Opposing Forces (24 page)

She was assigned a private room on a quiet floor and Steffen had posted armed officers outside her door.  He had a meticulous check carried out on the nurses and doctors that would be treating her.  No-one without the correct authorisation would get through the door.  He drank black coffee after black coffee but never once left her side.  He stroked her face lovingly, she had stitches in her hairline from where her head had hit the tree. She looked so pale and fragile against the white hospital sheets.

“I need you to wake up, Maisie,” he whispered in her ear, before dropping a kiss on her mouth.

He allowed Julianne and James in to sit with her whilst he made some phone calls.  He had to check in with the investigators at the crash site and find out what anyone of them had discovered. 

Maisie felt really weird, almost like she was floating.  She was warm but her throat was so incredibly dry.  And she could smell roses in the air.  The bed was hard so she knew she was not at home.  Something had happened but she could not quite remember what.  She opened her eyes slowly; the room was unfamiliar.  It looked like a hospital room but the place was filled with beautiful English flowers and Steffen Grundberg was holding her hand, resting his head on her bed.  Major hallucination, she told herself and closed her eyes again.

She opened them a short while later and the scene had not changed.  Was Steffen really here holding her hand?  There was a low beeping noise in the room which suddenly speed up; what the hell was that?

Steffen heard the change in her heart monitor and sat up.  The last thing he expected was to see were those wonderful blue eyes staring down at him.

“Maisie,” he gave small smile. “You’re back with us.”

“Where am I?” she squeaked. Her throat was so damn dry.

“The CHUV.  You had an accident.”

“Oh.”  She couldn’t quite remember, her head hurt.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better than you, I think. You look like shit, Steffen.”

“Always so complimentary.”  He stood up and pressed a button above her head.  As he leant over her, Maisie could feel her pulse quicken.  He still had such an effect on her.  And once again that bloody heart monitor betrayed her.  His smile told her he had registered that too. She removed a couple of the wires from their pads.

The machine gave a long, flat beep.  Steffen turned white for a second until he realised what she had done.  “Bloody hell, Maisie, do that again and I’ll slap you.”  A few seconds later, a crash crew flew into her room.  Steffen held up his hand. “False alarm, guys. Miss Carrington accidently knocked a wire out.”

She could see the relief in their faces.  A doctor stepped forward.  “I’m glad to see you awake, Miss Carrington.  I’m Doctor Rashid.  I’ll let you get your bearings for a while but I do need to check you over.”

She turned back to Steffen.  “How long have I been here?”

“You’ve been unconscious for about eighteen hours.”

He poured her a glass of water which she drank gratefully.  “Can you remind me what happened?” She really needed to fill in a few blanks.

“Do you remember attending the New Year’s Eve party at the mountain top in Villars?”

She thought for a moment then it came to her.  “Yes, we drove snowmobiles up there.”

“You left a short while later, not feeling too good apparently.”

She pondered some more.  Oh yes. She remembered the reason why she was so desperate to leave; that reason was sitting just a foot away from her.

“You got on the snowmobile and headed down the hill,” he continued.

Her mind wandered back to that night.  “The moon was up so visibility was good.” And then it came back to her.  “The brakes failed.” She looked up at him in amazement.  “The brakes wouldn’t work and then the bloody steering column ceased up.”

He stroked the back of her hand.  If he thought that would stop her getting agitated, he was wrong.  It was only getting her more worked up.

“I hit the tree,” her voice shook with fear.

“You actually managed to get off before the snowmobile hit the tree,” he soothed.  Had she still been on the snowmobile, she would have been killed instantly.  He felt sick to his stomach at that thought.

She closed her eyes, she felt so disorientated still.  And having Steffen watch her every move was highly unnerving.  

“Are you up for seeing Julianne for a couple of minutes?” he asked.

Her eyes flew open.  “Of course.” She sat up and attempted to get out of bed.  Steffen gently pushed her back. 

“You’re not to even think about getting off that bed until the doctor gives you the all clear,” he growled softly.  “Julianne is just outside.”

Maisie noticed Steffen exchange some hushed words at the door and as he left, Julianne rushed in.  She flung her arms around her best friend, almost crushing her to death.  Julianne looked almost as drained as Steffen did.

“I can’t begin to tell you how relieved I am to see you awake,” Julianne continued to suffocate her.  “We were all truly worried you wouldn’t wake up.”

“Hey, I’m made of strong stuff,” Maisie tried to lighten the mood.

“The last eighteen hours have been hell. Ever since we heard that sickening explosion.  But Chief Grundberg has been amazing. He was the first to reach you and he’s not left your side since, Maisie.  The man has not slept a wink.  And the flowers, that was down to him.  He wanted you to have a familiar fragrance around you.”

“That was most considerate of him,” Maisie sighed as nonchalantly as she could, not daring to meet Julianne’s gaze.

“Yes it was.” The truth was starting to dawn on her friend.  “And how come the Chief knows rose is a familiar scent?  It is not a perfume you actually wear.”

Maisie could feel her cheeks getting pinker by the second.  “I guess he has someone do his research for him.”

Dr Rashid popped his head around the door.  “Sorry, Julianne, but I really do need to examine Miss Carrington now.  Then she should rest.  She’ll be able to have visitors tomorrow morning.”

Julianne stood up and hugged her friend again.  “At least I will sleep tonight.  I’ll see you in the morning.

Maisie watched her leave with some sadness. 

“Chief Grundberg asked me to let you know that he has just gone home to change. He will be back within the hour.” Dr Rashid picked up her chart.

Maisie felt her heart flutter again. Thank heavens she had disconnected the heart monitor.

Maisie awoke with a bit of a start.  She must have drifted off after Dr Rashid had examined her. Steffen was back in uniform, freshly shaven, and asleep in the armchair next to her bed.  She did feel a little guilty that he had not slept last night.  Keen not to disturb him, she slipped gingerly out of the bed and tiptoed into the corridor.  She certainly did not expect to see two armed guards outside.

She headed down to the nurses’ station, aware that one of the guards was close behind her. 

“Miss Carrington,” one of the nurses exclaimed. “Should you really be out of bed?”

“Dr Rashid was happy with my progress so I see no problem.  What I’m really after is a decent cup of coffee.”  She knew there was a Starbucks on the ground floor but firstly she had no money on her and secondly there was no way she was going down there in a hospital gown.

The nurse smiled kindly. “Let me grab you a mug from our kitchen.  It won’t be brilliant but it’s better than nothing.”

Maisie waited patiently as the nurse disappeared.  Her eyes picked up the date on the calendar. She had almost forgotten, it was New Year’s Day.  It felt really weird missing almost twenty four hours.  She took the mug gratefully from the nurse.  It wasn’t the worse coffee she had ever had, but she was happy for anything.

She heard a noise coming from her room and looked around to see Steffen tear out, his hand most definitely on his gun.  His face relaxed immediately on seeing her.  “What the hell are you doing out here, Maisie,” he grunted.

“I needed a coffee.” She held the mug up.

“You should have asked me or pushed the buzzer.”

“You were asleep.”

He gave her a stern look.  She slipped past him into her room and waited until she was back in bed before asking the question.  “Are you going to tell me why I have armed guards outside?  Am I under arrest for something?”  Her voice was soft.

Steffen shook his head.  “They’re here solely for your protection.”

She took a long sip of coffee, hoping it would remove the mist in her head.  “Why do I need protecting in hospital?  Are you frightened someone might try and harvest my organs?” She knew from the way he was avoiding eye contact that something was wrong.

“The brake line on the snowmobile had been cut in two and the steering column rigged to cease up after a few minutes.”

Maisie almost dropped her coffee, she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing.  “Someone tried to kill me?  Is that what you’re saying?”

“There is a chance that you were the intended victim.”

“There’s no chance about it. It was my snowmobile.” She was horrified.

“Actually,” Steffen looked straight into her eyes. “It was mine.  You took the wrong one by mistake.”

Maisie tried to get her head around it.  “So you were the intended victim all along and I was the dumb fool who got on the wrong bike?”

“We cannot be clear on who the intended victim was.  If you could not tell the snowmobiles apart, then there is every chance the perpetrator could not either.”

“But it’s more likely to be you. You’re Chief of Police. I’m not known to that many people.”

“There’s no-one in your past that bears a grudge?  No jealous ex-boyfriend or crazed wife out there baying for your blood?”

“No.  I’ve not dated for a while and I never go out with married men.  I really can’t think of anyone who would want to harm me.”

“Until I’ve had a full report on the incident, I’m not about to risk your safety.  The armed guard stays.”  Steffen sat back in the chair.  “Now I understand Dr Rashid has said you can be discharged in a couple of days if you feel fit enough, but you are to remain on home rest after that for several days.”

“Yes. I’ll be glad to leave. Hospitals aren’t my favourite place.”

Sabina was not in a particularly jubilant frame of mind.  Charles Von Gruber was in town and had insisted he take her for dinner.  She had been very tempted to tell him to stick his dinner where the sun didn’t shine, especially after her father had called her to say she had to meet up with him.  Her mother had been the voice of reason, telling her that she was still a Grundberg and there were certain obligations to the family name; she had had to suffer her ex-husband so Sabina could suffer Charles Von Gruber.  She had finally agreed on drinks only.

Unsurprisingly, Philippe was less than impressed too.  Sabina had done her best to explain that Charles was an old friend of her parents and she could not turn him down without causing offence.   Her only stroke of good fortune was that Philippe was working so she did not have to deal with him wanting to join them. 

Dressed in a simple dark green jersey dress, she headed into the bar of the Chateau d’Ouchy.  Charles was chatting to a couple of women as she walked in.  It took him a while to actually notice her.

“Sabina, I didn’t see you come in.” He walked over to her.

“With your eyes glued to that woman’s cleavage, it was hardly surprising,” she responded coldly. 

“I see you’ve not lost your sparkling wit,” he grinned, placing his hand around her shoulder.  “Come, let us grab a seat.”

“So what are you doing in Lausanne?” Sabina glared across the table at him.  “I thought Geneva would be more your speed.”

“You’re right, this city is far too provincial.  I was in Geneva and my father asked me to look in on you, see how you were getting on.”

“I’m fine, as you can see.”

“You’re certainly looking well.”  He ordered a bottle of Crystal champagne, his eyes resting on her thigh, just where her dress had ridden up.  The man really was a toad.

“How is University?”

“Going brilliantly well.  It’s hard work but I’m loving it.”

“What is the point of putting yourself through all that pain when it is unlikely you’ll finish your three years?”

“Why wouldn’t I see the degree through to completion?”

“Your father will have us married off before then.”

Sabina snorted loudly.  “My father has no control whatsoever over my life, nor my trust fund.  I am completely self-sufficient.”
 

“As I’ve told you before, you’re a Grundberg. You’ll do what is expected of you.”

“That is where you are wrong, Charles.  I ditched the Grundberg name.  I’m here to live life on my terms.”

Charles lent forward and rested a warm hand on her knee.  “You’ll be walking down the aisle with me one day, Sabina.”

She let loose an unladylike snort.  “I see you’ve not lost your sense of humour either.”

“I’ve also not lost my attraction to you.” He ran his eyes over her.  “How about we go up to my room and I show you how good we will be between the sheets.”

“What a gross thought.  Besides, I’m already in a relationship.”

Charles waved his hand dismissively.  “I didn’t expect you to remain chaste. A little extra experience never hurt anyone.”

“I’m not sleeping with you, Charles.  I have already found the man I want to spend the foreseeable future with and he is a damn sight more decent than you.”

“Everyone likes a bit of rough, Sabina, but be realistic.  You’ll only settle down with one of your kind.”
 

“Yes. A decent human being is my kind.  Not an inbred reptile like yourself.”

“I don’t think your father would like you talking to me like that,” he scowled.

“I don’t care.  I have no respect for my father after I found out how many times he was unfaithful to my mother.”

Charles shrugged.  “Men of our stature have always had mistresses, it goes back hundreds of years.  It is expected.”

“That was in the day when a woman was a man’s possession.  Now, believe it or not, we can think for ourselves, and even more astonishing, support ourselves.  So we basically have no need for lying, cheating bastards like you.”  She took a long sip of our champagne.  “I mean, do you really think I am dumb enough to agree to marry someone who has just openly admitted they would take a mistress?  I do have some self-respect.”

His hand slid further up her leg.  “Stop trying to play hard to get.  The act was amusing at first, now it’s just tiring.”

“I’m being honest, Charles. I guess that’s something you’re not used to.”

Sabina gasped as his hand slid to the top of her leg.  The contents of her glass found its way into his lap.  “Jesus, woman. What the fuck was that for?” Charles barked and stood up, showing off a well soaked groin.

“For being an asshole. The only man that gets to feel me up is my boyfriend.”  She rose from her chair with grace and turned to leave.  “You always were a dick, Von Gruber. And I’m glad to report you still are.  If you have any sense, you’ll delete my number from your phone because I certainly won’t take another call from you.”  She strode across the bar with her head held high, stopping for a moment by the two women Charles had been talking to earlier.

“I should warn either of you that if you’re interested in bedding that man over there,” she nodded in Charles general direction, “he suffers terribly from premature ejaculation.  Talks a good game but can’t follow it through.”

She headed out the door with a grin on her face.  With any luck Charles wouldn’t be getting any action at all.  What pissed her off most was knowing that he would lie through his teeth to both his and her father, telling them that everything was fine and they were getting on famously.

She phoned Philippe from the hotel lobby whilst she was waiting for a taxi.

“Hey, I just wanted to let you know I’m on my way home.”

“Already?” he sounded a little perplexed.  “What happened?”

“He tried to feel me up and I dumped a glass of champagne in his crotch,” Sabina laughed. 

“He what?” Philippe exploded.  “Where are you?”

“Relax, hot shot.  He did me a favour. I had the perfect excuse to cut short the evening.  I’ve already told you I can’t stand the man. “

“Where are you?  I might be able to swing by and drop you home.”

“Are you close to Ouchy?”  She’d much rather see him, even for a very brief moment, than take a taxi. She loathed his night shifts.

“Right by the Chateau.”

Sabina walked out the hotel lobby and across the small courtyard.  “Look in your rear view mirror, Officer.” 

Philippe got out the car.  “Is the asshole inside?”

“Whilst I am impressed you want to defend my honour, you’re in uniform. Now get back in the car so I can do something inappropriate to you,” she murmured huskily.  For some strange reason she found the drab grey quite appealing on Philippe.

He scowled heavily and slipped back behind the wheel of his squad car.  The windshield was tinted slightly so she leant over and kissed his cheek.  “I’ve missed you.”  Her hand squeezed his thigh gently.

Philippe muttered something unintelligible under his breath, making Sabina giggle.

“How is your shift going?” She tried to change the subject.

“It’s pretty quiet.  Then again a Monday night usually is.”

“They’ve got you on patrol?”

“No. I was on my way back to the station after sorting out an altercation in Pully when I got your call.”  She saw Philippe’s hands tighten on the steering wheel.  “Did this dick actually feel you up in public?”

“He tried. But I am well used to him trying.  For some reason he thinks I’m going to cave one of these days.”
 

“Didn’t you tell him you were in a relationship?”

“Yes.  But for someone like Charles, it means nothing.  I think he has even less morals than my father.”

Philippe was fuming.  If he knew who this Charles was, he would head back there and pummel him into a bloody pulp.  But Sabina had inadvertently let something slip about her father.  She mentioned his name with such loathing.  He wished for once she’d just open up and tell him all about her family.

Sabina could sense the tension in Philippe, it was the first time she had actually seen him jealous.  And steaming mad.  It was kind of a turn on.  She ran her hand over the top of his thigh.  “Do you have to get back to the station immediately?”

“Sabina,” Philippe groaned.  “Do you want me to crash the damn car?”

“Sorry but I find this moody side of you rather delicious. And it is only you I want.”

He remained silent for the rest of the trip back to her apartment, pulling into the car park behind her building.  She leant over and gave him a lingering kiss.  “Thank you for the lift home.”

As she got out the car, so did Philippe. He was still snorting like a rampaging bull.  Sabina had trouble keeping up with him as he took the stairs to her apartment almost two at a time.  His mouth was on hers the minute she shut the door, pushing her up against it.

Sabina’s hormones were going into overdrive as she felt him pull her dress up.  They had very little time, he could get called away at any moment. But she was desperate for him.  Her hands undid his belt and zip before reaching inside his boxer.  He let out a feral growl in response and lifted her off the ground so she could wrap her legs around his waist. It was fast, it was furious and it was quite wonderful.   And she’d finally had him in his uniform, and on duty.  She felt very bad indeed.

A wide grin spread across Philippe’s face, all his aggression had dissipated. “I need to get back to the station before anyone wonders why my car is parked up in the old city.” His breathing was a little erratic as he zipped up his trousers.

“You’ve dealt with my emergency, Officer, so you can get on your way,” she purred.

He kissed her forehead.  “I’ll see you after lectures tomorrow.”  With that he was gone.

Sabina poured herself a large schnapps.  She needed it.  The evening had started badly but finished very well.  Very well indeed, she beamed.  She decided to call her mother to let her know how delightful the drinks with Charles had been.  Bettina howled with laughter, not the kind of reaction she had expected, but then her mother had changed too.  A few minutes later Sabina ran for the bathroom and emptied out the contents of her stomach.  Perhaps champagne and schnapps weren’t an agreeable mix.

Maisie and Steffen were arguing again.  She had finally been discharged but Steffen had insisted the armed escort remain with her, one officer at least.  Her apartment been had checked over and Steffen was finally happy she could return home.

“I really don’t need someone posted on my door,” she complained.

“I disagree.”

“How long am I to get this level of cover?” she scowled.

“Until I can dismiss you as the intended victim.”  He turned back towards the door.  “I have to get back to the station.  If anything is wrong or seems even slightly out of place, call me immediately. I can be here in just a few minutes.”

Maisie stuck her tongue out at his departing figure, making the officer on the door smile.  She was starting to feel decidedly bullied. 

Julianne was glad to have her home; she had some interrogating of her own to do. They were both curled up on the sofas in the living room.

“When were you going to tell me about Paris?”

Bloody Frankie had squealed on her.  “There’s nothing to tell.” She sipped her coffee.

“But you’ve been contemplating an offer?”