”

  Danes stood up straighter and her voice became sterner. “Tell us who is your accomplice and I will see about getting a deal for you.”

  Sydney groaned. “Haven’t you people been listening to me? I don’t have an accomplice! I wouldn’t hurt Chastity!”

  She looked from Danes to Murdock. Seeing their complete disbelief, Sydney gave up. “I’ve had enough. I’m done talking. I want a lawyer.”

  ***

  Rick lie with Chastity in his arms. Her head against his chest. He Rhythmically caressed her back from her nape to her Venus dimples. They remained in their post-coital cocoon until Chastity’s stomach growled loudly.

  They both burst out laughing. “Oh, my.” She buried her face deeper into his chest.

  Rick laughed. “Oh, my, indeed. Need I ask, are you hungry?”

  “I am starved.”

  Rick laughed. They got dressed and headed to her kitchen.

  Rick smiled at her scrunched-up nose while she held aloft some rotting food. She was cute and was looking like a teenager again. “I take it from your look that we’re ordering out?”

  She waved a hand to get rid of the smell after tossing the bad food in the trash. “Definitely.”

  Rick called in their Chinese food order while she pulled the garbage can in front of the open fridge and pushed spoiled food into can.

  “After we eat, if you want, we can go food shopping, restock the fridge.” Rick offered.

  “That sounds great.” She smiled at him.

  Her smile disappeared when her cell phone rang. She ignored it.

  Rick didn’t say anything when she ignored it three other times. “Honey, he’s sorry. He thought he was protecting you. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to know that you weren’t there for your child when she needed you most. I imagine it would make him vigilant, maybe even over vigilant.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Chastity your almost abduction right under his nose took a toll on your father. He thinks he’s failed you.”

  “That’s ridiculous. He saved me that day.”

  Rick shook his head. “You have PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks and nightmares. He feels like he didn’t save you. A save for him would have been to spare you even a second in that predator’s hands.”

  “I think he is just being controlling.” Chastity went to the desk built into the counter and retrieved some paper. Sitting down, she started a grocery list.

  Rick sat next to her, taking her hand. “Sweetheart, I may not know what it feels like to let down a child in such a situation, but I do know what it feels like to let down a sibling.”

  Chastity’s eyes flew to Rick’s. His held his anguish over his sister’s death and the part he believed he played in it. “Oh, Rick, no. Honey, no.” She reached over to kiss him.

  Like always their kisses grew to something neither could control or wanted to. Their series of kisses tapered off with their foreheads touching and their gazes clinging.

  She spoke first. “I will answer his next call.”

  Rick kissed her again, whispering, “That’s my girl.”

  Giving one more, quick kiss, Chastity went back to her list.

  Rick looked over and read the list. “Hey, lets put some manly stuff on the list too.” He laughed.

  She looked up, gave him a teasing smile and wrote STEAK AND BEER in all caps.

  Rick started to laugh when his eyes were caught by the block letters. He looked from the writing to Chastity’s face as she continued to write. Rick then noticed the paper. The pink paper. Not believing his eyes he snatched the paper off the table.

  “Hey, give that back. Some hearty vegetables aren’t going to hurt your diet.” She laughed.

  Her laughter died, noticing Rick’s unnatural concentration on the paper.

  “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!” He ran a hand through his hair before balling it into a fist and slamming it down on the table.

  Chastity jumped. Her heart raced in fear. The look he was giving her was like the one he had when he first walked into her kitchen a couple weeks ago. Had it really been only fourteen days ago? It felt like a lifetime. A lifetime in which she fell in love. She loved Rick Racuanelli.

  His hard eyes took her in. “I really am a fool. I can’t believe I fell for your act. You’ve succeeded where Chelsea could not.”

  She reached out, taking his arm. “Rick, I—”

  “If you’re as half as smart as I now know you are, you’ll remove your hand off my arm.” His cold controlled voice and dark look had Chastity snatching her hand back.

  His jawline was like marble. “Nice act. You got what you wanted. You got daddy’s attention. He’s calling you begging for your forgiveness.” His look of disdain brought tears to her eyes. “I bet you’re just lapping it all up internally.”

  “Rick, I—”

  Rick rushed to his feet and paced the floor. Periodically, running an agitated hand through his disheveled hair. “I can’t even charge you for filing a false report because the Linz kid was stalking you.”

  He was talking more to himself than her. Chastity’s heart thudded painful as it broke into a million pieces. His deductions continued. “The doctor insisted she didn’t leave those messages. I left Murdock and Danes to break her and reveal her accomplice. It makes perfect sense that the unwitting accomplice is you.” He stopped his pacing and gave her a direct stare. “Or did you know she was giving your drugs?”

  “I didn’t know my father hired Sydney. I—”

  “Of course, you didn’t. That’s why parts of your act seemed genuine, because they were.”

  Chastity felt their connection slipping away. She told him her revelation. “Rick, I love you.”

  He laughed harshly. “I bet you do. All you spoiled, entitled, calculating, bitches just love a man that can be led around by his fucking dick.”

  “No!”

  “Yes! I am the biggest fool. Because you were seemingly different from Chelsea, I fell for it.” He started towards the kitchen doorway. “Congratulate yourself. You won. And, you got away with it. I can’t touch
you without bring down my own department on me for my unprofessional behavior. But we have the doctor and I am going to make it my personal mission to make sure she does the max.” He gave a sad shake of his head. “You know, Danes and Murdock each put forth a theory. Danes believed you had more than one stalker; Linz and someone else. Murdock thought you had one real stalker and was faking a stalking. They will be happy to know they are both right.”

  Chastity got up and went to him. She couldn’t let it end like this. “Rick, I didn’t do this. You have to believe me.”

  His eyes connected with hers a final time. “That’s the problem. I believed you. I am not going to be too mad about it. After all, I got some great pussy out of it. And, the way you give head is almost a religious experience. I will miss that and your tight little body. I truly hope it was worth it to you. It only cost you your dignity and virginity.”

  With those final words Rick left.

  ***

  Danes and Murdock were just finishing up their paperwork. The doctor had been processed and made bail. The Valentines had left before they started questioning Sydney Salandar.

  The phone on Murdock’s desk rang. He picked it up in mid-ring. “Murdock, here.”

  Danes shut down her computer as she listened to Murdock’s side of the conversation.

  “Really? Wow, that’s great. Can we stop in now, even though visiting hours are over?” A short pause. “Great, great. We’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

  Upon seeing Murdock’s huge smile, Danes questioned. “What?”

  “Forbes woke up. He’s asking for a burger.”

  ***

  Rick approached Forbes’ room slowly. There was a bunch of laughter going on. He opened the door and went in. Rick spotted the doctor who had called him, a Dr. Renard, right away. He was keying information in a computerized chart. Murdock was laughing, sitting at the foot of the bed and Danes was pouring water from pitcher.

  “I s-still w-want a burger.” The raspy, strained whisper was barely identifiable as Forbes’.

  Rick suppose he was lucky to have a voice at all. He walked up to the bed. “Hey, Daniel. It’s good to see you awake.”

  Forbes smiled. “Hey Lieutenant. Did y-you bring me a burger?”

  Rick laughed. Even though raspy and harsh it was good to hear Forbes speak. “If the doctor says it’s ok, I will go and get you all the burgers you want.”

  Dr. Renard spoke up. “I am afraid not quite yet Mr. Forbes. Let’s start with soft foods, please.”

  Forbes grumbled and then took a drink from the cup Danes handed him. The doctor left but not before warning Forbes to not overdue.

  “You don’t have to worry, we got her, Daniel.”

  “Good. I can’t b-believe th-that bald b-bitch got the jump on me.” He took a sip from his cup, so Forbes didn’t see the utter stillness that overtook the other three.

  Rick couldn’t believe he waited this long but he finally asked, “Forbes, who stabbed you?”

  Forbes was confused. “You know, that lesbian chick. The nurse with the tattoos.”

  Murdock sat up straighter. “She did say she only medicated Chastity.”

  Danes looked wonderingly at Rick. “She said there was no accomplice.”

  Rick added his own wonderings to the seemingly disjointed conversation. “She couldn’t fake that fear.” Glancing at his watch, Rick said, “It’s three minutes past midnight. It’s officially Valentine’s Day.”

  Chapter 12

  Suddenly they all moved towards the door each with their phone in their hands. They started jogging towards the exit.

  “This is Lieutenant Racuanelli, I need you to hail the unit station outside twenty-two-oh-eight Cypress Lane and tell the officer to go inside for a welfare check of the homeowner.”

  “There is no answer at her landline.” Danes told them as they went flying out of the main exit doing much more than a jog.

  “She’s not answering her cell either.” Murdock added.

  By silent consent they all headed to Rick’s car. As soon as he was inside, he started his siren, praying that this time he’d make it.

  ***

  Chastity belched as she reached to check the window in her den. Ugh, I ate too much of that Chinese. She had been left with enough Chinese food to feed at least four adults. She had eaten a good portion of it after she had cried. She found after her tears dried up that she was famished. She had taken samples of every dish Rick ordered and feasted.

  Now, finished locking up, she headed for her shower. Doing a quick about face she went and checked that the police car was still out there. Although, Toby had been caught, Rick felt the protection during Valentine’s Day was just a good call.

  She had half expected to find a pick piece of paper somewhere inside her house and was very relieve when she did not.

  Thinking of paper made her tears return. Rick had seen the paper that was identical to the notes she had been receiving from her stalker. He thought she was her own stalker, an attention seeker.

  Chastity could honestly say she couldn’t remember where she had gotten the paper from. She often received sample gifts from salespeople; pens, refrigerator magnets, personalized journal, calendars, nursing gloves. One time she even got a stethoscope. For the life of her she couldn’t remember who had given her the pink stationary set. She hadn’t thought much of the gift someone had given her. If she had thought about it, it would have never ended up in her junk drawer.

  Chastity plugged her cellphone in on her nightstand. She took out a towel and went into the bathroom. Quickly she removed her clothes and hopped in. She let the water cascade down her body for several minutes before washing herself.

  Abruptly she stopped, listening. What was that sound?

  She held herself perfectly still. She remained still like that for several long, heart pounding minutes. She didn’t hear anything. She got out and dried herself off, wrapping the towel around her, she went in her bedroom.

  Immediately she saw the red rose lying on her pillow next to a pink paper with blood red letters all in caps spelling MINE. Chastity rushed to the nightstand to grab her phone. Her charger wire lay there without her phone. She heard the sound again. It was coming from inside her house.

  The lights went out. Chastity screamed.

  ***

  “There is no answer again.” Murdock put his phone away.

  “Shit! Fuck!”

  “Lieutenant, the patrol car sent to Erica’s is waiting outside her apartment. Their knock went unanswered.”

  ***

  Chastity moved around in the dark, taking slow steps. When she bumped the bed, she reached her hand out and grabbed the nightgown she had left out before showering. She let her towel fall and put her nightgown on.

  Heart racing, she made her way to the door. She froze for precious seconds when she heard the whispered word, “Mine” close to her. Inside the room type of close. She picked up speed and bumped a figure on her way out the door. She screamed for all she was worth. Out of the darkness hands grabbed her. While struggling, she screamed again and again. Her screams were silenced by a slight prick in her right arm.

  ***

  Chastity tossed and turned her head. She was in the middle of a nightmare.

  Toby Linz was pulling her through the snow in the woods. She screamed and looked over her shoulder. Rick was behind them, running towards them, holding his hand out towards her. Chastity reached her hand out to him. She screamed his name. No matter how fast Rick ran their hands never touched. The distance between them grew. She cried out for him.

  “Rick!” Chastity came awake and face to face with her stalker.

  The lights were back on. She was spread eagle on her bed her hands and feet were tied. There were candles lit and an aromatic scent in the room. On the nightstand were chocolates and a dozen red roses.

  “You yell his name a lot. I counted thirty times when he was fucking you earlier.”

  Chastity’s eyes went to her stalker’s.
“Erica, you watched us?”

  She stood and removed a hunter’s knife from its sheath at her side. “From the closet. I was watching you. I watch you a lot. I’d wait until the drugs I put in your water station at work take effect. Then, I’d pick your really simple lock and make my way upstairs to your bedroom. I’d stand over you for a long time, lie down next to you and watch you sleep.” She touched the point of the knife to her plump lips. “You’re like a drug and I am an addict. I need you to breathe.”

  Chastity was scared. She had seen the look of admiration in Erica’s eyes a time or two. But she had no idea her feelings were this deep. She had never seen the look she now had in her eyes. She looked… disturbed. Chastity said the first thing that popped into her head. “Erica, you know that I am straight.”

  Her eyes blazed. “Don’t!”

  Chastity trembled and pulled away from Erica as she reached a hand out and stroked her face.

  Erica sat down on the side of the bed and leaned over Chastity. Like Rick had done. Like a lover. “Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that ignorant shit again. Love knows no boundaries, no genders. We are here on this earth to love who we love.”

  Chastity shifted. Her right arm was going numb from her lying on it. She pulled against the restraints at her wrists. She tried to reason with Erica. “I-I agree with you to a point. But that love must be reciprocated. The other person should feel love, not be drugged.”

  Erica touched the point of the knife to Chastity’s lips instead of her own this time. “You’ve said you love me a bunch of times without drugs in your system.”

  “I meant as a friend. Erica, please, don’t do this.” Chastity heard the desperation in her own voice.

  Erica trailed the knife point down to Chastity’s rib cage. Pushing the point just enough to break the skin, she took Chastity’s mouth in a harsh kiss.