Possess (26 page)

Blood In The Snow

“How many times do I have ta say it? Someone drove up and pulled Harley inta a black SUV!” I glared at the officer as he paced in front of me.

“Nobody else mentioned a car. Even so, that still doesn’t explain the gun with the dried blood.” The cop leaned over the table and I let out an exasperated groan. We’d been going back and forth for hours now. These idjits were so fixated on trying to pin another murder on me that they weren’t even bothering to stop it from happening.

“If I had used that on her, do ya think the blood would be dry? I told ya I took it from a drunken arsehole last night when he threatened her.” My teeth ground together as I rehashed the same story for the umpteenth time.  I could feel myself tipping over the boiling point.

“Maybe you didn’t use it on her, but what about Claire Stevens? The marks on her face were consistent with that type of gun.”

“I told ya it’s not my feckin’ gun, and if it is related to Claire’s death then I suggest ya look for its real owner.” My palms pressed against the table. It was the only thing I could do to keep from hitting someone.

“Everyone knows you only got lucky.” He huffed, folding his arms over his chest. “Why don’t you just admit it, Nolan?”

“Why don’t ya do yer feckin’ job?” I stood up, anger erupting as I kicked the chair across the room. “There’s an innocent woman out there dying and all ya mother feckers can do is try and get me ta confess ta killin’ her! How ‘bout ya go feckin’ save her?”

“You need to calm down, buddy.” The cop went to reach for his taser, keeping his eyes glued to my every movement.

“Don’t ya tell me ta feckin’ calm down, ya dirty feckin’ swine!” I spit at him and he stepped toward me as his hand hovered over his taser. Before he could pull it on me, my body fell backwards, as if someone ripped control from me. The back of my head smacked against the floor, sending me into dark nothingness.

“Nolan, we don’t have much time! Listen to me!” Hands grabbed my shoulders, shaking me against the floor.

“Brody?” I blinked, staring up at my best friend in disbelief, “What the feck are ya doin’ here? What happened?”

“There’s no time, Nolan! You have ta get ta Harley.” His green eyes were wide and frantic as he gripped my shoulders.

“But how? I don’t know where she is!”

“Just get ta the woods.” His voice was urgent. “As soon as ya wake up, run!”

“Nolan? Nolan, wake up.” Someone’s voice pulled at my consciousness as I lay on the floor.  Gloved fingers pried my eyelids open as a penlight glared into my eye.

As soon as ya wake up, run!
 

Brody’s words came rushing back as I opened my eyes and looked toward the open door. Brody had given me an out. I couldn’t waste it. I kicked two of the officers back, shoved the one examining me on onto his arse, and made a run for the door.  My heart raced as I ran into the next room – an office full of cops.  They looked as bewildered as me, frozen in place and completely caught off guard. The cops from the interrogation room were scrambling to their feet behind me. I only had seconds to figure out an escape.

“Get him, you morons!” One of them yelled behind me. I looked to my side and saw the window and the railings to the fire escape  then grabbed a nearby chair, shattering the glass before throwing it back at the cops. I was halfway out the window when one of them managed to grab my leg.  Before they could pull me back in, I kicked back hard. A loud crunch sent the officer backwards cursing and with a bloody nose.

“What are you jackasses doing? After him!” Someone barked out.  I looked out toward the woods that were behind the police station as I jumped onto the escape ladder.
Run
! My feet started for the woods as soon as they hit the pavement. Voices shouted after me as several cops spilled out from the station amidst the chaos of my swift exit. My feet crunched against the fresh blanket of snow as heavy sheets of white flakes blew against my face. 

Dammit Harley, where are you?
 I strained to see into the darkness as my legs moved as fast as they could through the thick white.  I had no idea if I was even running in the right direction, but I couldn’t stop. Behind me, I heard the cops gaining on me as their flashlights flickered, searching for me. If they caught me, Harley was as good as dead.

“Harley!” I shouted into the void of trees and snow, searching for any sign of her. 

“He’s heading for the university!” Another voice shouted back behind me. 
Come on, Nolan, you’ve got to find her.
I forced myself on, squinting as I caught the silhouette of the black SUV.

“Harley!” I sprinted forward, quickly closing the distance between me and the vehicle as my lungs burned from the cold air.

I slowed my pace as I finally spotted Harley just yards away.

“No! Oh, god no.”

I fell to my knees beside her as she lay motionless next to the body of her assailant. Her eyes were closed, skin and lips paled against her dark raven hair and the growing pool of blood around her. I reached for her, my fingers brushing her cheek. Her skin was as cold as the snow she laid in. “Ya can’t be dead. Ya can’t be...” Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as my hands encircled hers.

I’m too late.

“Hands behind your head, Finley!”  A cop yelled behind me. I gently placed Harley’s hand back down over her stomach, then complied as I put my hands behind my head.

“We’ve got bodies!” Another cop shouted as my wrists were cuffed and I was jerked to my feet.  Someone else leaned over Harley, checking her vitals. I held my breath and the world seemed to fade away as I watched them search for a pulse.
Please wake up, Harley.

“We’ve got a pulse. Weak, but it’s there!” He looked up toward the other cops before calling for an ambulance on his radio. My breath escaped me in a rush as they pulled me back towards a police car. I hadn’t even realized I was struggling against the officer. A siren wailed in the distance as it headed toward us. I didn’t want to leave her side. I didn’t want these arseholes dragging me back for more questioning.

I pulled back against the officer behind me as the cuffs dug into my wrists, “Let go! Uncuff me!”

“Let him go.” An older officer sighed, obviously unhappy that they couldn’t pin something else on me. The other officer begrudgingly did as he was told.

“Christ, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” I rubbed my wrists after he removed the handcuffs, giving him a hard stare before the ambulance’s flashing lights came over the hill. I stood back, watching as the paramedics rushed to her and slid her onto a stretcher before carrying her to the back of the ambulance. I went to follow and one of the paramedics tried to stop me.

“I’m going with her.” I towered over him. He shrank back slightly, then hesitantly stepped to the side. I climbed inside next to her, sitting down by her head on an empty seat. In the light of the ambulance, the full extent of her injuries became much more visible. Her body was broken. One leg looked deformed, a jagged shard of bone sticking up through torn and bloodied jeans. They cut through the stained fabric of her jacket and I could see a large gash on her side as a paramedic quickly worked to suppress the gushing wound.  I glanced back out to where I had found her as the cops covered the man’s body. 

“That’s my girl, Harley. Ya put up a good fight, didn't ya?” I whispered as I brushed a snowflake from her hair.

Another paramedic slammed the doors shut as two worked on either side of Harley, one hooked her up to a monitor and ran an IV as the other slid an oxygen mask over her mouth and nose. The ride to the hospital felt much longer than it actually was. I sat there, a helpless observer, unable to do anything for her but pray she would make it. Her breathing was shallow. The slow beep of the heart monitor pierced the air.

“Please hold on, Harley. Please don’t die.”

The ambulance doors were pulled open by waiting hospital staff as everyone rushed into motion.

“We’ve got a twenty-three year old female, unresponsive with severe blood loss and hypothermia. She has an open femoral shaft fracture and three broken fingers on her right hand, stab-wound in her lower left quadrant and bruising indicating broken ribs in both top quadrants.” One of the paramedics rattled off her injuries as they pulled the gurney out of the ambulance.  I climbed out after them, wanting to follow, but an older nurse blocked my path, shaking her head.

“I’m sorry sir, you can’t go back with them.” I wanted to yell at her too, but she looked like she could be my grandmother.

“Is she goin’ ta be okay?” I looked past the little old nurse as they wheeled Harley into the Emergency Room. The old nurse gave me a shrug and a faint smile, rambling off her usual “We’ll do our best.” before following after them and leaving me standing there alone. My chest ached as they all rushed around her motionless body and all I could do was watch from a distance.

“Please don’t feckin’ die, Harley.”

Waking Up

It felt like waves of darkness were washing over me. Every now and then the tide would recede. Familiar voices beckoned me and my eyes would flutter open, stealing a glance of bright fluorescent light and beige walls before nothingness pulled me under once more. I didn't know how long or how often this cycle had played out, but each time I tried to hold on a little longer. I tried to grab onto the familiar voices speaking to me and comforting me, but the shadows always seemed to win. Finally, the darkness receded completely and I opened my eyes, blinking up at the faded white ceiling tiles above me.

“Harley?” Nolan's hand touched mine. I slowly turned my head to him. Everything in me ached.

“Hey.” My throat was raw, not allowing more than a whisper. I tried to smile but my lips were cracked and dry. “I didn't think I would see you again.”

Nolan tried to smile but his expression gave everything away, like water rippling at the simplest touch. The dark circles under his eyes told me he hadn’t slept in days. He studied me nervously as if I might shatter into a million pieces if he wasn't careful.

“I'm so sorry, Harley.” Nolan broke his gaze as he stared down at the floor.

“You don’t need to apologize.” I whispered and intertwined my fingers with his, urging him closer. He stayed where he was, sitting up straight as he thought over my words.

“Yes, I do. I didn't need ta yell at ya like I did and scare ya right inta his trap,” he sighed. “It's just that so many people in this town think I killed Claire, even after I was acquitted. I didn't want ya ta be one of them. I didn’t want ya ta know that part of me. I made a huge mistake, sleeping with Claire. Her and I had met one of the summers that my father took me down to Louisiana. I was just a teenager and it had just been a summer fling. I came home and lost touch with her, but then one day Brody introduced me ta his new girlfriend, and it was her. I knew I should have kept away. Brody was happy, and I was happy for him. But one night when Brody wasn't feeling up to going out, he told us ta go on without him. We hit up a few bars, and were drinking and having fun. Then we wound up back at Finley's after it had closed, the night she disappeared.” The words rushed out of him all at once. Just like me, he hadn’t expected to get another chance to say it. I squeezed his hand lightly.

“You don't have to explain it to me, Nolan.”

“No, I do. I wasn't even man enough ta tell Brody until it was too late. He only found out when they arrested me.” He hung his head, “Brody stopped talking ta me, and all this time I thought he hated me. I thought he believed what they were saying about me in the papers. I thought that was the reason he killed himself, but...”

“He died trying to clear your name.” I finished his thought as his blue eyes stared into mine, tortured and remorseful.

“And if it wasn't fer him. I would have lost ya. Even though he's gone, he’s still a better man than I ever was.” His eyes glistened as he squeezed my hand. “I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost ya. I just wish I could tell him how thankful I am for what he did and how sorry I am for what I did.”

“I think he already knows,” I reached up and touched his cheek, smiling as the rough stubble scraped against my palm. “When I was lying out there in the snow, he told me I couldn't let go. He told me to hang on. He made me promise to tell you something, but I don't know if I can even say it right.”

“What was it?”  Nolan's eyebrow lifted as he pressed his cheek against my palm.

“He told me to tell you, deartháir.” I wasn't sure how I managed to remember the word, but it echoed in my head, bouncing around with the array of outside voices. I knew I couldn't forget it, it was something important to him. “What does it mean?”

Nolan stared off in a thoughtful gaze before his eyes returned to mine and his lips hinted at a smile, “It means, brother.”

“I'd say he probably forgives you then. And Nolan? You are a good man.” I smiled at him and ran my finger under his chin, coaxing him to me. He leaned over the side of my bed and softly kissed my lips, his hand cradling my cheek.

“Well, I am guessing my daughter is finally awake!” Both of us abruptly pulled away, looking towards the door to see my mother standing there with Aggie.

“I'm so sorry, Mrs. Martin.” Nolan never sounded so formal and apologetic. My mother only waved him off.

“I told you, call me Delphinne.” She laughed, a sweet sound that I had missed. Nolan moved so that she could come stand next to my bed. She leaned over me, her long black and silver hair hung in a long braid over her shoulder. Her eyes, the same deep blue as mine, twinkled as she smiled down at me and planted a kiss on my cheek. I breathed in her scent, smelling the mixture of incense that always filled our house. Just like Alannah's.

“Aggie and Nolan got in touch with me after what happened with Jackson. If I would have known what he did to you, I would have marched over there myself and smashed his head in with a rock. Saved him the trip here.” She scowled.

“Momma!” My voice came out raspy as my eyes widened in shock

 “Don't
momma
me. Nobody hurts my little Harley fae.” She winked. “But you're a tough cookie, just like your momma! Right, baby doll?”

Both Nolan and Aggie exchanged amused grins.

“Harley fae?” Aggie tilted her head at my mom’s other nickname for me.

“It’s a long story.” I felt my cheeks redden, but grabbed my mom’s hand.

“It’s not that long. Harley used to dance around the yard naked when she was little, like a cute little summer sprite. Her middle name is Faye, so I called her my little Harley Fae.”

I glowered at my mom as she patted my cheek, setting Aggie into giggles as Nolan raised a suggestive eyebrow at me. I blushed as he smiled then looked back at my mom.

Aggie nudged Nolan's arm then pulled him toward the door. “We’ll be back, Harley, we’re just going to grab this guy some coffee.” Nolan looked at me with those pitiful puppy-dog eyes, but followed after her, blowing me a kiss before the door shut behind him. My mother watched his exit then turned her attention back to me with a sly grin.

“You know, I always wanted to run off with an Irishman. Or a Scottish one. They’re nice too. But that Nolan is quite the strapping lad, eh?” I had a feeling she would have nudged me in the side, if not for the broken ribs.

“Momma.” I pulled my lips straight and tried to suppress my laughter. I knew it would hurt if I let it out.

“I'm just saying, he could definitely help you make me some fine looking grandbabies.” She held up her hands in defense.

“Really, momma?” I raised an eyebrow. She shrugged and flashed me a big grin.

“I didn't mean right now, but ya know...before I'm too old to play with them.” Her fingers combed through my hair as she looked over at my leg. It was strung up in traction, raised above the bed. “I still can’t believe that animal hurt you like this. I’m just glad it’s over now.”

I closed my eyes, focusing on the soothing feeling of my mother’s touch.

“I’m glad it’s over too.”

The next morning when I awoke, Nolan was stretched out across the thinly padded recliner next to my bed. As soon as he heard me stirring his eyes blinked open. He sat up, stretching his back, popping noises accompanying a grimace on his face.

“That couldn’t have been very comfortable.” I frowned, looking him over as he stood up. He smiled a sleepy, crooked smile as he stretched his neck.

“And sleeping like that is?” He nodded towards my leg.

“I suppose you have a point.” I shrugged as much as I could and looked down at it myself, “I look like a broken marionette.”

“Well, ya make a very cute marionette,” Nolan teased, leaning over me, “and ya don’t have the weird nose thing going on like Pinocchio.” I giggled, but immediately stopped and grabbed my side.

“Ooh, ribs.”

“Sorry, love.” He flashed me a meek smile and gave me a peck on the lips. “Just lay back and rest. I was going to grab breakfast downstairs, did ya need anything?”

I shook my head, “No, I’m good. All the painkillers have kept me pretty full.” Nolan started to say something more but a knock at the door interrupted us. He looked to the door, a scowl immediately crossing his lips. I followed his stare to a tall officer standing in the doorway.

“Relax, Finley, I’m not here fer ya. I need ta talk ta Ms. Martin.” He flashed his badge at me as he came in.

“About what? Ya already know what happened.” Nolan’s tone was defensive, as he stood straight with wide shoulders, his gaze unflinching.

“Nolan, it’s okay. I’ll talk to the officer. Go get yourself something to eat.” I squeezed his hand, forcing his attention back to me. He nodded, kissed my forehead, and then hesitated as he stood in the doorway, his eyes shifting from me to the officer.

“Go on. I’m fine.” I reassured him. A few seconds later he left and the officer quietly pressed the door shut behind him.

“Good morning, Ms. Martin. I’m Officer Flemming, but ya can call me Tommy.” He grinned cordially as he walked to the side of my bed.

“Morning, Tommy. Sorry, Nolan’s a bit protective right now.” I said. “What can I help you with?”

“Well, we wanted ta find out what Jackson Donnings had said ta ya before the struggle. As ya know it may help us with Claire Steven’s case. Did he confess anything ta ya? Did he tell ya about any accomplices?” His deep brown eyes flickered curiously at me and it felt like the room had suddenly shifted.

 
Accomplices. Jackson had help.

Shit. The man in the alley.

“Accomplices? No. He didn’t say anything like that. Everything happened so fast. When I came to he just attacked me.” I shook my head, as I looked toward the door.

I shouldn’t have let Nolan leave.

“Ms. Martin,” that voice seemed to snake around me, taunting me like it had that night in the alley, “ya can tell me what he told ya. Yer safe now.” I forced my gaze down to his hand as it gently patted mine.
Teeth marks on his finger. Shit. Where the hell is Nolan?
I fought to conceal the panic creeping through me, flashing a big smile at “Officer Tommy.”

“I’m telling you, he never said anything about having any sort of help,” I shrugged, glad to pull my hand away from his.

“I can tell yer lying, Ms. Martin. I can see it in yer eyes.” His finger ran down the scar his gun had left on my cheek. “It's the same look that was in them that night.”  My eyes darted toward the door again, praying Nolan would come through it any second.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“I don't have time fer games, Ms. Martin. You’re a terrible liar. The fact is, ya
do
remember me, so that makes you a liability. Yer quite beautiful, so it’s a shame I’m going ta have ta do this but I can’t have anyone else find out about my association with Mr. Donnings.”  Tommy turned from me then, snatching the pillow from the recliner and shoving it down against my face before I could let out a scream. My left hand flailed for the call button, but he must have knocked it off the bed. My nails dug into his arm and I tried to kick at him with my left leg, but he only pressed harder as I gasped against the fabric.
Where the hell was Nolan?!

“Get the feck off her!” Nolan's voice shouted from the doorway. A second later the pressure holding the pillow was gone. I knocked it off of me, gasping for air.  “Dirty feckin’ pig!” Nolan was leaned over Tommy on the floor as his fists swung down in successive blows. They were on the other side of the recliner out of my view, but I heard Tommy's head slam into the wall followed by a loud crunch. I located the call button as Nolan stood up, looking over his bloody fist then back down at Tommy who was groaning. Before he could reach for it, Nolan pulled the man's gun from its holster and sent a few sharp kicks to his kidneys as he cursed under his breath.

“Nolan! Enough!” I reached for him as another kick caused Tommy to wail in pain and curl into himself.  A second later, a nurse rushed in, freezing when she saw the bloodied officer.

“He attacked her.” Nolan dropped the gun and held his hands up. I nodded as she gave me a questioning look.  Nolan stood next to my bedside as two police officers stormed into the room minutes later. He refused to leave my side when they wanted to question us separately, and given the situation they didn't really fight him on it. I told them about his attack in the alley and the bite mark I'd left on his hand. Finally they dragged the bloody-nosed bastard to his feet, cuffing him before they took him to the ER to have his nose set. After they left and the nurse checked me for further injuries, we were left alone.