Phantom Scars (6 page)

Chapter 12 - Liars

The new medicine seemed to be helping Emma. She was working more with my momma, and I noticed she was going to bed earlier. I did my best to stay awake and keep an eye on her, but it never surprised me, when I would wake myself in the middle of the night, and she would be in the bathtub, curled up and pouting. After a couple of days of this, I figured out she was in there by midnight and decided to just stay up and see about helping her. I didn't make it, though, and was asleep by eleven o'clock. I felt like such a grandpa, not being able to stay up, but in my defense, my momma had gotten a lot of shipments in, and we had been working like mad.

I set my radio alarm clock for 11:55 p.m., so I would wake up before she moved. At least that was my plan. Unfortunately, that was not how it went down. At 11:55 p.m., the radio clock started blaring out some rap crap, thumping as if the walls would come down, and I knew for sure Clayton had stayed at my place while I had been away.

I bolted upright to Emma screaming and running to the door. She flung it open, darting into the front room, and I found her in the corner, curled in a ball and crying. She flinched when I first touched her, but I ignored it and pulled her into my arms. Once she buried her face into my chest, she seemed to relax a little.

"Hey, Little One, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, you're safe," I whispered to her, rocking her in my arms.

She sobbed quietly, whispering she was sorry every once in a while. She eventually fell asleep with me holding her on the floor of our front room. I looked down at her exhausted, tear-stained face and decided it would be best if I just sat there and toughed it out for the night. My Little One needed some rest.

The next morning, I woke up stretched out on the floor, with Emma curled up and sound asleep against my chest like a cat. My arms were holding her in place, and her back was against the wall I had been leaning on. She was squished, but she seemed content and still asleep, which was a rare thing when the sun was up. She must have really been exhausted.

I carefully picked her up, trying to keep my groaning to a minimum. My back was freaking killing me. Whoever said sleeping on a stiff board helped your back was a liar. L. I. A. R. Liar, I tell you, because my body was darned near killing me. I tucked my Little One into her bed and went to the bathroom, looking for some painkillers. I knocked back a couple of her girl pills, because that was the only painkillers we had, and then I stretched, trying to crack my back. It popped several times as I groaned. I looked over at my shower and decided to hop into it and let some hot water work its magic.

I rolled my shoulders, moaning as my muscles relaxed. After a few minutes, I got out to brush my teeth and start the day. I was sure my momma was wondering where we were, and I wasn't about to wake up Emma. I had just wiped my mouth, when Emma came flying into the bathroom and threw herself into my arms, wrapping herself around me like a baby monkey and hiding her face in my chest, not even bothering to notice I was only wearing a towel. I could feel her wet tears and hear her sobs, so I knew something was up.

"Dude! Man, I'm so sorry!" I heard Clayton yell from my front room. I could only guess he had startled her. I held on to her and carried her out to the front room, where Clayton was standing sheepishly. "Momma sent me to check on you guys. I didn't mean to scare her. It's just hard to get used to the whole knocking thing," he said, as he walked over to the stove and turned it off. "I'm sorry, Emma, really I am. I'll just tell momma you guys aren’t going to make it down," he said and hurried out, slamming the door behind him.

I sat down on the couch with Emma on my lap and rubbed her back. "It's alright, Little One, I've got you. You're safe. Clayton's gone." I remembered that Clayton reminded her of someone, and I figured that was what had caused such a strong reaction this morning.

She sniffled a little, and then she looked down at my bare chest and then to my face and blushed a deep red.

"Are you feeling a little better?" I asked.

She looked up at the kitchen where she had been cooking and nodded yes.

"Okay, um, would you be okay if I went and got dressed now?" I asked, and she jumped off of me like I was on fire. I couldn't help but chuckle, as I pulled my towel tighter and went to get dressed.

She was sitting down and staring hard at her breakfast, when I walked into the room. "Are you alright?" I asked.

She nodded yes, not looking up. I let out a sigh. "We have another appointment with Dr. Greyson in two days. Why don't you write about this in your book? It might help you feel a little better."

She didn't look at me, just nodded again.

"Would you be alright if I ran down to see if my momma needs me?"

She nodded yes, but I wondered if she really would be okay. I hurried down with a promise to be back soon. I had just pushed through the door, when Clayton was on me, apologizing and asking if he should get her more candy or something. He hadn't meant to scare her. It would have been endearing if it wasn't so annoying.

My momma pulled me into her arms and kissed my head. "Sorry, sugar, next time I'll come up and check on you myself if the phone isn't answered."

I had suspected Emma wasn't answering the phone, but I wasn't sure why. I figured it would eventually come out with Dr. Greyson.

Our waitress, Jen, came walking back with a scowl. "Some jerk wants to see Devin and his wife."

I flinched. "What did you tell him?" I asked a little worried.

"Nothing, I said I’d see if you're available, and he’d better order something if he's sitting at my table."

Jen was mean, but in her defense, it was because my stupid brother was constantly harassing her. Honestly, we were lucky she didn't sue us for sexual harassment.

She threw a glare in Clayton's direction, and he pouted pitifully, as she made her way out of the kitchen. The idiot had never been good with women, and it was his own fault. He wasn't bad looking, just stupid when it came to girls. Of course, weren't we all?

I made my way out to the dining hall, and Jen glared in the direction of a man sitting alone. He looked much too fabricated and rich to be here. I walked up warily and ready to lie. I didn't know who he was or what he wanted, but he wasn't getting my wife. "I'm Devin Clemens, you asked for me?"

"Yes, where’s your wife?" he asked straight away.

I gave him a genuine confused look, figuring I wouldn’t say anything about Emma, until I knew what he was up to. "Look, buddy, I don't know what you're trying to pull, but I'm not married," I said holding up my hand with no ring. That made me think; I should get a ring for Emma.

He looked at me confused. "Emmaline is supposed to be dead, but I got a hit from a marriage license with this address."

"I don't know what kind of scam you're trying to pull..."

He stood up sharply and grabbed my shirt, causing me to glare at him as he spoke. "I need her back. She has to go back to where she was if she's alive."

"Get your hands off me," I said shoving him roughly into his seat. "I don't know who the heck you think you are."

"I'm her stepfather!" he snapped. "She has to go back now! Where the hell is she?" he yelled at me, causing a scene.

Dr. Greyson had been eating his lunch, and had seen the altercation. He came over to help. "Is there some way I can be of help, gentlemen?"

"No, Dr. Greyson, this idiot thinks I'm married and is yelling that he wants to take my supposed wife away, even though the girl’s most likely dead according to him. He's delusional!" I shouted.

Dr. Greyson seemed to catch on. He knew Emma had been through a great deal, and anyone from her past would be questionable and a suspect. "Why don't you tell me who you are?"

The guy looked at Dr. Greyson's calm face and my glaring one. "I'm Wayne Hewitt, Emmaline's stepfather," he practically snarled.

"Alright, now could you tell us why you’d think Devin was married to her?"

"There was a marriage license registered with her name and this address on it."

I knew she had insisted I not take her back to Florida for a reason. I had to get rid of him. "I'm sorry, Sir, but someone must’ve stolen the girl's identification. I'm not married," I said again, showing him my ring-free hand. "It looks like they must’ve taken my name and address off the restaurant website and stole my identity as well," I said rubbing my face, trying to hide my complete hatred for him. Everything in my gut was telling me he’d had something to do with my girl's pain. "Could you please give me the information so I can fix this?" I asked.

He frowned and looked like he would be sick. "She's not here?" he asked.

I shook my head no.

"Fucking hell," he said falling back into his seat.

My momma came stalking out. "Watch your language, Sir, this is a family establishment," she said, pointing a threatening mixing spoon at him. "Devin, honey, what's going on?" she asked me.

"This guy says someone stole my identification and got a marriage license." I turned back to him, "Look, buddy, I need that information," I said again. "I'm not married, and I certainly don't want some crazy chick coming after me for alimony, or if I do get married, I don't want my future wife mad because I'm supposedly already 'married' and end up in trouble with the law. Now where did you get the information?"

"It was a private investigator. He'd been coming up dry for months. I threatened him. His information may not even be true."

I let out a sigh. "Well, I sure hope not!"

"You sound rather stressed. I'm a psychiatrist. Would you care to come down to my office for a chat?" Dr. Greyson asked him. The guy looked at him as if he was nuts and took off without another word.

Once he was out of there, my momma hooked Dr. Greyson's arm, and we all headed up to my apartment, leaving Clayton and Eli to run the kitchen.

Emma was sweeping the floor when we all came in. She was startled by our sudden entrance. I watched her calm herself, as she held herself in place and forced a grimacing smile. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her, because I just needed to hold her for a moment. I hated that someone wanted to take her from me.

I kissed her forehead, and Dr. Greyson got straight to the point. He just said the name Wayne Hewitt, and my sweet wife ran to the bathroom, vomiting and crying hysterically. I knew then we had done the right thing by sending the bastard away.

Chapter 13 – Sedated

Dr. Greyson went to his car and grabbed a black bag. I didn't know psychiatrists had those. I only thought regular medical doctors had them, but it turned out I was wrong. He returned with one in tow and produced a large needle. He gave a shot to Emma in her thigh, and she went from crying to gasping to snoring in minutes.

I lifted my wife off the floor and put her on her bed. I hoped she would be alright.

"I'm sorry, Devin, but she was hysterical. She most likely wouldn't have stopped vomiting, even when her stomach was empty, if she didn't settle down."

I nodded in agreement. I was glad my girl was sleeping. I sat on the bed and rubbed my face. I didn't know how to help her, but I knew Wayne Hewitt was causing her a lot of pain. I wanted to track him down and beat the crap out of him.

Next thing I knew, I was out the door and on my way to the Keeper’s Inn. That was the closest inn that was still in business. I cooled myself down some, before I stormed in and just demanded Blake tell me where Hewitt was so I could kill him.

We catered the breakfast for Keeper’s Inn, so I knew the owner, Blake Riggs, very well. When I walked in, he smiled at me, and I forced a smile on my face. "Hey, Blake, I'm looking for a guy named Wayne Hewitt."

Before I could say why, he told me where to find him. Thank heavens for Blake being dense.

"He's in number three upstairs," he said pointing the way.

He probably thought I was here on business. "Thanks, Blake."

I had just reached the top of the stairs, when I heard Wayne yelling. I eased next to the door of his room and eavesdropped.

"I know she must be alive, alright. I'll find her. This was just a dead end," Hewitt growled.

"No, you're going to be a dead end if we don't get the girl back and make some sort of profit," I heard another deep voice say. "Mr. Carpino paid in good faith for a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, white-skinned virgin, and now he doesn't have one."

"It's not my fault you lost her!" Hewitt snapped.

"Actually, it is. If you would’ve told us there were extenuating circumstances in her disappearance, we would’ve been better prepared. As it is, Mr. Carpino sees the loss of the girl and his house as your problem."

"No, that would’ve been your problem; you're in charge of the security of that place. It's not my fault you dropped the ball!" Hewitt yelled.

There was a loud hard thump on the wall next to me. "He wants money now, and I'm here to collect."

"I don't have it!" Hewitt whimpered out.

"Well, do you have another daughter to sell?" the man with the deep voice asked.

I wanted to bust in and strangle them both. I knew what had happened to Emma now. She had been sold like property.

"Just my wife, Paige, but she's still young and real pretty, take her, take my wife. It should keep Mr. Carpino happy until I can get Emmaline back," Hewitt bargained, making me sick to my stomach as well.

"Let me clear the deal first," the deep-voiced guy said. I couldn't hear what he was saying as he talked on the phone, but then he spoke again to Hewitt. "Alright, the deal has been cleared. Make sure your wife is home for the pickup tonight. You have one week to get us the money or the girl."

I heard the door being opened and jumped back out of sight behind a maid's trolley. The door closed, and I heard heavy steps in the hallway. I looked out around the stack of towels and saw a large mean-looking guy covered in tattoos and a shaved head walking away.

I was about to bust in and beat the crap out of Wayne, when Blake popped up from out of nowhere. "Did you find Mr. Hewitt alright?" he asked.

I realized if I killed Wayne right now, Blake would say I was the last to see him. "Yeah, I'm done here," I said and took off. I needed to talk to someone, but who? I didn't know. I knew Emma's momma was in trouble, and I didn't know how to stop it. I had to find a way to save her and not expose Emma at the same time.

I hopped on my bike and sped back to the restaurant, slamming in through the back. Clayton looked at me funny. "What the heck happened to you? Where have you been? Momma’s has been calling. She needs you upstairs."

I realized then that my Little One needed me. If she had woken up and I wasn't there, she would most likely freak out. I took the stairs two at a time and burst through the door.

"Devin! My heavens, Son, are you trying to give us all a heart attack?" my momma shouted. She was holding my girl in her arms, and Dr. Greyson was holding a skillet, ready to strike me.

"No, I just was in a rush. I wanted to get back to Emma," I said kneeling in front of them. My girl dove right into my arms, sobbing on my shoulder. "When did she wake up?" I asked the doctor.

"About five minutes ago."

"You were gone," she whisper-sobbed into my neck.

"I'm sorry, I just needed to check on something," I lied.

I looked up at the doctor nervously. I needed to tell him what was going on and fast. Someone had to help Emma's momma before she was taken, but I didn't want to scare my girl. "Momma, why don't you and Emma make some tea, I need to speak with Dr. Greyson for a moment."

They both looked at me confused, as I pulled Dr. Greyson back to my bedroom. I was pacing wildly.

"Do you need something to help with your nerves?" he asked.

"No…yes…I don't know. I was just at the Keeper’s Inn and overheard Wayne telling someone to kidnap his wife, Emma’s momma, so they’d give him more time to find Emma or give them money to cover the cost of losing her!" I snapped at him.

"What?"

"It's supposed to happen tonight. We have to think of something to stop it!" I said.

Dr. Greyson put his hand on my shoulder. "Devin, I'll handle this. You need to take care of your wife."

"DEVIN!" my momma shouted.

I came out to see the front door wide open, and Emma was gone. "Where is she? Where's my wife?" I shouted at my momma.

"She heard you!"

I ran out the door after her. She was already halfway down the boardwalk. Thank heavens she had been such a recluse that she didn't know she was going the wrong way. I hopped on my bike and took off after her, ignoring all the pedestrian signs. I caught up to her quickly and grabbed her. "Emma, it's not safe for you out here."

"My mom!" she sobbed.

"We'll fix it, okay? We'll save her, but we've got to get you out of sight before someone sees you."

I pulled her on my bike in front of me and held her, as I quickly rode home. I carried her upstairs and took her to our room. I asked the doc if he would please sedate her again until we fixed this, and he did so warily.

I told my momma what was going on, and it was decided that Dr. Greyson would make the call. He would be the one to save Emma's momma. We didn't want anything to lead them back to my wife. I had to keep her safe.