|
Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Dec 5, 2010 17:36:02 GMT -8
The darkness had brought the fear back, thrumming along her skin like electricity. Listening to him talk gave her something else to focus on beside the terror in her bones. So focus she did, with remarkable intensity.
"You don't have to explain it to me now. Just rest. Try to keep yourself awake, but... Just rest. Please,” he said to her softly, the wind howling at his back. Charlotte raised a trembling hand and gently touched his cheek, trying to reassure him... make sure he knew she was all right... Thank him. Reassure herself...
It made sense in her head...
“Okay,” she told him. She could wait to explain what happened. It’s not going anywhere... She was shivering again, whether it was from the cold and the rain or the fear, she couldn’t tell. “Later. I can explain later.”
She fumbled for the seat-belt, trying to take over for David so he could get out of the rain.
|
|
Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
|
Post by Polly on Dec 5, 2010 18:40:45 GMT -8
Polly stood in the rain and watched them carefully and slowly make their way to the car. As soon as they stepped away from the doorway they receded to shadows in the rain falling down around them. She lost them as they went farther out. She thought of following to make sure they were all right, but she saw the light come on in Henning's car and knew they had made it. It seemed like they were having difficulties in there, but Polly knew she wouldn't be any help.
She moved slowly back into the hotel, still watching. The door shut in front of her. She turned to the desk and picked up the phone. Realizing she didn't know what number to dial, she put down the phone and fished around behind the desk until she found the phone book. For the life of her she couldn't remember if they'd finally got 911 service out here or not, so she figured she'd just call the direct number. She grabbed the telephone again, held the phone book as far away from her as possible, squinted, and dialed with the hand holding the receiver.
She waited until the telephone stopped ringing and said, not sure if the person on the other end of the line was a machine or not, "Hello, Police? This is Polly Oxford, over at the Deer Yard Hotel. I'm afraid...er...how do I explain this? I'm afraid we have a bit of a...problem."
|
|
|
Post by Emily Wyatt on Dec 5, 2010 18:59:14 GMT -8
Emily was leaving for the night when one of the department phones ringing in the reception area stopped her a few feet from the door. Todd, the officer on duty had gone home early due to an upset stomach. Rumor has it he "accidentally" ate some of her homemade lunch.
Emily scowled, she wouldn't put it past Todd to play up his so called "food poisoning" just so he could be home in time to catch the beginning of the football game.
It had been quiet all day, Emily hoped whomever was calling the situation wasn't too serious. She set down her purse and coat picked up the receiver and answered.
"Greenvale Sheriff Department, Sheriff Deputy Wyatt speaking."
She was surprised to hear an upset Polly on the other end. Do I really sound like a recording?
"Er..no Polly?" Emily gave a little laugh. "This is really Emily here...is everything okay? What's the situation?"
|
|
Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
|
Post by Polly on Dec 5, 2010 19:07:06 GMT -8
Polly heard Emily's voice respond to her and let out a long sigh. "Oh, I'm so glad someone's still there. This has been such an awful night. You see, Miss Jacobs--Charlotte Jacobs, she's been staying at the hotel for a month or so--she came home terribly hurt and covered with blood. Mr. Henning--that's another one of my guests--is taking her to the hospital and he'd like you to meet him there. Can you make it out?" Polly looked out the window toward the car, where Mr. Henning and Charlotte were still getting ready to leave. "She says she fell down the stairs, but I doubt it," Polly added dismissingly. "What stairs would she have fell down? And what about that camera? And she seemed so upset..." She realized she was rambling. "Oh, I'm just so worried. Please, can you do something?"
|
|
|
Post by Emily Wyatt on Dec 5, 2010 19:26:35 GMT -8
Emily's good humor quickly evaporated after hearing Polly recount of the evening events. To think she was laughing and playing pool with Charlotte just last night, what could have happened...
Fell down some stairs? Charlotte was limping last night at SWERY65 and Emily's gut was telling her this latest injury was no accident. Could she be a victim of domestic violence but too afraid to go to the police? Or worse, was the one responsible somehow connected to Anna's murder?
Her thoughts were whirling, she had to get to the hospital pronto there wasn't time to call George.
"Okay I got it Polly, don't worry I'm on my way to the hospital now. Are you okay though? You sound very shaken, you need me to send an officer your way?"
|
|
Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
|
Post by Polly on Dec 5, 2010 19:38:18 GMT -8
"No, no, I'm fine. Just...let me know what happens. Please?" Polly knew she'd worry until they came back otherwise. "Oh, I suppose I shouldn't hold you on the line. Thank you so much, Miss Wyatt."
Polly hung up the phone. She paused and then hurried outside. She made her way to the car--goodness it was cold and wet--and put her hand on Mr. Henning's shoulder to get his attention. "Miss Wyatt says she'll meet you at the hospital," she shouted over the wind. "Drive safe! You never know what you'll run into!"
|
|
|
Post by David Young Henning on Dec 5, 2010 22:25:32 GMT -8
Henning heard the click of the belt buckle, just as the warmth from Charlotte's hand dissipated from his skin. He was just about to get into the driver's seat when he felt someone else touch him, this time on the shoulder. He was surprised that he wasn't more surprised, though he'd always had decently strong nerves. You had to, in his line of work. He shut the passenger door and turned to see Polly Oxford, still in her nightgown, looking like a flickering match about to go out. He listened to her brief missive and nodded.
"Thanks Polly, you've been a big help. I'll try to give you a call from the hospital to let you know what's happened." He tried to smile, to reassure her. "Now please, get back to the hotel or you'll catch a cold! And don't worry about us. I don't think her injuries are life-threatening, but..."
He didn't know what to say after "but" and didn't want to think about it either, so he just repeated, "Please don't worry," and got behind the wheel. The engine came to life with a twist of the ignition, but for all the urgency of the situation, something made him hesitate before putting his foot to the gas pedal. He turned and looked at Charlotte, the side of her face closest to him hidden by a tangle of red hair, and felt something like dread enter his heart.
Oh, Charlotte, where have you been? For the last year, or the last few hours? And where are we going?
The answer to that last question should have been obvious; but as Henning accelerated into the starless dark, impenetrable even with the high beams of his car at full power, he felt like they were headed someplace nameless and unknowable, a vast shadow canvas upon which anything might transpire. He glanced into his rearview mirror and thought he saw Polly's white figure still standing in the parking lot, but then it was blotted out by the storm. A minute later and they were on the main road, a black shape on black, the rain still pouring down like a cry for help...
[I'm going to start a hospital thread for the drive and their arrival, but if anyone else wants to finish up this thread, feel free.
|
|
Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
|
Post by Polly on Dec 6, 2010 20:55:06 GMT -8
The knight finished placing his lady in the passenger's seat behind the protection of his black shield. Polly raised her hand in farewell and anxiously watched them leave the parking lot. The damned rain fell over them like static and the darkness pulled itself shut behind the two travelers as they made their way down the road.
Polly pulled her robe tight around her--which didn't help at all since she was soaked through--and walked back into the hotel. She thought she might take a shower. She felt unclean from spending as much time in the rain as she had. Then, perhaps, she'd make a pot of coffee and wait for Emily or David to ring back. (Oh, she should talk to Mr. Henning about Charlotte's camera. Polly wouldn't forget; it was imprinted on her mind. She wished she knew why.) She certainly wouldn't be able to go back to sleep tonight. Maybe she could get a head start on some of the chores. It had been a while since the lobby had gotten a good dusting, and work was always the best way to get your mind off worrying...
When daylight finally came, the first people who entered the lobby would find Polly curled up in a chair with a coffee pot at one hand and the telephone at the other in a deep, yet troubled, sleep.
|
|