wounds were obviously recent, and that supported the time frame of his story to some extent.
I felt a familiar hollowness well in the pit of my stomach as I stared at the pattern. Among the bruises and fresh high heel marks covering his chest, scraped deeply into his skin was a checkerboard heart pierced by what could only be meant as a dagger.
“Felicity,” I breathed carefully. “Call the police, then get Ben on the phone.”
CHAPTER 26:
“This is seriously fucked up,” Ben said. The tone of his voice was flat and more than just a little introspective.
My friend had arrived while the local police were still taking our statements. After he spoke with them for a few minutes, then made a quick phone call, they left, taking Lewis with them. As usual, the neighbors got an eye full of the goings on. I was beginning to think we might need to move, but who was I to take away their source of entertainment?
Now, some half hour later, we were sitting at the breakfast nook in the kitchen, contemplating our cups of coffee.
It was just the two of us at this point. Felicity had been slightly shaken but not enough to keep her from being determined to attend her scheduled business meeting-even though I objected. In a way, I suppose it was a good thing she ignored my protests. She probably needed something to take her mind off the whole situation. The truth is, I wished I had something to divert my own attention from it, but I also wasn’t naive enough to believe it would matter even if I did. My attempt at embracing denial was no longer working. It was painfully apparent that forces beyond my control simply wouldn’t allow it.
“Believe me. I know that.” I replied after a thick pause. “I guess it could’ve been worse though. It’s not like he actually assaulted her or anything.”
“Yeah, Row, I’m afraid he did.”
“Not really. All he actually did was slobber on her shoes.”
“While she was wearin’ ‘em,” Ben added. “Simple battery is any form of unwanted physical contact, so by law what ‘e did qualifies as common assault, Kemosabe.”
“Yeah, that’s what the other cops said too.” I shrugged. “What I meant was I just usually think of assault as something a bit more malicious. He didn’t actually attack her with any intent to do harm.”
“Yeah, a lotta people think like that. Of course, then there’re the ones that think they’ve been assaulted if someone looked at ‘em cross-eyed. But this ain’t one of those situations. It was assault any way you slice it… But, technically you’re right. As assaults go, it was minor. No more than a misdemeanor… You could probably throw trespassing in on ‘im if ya’ wanted. But, anyway… Firehair’s gonna be pressin’ charges I assume?”
“Under the circumstances, I’d like for her to at least get a restraining order, but it’s a touchy situation since he could still file charges against her for the incident at the motel… And, I think that would qualify as something a bit worse than what you were just talking about.”
“Yeah. That’d be more like aggravated assault with intent.”
“Yeah… Exactly… So… There it is…” I let my voice trail off without saying anything further.
“Uh-huh,” my friend grunted. “I know what ya’ mean. At least they’re gonna hold ‘im for a bit, what with the mark on ‘is chest an’ all. Ackman and Osthoff are on the way over ta’ ask ‘im a few questions.”
“There is that,” I finally said. After another lengthy pause, I added, “But, I get the feeling that really wasn’t the ‘fucked up’ you were talking about, was it?”
“No,” he replied with a shake of his head. “Not really.”
“Didn’t think so.”
“Sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“That ya’ can’t get away from it.”
I sighed. “It’s not your fault.”
“That doesn’t keep me from feelin’ for ya’.”
“Yeah. I suppose it doesn’t… Thanks.”
“Not a problem.” He waited for a measured beat then added, “I guess we got our answer.”
“What answer?”
“What Annalise was gonna do if she couldn’t off ya’ with the hocus-pocus.”
“Oh… That.”
We sat in silence for a minute. I absently spun my coffee mug in place on the table, fiddling with it for no other reason than to expend the nervous energy I had pent up inside. I could feel Ben watching me, and I was fairly certain I knew what he wanted to say. It wasn’t very long before he proved me correct.
“You wanna talk about it now? The case I mean.”
“Do I want to? No,” I replied with a shake of my head. “But, obviously she isn’t leaving me much choice in the matter.”
“Yeah, guess not,” he grunted. “So… Ya’ done any Twilight Zone since we last talked?”
“No, actually. A few nightmares, but nothing of consequence.”
“What about that headache ya’ had? That still with ya’?”
“It pretty much went away.”
“Ya’ lyin’?”
“No.”
“Whatcha do? Burn a candle or somethin’?”
“Something like that.”
“So then her kung fu ain’t as good as yours?”
“I’m reserving judgment on that at the moment.”
“You’re still here.”
“The war isn’t over yet.”
“Yeah. Wunnerful… Okay… So, back to the land of normal people… Ya’ got any theories? Like what she might do next?”
“I have no idea.”
“Now I know you’re lyin’ on that one, ‘cause I got a theory myself. Since that hocus-pocus didn’t work, she’s gonna try ta’ kill ya’ the way regular fruitcakes do.”
I gave him a barely perceptible shrug. “Maybe.”
“Ain’t maybe, Row. It doesn’t take a trip inta’ la-la land ta’ figure it out. Why else would she come back here?”
I just shook my head in response.
“Ya’ think this is about what happened in New Orleans?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged again. “That was my first thought, but after mulling it over for a bit I think it’s probably more likely to be about what I did when I got home.”
“What? Ya’ mean the thing with the doll?”
I nodded.
“How the fuck could she know about that?”
“Miranda. If she’s really here to come after me, it has to be because of her. I don’t think Annalise would chance it on her own. She really doesn’t have a solid reason.”
“Nutcases don’t need reasons, Row. Do ya’ think she’s got a logical reason for what she’s been doin’ so far?”
“In her mind, yes. I think that in her view of reality, she sees what she is doing as perfectly logical.”
“‘Zactly. In her twisted-ass mind. So, what’s ta’ keep ‘er from havin’ some fucked up reasoning tellin’ ‘er ta’ come after you?”
“I don’t know. I mean… Yes, you could be right, but I really don’t get the feeling Annalise is particularly stupid. She knows it would be dangerous for her to come here looking for me, even if she does have a vendetta.
