“Now, take it easy. You don’t want to do anything rash, Fred.” Randolph wondered if he had said too much. Savannah didn’t really bother anyone. She kept to herself and did a good job for the Center.
“Don’t worry, Carlyle. I’m just going to give her a piece of my mind,” he shouted as he stormed out.
“Great,” Randolph muttered. “In the state of mind you’re in right now, I don’t think you have any pieces to spare.”
*****
As soon as Savannah said the last goodbye to the neighborhood kids, she cleaned the kitchen and checked the clocnbsp; Gracious me! The time had flown! How was she going to get pretty in the next ten minutes? Giggling, she decided it was a lost cause, so she just brushed her hair, put on some lip gloss and settled down on the couch. She changed positions three times, just trying to get comfortable. Bottom line – she was shaking like a leaf.
Clicking on the link, she quickly registered and emailed Patrick the call information and waited. And when the call came through, she jumped. Quickly she accepted the call and – there he was. Already he was more dear to her than any other person ever had been. “Hi,” she tremulously greeted him. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“Hey, Baby,” Patrick ate her up with his eyes. “Lord, you’re pretty.” It never failed to amaze him how she always looked surprised by his compliments. She was so unassuming, yet so gorgeous and smart. Her intelligence was as arousing as her beauty.
“Thank you. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Things are heating up here a little so you say some extra prayers for me, okay?” The quality of the video image wasn’t the best, but she ran her finger over his image, forgetting he could see her. He closed his eyes. “God, I wish I could feel your hands on me for real. I’ve dreamed about you, you know.”
It was so different, talking to him like this. She put her hand over her heart. It was pounding so hard, she felt like she had to hold it in place. “This is happening so fast. I feel so overwhelmed. I’m not used to this, I’ve been alone for so long.” Even when she had been surrounded by a foster family, Savannah had been alone.
“You aren’t alone anymore.”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Patrick was saying something else, and she wanted to hear every word, but a hard persistent banging on her front door could not be ignored. “Excuse me, Patrick. Someone’s at the door. Do you want me to sign off?”
“You aren’t expecting anyone?”
“No.”
“Well, go see who it is. I’ll wait. You may be able to come back.”
“Okay,” she carefully sat the computer on the coffee table and went to the front door. There was no one she wanted to see more than Patrick, so she was a bit upset at the interruption.
And she didn’t think.
Savannah opened the door without glancing through the peephole.
“There you are, you damn bitch!” With a shove, Fresh March pushed past her and into the living room of her house.
“What do you want, Professor March?” Oh God, oh God. She backed up away from him. He looked furious. Where was her cell phone? Maybe she could call the police.
“Why didn’t you tell me what you were? Why did you let me make a fool of myself over you?” With measured steps he started toward her and she kept just out of his reach.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do. You know exactly what you are! You are unclean and filthy!”
“Savannah! Savannah! Baby, are you in trouble?”
Oh God, Oh God, Oh God. Patrick could hear every word. She dashed for the computer, just wanting to shut the lid so he couldn’t be witness to her great shame.
“Who are you talking to?” Fred March walked up and grabbed the laptop before she could touch it. Turning it around, he looked face to face with Patrick. “Oh, you’re the soldier from the memorial. I bet she didn’t tell you either, did she?”
“Please give me the laptop,” Savannah begged. “Patrick, just disconnect the call, please!”
“No, I don’t think so.” March held Savannah off, easily.
“Run, Savannah!” Patrick ordered. Savannah tried, but March tripped her as she tried to run.
“Ow!” she whimpered as she hit the floor – hard. She wanted to scream, but there was no use. Her nearest neighbor was too far away to hear.
“You listen to me, Asshole,” Patrick yelled. “I’m texting my friend right now, and he’s going to call 9-1-1. And if you harm one hair on her head, I’ll kill you myself.”
“Hell, where are you, Iraq? You’re bluffing. Don’t worry, I’m not going to touch her, she’s dirty.”
“You’re an idiot!” Patrick growled at March. “Savannah, Baby – are you all right?”
Savannah was crying. “I’m okay.” She tried to get to her feet, but March planted his foot in the middle of her back and held her down.
“Did you know, Soldier? Did you know her parents are lepers? I’m not using the word figuratively – her parents were sick with leprosy. They were rotting, stinking, dirty lepers. Do you know what that makes her?”
“I’m not sick!” As Savannah defended herself, it seemed as if the words she said had been uttered a thousand times before. How many times would she have to say it? “I’m not a leper.” Her admission seemed like a betrayal. How could the people who gave her life be something that everyone detested? It amazed her that a person’s whole existence could be defined by something as happenstance as a disease.
“I’ll tell you what that makes her – unfit to be around decent people.”
She heard Patrick call her name once more and then March slammed the computer lid down. “What do you want from me?” Savannah asked in a desperate tone. He wouldn’t rape her; that, she was sure of. But what if he meant to kill her? What had she done to warrant
