Reprisal (12 page)

“Fucking idiot.” I whisper to myself, but I know Gabe heard me. I flash back to the first time someone slammed into me, and then realize it was right in this same spot. Well, not exactly, but at the same corner right by my
favorite coffee shop. “Son of a bitch.” I say as I see the dark coffee stain on my pants. “Shit, I need to go back home and change, Gabe. You go on, I’ll meet you there in a few. Probably not a bad idea that we don’t show up together anyway.

I see a worrisome look in Gabe’s eyes.
“Relax, I’ll be fine.” I say as I gather the contents of my purse and shove them back in. “I’m packing, remember? And, I’ve shot someone before, so I’m not afraid to use it, Gabe. Go on, really. I’ll be fine.”

I can tell he doesn’t want to go on without me, but I refuse to be a priso
ner in my own city. I know self defense and I have a gun, a pretty powerful gun at that. I’m prepared and I refuse to allow myself to give in.

He leans in and presses a gentle kiss on my lips while tucking an errant strand of hair behind my ears. “You sure?” He asks, angst on his face.

“I’m positive. Go.....I’m just going to run up and change, then I’ll meet you there. I’ll be ten minutes behind you.”

“Okay, but you call me if you notice anything out of the ordinary.”

“Gabe, I’m a big girl. And this is New York. How can you tell if something isn’t ordinary?

Nothing about this city is ordinary, Gabe. I’ll be fine, see you in a few minutes.” And I turn on my heel, headed back to my apartment. The wind blows a strand hair in my eyes, and I can feel Gabe’s eyes on me. I know he’s going to just wait here for me, but I don’t turn back or acknowledge that I know he’s still there.

I then hear his footsteps behind me, coming towards me rapidly as if he is running. I stop short and make an abrupt turn towards him, but my body is suddenly slammed to the ground again. Darkness covers my eyes and I feel a crack on the sidewalk, realizing that’s my head. I flinch at the pain, but I keep my wits about me, rolling over and kicking my legs up, making contact with something, though I can’t see through the blood in my eyes. I hear an ‘oomph’ from a male voice as well as a loud exhale of breath.

I hear my name called out from the distance and rapid footsteps coming closer to me.

Another ‘oomph’ sound and a crunching thunk on the pavement as two bodies hit the sidewalk next to me. Sounds of flesh hitting flesh and I feel wetness on my face. I realize it has started to rain and I lie there feeling the cold drops splash against my stinging face. I reach up to wipe my eyes, smearing a warm fluid across my face.

More sounds of fists hitting faces, rushing breaths as punches are taken in the gut. I can’t see, so I can’t tell who is fighting just to my right. A woman screams and then sits down next to me, a soft clot
h presses against my head. “SHHH, t’s okay lady. The police are on their way. Are you okay?” A soft female voice whispers against my ear.

I lazily nod my head, but I am unsure if I really am okay. My head hurts and I assume that warm fluid is blood gushing out of my head. I realize I no longer hear the sounds of fighting and I try and peek that direction, but my neck is stiff. Sirens fill the air and soon the sidewalk is a bustling area, full of police and first responders. The nice lady moves away and a man leans down towards me and starts asking me questions. A
cervical collar is placed around my neck and cool saline is poured through my eyes, rinsing the blood away.

“Sydney?” I hear from my left.

“Gabe? Is that you?”

“Yeah, baby. Oh my God, are you all right?”

But before I can answer, a husky male voice interrupts. “Sir, you need to step aside and let us work please.”

I hear a rustling and then Gabe speaks again, “Detective Gabriel Torres, NYPD.”

“Oh yes sir, Detective. I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

Gabe doesn’t respond, but I feel his presence next to me. “What happened Gabe?” I ask, my voice scratchy and weak.

“Don’t worry about that, Syd. Just lay back and let the EMT do his job.”

“NO! Gabe, tell me what the fuck just happened.”

“It seems as if your body slammer came back for more Syd. He jumped you from behind and tackled you to the ground. Thankfully I hadn’t moved from where we were, and I jumped the guy. But after a few hits, he ran off.”

“You didn’t go after him?” I ask as I try to sit up.

“No, two beat cops were around the corner and they went after him on foot. The guy was quick, but he headed down towards the police station. Idiot as far as I’m concerned. They’ll catch him.”

I nod at him, but don’t respond. My head hurts like a motherfucker and all I want to do is go to sleep. I close my eyes, but am immediately jarred awake by the EMT. “Ma’am, you need to try and stay awake. We’re going to transport you to Mt. Sinai hospital to be checked out. We’re going to slide this backboard under you and prep you for transport.”

“No, I don’t need a hospital. I’m fine.” I say as I sit up all the way. I’m trying to convince myself that I’m fine, but at this point I can’t say for sure.

“Ma’am.....”

“NO! I am refusing transport. I’ll take myself later if I........” and I proceed to vomit all over the sidewalk. Great, that’s the second time in two days I’ve made a total lady of myself in public.

“Ugh, damn it!”

“Ma’am that is a classic sign of a concussion. We need to get you to the hospital to make sure it’s nothing more serious. Plus, you need stitches in that gash. Detective Torres.....?”

“Sydney, let’s get you checked out and make sure there isn’t more damage than just a concussion, and get you stitched up. I’ll make it up to you later.” He says as he winks at me.

“Sydney?” I hear from a distance. As I glance over, I see Chuck walking up. “Jesus, Sydney.

Are you all right?” He says as he steps beside me, the EMT stepping aside.

“I think so, just got a fierce headache and.......” And I barf again, all over Chuck’s shoes.

“Shit, I’m sorry.”

“No worries, Syd. We’ll get you to the hospital.”

And I nod,
cause I know he’s right, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. They secure me to the back board and load me in.

“I’m going with her, Chuck. I’ll check in once I know more.”

“All right, but first tell me what happened.”

I hear Gabe start to tell the story to Chuck as I’m loaded in to the ambulance. I close my eyes and try to go to sleep, but the EMT is right beside me telling
me to keep my eyes open. This is really pissing me off, but inside I know he’s right. I may not be a ‘real’ doctor, but I took enough classes in school to know you don’t go to sleep with a concussion. I nod my head towards the EMT as I try and listen to what Gabe and Chuck are talking about.

By this point, the beat cops have come back to the scene and I can hear bits and pieces of the conversation. I don’t need to hear
any more than the fact that the body slammer got away. I sit up, suddenly frantic that he took my purse with my gun in it.

“Gabe?” I call out.

“Yeah babe.” He responds from the doors to the ambulance.

Babe

That’s the second time he’s said that, and I have to admit....I kind of like it. “Where is my purse?” I ask, sounding like a whiney child missing his security blanket.

“I’ve got it right here. He didn’t get it.”

“Then I wonder what he wanted, if he didn’t want my purse.” I say.

“We’ll figure that out Sydney.” He says as he climbs in to the back of the ambulance, sitting down
next to me. He takes my hand in his, brushing his thumb across the back of my knuckles.

“Gabe?”

“I’m right here.” He responds and tingles travel up my spine.

“What do you think he wan
ted, if he didn’t take my purse?”

“Sydney, I told you. We’ll figure it out. The cops are still looking for him and once they can drag him in to the station by his nut sack, we’ll know.”

I chuckle at his response, but stop quickly when I realize laughing hurts my head.

“SHH
, just lie back, Syd. But don’t go to sleep, not yet.” He says as the EMT climbs in and sits to the other side of me, the back door slamming shut. I jump a little at the sound, but Gabe quickly reassures me that it’s okay. Two pats on the back door of the ambulance and it starts to move.

A few minutes later, I’m wheeled in to the emergenc
y room at Mt. Sinai, the doctors and nurses hovering around me. “It’s okay guys, nothing serious. I don’t need the full staff tending to me.” I joke, cause it seems as if everyone has come to my rescue.

I hear chuckles behind me, and soon just one doctor is hovering over me. I open my eyes to a bright light being flashed in to my eyes. “Well having a sense of
humor is a good sign, Miss DeCarlo.” The doctor says to me. “Doctor Jamison will be here shortly to stitch you up. Looks like you need about six sutures. I’m going to put some numbing ointment on the cut so you won’t feel a thing. Then I want to get an x-ray just to confirm your concussion. Just lay here and relax, the nurse with be with you shortly.”

And suddenly I’m alone. I scan the room and watch the others in action with other emergency issues. The nurse comes in and places a
band aid on the cut and I wince at the pain, but soon after the pain goes away. I close my eyes and try to relax while waiting on the doc to come back in.

Finally, I’m stitched up and rolled away to x-ray. I silently wonder where Gabe is. He hasn’t come by since I was brought in. But I shrug it off to police business. I’m sure Chuck had questions for him.

“Just a minor concussion, Miss DeCarlo. I’m releasing you, but you go home and rest. Do you have someone that can stay with you today and tonight?”

Yes, she does.”

Gabe.

“Gabe, you don’t have to do that. I can get Leslie to come over.”

“Nonsense, I want to. And you’re in no condition to fight me, so deal with it.” He says as he leans down and kisses my cheek. “Plus, until they find this guy you will not be left alone.”

“Oh Gabe, really? He sucker punched me, jumped me from behind. He tries it again, he’ll find the barrel of my gun down his throat.”

He laughs, and I start to get pissed off. Who does this guy think he is?

“Sydney, that’s my point. If he comes back, I’m afraid you’ll kill him, and I want the bastard alive when we find him. I’ll make sure the arresting officers take him to the station, the long way.

He’ll never mess with another woman again.” He laughs again.

“But before we go home, Chuck wants to ask you some questions. Are you up for it?”

“Yeah.” I say as I try and sit up.

“Relax
Syd. You’re going to have a nasty headache for a while. If Chuck’s questions are too much, just say so. He can wait until you’re recovered if needed.”

“No, I’m good. Let’s get this over with.”

He turns to go get Chuck and I ponder the words he said.
Home.
Surely he means my home, or his? No, I want to go to my apartment. I’m not sure I’m ready to go to his place yet, it’s too soon.

Chuck comes in quietly and sits down next to me, taking my hand. “How ya feeling?” He asks quietly, as if any loud noises will be painful.

“As well as to be expected, I guess. Did you catch the guy?”

He shakes his head, “Not yet. But we will. I need to hear your side of the story,
Syd. Can you tell me what happened?”

I think back,
cause it’s kind of fuzzy. “Gabe and I were on our way to the station.” And I stop, I just pretty much just told him we were together. Crap, now I bet he removes me from this case.

“A guy slammed against me, knocking me down. You know how the crowds are on the street, no one pays attention to what they’re doing. Well, after I hit the ground, my coffee went flying and got all over
my pants. I told Gabe to go on and I’d meet him there after I changed clothes.

He argued with me, but stubborn as I am.......” He nodded as he smiled at me.

“Anyway, as I got close to my building I heard footsteps coming fast behind me. By the time I turned around, I hit the ground. I managed to turn over and kick my legs out, making contact.

But before I could get my gun out, he was body slammed by Gabe.”

“Did you see his face?” He asks.

Shaking my head, “No. It all happened too fast and before I could focus, Gabe was on him.

Didn’t he see his face?”

“No, the guy wrapped his gloved hand around his eyes, so he couldn’t see him. Gabe got in a few punches before the street cops came running, then the guy ran off. The cops chased him, but he got away. Maybe he has some type of injury he is going to need seen to and will visit a hospital or doctor. I’ve put an APB out for him and all hospitals and clinics are on not
ice to call NYPD if he comes into their facility.”

I nod,
cause I have nothing else to say really. Chuck stands up and turns to leave. “Call me if you think of anything else, okay?”