In Your Shadow (23 page)

“Here drink this!”

She didn’t hesitate and down it. Just as she finished Olivia walks up behind her.

“Well there you two are, I have been looking everywhere for you.” Looking down at her dress she noticed her toe was sticking out from under the material.

“Katie, didn’t you wear your shoes!”

“I took them off.”

“I can see that.”

“Wow that looks so attractive.” She nods her head at her.

Katie tried to pull herself together and put a fake smile across her face, but it wasn’t working. She was trembling too bad to hide it. Olivia looked at her with a strange look, she could sense something was wrong. Katie always had something smart to say to her, but she was speechless.

“What’s going on? What’s the matter with you?”

“Nothing, I am just getting tried. You know I don’t do parties well.” She quickly answered trying to roll it off as that.

“Well you and Mr. Hot Pants. Oh I’m sorry John go to bed.” Olivia answered knowing there was more to the story, but this wasn’t the time to find out.

“Oh I am as soon as I talk to my father.”

“So, are you having a good time.”

“I guess these people here are a different kind of crazy. This isn’t my type of fun but I have enjoyed myself.”

“That’s good, I see dad. I will talk to you in a minute.”

Katie pulled on Johns arm and they walked to a far corner were they seen him come in the front door with a few security guards. It didn’t take her but a few minutes to get to him.

“Daddy what’s the matter?”

“I will talk to you later about it, let’s get the guest out of here first.”

Johns hand had a grip on hers, he wasn’t going to let her slip away. They followed him to the podium and he stood there and done a little speech. When he finished everyone was courting down.

“It’s that’s time.” She turned to John as the crowd yelled five, four, three, two, one and happy new year. Confetti fell from the ceiling and covered the floors. Katie could see it fall in front of her as John pulled her into his arms and his lips covered hers. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. When he released his lips his eyes were still on hers.

Staring into them deep ocean blue eyes, she was lost in a sea of forever. Her heart sunk, as butterflies took flight in the pit of her stomach. He held her close, pressing her nose to her neck and inhaling her scent. Like fresh roses, it was driving him wild wanting her more. He keeps his lips just a breath away from hers. Moving his face to hers again his lips went down on hers as her heart was consumed. His hand runs down her back, it was a reminder that he controlled her soul. She breaks from his lips as she looks up into his eyes and sees passion and glowing desires.

“Happy new year Katie, I will make this year better for you.” He smiled.

“Happy new year to you John.” Smiling back at him returning her mouth to his.

“Happy New Year love birds” Olivia was heard in their ears again.

They turned and looked at her.

“Same to you.” Katie answered.

They sat down keeping her father in eye view as he was escorting people out the door. Some were too drunk to leave so they had to get a room upstairs.

She was trying to get his attention. It was eating her up to know what he had found out. Her nerves were on edge just knowing this man was still out there.

John knew something was going on because they were making the men take off their mask as they were leaving.

“What’s going on John?” Katie looked up at him.

“I don’t know but I am sure he will tell us soon.”

“Let’s go over there” pulling on his hand.

“No Katie I think we need to stay here. He will come to us. Besides Olivia is on her way over here.”

“That is just great?” she smiled as she approached.

“Well I guess I am going to bed. I have had enough of this for one night. Plus, these shoes are killing me.”

“See you in the morning.” As she turned and walked away.

“Here drink this,” he hands her a night cap.

She took a sip out of the glass, and it took her breath and she started coughing.

“That was strong?” As it burned her throat.

“That will calm you down some Katie?”

“If it doesn’t it will sure knock me out!”

She sits the glass down on the cabinet and didn’t realize that she was still shaking from the adrenalin rush. She finally stopped trembling as a feeling of warmth run though her blood stream. The alcohol was doing its job. He was right she slowly stopped shacking. Looking around she could see the room was clearing out. Her father was no longer at the front entrance of the house. He eyes scanned the room but didn’t see him. Finally, she sees him walking towards her with two guards on his side. She walked a few steps as she got closer to her.

“Daddy are you alright!”

“I am fine” pulling her close to him and wrapping his arms around her.

“Katie I don’t know what I would do if something had happened to you. I couldn’t bare it.” His arms tight around her.

“Daddy it didn’t and it want.”

“You are right it’s not. You are staying here until this is resolved.”

She pulls away from him and looks into his eyes.

“Daddy I am staying at John’s if that will make you feel better. My house will be ready the end of the week and I will move in there. It has a lot of security cameras.”

“How safe is John’s place?”

“Sir it is safe I assure you. I will keep her there even if I have to work at home. She will not leave the house without me are someone security around her.” Looking over at Katie with this surprised look on her face.

She knew better then to argue in front of him.

“Tell me daddy what is going on, what did they find out?”

“Well it seems like they have linked him with someone from this house.”

“What? How do you know that?”

“Well his cloths were left in the bathroom upstairs when he changed into his suit.”

“When did he get in and who let him in?” Fear ran though faster than a strike of lightening.

“He was upstairs! Did you have someone search the house. Is he still around here now!” Fear was in her voice more now than before.

Just knowing he was in the same house made shivers run down her spine.

“Katie I have had the whole house searched and he isn’t hear. From what we saw he is hurt pretty bad. We have calls out to all the hospitals we will find him. Listen dear you need to go get some rest, I am going to as soon as I check with the security one more time.”
“I can wait on your daddy.”

“No Katie go own to bed it has been a very stressful night.”

“Okay” not wanting to leave his side but she knew he was right.

John took her hand and lead her up the stair case. Looking over to their side she seen her father wave at her. It brought tears to her eyes once again. She didn’t want to leave his side, her mind going crazy thinking the stalker could be still in the house.

John opened her door to the bedroom and closed it behind her. She put her arms around him and held him tightly, not wanting to pull away. He held her close to him for several minute before looking up into his eyes. Tears were rolling down her cheek again.

“It’s going to be alright Katie. We will find him and it will all be over soon.”

“I hope so.” Her voice low.

“Here let me help you out of this dress.”

As much as he wanted to make love to her now, he knew she needed comfort more than sex at this point. His body was carving her like a drug, but she needed her rest and reassurance.

After undressing they crawled in bed and he pulled her close to him. She was wrapped up in his body like a blanket. Laying there listening to her breath it soon put him to sleep.

Blood pouring out of his leg, covering the seat and dripping down onto the floor broad.

“Damn it, I can’t believe she shot me. You choose him over me. Oh NO! You are mine don’t you understand! Next time I will leave you know choose you will be with me.”

He mumbles to himself trying to push the gas with his foot. Pain shooting though his body like someone had just broke every bone in his body.

“Is this what it felt like when I shot you. Oh my little shadow you are going to feel much more then this soon real soon.”

His forehead pouring sweat, as his legs throbs hard. With his trembling hands he continues to drive. He pulls over on the side of the road and rips his sleeve off his shirt. Wrapping it around the wound and pulling tightly. Letting out a scream as the shock waves of pain shots up though his head. Taking deep breaths trying to slow his heart rate down and try to concentrate. His leg finally ease’s up enough for him to get back on the highway. He had almost an hour drive home. The car had the aroma of his blood, just like the night of the shooting.

“Oh this is a familiar smell.”

It brought back some memories of Katie. Lying there next to Mitch in the dark ooze.

Looking down he realizes that he had lost to much blood, he had to find a way to stop it.  His pants and seat was covered in a dark color sticky ooze. Nausea hit his stomach so he pulled over to the side again. Opening the door, he stuck his head out of the car as he though up all over the ground. Beads of sweat rolled to the ground as he lifted his head and pressed it against the seat.

He heard cars honking as they went by but he didn’t care. It seemed like hours had passed as he finally looked down and the bleeding had stopped. He felt dizzy and sick to his stomach again.

“I have to get back to the cabin, I can’t be found like this.”

Pulling back on the highway every time he would push the gas his upper half of his leg would bleed again. This went on for at least an hour before he finally reached the dark gravel room.

“Finally home” he cried out.

Pulling up as close as he could get to the door. He leaps inside and slams the door behind him. The sound echoed loudly though the house. He went straight to the bathroom and started taking his pants off. The clothing was hard to pull off it had started to stick to his worn.

He cried out as he pulled the pants leg off. Sitting on the side of the tub, he looked down at the small hole in the top part of his leg.

“Why did you do this? Why Katie?” he screams out.

Starting the shower as he steps in the force of the water hit his face and body. Looking down as the water dripped off his face he could see a puddle red water ran down the drain. It was a dark color as it covered the floor under his feet. Just staring at it like he was in a trance, with his arm against the wall holding himself up. He was still in disbelieve on what had just accord. Finally, he steps out of the shower with blood still easing out of his worn.

“This is just great. I have to go get it look at I’m losing to much blood. I can’t go into town. Damn it Katie? Why did you do this to me? All I have ever done is love you. You will pay for what you have done.” His loud voice filled the room.

Grabbing a towel and wrapping it around it, pulling it tight around the wound.  He moved across the bloody clothes that were laying on the floor. Putting on a pair of jagging pants and t-shirt he grabbed his jacket and hopped to his car. Turning the key to the ignition he pulled out of his driveway and headed down the long gravel road. He knew there was a small clinic not far from him. Pulling up to the small neighbor hospital, he gets out and goes it.

“Can I help you?” a woman behind the desk ask.

“I have lost a lot blood and I need to see a doctor.”

The nurse moved from her desk and looked down and she could see drops of blood on the floor by his feet. She grabbed a wheel chair and rolled him to the examining room.

“A doctor will be with you shortly.”

Sitting up in the bed in a hospital grown waiting for someone to come in. Looking down at the large bandage that was wrapped around his leg. He didn’t know how he was going to explain this. He couldn’t tell them the real truth are he would go to jail. His mind going crazy as the doctor walked in the door.

An hour passed before the shot wore off.

“How are you feeling?” The nurse asks.

“I feel fine just a little woozy.”

“It took a minute for him to stop the bleeding, and retrieve the bullet. How did you say this happened?” Giving him a concerned look.

Tom didn’t remember what he had told her, everything was a little foggy at this point.

“It was an accident, just cleaning my gun.”

“Huh, really.” The nurse answered narrowing her eyes.

Tom knew that she didn’t’ believe him but he wasn’t answering any more questions. He was more worried about getting out of here. He knew they would have to report a bullet worn to the police so it was a matter of time before they would walk in. Looking around in the room he noticed two I V bags hanging on the side of his bed going to the needles in his arms. One was blood and the other was liquid from dehydration. All he could think about at this point was getting out of this hospital. He was like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Trying to focus, he looks up at the clock that on the wall it read 5.30 in the morning. He had been in this hospital sense one o’clock in the morning. Hearing the nurse’s in the hallway one                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   came in his room to take the I V’s out of his arm.

“The doctor will be in shortly to check your vitals. Do you need anything.” She asks.

“No I am fine. I need to go home.”

“You can talk to the doctor about your release when he comes in” she answered.

Tom new that she was hiding something because the nurse normally can tell you if you are able to go home. He wasn’t waiting on the doctor to release him. He was leaving himself. Waiting for the noise to quiet down in the hallway. He slides out of bed trying to keep his balance. He grabs his cloths and puts them on. Quietly he grabs the door handle and opens it. Peaking his head out he looks down the hallway, there was no one insight. He walked fast to the elevator and pushing the bottom. Watching at the corner of his eye, still the hallways were clear. His leg thumbing as he stands there waiting for it to open. Trying to get a clear focus on his surrounding as the elevator door swung open. It heart pounding fast as he rode down to the bottom floor. The door opens quickly, as he looked down a small hallway. There was two woman sitting at the reception desk at the end. He walks quietly behind them not making a sound. The only thing he could her was his accelerated heartbeat. He goes out though the emergency entrance. Fumbling for his keys he finally pulled them out and jumped in his car. His hands were shaking so bad he could hardly get them in the ignition. He put it in reverse and slowing started backing out. Looking over he seen two police cars pulling up in the emergency entrance and went inside. He put his car in forward and drove away.

“Damn it, they did call the cops. Now they will know who I am now. That is just great. This is all your fault Katie. It’s just a matter of time you will know. Why did you do this to me?”

Trembling so bad he could barely hold the steering wheel as he drove back to the cabin. When he opened the door the smell of blood filled his nostrils, instantly he felt nauseated.  Holding his nose, he grabs a large plastic bag. Putting his bloody clothes in it and tied them up.

Opening the windows to let fresh air in, he grabbed his mop and cleaned the bathroom floor. Little by little the smell was going away. He sat down on a chair looking out his front door.

“What if they find me here? Where am I going to go now? This isn’t nothing like I had planned? Why couldn’t you just come with me Katie, none of this would have happened and we would be together.”

He was starting to panic, as fear ran though him. He started to pace the floor.

“I’m just going to have to stay here in hiding until the come here. Then I will come for you but this time you will have no choose. You are going to pay for this.”

He sits back down as the room around him started to spin. Minutes later he finally gathered his composer he walked to the bathroom and started some water.

Sitting in the hot warm water he could feel the tension slide off his body. The pain from his leg seems to ease up. Laying his head against the back of the tub his mind goes back to the shooting. All he could see was her eyes and the fire from the gun.

Her beautiful eyes were full of pain and mostly fear.

“Oh Katie you just don’t understand do you. I still can’t believe you shot me.”

He was so deep in his thoughts he didn’t see the water was turning a little pink from the blood. When he finally realized the color of the water was different he got out of the bath water. A stitch from his leg had come lose and blood was running down his leg. He grabbed a bandage and wrapped it around it. Sitting there on the lid of the toilet he applied pressure, the bleeding finely stopped.

He moved from the bathroom to his bed and propped his leg up.

“Katie you are going to pay for this. Yes, you are.” He thought.

Finally, he drifted off to sleep with sweat rolling down his forehead.