ANGEL'S KISS (A Dark Angel's Novel) Page 2

  I could hear sea gulls squawking nearby—and not just the gulls, but also the rustle of sea oats and crabs scuffling around the dunes. The air wafting over me was heavy with salt and moisture; I could almost taste the ocean. All of these sensations assaulted me at once and for a moment, I was overloaded by the smells, sounds, and textures. I knew where I was and then…I remembered the dark-haired man with my shoe stuck in his temple.

  Was I still in danger? I jumped to my feet and surveyed the area. The roof I was on seemed to be surrounded by a wall, but I was up here alone, at least. Any doubt that I had been attacked went right out the window when I realized I was missing a shoe.

  “Shit!” Those were brand new Manolo Blahniks! I mean, they were on sale, but still! Okay. Stop worrying about the shoes, Lexie. Get a grip. First things first. Find a way down, and then get help.

  I’ll call Alan. Where was my purse? I looked around, hoping the purse would be with me. Shit! Shit! And double shit!! It was gone. I’d have to go to the DMV and get another copy of my investigators license. He got my favorite lipstick, and my Blackberry. Crap!

  “Bastard,” I spat. I forced myself to take a deep breath. First things first. I took off my remaining shoe and hiked up my skirt, pulled off my ruined hose, and squished them into my shoe. After I’d done that, I stood a little straighter, smoothed down my skirt, and felt better. At least I didn’t look like a victim anymore. I’m not sure why, but that was very important to me.

  I looked for a way down. How did my attacker get me up here in the first place? Something caught my eye—two posts sticking up above the wall that surrounded the roof. I walked toward them, hoping they’d lead down. The roof felt springy under my feet, like that new rubber bark all the playgrounds were using. Fun! I felt like a ballet dancer—strong, lean, and nimble. I wondered how long I’d slept.

  Thinking about the time made me check for my watch, which was still on my arm and still working. Thank goodness for small miracles. It was 6:45am. For a split second, I wished for a cup of coffee, my drug of choice, longingly remembering my mocha from last night.

  Had I been drugged? Maybe the little shit behind the counter slipped something in my mocha. They must have been working together, the attacker and the coffee shop employee. How else could someone have towed me all the way to the beach and up here without my remembering?

  But that didn’t ring true. I’d only had one sip of the coffee before it spilled out of my cup.

  The two posts that had caught my eye were part of a telescoping ladder that descended to some scaffolding and another ladder. I worked my way down three stories and found myself in a parking lot full of construction equipment. The workers should be here soon. Dennis, my brother, usually started his crews around 7am, even in the fall. I hope whoever shows up first doesn’t think I’m just some crazy lady carrying one shoe. And hopefully, they’d have a phone.

  I cringed as I remembered the guy with my stiletto stuck in his head. Was I strong enough to have impaled him with a shoe? And if so, where was he? Because, if I’d stuck a four-inch heel in his temple, he certainly wouldn’t have just walked away.

  Maybe I was in shock, and the horror of what happened would hit me once I knew I was safe. I hoped my mind would keep protecting me until I got home. I didn’t want to have a meltdown in front of people I didn’t know.

  “Hold it together, Lexie,” I whispered to myself.

  “Hey, lady!” A deep voice bellowed. A big guy in a hard hat had arrived. My knight in shining armor. He yelled as he crossed the parking lot.

  “What are you doing inside this construction zone? It’s dangerous! There’re no trespassing signs everywhere!”

  I was leaning against the temporary power pole holding my shoe, hugging myself. It was a chilly morning, I felt exposed and not just because of the sheer blouse and short skirt I wore. I watched his anger soften and his stomping boots slow as he got close enough to really see me.

  “Lady—are you okay?” He asked, taking his hard hat off and putting it under his arm. That simple gesture made me feel better, a southern gentlemen taking his hat off for a lady. He must be a local contractor. He held his hands out as if he thought I might fall over. Boy, I must look bad. Strange, because I feel like I could take on The Times crossword puzzle and actually, not have to cheat. I must be in shock.

  “What happened? Do you need me to call someone? Are you hurt?” Then he answered himself by pulling his phone out and dialing 911. Before I could speak, he was reporting the incident and asking for EMTs. He’s probably right, I thought. The police need to know about this guy before he attacks someone else. But what could I tell them? I didn’t even get a good look at his face.

  I looked back up at the commercial building. The guy who carried me up there had to have been incredibly strong, because carrying dead weight three stories up is not for weaklings. And that ladder-scaffold concoction that I’d climbed down was tricky. Why couldn’t I remember that climb? My construction worker/knight in shining armor finished the call.

  “Yes sir, I’ll stay with her until they arrive, thank you.” He snapped the phone shut and looked at me as if he was afraid to say anything because I might fall to pieces.

  “Sir, could I use your phone to call my husband?” All I could think about was getting home. “The man who attacked me took my purse and...”

  “Oh yes—yes please,” he said handing me the phone before I could finish.

  I hoped Alan had gone to bed early last night and wasn’t up worrying. He’s a freelance writer, so he almost never has to get out of bed early. He’s a night owl, reading and writing until past midnight on most days.

  “Yeah.” He answered on the first ring. Not a good sign.

  “It’s me. I’m okay,” I said, trying to sound okay.

  “Lexie? Where are you? What happened? Why don’t you have your phone? Ottie and I have been trying to reach you and...”

  “Alan,” I said forcibly. “I’m okay. Hold on.” I should have paid attention when my friend here was telling the police our location. I asked him.

  "Excuse me, sir. Where are we? Old Beach Road and…

  “Yes ma’am, we’re at The Hotel Sea Crest, intersection of Shore Drive and Old Beach Road. And my name’s Shane.” He was still holding his hard hat under his arm and looking at me as if he was scared I’d start crying.

  “Thanks Shane…for everything,” I said with a small smile on my face.

  “Lexie, are you there? Talk to me! Lexie?” Alan’s voice drew me back to the phone.

  “I’m here. I’m at the old Sea Crest Hotel, corner of Shore Drive and the old Beach Road. Can you…come get me?”

  “Honey, I’m already in the car. How did you get way over there? Ottie called after you guys got disconnected to let me know that you were on your way home. When you didn’t get home by midnight, I went out looking for you. Are you really okay? I’ve been going crazy. I found your car. Was it you who spilled coffee all over the roof?”

  “I’m okay, at least I...I think I am. It was just a mugger. Did you see my purse?” Then I wondered again if the coffee had been drugged. “Alan, call Ottie and have him see if he can find my cup and get a sample of that coffee, I want to have it checked.”

  “I’ll let him know. And no, I didn’t see your purse. Honey, I’m on my way. We’ll figure this out, don’t worry. Sirens? I hear sirens. Are you hurt?”

  “This nice man, Shane, called 911 when he found me on the construction site. I’m not hurt, just come and get me. I reeeally don’t want to deal with the cops and medics on my own.”

  After replaying the attack twice for Officer Maloran, I was ready to go. I told him everything I could remember. Although, I left out the part about my blood boiling and seeing the attacker with my shoe sticking out the side of his head. It seemed too crazy to say out loud. I just said that I hit him with it and now I couldn’t find it. He listened and jotted down notes while I talked. Nice guy, but his cologne was killing my nose and he needed to brush h
is teeth.

  “Miss Lewis…”

  “Mrs.” Alan corrected him.

  I rolled my eyes. I hate it when Alan gets all possessive. But right now, I was happy to have his arms around me. He’d arrived shortly before my second spiel, so at least I wouldn’t have to repeat the whole story again for him. Both of them insisted that I go to the hospital for a blood test. Even though I didn’t want to admit it, I needed to rule out drugs, too so I agreed. Officer Maloran wanted me to ride in the ambulance, but I put my foot down—I was not riding in an ambulance.

  When the cops were finally finished, Alan helped me stand. I didn’t really need the support, but his arms felt like home.

  “Mrs. Lewis.” Officer Maloran put emphasis on the Mrs. as he pointed to a large uniformed woman standing by her police car. “Officer Williams will follow you to the hospital, just in case you remember anything and to collect any further evidence. Do you have any questions about the investigation?”

  “Nope, I’ve got it, thanks.” Before we could turn to leave, Maloran stopped us.

  “Mrs. Lewis,” he said with intensity. “One more thing.” Oh, my God, he actually said “one more thing.” His speech and mannerisms reminded me of that old Colombo show my dad used to watch. All Maloran needed was the tan trench coat and he’d be a dead ringer for the TV detective. “I wish you’d allow us to perform a complete exam.”

  I knew what he was getting at, because I’d told them of my fear that the coffee had been drugged. I lifted my head high and looked directly in his eyes. I knew that I had nothing to be embarrassed about. But before I could open my mouth, he held up his hand as if he could hold back my answer and continued.

  “I’ve seen too many cases where memories resurface days or weeks later. If we don’t collect evidence now, it’ll be too late. Please let us take samples for your own peace of mind. Or if not for you, what about other potential victims? If we can ID him now, you can make others safe.”

  Oooh, the guilt card. I’d invented the guilt card. I felt my eyes narrow. I knew I wasn’t raped. I just knew it.

  “Officer Maloran, I appreciate your concern. But I can assure you that I was not raped.” I felt Alan tighten his hold on me as I turned away from the police officer. Crap, he was worrying about that same thing.

  While Alan walked me to the car, I thought it over. Had the attacker dragged me up to the roof to rape me? Maybe since I fought back, he got scared and left. I thought back to the way he’d tilted my head and leaned in to caress my neck. It sounded sexual, but it just didn’t fit. My gut was telling me he wasn’t after sex. I’d swear to it.

  Blood work might be a good idea, though. The whole “I can’t remember getting here” thing worried me. Plus, even though I neglected to mention it to Maloran, I remembered when everything seemed to speed up and my blood started to burn. It was painful and yet invigorating, an extreme rush of adrenaline. I could’ve run a marathon or swum 100 laps, and...I lost that thought as I looked up at Alan’s sad eyes checking me over.

  On the way to the hospital, I calmed Alan down by describing how I was going to find this guy and shove my other shoe up his ass. At least I got him to chuckle once between his constantly asking if I was all right.

  “Honey, you know you can tell me anything—no matter what. We’ll get through it,” Alan said, while watching the road. His hands gripped the wheel so tightly I thought he might rip it right from the steering column.

  “Alan.” I touched his arm gently. “I’m really fine. He didn’t assault me in any way except to drag me off and steal my purse. I must have hurt him with my shoe. When I woke up, I thought he’d still be there with a shoe sticking out of his head.”

  Alan looked over at me and released the steering wheel to take my hand.

  “Lexie, you sound so casual about this, like it was just a walk in the park. I think you’re in shock. I want you to do whatever the doctors tell you. Please listen to them.”

  He knows me so well. That’s what happens when you marry your college sweetheart. I’m not very good at listening to what’s good for me. To my credit, I didn’t argue. I just nodded my head and turned to look out the window. I hope he’s not watching me sulk in my seat.

  By the time we pulled into Hope Memorial Hospital, Alan’s shoulders were pulled up so tightly they almost covered his ears. His tension spilled into me. I tried to shake it off by tidying myself up. I straightened my skirt and adjusted my blouse. Then I pulled down the visor to get a look at my hair and face. I rarely worry about my hair. I wear it short and spiky so it can’t get too messed up. But after the night I’d had, I suspected it might need a little work.

  Ugh! I looked like I have a Mohawk. I attempted to flatten it out by licking my hand and smashing the hair back into place. Turning my head from side to side to see how I was doing, I noticed my neck and…

  I hadn’t told the police everything. The fire ants started marching in my veins as I remembered his hands on me again. I felt the pop as his teeth broke my skin, like it was happening now. He’d bitten me. Then his pale face replaced my image in the mirror. Only now did I remember hearing a growl, low and deep, come from behind me as I watched him run his tongue across his red lips. Too red... blood red...my blood. Before I could remember more, Alan’s worried voice and strong shake brought me back. My hands were holding my neck and I was shaking. I quickly looked in the visor mirror, but my skin was unmarked.

  “Lexie, what’s wrong? Talk to me!” Alan was hysterical.

  “I was... just remembering the attack.” I managed to say through the shaking that was racking my body. Alan pulled me out of the car and into a big hug.

  “Lexie,” he whispered. “What do you remember? Tell me what you remember.”

  The feel of Alan’s breath on my neck and his arms wrapped around me brought back the trapped feeling from last night. He was too close. I couldn’t move my arms...the vision returned. I struggled… cloth ripped, people yelled. Hands grabbed me. My fist connected with something hard and then a sharp stab of pain in my arm sent me into darkness.

  Beep…Beep…Beep.

  Buzz…Buzz.

  Swoosh.

  Loud voices woke me. Conversations swirled around me. So many voices I didn’t recognize. I tried to roll over. My body felt like lead. I was extremely uncomfortable, but the darkness took me again.

  Again the sounds woke me, beep…beep…beep…swoosh. My eyelids were heavy, but I managed to open them a crack. Everything was out of focus. Fortunately, I didn’t want to focus. Sleep sounded too goo….d, if I could just roll over and get comfortable.

  “Lexie.” I recognized Alan’s voice. “Lexie, can you hear me?” He sounded so far away. “Nurse, I think she’s coming around.”

  “Wha…” I still couldn’t focus.

  “Lexie, can you hear me? Honey, I’m here.” I could hear him, and I desperately wanted to roll toward his voice, but my body wouldn’t budge. “Don’t struggle honey, they…had to restrain you to get the IV in. It’s okay. Just lie still and I’ll get someone.”

  “Nurse!” I heard Alan roar.

  Concentrate, I told myself. Focus on waking up. The darkness tried to drag me back. I could feel Alan’s hand in mine. Then his fingers lightly brushed the side of my face, and slowly I opened my eyes again. I could see a little patch of sky with white fluffy clouds surrounded by… ceiling tiles. How strange. Are we inside or outside? I wanted to ask, but a swoosh brought everything back: all the noise— the beeping, talking, wheels on a hard floor—and the smell—ozone and bleach. HOSPITAL.

  “Mrs. Lewis, can you hear me?” Another male with a self-assured voice and a patronizing expression replaced Alan’s face. “Mrs. Lewis,” he repeated.

  “Alan,” I croaked. The roof of my mouth felt like sand paper and I sounded like Kathleen Turner.

  “I’m here, honey.”

  “Wha …happened, I …so sleepy.” I hoped he could understand what I was saying. Just getting my mouth to form the words was a huge struggle.<
br />
  “Honey.” Alan touched my face with his rough hand. “You …don’t worry about that now. Just save your strength.”

  Not a good enough answer. I don’t like being out of control. “Alan…what happened?” I sounded a little better. My annoyance at his ambiguity helped me focus and wake up.

  “You struggled with me in the parking lot. Lexie, you were so strong…I couldn’t hold you.”

  Then I noticed the fat lip and the dried blood on his nose. I tried to sit up again to touch his face, to comfort him. “Alan, I don’t remember.” My voice was making a comeback along with my memories. He noticed me struggling to sit.

  “Doctor please—the restraints.” Alan’s voice was anxious.

  I followed his gaze to the doctor who was staring at the clock on the wall and mumbling to himself.

  “She shouldn’t be awake yet… for her size, the dose should have kept her out for at least two hours…but it’s only been twenty minutes.” He sounded confused, even to me, and I was by no means a reliable source.

  Alan seized the doctor’s hesitation to press his point. “Look, I want my wife untied this minute.” He loosened the restraining straps. The doctor finally turned away from the clock and helped Alan.

  “Damn nurses…wrong dose,” he whispered under this breath.

  My eyes shot to his face. “I want to know what you gave me and how much,” I said with a threatening glare.

  He was startled that I’d heard him. He and Alan stopped undoing my restraints and looked at me.

  “Nothing happened, but what if they had given me too much instead of too little?” I asked Alan. Alan went back to undoing the restraints while the doctor tried to pacify me.