Abduction
Cassy was sitting in her family room waiting for the doorbell to ring. She was glad Chris and Rita had finally decided to let the other know how they felt about the other,after all the time they had kept thier feelings to themselves.Now they were engaged to be married. It was great to see them so happy together. Rita had asked for Cassy to be her maid of honor . Tom would be Chris's best man.
Slam! She heard the doorbell. That was probably the happy couple now. They had planned to get together for dinner that evening . Cassy went to answer the door. When she did she saw Chris standing there looking worried and very upset, "Chris. What's wrong?" Cassy asked her heart catching in her throat....She sensed something was very wrong. He was shaken so Cassy said "Chris, come on in, you need to sit down."
"I just came from the shop you did'nt hear the news?"
"Well..uh..no I didn't have the scanner on...why...and where is Rita?" she asked. Sensing it had to do with her and dreading the answer.
"The bank was held up a couple of hours ago. Rita was there. Some masked men came rushing in and made everyone lie on the floor except the tellers."...His eyes began swelling with tears.. "One of the men grabbed a lady, demanding she take her wedding ring off her finger...witnesses say the woman refused because her husband had just recently died. The man hit the woman then and Rita rushed at him, knocking him to the floor. One of the other men came up behind Rita so fast she did not see him coming .He knocked her out...and motioned for the other one to get her gun and handcuffs and they cuffed her.They got away with money...and ..and they..took Rita with them" Tears were streaming down his cheeks.He held his head in his hand and began sobbing...."I wish I could have been there...to ..to..cover her...they drove off in a van..no licence plates. .."
Cassy was crying now too.Tom opened the door just then. He looked first at Cassy and then at Chris.
"I heard on the radio...I am so sorry."
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Shorty took the gun from Bo ,and walked over to where Rita was sitting in a chair still with a blindfold and handcuffs on. He reached out and ripped the blindfold off her face. Rita blinked her eyes until they became accustomed to light again.
"Well precious." Shorty said. "Ready to say your last prayer?" Rita just glared at him....darn this girl...he thought as he leaned closer..."how about some love, Sugar?" He edged closer to her,his face right with hers,and licked his lips.He brought his mouth to hers.
"Ouch!" Blood began to ooze. He swung his hand,smaking Rita hard across her face. Her eyes became teary, but she held her own.His lip was bleeding from where she bit him. " I ought to blow your head off now and forget about the prayer!"he yelled at her.
Just then a female voice was heard,"Wait a minute...I have a better idea " said Judith. She was Shortys cousin and had been in Palm Beach for only a month, visiting from Australia. Unofficially she was here on "buisiness." She walked over and picked up Rita's purse and began searching through her personal belongings."Oh look what I found"she said ,holding a picture of Chris in her hands ."Now what I wouldn't give to call this guy my own.I'm gonna have to look this one up.He's a dream."
Rita was angrier then ever but knew there was nothing she could she do."I hope they find me soon" she thought,holding back the tears in her eyes.
Judith beckened Shorty outside ." I want to check out this guy.I have a feeling she has a tremendous soft spot for this one....might just have a bit of fun with them." she said.
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"I heard it on the radio...I am so sorry man"Tom told Chris.
"Yeah,...ah..." Chris let out a heavy sigh,trying to pull his thoughts together.He had come there for a reason."Listen..ah..I need your help."
"Anything,Chris...just name it." Tom spoke up immediately,concerned for his friend.It seemed as if Chris was barely holding onto what remained of his composure.
"Of course...Oh God,yes,...of course we'll help you."added Cassy.
"It's...it's just that....I don't know...there are some cops still over at the bank,but I was hoping that...well,maybe if I could talk to some of the witnesses myself,I might pick up on something the patrols won't....cept I also have to be at the shop,you,know,in case they call there or something."
"Not another word. Cassy and I will go to the bank for you.You just get yourself back to the shop.You'll want to be there if they call."
"Yeah...thanks guys. I just really want someone I can trust to not overlook anything there.Well,I better get back to the shop now.Caps pretty frantic"
"We all are Chris." Cassy leaned in to give him a hug.
When they had parted,Tom reached over and patted Chris on the shoulder."We'll get her back,Chris...safe and sound."
Chris forced a slight smile for the benefit of his friends."We have to." he stressed his words,but they were more for his own reassurances then anyone elses. With that he was out the door,trying again to reach Rita on her cell phone.
When Chris entered the police department,he knew the word about Rita had spread.There was a buzz of hectic activity,and people scurried from one point to another,attempting to do whatever it would take to get one of thier own safely back among them.
Many of his colleagues nodded encouraging gestures at him,and a few approached him to offer thier sympathies and support.For a minute,Chris's spirits were lifted as he realized how many people truly cared about Rita.She had many friends and Chris began to understand that nobody wanted to let her down when she needed them most.
As he made his way to the homicide department,he relived that very morning as he and Rita walked those same steps,laughing and teasing each other.He wondered how in a matter of six hours,his life could be turned upside down and inside out.
When he entered through the Palm doors,a hushed silence fell over the room,but he chose to ignore it.He made his way over to where his and Ritas desks were,his eyes seemingly fixed on her empty chair.
The blue jacket she had worn over her blouse that day was now hanging on the back of her chair.He touched it,almost as if he was in awe of the material,then he picked it up and clutched it to his face.His eyes closed as he breathed in her soft flower scent,causing only more hurt,and not the comfort he seeked.
When Chris opend his eyes,he saw his captains staring back at him,his eyes reflecting all the pain that he knew was shining in his own.
"Chris" he softly called.In that one word,Chris heard all that Cap was feeling.
"Cap...anything yet?" he asked,knowing already what the answer was. Cap had promised he would call him while he had gone over to see Tom and Cassy.
Cap solenmly shook his head no,then wrapped an arm around Chris' shoulder and guided him into his office for more privacy."We'll wait in here Chris." Cap said giving a nod in the direction of all his cops."They have work to do.....they are trying thier best,know that....All other calls to me are being redirected. If the kidnappers call,it will come here. I sent a car for Franny,she's on her way."
Chris sat on the sofa in Caps office,lost completely in his own thoughts.He held his hands in his head,and Cap heard him quietly sob.Only once before had Cap ever seen Chris cry,and that time to ,was because he had thought he had lost Rita for good.It had seemed like a miracle when Rita had turned up alive when eveyone believed her to be dead. Was it possible that a miracle could occur for them twice? He had no idea,but he hoped and prayed for Ritas sake...for all thier sakes.
"We'll have Rita back with us soon...and we'll get the scums who did this. They are gonna pay."Cap mumbled these words,wanting to reassure Chris and himself. But if Chris heard,he didn't acknowledge him. Chris seemed to be lost in a world of his own as he sat staring hard at the phone.
Each of the two men remained quiet after that,as memories and prayers monopulated thier thoughts.Twenty minutes later,the phone rang and Cap signalled through the windows for the phone tracer to begin.Chris jumped up to answer the phone ,but Cap picked it up first and silently commanded for him to back down,knowing that Chriss' temper wouldn't help in this situation. Chris realized he was right, and grudgingly tried to conduct himself accordingly .
He watched his captains face,and the series of emotions that played across it. For the first time Chris realized that his captain suddenly seemed to have aged ten years in that one day.As each moment passed with Cap listening to what was being said ,and not saying a word himself,Chris felt as if he would explode. He paced back and forth,his eyes never wavering off his captain,and he tried to restrain himself from grabbing the phone then and there.Finally Cap hung up the phone.rubbing at his temples as he looked Chris' way.
"Well?" Chris asked impatiently.
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Rita woke again,her head pounding,and she tried to focus her eyes on her surroundings. She briefly remembered the woman giving her another injection,and then the darkness had come. She was beginning to actually welcome those injections. They took her away from this nightmare.
She was alone in the room,still tied into the chair.The rope they used was chaffing her wrists so badly that she could feel the blood ozze when she tried to move her hands in an attempt to loosen the knot. The sores burned so badly,but it was only one of the pains that she tried to block out. Her entire body was nothing but one big bruise it seemed,so why not try and loosen the knot. It was her only hope of getting out of there alive.
It was only five minutes later when she gave up. Her wrists were completely raw,and the knot wasn't loosening at all.If anything,she could feel it tighten more so. Or at least it felt that way.Her ankles also were hurting quite alot too,and she was cold....and hungry....and she had to use the bathroom. Tears began to come to her eyes.Where was Chris? Why hadn't anyone come to get her yet? She knew they had to be out looking for her,and knowing Chris,he was most likely going crazy with worry. Somehow,that thought managed to cheer her up.Chris wouldn't rest until he had found her.
As the door opened,she could only pray that it would be soon.
Bo and Shorty walked in, and immediately thier eyes roamed hungrily over her.It was Shorty,who stood 6' 4,and was anything but short,that scared her the most. He was as beefy as he was large and Rita knew that even if she ever did manage to untie herself from the chair,she stood no chance against him,even with the self defense measures she was an expert at.All one hundred and five pounds,and five feet three inches of her would be easily game for this guy.He glowered at her,and she could smell a sickening odor emanating from him.This guy was as scruffy as they came,she thought.
Her eyes roamed over to Bo. If she had hoped that he could somehow be a help to her,she was immediately let down. This was the guy she had karate chopped....and apparently he was still holding a grudge about it. His eyes,which Rita found hard to even look into,simply shined with evil. She suppossed that what he lacked in height compared to Shorty,he more then made up for in contemptibility.
Shorty leaned in close to Rita,his scent making her naseaous to her stomach."It's time we finally get the chance to know each other."
"Do I have a choice?" Rita replied sarcasticaly.
"Yes darling you do. You can either die now,or later....doesn't matter to me....which is it now?"
She spit in his face, giving him her answer to his question,and of course making him extremely angry.She could hear Bo grunt with his amusement.Though he only stood there watching,he scared her most.
"That wasn't the answer I was expecting,you little witch ,but never mind...I'm going to really enjoy doing you in." He swung his thick arm,allowing it to hit her in the head with a brutal force. The chair she was sitting in toppled over,and again her head took another blow as it hit the floor. She felt the darkness begin to come again,but just as she began to welcome it,it escaped her as she felt herself being lifted back into a sitting position.....her hair being used to pull her upright. Tears came to her eyes instead of the merciful blackness she so deperately wished for.
"Uh uh,lady....you ain't gonna die so easily....I am gonna have some fun with you one way or the other."
Rita tried hard to get herself together again,out of a desperate instinct to survive. "Don't cry" she thought to herself..."don't let him see you cry."
She made herself stare Shorty in the eye,forcing herself not to give into the shuddering whimpers that tried to escape her.
She sat still as she watched him approach her,then tear off her blouse. She kept her head held high as he roughly squeezed her breasts in his fist ,then tore away her bra.
"Don't let it bother you so much,precious. Just pretend I'm your boyfriend."
Again,she heard a menacing laugh from Bo.
Shorty signalled to Bo,who came and stood behind her chair,holding a gun to her head. It was then that Shorty brought his face only an inch away from hers and grabbed the back of her head,holding it still as he tried to force his tongue into her mouth. The signal was clear to Rita. If she did anything to tick either of them off,it would cost her life.
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The door opened,just as Cap had hung up the phone.
"Well.." Chris was demanding answers,at the same time,Fran Lipshitz burst into the room.: Oh Heschy..this just can't be....Has she been found yet?...Oh Chris,dear...how are you doing hon.?" She pulled him into her embrace,not even making an attenpt to hide the tears that she had already been crying. Her eyes were red and swollen.
"We were going to go out shopping for her wedding dress tomorrow afternoon. I just can't believe this is happening." she sobbed.
"Fran,honey,not now...We just got a call from the kidnappers." He turned and looked directly at Chris." It was a tape recording.A womans voice.She only said that she wanted to meet with you,and only you. Alone...no cops,no wires.If you don't show up,Ritas as good as dead....her words exactly."
"Oh no,Hesch!" Fran cried out in anquish.
Chris remained eerily silent,only nodding his head. Finally he demanded."The time and place,Cap."
"I don't like it,Lorenzo." Cap said rather helplessly,knowing that he had no choice but to tell Chris anyway.
"And the alternative would be?" Chris knew he didn't have to argue.Not about this.
Cap nodded slightly."I know,Chris...there is none." He sighed heavily,before taking back the role of Captain."Alright then...As soon as Tom and Cassy get back,the four of us will sit down and think this through.We can't leave anything to chance.It's Ritas life at stake,and now yours as well ."
"Yeah Cap....I know...but the way I see it,without Rita,I don't have a life anyway." With that said,Chris turned and walked out of Caps office.He took Ritas jacket from her desk,and made his way to the unused interrogation room.It was thier place,while they were at work.A place where they could meet and forget for awhile the cruelties they faced on the job. It was a place of peace and quiet,privacy and refuge,and now the only place he wanted to be.
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Cap had sent Fran out to a near by deli to buy a late dinner for everyone ,but more simply to distract her . She brought back sandwhiches,a pasta salad,and some chips for the four of them,but aside from a few nibbles here and there,the food was left untouched.They were too busy discussing the plans for that night to eat.
Chris didn't think any of this was necessary though. As far as he was concerned, the best thing to do was to go along with whatever it was the kidnappers demanded.He was willing to do whatever they said.What he was not willing to do was risk Ritas life,and no matter how they handled this meeting,that risk was there.
After much convincing and assurances that it would never be detected,Chris finally agreed to wear a wire, cleverly disguised as an earring stud.
"Okay Chris.10 o' clock tonight,at the bowling alley,the twelvth lane will be reserved.Your to wait there.Tom and Cassy will be in a small moving van, across the street,down by that new office complex there. That shouldn't raise any suspicions.They will be ble to hear every word said,as well as watch the building.We have unmarked cars sitting,waiting for word from Tom and Cassy if they get any leads.With any luck,we'll get something out of her."
Cap had been serious and authorative all along,but now he turned to Tom and Cassy,becoming even more serious."You two....Pay attention to what's going on tonight...there is to be no bickering.Is that understood?!" he ordered.
"Got it Harry" Tom said sheepishly,and touhing Cassys arm when he saw her begin to argue in thier defense with thier captain. Cassy felt his silent warning,and realized Tom was right. Now was not the time to worry about who started thier arguements anyway."
"Promise" Cassy said,looking first to Cap,then over to Chris."
"Okay then...you both go and get things ready awhile." Cap ordered. The two divorced detectives looked at each other and realized that thier captain was dismissing them. They gathered thier things and left.
Cap came up to Chris then,rubbing at his temples."Lorenzo...Promise me you'll play it cool tonight."
"Yeah Cap...I'll try." Chris said,standing up to leave as well.
"No Lorenzo! You'll do more then try! There's no room here for any regrets.I don't need to tell you what's at stake here. Whatever they say..whatever they want....You have to act as if this was anyone else,and not Rita....You have to ...for her sake. Do you understand what I'm saying
"I know Cap...I got it. I am suppossed to go about this all as if she was just anyone off the street.I have to keep my feelings for her distant."
" Right kid. Stay cool....If you blow off at the slightest thing,they are bound to react to it."
"Cap...Just tell me one thing....How do I this"
"Easy Lorenzo. You picture Rita in her wedding gown ,and smiling at you as she is walking down the aisle to marry you."That should do it." Now go.....You need to get ready...and have them make sure that wire is working one hundred percent."
Chris stood to walk out the door...already picturing his bride in her wedding dress and safely in his arms.With any kind of luck,he thought.
"And Lorenzo" Cap called out to him."Good Luck!"
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Tom and Cassy saw Chris pull up in his car,and then enter the bowling alley five minutes before he was due to meet the woman on the phone.
"We're here with you ,Chris.Good luck in there" Tom spoke to him through the wire.
"Thanks...you too." Chris replied,his voice was tight with with nervousness.
"What do you think they want?" Cassy asked,as they watched Chris enter into the biliding.
"I have no idea,Cass.We'll just have to wait and see."
She was silent for awhile,as they listened to the sounds of a busy bowling alley,but nothing else.The words,"She's isn't here."came from Chris after a few moments.
"Chris is really going crazy.....Makes me wonder how you would act if it was me they had." Her voice had suddenly turned sarcastic and bitter,yet wistful,at the same time.
Tom frowned,keeping his eyes on the bowling alley and forcing himself to just it let go.It was hard.Cassy had touched a sore spot within him. All day long,he had been thinking the same thing.
"Not now Cass."he said wearily.He understood her,knew what questions lied beneath her sarcasm,knew that her tone was used to cover up the vulnerability within her.She wanted to be loved,and it was her way of asking him if she was.
And if he were to be honest with her,he would have to tell her that yes,he did still love her.....and in the same way Chris loved Rita....that if it were her in those kidnappers hands,he too would be dying inside as Chris was now.
But things between him and Cassy were so much more complicated then they were between Chris and Rita.They had once been married. He had given her his honesty before,and she had thrown it back in his face. She wanted his love,needed it,and probaly even craved it.And he had given it to her,completely.She had accepted it,but it had never seemed to be enough for her,despite that he was giving his all . She didn't know how to love him back,not in the way he needed her to.He knew she loved him in her own way,in the only way she knew how,and he had tried his best to cling to that.Eventually though,if one is always the giver,and never the reciever,he is bound to become depleted over time.It had just come to a point where he couldn't give no more.He had given her his all and she had taken it and gave nothing in return.And that was the reason thier marriage had ended before it's first anniversary. His heart had been broken,and it had taken a long time to get to the point where he was now. He had accepted that he would always love her,but now he had learned how to love her from a distance,as she had always loved him .
She heard him tell her "not now". She knew that he was right,that now wasn't the time to bring these feelings of hers up,but she still couldn't help herself. "Of course not now,Tom. Not now,not ever,isn't that right?"
"Cass! For crying out loud! We have work to do here! Rita is your friend,isn't she? I know she is mine,and right now,the fact that somebody I care about is in trouble is what is on my mind, NOT your petty insecuritues!" Tom yelled at her.
Cassy clammed up.What was she doing? She realized she had messed up again.Tom was right,of course.Why did her mouth have a mind of it's own,she wondered.She was always speaking before thinking. Thier friend was in trouble and all she could think about was herself. What must Tom think of her?...No Cass,she scolded herself...there you go again. Right now it shouldn't matter to you what he thinks . Right now you should be doing your job.
"Your right,Tom. I am sorry." she spoke softly.
Tom sighed,feeling that maybe he had been too harsh with her. "It's fine,Cass.......let's just let it rest for now." he said, unwilling for his eyes to me to look into hers.Instead, he kept them fixed on the window,starring out at the bowling alley.
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What the hell do you think you are doing!" yelled Judith as she walked through the door.
Shorty pulled himself away from Rita and quickly straightened up."Just trying to get to know her better.?" huffed Shorty,clearly annoyed at the interuption.
"Now why do you want a piece of this little tramp...she wouldn't be worth the effort......now get lost.You too,"she signalled to Bo,who only glared back at her. The two men left the room then.
"Good....now it's time for a little chat. "Judith looked over to Rita,."Rita Lee....you don't remember me at all,do you."
"Should I?" asked Rita with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "I don't usually associate with bank robbers."
"Oh..I'm sure if you think back awhile,you'll remember me......I've been in Australia for several years,but I grew up here in Palm Beach."
Rita tried to remember the woman who stood before her,a gloating smile spread across her face........she looked into the womans eyes,and suddenly it all came back to her...she knew.......
"Judith?." she asked,staring at the woman .
"Yes.....it's me...you remember now,don't you.I couldn't forget you....took one look at you in that bank,and I just knew.........there you were...Little Miss Perfect....figures you'd turn out to be a cop.Well,well...the tables are turned now,aren't they.For a change,I have the upper hand on you.I suppose the Lances will be shocked when they hear two of thier foster children got together?"
"They were killed in a car accident six years ago." Rita told her."I'm glad they don't have to see the way you turned out."
"Oh come on Rita Lee.....you know as well as I do that they wouldn't be at all dissapointed in me...they probaly expected it of me....I was always the trouble maker,now wasn't I? While you ,my dear Rita,always made them proud. It all makes sense to me now.I saw your last name is Lance now.I'm not surprised that they adopted you.You were always their little Miss Perfect,weren't you.So I get sent away and they adopt you."
"They hated that they had to send you back...I watched them feel bad about it for the longest time....but what did you expect them to do...you made it unbearable for them.........you set thier home on fire......they only wanted to love you and you tried your best to hurt them.....they had no choice."
"No Rita Lee.....you always had thier love....you stayed with them in thier home,and they sent me awway to another foster home.It was always that way..... No one ever wanted me around.I was the pimply faced teenager who was a regular visitor in the principals office....." She sighed heavily,putting the past behind her now." You know...I met your boyfriend today...he's very gorgous,isn't he?"
"You stay away from him.... If you have a promlem with me,then deal with me...leave him out f this."Rita said.
"Oh,no,Rita dear...I can see how much you care about him....and how much he cares about you too. You see dear...once again,you messed things up for me. The plan was to rob this one last bank,and then we were gonna leave the country..I was going to get myself a nice place somewhere and never have to worry about money again.....that is until you interferred with those plans today. You screwed up my life before but I'm not gonna let you now.....now it's my turn to mess with yours.And I must admit,I am going to enjoy it emmensley. I just haven't quite figured out yet how to do it yet. Who knows...perhaps if you were out of the way,he and I might become an item. I do think we would make a lovely couple,wouldn't you agree? Oh...by the way dear sis...look,I have something to show you." Judith tossed a stack of pictures at Rita. Beings her hands were tied,she couldn't catch them,and so they scattered to the floor all around her.One had landed on her lap however,the picture side up,and Rita could see her Chris,He was wearing the same clothes he had been wearing that morning.....it seemed so long ago now.He looked miserable.
"Oh Chris." she whispered.
Judith leaned down to the floor and picked up several of the pictures. Finding the one she was looking for,she tossed it onto Ritas lap."In case you don't believe I've already met him."she said threateningly
Rita glanced down at the picture. It showed Chris standing next to Judith ,talking to her.He seemed to have no idea that he was talking to her kidnapper.Rita understood Judith implication. Judith could get to Chris anytime she chose.
"Which is it,Rita Lee? Do I mess with his life or yours? Tough decision....tat,tat,tat.Either way,I think I will enjoy myself."
Rita stared at the picture of Chris.She began to cry,hating that she was.There had to be a way out of this she thought.If only she could think clearly,but the drugs they kept injecting her with seemed to have clouded her mind.
"Oh poor little sis..I didn't upset you did I?" Judith laughed."Well we can't have that.Tom and Sue would always get so angry awith me when I made you cry." She pulled out another syringe and came menacingly at Rita,and as Rita tried dessperately to struggle, Judith plunged the syringe into her leg. A moment later all the struggling stopped and Rita once again leaned over in the chair silent and unconcious.
As she left the room an idea occured to her,and she began laughing to herself. Perhaps she could have the best of both alternatives.
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"She didn't show up! What the hell is going on here!" yelled Cap
"I wish I knew,Harry...Maybe they saw the moving van and figured out we were there?"
Chris had been sitting quietly in a chair,not saying a word,and starring into space,as the discussed the incident at the bowling alley. As each hour ticked by he was becoming lost within himself. Cap was growing increasingly worried about him.Now he surprised them all by suddenly speaking aloud.
"They are messing with our heads.They have no intention of bargaining with us for anything. We don't have anything they want.They have the upper hand in this.They have Rita.....No,this is all just fun for them......Cat and mouse.....and we are the mouse,backed into a corner and waiting until the cat decides playtime is over."
"And then what? Don't cats usually play with a mouse until it's dead?"asked Cassy.Tom nudged her in her side with his elbow to be quiet.
A silence had fallen over the room.Everyone knew Cassy had only said the truth.Cap had no idea what thier next move was to be. It was a matter of sitting and waiting for the cat to spring now.
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"It's been almost three days now,Harry.....and still nothing......This isn't good."Donny said as he stroaked his beloved dog,Dutchie.
Hey!!!!" Harry raised his voice in a hushed whisper.,so that Chris wouldn't hear thier discussion."I don't want to hear talk like that!...We are not giving up on her."
Donny walked over to Harry and patted his back."Nobodys giving up on Rita,Harry."
Harry sighed as he watched Chris through the blinds."No?. ...The police commishioner is already on my case,telling me I can't use the entire police force for just this one case,.even if it is for one of our own...and as a captain, I know he's right.We have other crimes...other people who are missing........ It's been three days.and still nothing.Nobody is coming forward. Oh,I'm prolonging it as long as I can,but soon I'll have to tell Lorenzo that I need to pull some men back. I don't want to Dibarto,but I'll have to." Harry looked Donny square in the eye,almost challenging him to question his love for Rita.He was feeling as guilty as hell,and almost wished for Donny to do just that.
Donny Dibarto was a gentleman,even if he was a member of the mob.He knew his old friends feelings were in conflict with his obligations."Hey Harry...Don't worry. I already have my men out there looking for her . We'll find her." What Donny didn't tell his friends was that he had also issued word that when he finds the scum who took Rita,and he would,that he would personally pay them a visit.That was a part of his buisness his friend didn't need to know.
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Judith knew the drugs were slowly killing Rita,and if she intended to have the last laugh on her,she'd better hurry. She drug Rita ,half concious, out of her chair and then let her fall to the floor,laughing as she thought of the fun she was about to have. Rita barely remembered the flash of a camera as she layed there,not even caring anymore what happened to herself. She could only beg for Judith to leave Chris alone,to stay away from him.
She felt a kick to her stomach then.."Shut up...I'm sick of your whinning now."A minute later,Rita felt the sting of a needle go into her arm,and then nothing again. Her last thought was of Chris.
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"Come on Chris...you really should get some rest. You could stay in our guest room,and I'll wake you if Heschy hears anything."
"Honest Fran,I'm fine. I've been grabbing catnaps here when I need to." assured Chris.
The Palm doors opened,and Judith walked through them. She spotted Chris talking to Fran and approached them,pretending to be somewhat shy.
Excuse me,Detective Lorenzo?"
Chris turned around,"Yes." he thought she looked a bit familiar.
Well...um.We met the other night in the bowling alley....My friend and I were in the lane next to yours...Of course then I didn't know you were a detective,until yesterday....I saw the article in the paper yesterday about the missing cop....it said she is your partner....and well....I just wanted to drop by and express my sympathy to you.If you ever want to talk...."
"Oh...well,thank you." Chris said,suddenly remembering her,and how she had flirted with him the other night . Rita was just an excuse for her to contact him again.
Fran glared at the woman before rushing off after Chris. Judith eyes followed the two,sending looks that would kill if they could.A moment later the post man walked through the doors in his hands he held a manilla envelope,and called out for a Chris Lorenzo.
"I have a certified letter for you,sir. "
Chris came over and signed the slip. He took the envelope and walked over to his desk.A few seconds later,he cried out.
"Chris!!! What is it?" called out Franny.,seeing that he was shaking and had lost his color.She rushed over to his desk and saw what had freaked him out.A picture of Rita laying on a cement floor,with her eyes closed,and her blouse half off brought tears to his eyes.Fran gasped at seeing the picture that Chris held in his tembling hands."Oh God...Rita.."
She called loudly for her husband."Heschy!!!!!! Heschy!!!" she screamed.
A crowd had gathered around them by now,and Harry ,hearing his wifes cries came out to see what was going on. One look at the picture and he understood.
Judith stood watching the scene she had created ,an unknown evil presence crushing the room,and then she silently walked out through the Palm doors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She couldn't stop shivering.She shook her head,in an attempt to clear away the fog that had settled over her,but stopped at the pain it brought her.She was on the floor now...that could be why she was so cold. Chris...why haven't you come for me yet? she cried silently.
Just then Judith walked in. "Well well...look who is still hanging on." she shrugged."Though for what now,I have no idea.Oh...,but I suppose with you being so out of it, these days, you have no idea what's been going on.....It seems someone sent a picture of you ..looking just as you do now...to your boyfriend. The poor man must have freaked out... he went after someone he thought was responsible ....the newspaper says thier was a struggle,and unfortunately he was the one who got shot instead. Killed him instantly.But cheer up sis...it won't be long until you join him in the after life. Just a shame for me though." She pretended to pout."I really was hoping to be a comfort to him after your death. Oh well,these things are unpredictable,aren't they. I suppose it's for the best....he really wasn't my type anyway."
"No...no...no."Rita mumbled,trying her best to sit up. She had no stregnth left though and sank back to the floor."Chris.....no,no.no"she cried.
Judith watched Rita ,and laughed."It won't be long now sis...Soon you and your perfect boyfriend and your perfect parents will all be rotting in hell together."
She turned off the light and walked out the door,locking it behind her,slightly dissapointed in the reaction she had gotten out of Rita. She had hoped for more.Oh well,she shrugged...perhaps Chris will give a better performance for her when he learns of his fiances death.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rita woke,and tried to focus her eyes. They were blurry and again her head was pounding incessatantly. She saw that she had been untied from the chair and now laid on the cement floor. Her body shook with nonstop shivering...she was so cold.......She tried to move her hands,but they were still tied together behind her back. Just the attempt to move them caused her muscles to cramp,bringing tears to her eyes.She tried to lift her head,but immediately felt dizy,naseaus and weak. She didn't remember how she had gotten to the floor,didn't know how long she had been out or what time it was,even what day it was. Her throat was dry and sore as she swallowed in an attempt to moisturize it.She rested her head again to the hard floor and closed her eyes. All she could think about was that Chris was dead.As she let herself sink into the blissful darkness again,she thought she could hear Chris telling her to hold on.. No,she said to herself...there is no more hope anymore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shorty saw Judith ome up from the basement stairs.
"Hey Jude...Come on....your fun is over now...we gotta get out of here and quick! ,my land lady just called...she's coming back early.....She'll be here in the morning.......she 's gonna find you all here...she'll find the woman cop!"
"She still not dead." Judith replied harshly.
"So I'll take care of that....but we have to get out of here now. We'll drive down to Miami..get on with the plan......you really screwed up taking that woman,you know."
"Shut up,you idiot." snapped Judith "We'll do as I say,got that? Now,you and Bo go and get things packed up here.You want to leave now,then we'll leave....but not until tonight. We can just take her with us and dump her somewhere out of the way...by the time someone finds her,she'll probaly be dead anyway ,and we'll be long gone. Now go!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that night,Judith pulled the van up to the back door of the house and Bo held the door open as Bo and Shorty carried an unconcious Rita from the house and threw her in the back.
"Now,drive over to Bayside drive...there's alot of strip joints and bars along that route. We'll dump her somewhere there." ordered Judith.
Fifteen minutes later,a car pulled up to the back of a bar.Unknown to them,it was being watched by one of Donnys men. He watched as two men got out of the van,and opened the back doors. They reached in and pulled something out,both of them tossing it behind some bushes.The man had been assigned by his boss to keep an eye out for anything he thought looked suspicious,whether it was inside the joint,or outside. He copied down the plates of the van,and picked up his cell phone."Hey boss...I think we got something here."
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Chris sat staring at the picture of Rita that had been sent to him that afternoon.He had every single detail of the photo remembered.....and though it hurt like hell to see Rita the way she looked in the photo,he couldn't stop himself from looking.It was as if the pain he was feeling somehow brought him closer to her,and what she was going through.And if his pain grew with every second and every detail,then so be it.His rage at the people who did this to his Sammy grew as well,and that was what he focused on now.If he ever got his hands on them...... Fran had said that it looked as if Rita needed medical attention ,and soon.She didn't look well....and what the hell was that mark on her forehead?
He banged his fist on the desk top."Damn it!" he cried."Damnit,damnit,damnit..."still hitting his fist on the desk as tears rolled down his cheeks.He was loosing it,he knew that.What he didn't know was how to hold on for her anymore....though he knew he had to. Hell....if she could,then so could he.."Sammy.....you hang in there for me,please honey." he whispered to her.He turned over the offending photo,and picked up the one of them both that he always had sitting on his desk...."We'll get through this too,Sammy."he whispered to the picture,his finger lovingly tracing her face.
"Chris! Hurry,Let's go..Now!" Cap yelled to him as he was coming from his office in a frantic state."They found Rita.Come on!"
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Cap pulled into a parking lot crowded with onlookers from the area bars ,stripper joints and seedy tattoo parlors.Before he even came to a stop,Chris had jumped out,and was running towards the ambulance .
Approaching it,he saw Donny Dibarto standing by talking to several uniforms.Two paramedics were kneeling over Rita ,and he saw that one was putting an IV into her arm,while the other was checking her pupils with a small flashlight.He stood there watching,unable to move .She was so pale,he thought.,and there was a bruise on her cheek,and another on her forehead,just as he thought.The paramedics carefully lifted her onto a stretcher and covered her up to her chin with a blanket,then quickly loaded her into the ambulance.A moment later,Chris watched as it pulled away,and the loud wail of the siren made him realize that he was not with them... not with Rita,where he should be. He had been too paralyzed to move or think....and now it was too late...they were taking her away from him...... again.
He stepped forward,as if maybe he could catch up with them,despite that the abulance was already turning ont the road and racing towards the hospital.
Cap came up behind him then,placing his hand on Chris' shoulder."Come on Lorenzo...I'll drive you to the hospital...you'll see her there."
Chris nodded,and slowly followed his boss. He saw Donny Dibarto then,and walked up to him."What the hell is this,Dibarto? One of your men just happened to find her?!"
Donny turned towards Chris."Lorenzo...because this is about our dollface,I will choose to ignore what your implying here,and the hothead attitude....Harry...ain't you got any control of your guy here?"
"Dibarto.....I need to be filled in here myself...you talked to the officers already ?"
"Of course I did....I was the one who met them....called as soon as I saw her there."
"Fine.....we are on our way to the hospital.....I'll be in touch with you later. I assume there is nothing I need to worry about ,is there Dibarto? You know this is in our hands now....let the law take care of it."
"Hey...of course Harry....you know me." Donny shrugged,at the skeptic look that passed across the captains face." Nothing to worry,Harry...I'm going to the hospital to wait word on dollface...my hands are clean." Donny shrugged innocently,as he held up his hands. Cap still eyed him suspiciously. Though Rita considered him a friend of sorts,and he himself had known Donny from the days of thier youth,Donny was still a member of the mob. And the mob seemed to play by it's own rules....and when one of those rules were broken,they dealt thier own sort of law enforcement.
"Let's go ,Chris...we don't have time for this right now." Cap said sarcastically ,his eyes referring to Donny.
Donny watched them go. He would be joining them soon,...just as soon as he made a call to the men he had ordered to follow the van.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris barged through the emergency room doors and quickly made his way to the nurses station."A Rita Lance was brought here just a few moments ago...can you tell me where I can find her please?"
"Hold on sir....the doctor is with her now. You'll have to wait out here." a nurse casually replied.
"No...you don't understand...I'm Chris Lorenzo....I'm her fiance.We are cops and she was kidnapped by the bankrobbers...and ...I have to see her!" yelled Chris out of pure frustration.What was so hard for this lady to understand? Someone he loved was in trouble and he needed to be with her right then.He started for the door that led to where his fiance was somewhere beyond them.Chris knew what had become of Lou Ferringo since his days as The Incredible Hulk,because now he was a security guard and suddenly blocked the way through the doors.
"I'm sorry sir.....please take a seat and we will call you when we know anything,alright?" the nurse said.,all at once realizing that the woman who had just been brought in was the subject on everyones minds these days.It was all the news talked about,and just that morning she had seen an interview with the captain of the PBPD on the news. He had had been urging the towns residents to please keep thier eyes out for anything suspicious,and to report any unusual activities.Now the nurse felt sympathy for the man standing before her. The woman they had brought in had appeared to be not doing too well at the time.Perhaps she could talk with the doctor and see what she could do.
"Could you tell me how she is at least?" asked Chris,resigning himself to the hospital rules.
"I couldn't say,sir." She smiled."I'll go and see what I can find out though,alright?"
Chris nodded."Thank you." . Cap placed his hand on Chris' elbow and led him back to a chair ."Fran should be here in a few minutes." he said,more to make conversation then anything. He didn't want to sit and think his worst thoughts,and he didn't want Chris to either.
A few moments later,Fran came through the door,at the same time the nurse returned to her desk. Oh Heschy,Chris...how is Rita?" she rushed up to them asking.
"We don't know anything yet...they won't even let me see her." Chris complained as he glanced over to the nurse and the security guard standing by the door.
Fran smiled."Just a sec,Christopher....I'll be right back" She headed over to the nurses station,and Cap and Chris could hear her saying hello Ginny.There was a whispre were hushed whispers that foloowed and then Fran came back on over to Chris and Cap."Come on,"she whipered to them." Ginny had no idea that you were the Chris I 'm always talking about,and that it's Rita who is in there now...It's alright,you can come back with me." Chris raised an eyebrow to his captain.Cap beamed his wifes way." She volunteers here." he said,as if that was a simple enough explanation for Chris.The two followed Franny back to a room divided into curtained sections,and one in particular had the attention of several nurses and a doctor. Ginny came up to them and introduced Ritas doctor to them.
"We were brought a very sick lady here......We found needle marks all over her arms and legs,one even in her neck. Her body has gone into deep shock due to severe dehydration,and the drugs only hastened to make her condition worse. We are taking a very tenacious approach to getting her electrolites balanced again,and giving her back the essential elements she 's lost.She has a very high fever right now,a result of the dehydration mostly but there is some infection we found on her wrists.We are working to bring that down as well.It appears she's been beaten,she has a nasty concussion and two broken ribs. It appears she's had a few rough days ,but she got here in time. I don't think she would have made through the night otherwise.My main concern for now is getting her system back to wear it should be,it's at a pretty dangerous level right now."
But she'll be fine,right?"asked the Cap,making it sound more like an order then a question.
Dr.Adams paused briefly,before nodding yes."If she can pull through tonight and her body accepts the treatment we are giving her,she will be fine.She needs this treatment,but giving it is almost as much of a shock to her system as getting this unbalanced in the first place was. We'll just have to wait and see."
When Chris had first entered the small cubicle,he immediately went over to Rita and took her limp hand into his own. Both her wrists were bandaged, as well as her ankles.There was also a bandage over her right eyebrow,where the bruise he had seen was.His eyes never left Rita ,and he gently caressed her cheeks as he listened to her doctor talk.
"We're waiting for a private room to be readied...and then we'll take her upstairs." the doctor told them.
"I will be assigning a guard outside her door,considering the circumstances.We still haven't caught the people who did this to her. No one will be allowed in her room unless they are cleared first by me,is that understood?" Cap did order now.
"I will be staying with her at all times." Chris stated. Cap nodded,knowing that what Chris demanded was already a given.
"That is fine with me,Captain Lipshitz...you'll just need to talk to the administrator and have everything cleared. In the meantime,Detective Lorenzo,I'll have a cot sent up to her room for you."
"Thank you doctor...for everything." Franny smiled.
Doctor Adams reached out his hand and shook Chris' and Caps. Well,I wish you all well. If there are any other questions or problems,please have me paged. She will most likely sleep through the night,but I will be checking in on her again in a few hours.They'll have her room ready in just a few minutes now,and will be taking her up,but your welcome to stay with her until then.And of course once they have her settled in her bed,you can stay with her."
When the doctor had left,Cap walked over to Rita,and took her other hand into his.He looked at Chris then,and decided it would be best to let him alone with Rita for awhile." Franny and I will be up in a little bit...I need to make some calls anyway." His eyes sent a silent message to keep Fran from protesting for the time being. She knew he was right.Chris needed to be alone with Rita....and it couldn't hurt for Rita to know he was there with her either.
Cap bent down and placed a tender kiss on Ritas cheek." We'll see you later,sweetie." he told her.Fran did the same,first checking that the bandages on her wrists wern't too tight. She walked over to Chris then and took him into a hug."She's gonna be fine,you believe that,alright honey." Chris nodded his head yes,and watched them leave.
He turned back to Rita.Seeing her as she slept,a feverish glow on her otherwise pale cheeks,he thought she looked like the sleeping beauty from his childhood storybooks.Only the sleeping beauty in his books hadn't had a bandage on her head,or her limbs,and her rosey glow wasn't because of a high fever.....still,he decided,that sleeping beauty couldn't hold a candle to his Sammy,despite everything.And sleeping beauty hadn't been the hero in that story...but his Sammy was. He hoped one day he could tease her with that.......God he loved her so much.He shuddered when he thought of the doctors words.....that she probaly wouldn't have survived one more night in her condition.But he had her back again,and she would get well,because she was strong,and she was a survivor....she had pulled through the hardest part,and now the rest would be easy. God he hoped so anyway.He sat in the chair by the bed and watched her. There was so much he wanted to say to her..........
A nurse pushed the curtain aside and walked in,and Chris saw two orderlies behind her. It was time for Rita to be taken upstairs to her room.The nurse checked Ritas IV and raised the guard rails higher on the bed,then signalled to the two men that it was ok to take her now. Chris followed behid them,becoming annoyed at even the slightest bumps.Apparently these men didn't realize what precious cargo they had with them,and if they bumped her bed one more time,he was just going to have to let them know.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cap had called for the police guard to sit outside Ritas door,and then called Tom to see whether the perps had been caught yet.There was still nothing to go on,and Harry angrily slammed the phone down.Soon after,Donny Dibarto showed up.He fumed at learning that Rita was so ill and they all faced a long night ahead of them. When Harry caught him on his cell phone later,he had to once again insist that he had no ill intentions up his sleeve in regards to whomever had held Rita captive.
Later Cap and Franny had gone up to see Rita for a little, but then they decided to let Chris have this night alone with her. It seemed to be what he wanted and needed,and the doctor thought it best she not have many visitors that night anyway. A few hours later,Tom and Cassy arrived,after just getting off of work. Though they were getting along fine at work,they did not sit together now.Cap watched them,wondering what was up with these two now.The small group sat waiting for word on how Rita was doing . Cap had told them that the doctor had given permission for only Chris to stay there with her for the time being.Though nobody else could visit,they all stayed in the waiting room so they could be there for thier friend if they were needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the time the orderlies had gotten Rita settled in her room,and the nurse had come to check on her IV and her vital signs,Cap and Fran had found thier way up.They stayed for only a few minutes.Cap filled Chris in on the arrangements he had made for the guard ,while Fran fussed over Rita,and worried that her fever still hadn't gone down any yet.She placed cold wet cloths on her forehead,reminding the men that she had once been a nurse,and was only too glad to help look after Rita.
It was hard for Chris to focus his attention on anyone but Rita though,and it wasn't long before Cap realized that he and Fran were really in the way at the moment.He convinced Fran to leave and assured a guilty feeling Chris that they understood completely.Though he and Franny had been blessed to have never been in the positions that Chris and Rita were in now,he knew he would probaly feel the same way if the roles were reversed. Chris needed this time alone with Rita right now.
Chris closed the door after they had left ,then turned off the overhead light,leaving only a nightlight on the table on. He grabbed a pillow from the cot that had been placed over in the far corner,and settled himself on a chair that he had earlier moved closer to the side of the bed.That was where he intended on spending the night.
He took Ritas hand into his.It was so warm...warmer then it should have been.The fever was due to her dehydration and infections....and as long as it remained high,there was a need to worry that she would not respond to the much needed treatment that could save her life.
"Hey Sammy....we are finally alone,huh?" Cap and Fran were just here....they are pretty worried about you....I guess we all are...but hey...we are all pulling for you...and your not alone in this anymore Sammy.....I'm here and I'm not leaving your side."
He reached up and wiped away a few tears that were falling down his cheek,then smiled sadly."You know Sammy...I just remembered what today is......There is only another four more months until our wedding day now.And you remember what else is so special about that day too,don't you?" he recalled the day that they had set the wedding date,and he had given her the engagement ring which he noticed was missing now ."Of course you do...your the one who planned it...ten years,you said..our wedding will be on the anniversary of the day we first met..What a perfect day for us to get married....and I couldn't believe that you had even knew that date....I really shouldn't have been so surprised though,huh...you always amaze me with things like that."
He brought his hand to her flushed cheeks now,feeling the heat that rose from them."Rita.,honey.....you have to fight this.....I need to see your smile again,and to look in your eyes....I need you here with me,Sammy......I want all those things we dreamed about together to come true....our wedding,and the house with the garden and pickett fence,all the babies we'll have someday.......so you can't leave me ,Sammy....I won't let you. It's taken us almost ten years to realize that you and I belong with each other ,and now that I know this,I also know there is no way I can live without you.We made a promise to each other,that we wouldn't let the other down...you remember that,Sammy?..... Sam and Sam, forever and always.....Please Rita......"
He stopped speaking now,and wiped away more of the tears he had no control over anymore. He just sat and watched her breathing softly,as he lightly stroaked her cheeks.If the saying was true that love conqueres all,then he knew his love for her would bring her back to him...because he loved her with a level of feircness he had never before knew could exist within anyone,let alone him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All through the night they sat in the waiting room,making themselves content with the occassional updates about Rita from the night shift nurse. There still hadn't been any changes for the better to report,but she was still holding her own as well,and the nurse assured them that it really was a good sign.
Cap stood and announced he was going to get some coffee,and would anyone else want any.Tom nodded yes,but other then that,he sat staring off into space. Fran said that she would go with him and help ,that she needed to walk anyway.
Cassy sat across the room from Tom,trying to avoid looking him in the eye.For the last two days,they had hardly talked to each other,and a heavy tension hung in the air between the two.Ever since she had opened her big mouth and made that stupid and sarcastic comment,she thought to herself.Why did she do things like that,she wondered.
She walked over to the magazine rack and took another magazine.,thinking that maybe it would be best afterall if she just went home and waited. No,she decided....Rita was her best friend,and had seen her through some pretty tough times...the least she could do was to be with her in her time of need as well,even if she couldn't actually be there with her. Besides,she had every right to be here too....and if God forbid,they were to loose Rita that night,she knew she would never be able to forgive herself for being at home instead of here. She would just have to ignore Tom and his occassional expessionless glances he threw her way.
Tom knew he was making her uncomfortable being there...and he knew she could feel the distance he had allowed to come between them.For the past two days he had done nothing but try to sort out his feelings for her....and yes,he knew what they were,but he still didn't like it.She had hurt him so much in the past.....that is what he constantly told himself.....yet all the while his heart would remind him that she had never really meant to.....she just didn't know what real love meant. Wasn't it up to him to show her that?
A song softly played in the background of the waiting room,soft music filled the room with the sound of a man singing.He had heard the song before,and never given it much thought,until now,as he listened to the words being sung.
You ask me if I love you and
I choke on my reply.
I'd rather hurt you honestly
Than mislead you with a lie
And who am I to judge you
On what you say or do?
Im only just beginning
To see the real you
And sometimes when we touch
The honesty's too much
And I have to close my eyes and hide
I wanna hold you till I die,
Till we both break down and cry
I wanna hold you till the fear in me subsides
Romance and all it's strategy
Leaves me battling with my pride
But through the insecurity,
Some tenderness survives
I'm just another writer
Still trapped within my truths
A hesitant prizefighter
Still trapped within my youth
At times I'd like to break you
And drive you to your knees
At times I'd like to break through
And hold you endlessly.
At times I understand you,
And I know how hard you've tried.
I've watched while love commands you,
And I've watched love pass you by.
At times I think we're drifters,
Still searching for a friend,
A brother or a sister.
But then the passion flares again.
Cassy heard the song too,saw the way it had caught Toms attention ,and though she tried,she couldn't stop herself from trying to meet his eyes.Tom knew that she wanted to talk,but he just didn't feel ready,and he didn't want her to see the tears he was trying desperatly to hold back.He suddenly stood,and left the room.He needed to be somewhere else,anywhere else,but in the same room she was.He didn't know if he could trust his heart not to betray himself.
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Tom found himself in the elevator,and pushed the button for the third floor,where he knew he would find his friends.When the elevator stopped ,he got out and saw the nurses station off to his left. He went over and asked for Ritas room number,showing them his police badge and hoping that they would let him go in.
She's still unconcious,but her fiance is in there withher." the nurse told him.
Tom walked down the hall,immediately seeing a uniformed officer sitting on a chair outside the room.The officer reconized him,but still checked the list he was given of approved visitors.He nodded his approval then,and Tom opened the door.
He saw Chris leaning over the side of Ritas bed,quietly talking to her as he caressed her cheeks.He stood at the door quietly listening,not wanting to intrude on such a private and tender moment,but completely emmersed in it and unable to leave.He was in awe of the scene before him,and it touched his heart.
There was his friend,trying with all that existed within him to will the woman he loved back to him.He stayed by her side and let her know he was there with her,helping her to win the battle they had to face that night. He never gave up on her,or on thier love......
Tom worried about his friend,what would become of him if they did loose that battle for Ritas life that night........He couldn't begin to imagine Chris without Rita. God,he wondered...if he couldn't, how the hell was Chris suppossed to?At least Chris had finally told Rita how he felt...that he was in love with her ,and they had the last few months together.That time would be so precious to him.As he stood there,he thought of the question Cassy had asked him when this had all first began...."What would he do if it was her in Ritas place?"Sure,it might have been a typical "all about me" question of her to ask,but it still had an undercurrent to it,and he knew what she really meant."Did he still love her?...and did he ever love her in the same way as Chris and Rita did?"
He had tried to avoid that entire conversation then,and now he knew why.Yes,he still did love her....And that is what hurt him now the most. She should have known that he loved her,...that he would always love her,....but she didn't. And that WAS his fault......All along he had led himself to believe that she had never loved him as he needed her to......that she didn't know how to love someone else so completely. Now he wondered if he loved her in the same way he was expecting from her? If he had,then surely she would have felt it,would have known that he did love her.And maybe she would have returned to him some of what she was being given?
He very quietly backed out of the door,hoping that he wouldn't disturb Chris. It felt like he had just been whacked in the stomach,with the realization that he needed to talk to Cassy. There was Chris,his best friend, sitting by a hospital bed and praying for more time to spend with the woman he loved more then life ,and here he was, being giving all this valuable time ,and wasting so many precious moments of it. Not anymore,he decided.He was going to go downstairs and tell Cassy everything...but it wasn't just for himself,or even for her.He would do it for Chris and Rita,and for the love that they shared.A love like that had to mean something.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris had fallen asleep in the very early hours of the morning,his head on a pillow by Ritas side. He never awoke when the nurse came in for her 4 am vitals check,and happily marked in Ritas chart that her fever had gone down a degree.He never knew that a lab technician had come to draw blood from her arm right afterwards. He slept through the 5 am check as well,when again it was noted that her temperature had fallen another degree. When the nurse came in with the doctor for the 6 am check,they were delighted to find that again,Ritas temperature had dropped another two degrees,and her fever was now only 101. Chris finally awoke when he heard the excited whispers between the doctor and two other nurses.
"What is it?" he asked anxiously,still not aware of the happy smiles on thier faces.He rubbed his eyes to clear away the sleep.
"Not to worry,Mr Lorenzo....your fiance is going to be fine now. She's responded to the electrolite treatment,her blood tests show that her levels are on thier way up,and her fever is coming down.I'd say she'll need another few days for her to gain back her stregnth again,and a couple weeks of taking it easy for the ribs,but she will be as good as ever." the doctor beamed,thrilled at the nights success.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wasn't even an hour later when Rita finally opened her eyes ,only to find Chris' staring back into hers,and barely holding onto the unshed tears,though he was smiling.
"Sammy?" Chris whispered to her,as he pushed aside some of her stray hair.
"Chris?" she asked,as her eyes looked around her and she tried to gather her bearings. Slowly the memories began to come back to her,and she began to cry"Chris...I thought...I thought you were dead...she said.....she............"Chris could see she was starting to become upset,and tried to calm her .
"Shhh.." Chris placed his finger on her lips." Everything is fine now.....Your gonna be fine,and your safe now. I'm right here,sweetheart,She lied to you,that's all."he spoke reassuringly to her.
Ritas' eyes looked back into his,as if to make herself believe that what she was seeing was for real. She sniffed then,as a sigle tear rolled down her cheek."I was so scared....I thought I'd never see you again."
Chris brought her into his arms and gently rocked her,kissing the top of her head. "Me too,Sammy,me too" he told her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cap shook his head,as he put his cell phone back into his pocket. He just couldn't believe it..........Dibarto had done it again.....
He walked back into Ritas' room,where Chris sat on her bed,his body wrapped around hers from behind,as she lay nestled in his arms,smiling and talking to all those around her. His wife ,in typical Franny style,was right by the bedside,tucking in the blanket around Ritas form,and again attempting to talk her into another sip of the ice water she was constantly trying to drown the poor girl with.Cap couldn't help but smile though,even if his mood was slightly soured at what he had just been told.Yes,he thought,as his eyes scanned the room,seeing his family and friends there. Rita was back with them,and she would be fine,her and Chris and her would get married,just as planned,and he would give the bride away. Franny would always be Franny,and he loved her for it,and so did the others as well. Tom and Cassy seemed to be working things out between them. He had been surprised to see Tom walking into Ritas room this morning with his arm around Cassy.The knot that had formed in his stomach at seeing them had brought on a very familiar feeling,one that had constantly plagued him with Chris and Rita. Oh well,he thought,why fight destiny,it was impossible to win.
Cap went over to Rita and kissed her on her forehead."I'll be right back,honey.....Just need to have a talk with your friend over there." Cap said, as he pointed over to Donny."Dibarto! Let's go!"
Donny stood and smiled at the others in the room."Sure Harry. Be right back,dollface." Donny winked at Rita,and followed Harry out of the room.
Chris' eyes followed the two.He had a feeling what all that was about. He tightened his hold on Rita,careful not to cause her pain due to her ribs.He didn't give one damn iota what Donny had done though.It frightened him to realize that if he had been offered the opportunity,he would have been right there beside the man.He would have to remember to thank Donny privately sometime.
Rita felt his hold on her tighten protectively ,and she nestled contentedly in his arms. Chris looked down at her and smiled.No mattter what had happened,he wouldn't let it bother them.
He had all he wanted right there in his arms,and nothing else mattered to him.
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Cap couldn't do much of anything but question Donny. He had nothing on the guy. Three people had been found in a van,all of them had thier hands tied behind them,and they had all been killed in some pretty gruesome ways......it was definetly a mob hit,everyone believed that.What was interesting though is that there had been several breifcases of money found as well,and the serial numbers matched those those that had been stolen in a bank robbery earlier that week.One of the woman had been wearing an engagement ring,and Cap had a feeling it would be identical to the one that Chris had given to Rita.
"Hey Harry...you know me. I'm Donuts Dibarto,remember....just a little nobody in my world...how could I do something like this ...I'm harmless Harry,you know that."
Are you?" Cap asked him,looking over his glasses at him."
"Hey Harry the way I see it,.justice has been served...all this could have ended in a much worse way......but instead this all ended as it should have......,and you should be happy about that,my friend, I mean,the good guys won and the bad guys got what they deserved...so what's the problem?" Donny said,though the fire in his eyes betrayed his claims of innocence. He turned and made his way back to Ritas room,making a joke about the lovebirds as he entered.
Cap followed,lingering by the door . As he watched Chris and Rita smiling lovingly at each other, and his wife fussing over them with all thier friends smiling, he decided maybe Donny was right.He would never find who had killed Ritas kidnappers,...that fact had been seen to with a definite assurance. And because of that, there was no reason to even try....was there? Perhaps it really was best to put this all behind them now.It was over,and it was a happy ending...at least for those in this room.
Now he just had to convince himself that was all that mattered.
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Disclaimer:
The characters in this story and all silk related material are not owned by the Author but have been borrowed from the show Silk Stalkings which is the property of Stu Seagal, Stephen J. Cannell and the USA Network.
By Deloris
with a little help from Lisa Back to Fan Fiction Index Back to Silk Stalkings Index