Little Belle Gone (16 page)

Weakness flooded over her. Staggering on her shaking legs, she lurched for her apartment door. She fell into it, slamming it tight and bolting it shut. Stumbling across her demolished apartment, she rummaged in the debris for her phone. She had to dial the number three times before she got it right and, as the dispatcher’s voice came across the line, she felt her head starting to swim. There was so much she wanted to say, to tell them that the killer was here, fleeing on foot, that there were four men, two dead for sure, littering her apartment floor, that she needed an ambulance, but mostly for them to call Matthew. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get out any of that. Managing only to squeak out, “officer needs assistance,” in a weak voice, her body lurched forward and slid to the floor. As the world faded around her, the dispatcher’s voice calling loudly, trying to bring her back on the line, was the last thing she heard. She felt a soft small body curl up against her chest. Bucky. His chin nestled protectively across her neck as the world drifted into nothingness around her. Her last thoughts were of Matt. She wanted him here, close to her. She wanted to hold him more than she had ever wanted anything. She knew now that she couldn’t wait, not anymore. This mad man could get to her where ever, when ever he wanted and she could no longer count on tomorrow. As her mind filled with cloudy sleep she formulated a simple plan, she would give herself freely to Matt, for as long as she had left, and as soon as possible.

Matthew sped through the red light, not even slowing down. The throbbing heartbeat in his ears drowned out the honking horns and angry shouts from the cars that so narrowly missed slamming into him in the intersection. He didn’t care. Nothing mattered but reaching her, his Elizabeth. Fifteen minutes ago he had been tucked into his bed, trying desperately to fall asleep after he had failed to resist the temptation to gratify himself to the memory of touching her, caressing her, when his phone had rung. He had dropped her off nearly three hours before heading home to pace his apartment in frustration and loneliness. That phone call had shattered his world. Elizabeth had been attacked. All the officer could tell him was that she had been taken to Mercy Hospital. That was fifteen minutes ago, and now he was driving like a man possessed toward what could be the end of all his happiness.

He was so angry with himself. He had left her, driven away into the night. He should have walked her to her door, waited until he heard her lock click tight. After all he, more than anyone, knew that there was a killer out there targeting her. But he hadn’t gone with her. He had chosen to allow her to go alone into the unknown. Deep down he knew that he would not have simply been able to walk her to her door. She would have smiled at him again, arched against him and he would have caved to his lust, followed her into her apartment, and crossed the line. He didn’t want to rush things with her, he told her as much, trying desperately to justify his inaction. With every argument against, his anger surged forward, an argument for. Maybe if he had been with her the attackers would have rethought their assault, left her alone. He would have been able to fight with her, for her, protect her the way he had promised himself he would. He had failed her and now she was in a hospital, possibly seriously hurt, and it was all his fault.

His tires screeched as he pulled up in the fire lane in front of the emergency room entrance. Jumping from his car, he ignored the shouts and threats from two emergency room nurses. Flashing his badge as he pushed through the door, he approached the nurses station in a frantic fury. One of the nurses, terrified by the state he was in, fled when he demanded to know her room. Another nurse appeared to order him to calm down and found his badge thrust in her face, followed by another, almost visceral, demand to know where Detective Elizabeth Cord was. Wanting to get rid of him as fast as she could, she pointed shakily down the hallway. When he immediately turned and bolted in the direction of her quivering finger, she called out after him that she was in room 114.

Sliding around a corner, Matthew came face to face with a more than flustered Captain Moreano. For a moment they stared at each other, then Matt found his voice. “Sir, I just heard, is she alright?” Some professional part of him thought to disguise the panic and fear in his voice. Moreano had given them a rather nasty look after their sparing session, though the outfit she had been wearing would have caused most men discomfort of a certain sort. At the time, Matt had gotten the distinct impression that he would be exceedingly displeased with the news that Elizabeth, his precious protege, was engaging in an interoffice romance, especially with him. His self restraint proved fruitful.

Moreano gave him an appreciative look, as he said, “I admire your loyalty to your partner, Barrow. She is fine, a few bumps and bruises but otherwise unharmed. She was ambushed by at least four men and forced into her apartment, a home invasion by all appearances. I don’t know all the details, but it seems she was drugged. Even so, she managed to subdue all four men.” From behind him, a uniformed officer snorted in derision. Moreano’s face contorted into a piercing look of disgust that made Matthew uncomfortable. “Is there something you wish to add, patrolman?” His voice was far calmer than his face conveyed and the poor uniform couldn’t see just how dangerous his position was.

“Subdued? She killed two of them and put one in a coma. The other managed to get off easy with a severe concussion and a rather brutal compound fracture.” When Moreano spun on him the officer shrank, cowering in fear.

“She did nothing less than defend herself, officer Parker. Considering the fact that she was drugged and bound, facing four attackers its a wonder she’s not dead. Frankly, I would have preferred she’d killed all four. Then, at least, there would be less paperwork and no trial.” The sheer rage in his voice was shocking but, when he turned back to Matt, he was decidedly calm again. “Make your visit brief, Barrow, I want you to work the crime scene. I think it’s important that someone who knows her...personality, be involved. I would do it myself, but I have too much on my plate to give it the attention it deserves.” With a cool nod, Moreano brushed past him. Matt started to move again when the Captain called after him one last time. “Oh, and Barrow, be careful. She wouldn’t leave the dog behind in her apartment so the E.M.T.s brought it here. The staff aren’t too thrilled, but he makes Elizabeth feel safer, I guess. Just keep your fingers back, that damn dog tried to bite me, twice.” Then he disappeared around the corner.

Barrow had to smile as he sped toward the guarded door just down the hall, assuming that it was hers.
So, Bucky is standing guard over her, good.
He would owe that little fluff-ball a steak dinner. When he reached the guarded door, he recognized the officer assigned as the same one he had posted outside the Lyski apartment only a few days earlier. When the guard saw him coming, he turned and slid the glass door open. As Matt moved to enter, the officer said softly, “I thought you would want to know.” Barrow stopped short and blinked at the man.
The voice on the phone
, he was the one who had called him.

“Thank you, I owe you one.” The man smiled at Matt and motioned for him to head on in, sliding the door closed again as Matt moved as quickly as his feet would allow. The curtain had been pulled around the end of the bed so that she could have a little privacy and as he quietly tiptoed around the end, she came into view. Lying in the hospital bed, her head reclined and her eyes closed, she looked so much smaller and weaker than she was, like a child tucked into her parent’s bed. He wondered if she was asleep as his eyes moved over her. Her hair was pulled back clumsily and there was a small bandage over her right eye. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light beside her bed, the faint bruise on the right side of her jaw and the small split in her lip tore at him. Tracing the barely perceptible curved lines of her small body lower, he could see that her wrists were slightly bandaged and the thought of her being bound stirred his ire. He was beginning to fume when he noticed the small white lump laying next to her hand. As he drew closer, Bucky’s alert head popped up, giving a soft, rumbling growl.

“It’s okay, Bucky, it’s just me.” As if the dog had understood his whispered words perfectly, the growl turned into a whimper that was accompanied with a wagging tail. Matt reached out and scratched the dog behind the ear. “Thank you for protecting her for me.”

“He did. More than you know.” Elizabeth’s voice, though weak, was music to his ears as her hand lifted to touch his. “I’m pretty sure he saved my life tonight. As far as a bodyguard goes, he’s hired.” She smiled slightly as she stroked his head, letting hers fall back against her pillow. Matt’s eyes narrowed, she was so weak. Reading the concern on his face she sighed. “I’m alright, Matt, just exhausted. The chloroform is still in my system, but my head is starting to clear now.” Her voice was breathy and soft, but she smiled sweetly at him. He spied a stool not too far from the bed and pulled it over. Settling down as close to her as he could get, he cradled her hand, running his fingers delicately over the bandage. She was damaged, in pain, and he hadn’t been there. Pressing his lips softly to the back of her hand he sighed.

“I should have been there. This is all my fault. I should have walked you to your door, been there with you. Maybe they wouldn’t have tried to rob you if you hadn’t been alone.” He was dangerously near to tears as he rubbed her hand over his cheek.

“They weren’t there to rob me, Matt. It was
him
. I’m sure of it. I just don’t understand what the other men were doing there. Everything about the murders pointed to a single killer, not a group.” She moved her fingers against his skin as he turned to look at her in shock, still holding her hand to his face. He wanted her touch, needed to feel her warmth, to know that she was going to be fine, but the idea of that man being in her apartment, tying her up, made his heart stop.

“
Him
? Are you sure?” The caress of her fingers was sending ripples through him. He brushed his lips over her hand once more, feeling the terror she must have felt coming face to face with
him
, yet again. “Did you get a look at his face? A description? Anything?” His questions were halfhearted. At the moment he could care less about the killer, she, safe and sound and in his arms, was all that mattered.

“He’s a big man, burly and barrel chested, but that’s really all I have. He was wearing a mask and rubber gloves. I did manage to break my mirror over his head, maybe he got cut. There’s always the chance we got a little D.N.A. out of it.” He snickered against her skin a little at the thought of her small body slamming the mysterious figure of the killer into a mirror. “Would you mind terribly kissing me instead of my hand? You’re just about to drive me mad doing that.” Her request cause his heart to flip. Of course he would kiss her, if she asked it of him, he would never stop. He moved with amazing speed to her mouth. Pressing his lips lightly against her wonderfully lazy smile. She returned his pressure, but when he slid his tongue over her lower lip, the taste of blood, accompanied by a slightly pained sound from her, made him pull back a bit. “Sorry, my lip still hurts a little.”

“Oh god, Liz, don’t apologize to me for hurting you.” He pressed his forehead to hers lightly, brushing a wanton kiss over her cheek.

“You could never hurt me, Matt. Never.” Her smile nearly sent him reeling. He had rushed to the hospital fearing the worst, and yet here she was comforting him.

As they sat cuddling each other, a nurse entered the room. Carrying a small tray in her hands, she rounded the curtain and cleared her throat. Matt jumped to his feet, though his fingers did not release Liz’s hand. Smiling sweetly, the nurse said, “Don’t mind me. I’ll be gone just as soon as Ms. Cord takes her meds.” Matt backed away from the bed and allowed the nurse to do her job. True to her word, as soon as Elizabeth swallowed down the small cup of pills the nurse turned and hurried away without so much as a farewell. As soon as she was out of sight around the edge of the curtain Matt resumed his post at Elizabeth’s side, cradling and caressing her hand.

“Matt, there’s something I need to tell you. It’s about the attack on my parents.” She swallowed hard. She needed to tell him all of it, but it was just so painful. What if he looked at her differently afterward? What if he turned away from her? The words she had just said would become lies, because to lose him now that she knew she needed him so desperately would likely kill her. Still, if she was going to be with him it would have to be in truth. He would have to know all of her, including her horrid past. He read the weary look on her face and brushed another soft kiss across her mouth. She wanted his kiss, needed his closeness, but she ached all over. “Matt...I...”She started, but the gentle press of his finger on her lips silenced her.

“We will have time, Liz. Right now you need to rest. I need you back, full strength. Besides, I have to go soon. Moreano wants me to work the scene.” She grimaced at the thought of her apartment, thoroughly destroyed, its sanctity shattered. “I’m sorry, Liz. I know it was your sanctuary.” How could he read her so easily?

“How do you always know what I’m thinking?” She managed a weary chuckle. She was so tired, so weak.

“Because I know you, better than anyone.” His face was so close to hers. She wanted to kiss him again, but the strength to do it properly was ebbing from her. “Is there anything you need from your place? I can pack some of your clothes and things for you, if you want.” She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice failed her. All she could do was nod. “Okay. I can do that. Do you want me to get you a hotel room? Or call a friend for you to stay with? You’re not going back to your place anytime soon, I won’t allow it.” She nodded again, a wicked thought coursing through her fading mind. “Alright, hotel or friend’s place?”

Gathering her strength, she managed to say, “Friend’s.” She wasn’t really sure what was happening to her. The world was growing soft and fuzzy. The hospital bed was swallowing her whole. Matt was all she could focus on anymore, and even he was starting to fade.