Somewhere in Castleton

  Cole Ethridge's Residence

  Cole finishes bandaging James' head and slaps the detective on his left shoulder. James glowers at his impromptu surgeon with the greatest of ire. Cole takes this as his cue to back his wheelchair away from the makeshift surgical table. The former med student, and gangster wannabe, claps both hands loudly and grins like a madman.

  "Okay. Okie-dokie. All done. Now...Where's my money?" Cole exclaims.

  "What money?" James inquires, pulling the large turquoise beach towel tighter around his midsection.

  "You didn't think I was gonna hide you for free, did ya?" Cole challenges the detective with a haughty laugh and shrug. "Unless, your...Uh, friend...Has some other kind of currency worth taking. I'm an open minded kind of guy."

  "Cole, stop it!" Rachel hisses from across the room.

  "I'm kidding. I'm kidding. But for real," Cole says. "They've got bulletins about you on the news every few minutes. Seems you really screwed up when you kidnapped your son and skipped town."

  Cole scrunches up his face in faux worry, placing a solitary finger on his chin. He squints at first Rachel, and then Detective Mackey.

  "You...Didn't kidnap your baby boy and skip town? Did you?"

  "Cole?!?" Rachel says in a warning tone.

  "Okay. Okay. Well, I only need to know one thing, Police Man. Did you do what they're saying you did on the new? Did you kill those two women? Did you arrange for your wife to be killed and your son to be kidnapped? I just need to know. Kind of like a defense attorney. I need to know who...Or what...I'm protecting here."

  "No!" James says with finality. "They're looking for the wrong guy. I would never hurt my wife and child. And I certainly didn't kill those two women."

  Cole rolls his wheelchair back to the table. He studies Detective Mackey very carefully, his brown eyes small in his pale face.

  "Okay. I believe you. I can usually tell when a guy is bullshudding me. Only time I was wrong...Cost me my mobility. I second-guessed myself. But instinct is telling me...You're telling me the truth. So, I'll let you stay here a couple of days. But after that...You've gotta mosey along. Got that?"

  "Yeah," Mackey says. "I got it."

  "Good. I'll grab you some clothes."

  Cole wheels across the studio and out the door. Rachel walks over to where James sits at the edge of the picnic table. She appraises him. What parts of him she can see. Not a bad looking guy. Of course, she'd said the same thing about Ned. In the beginning.

  In the beginning, making love to Ned had been positively wonderful. His ability to make her feel things she'd never thought possible had sent her nearly to the moon. In the beginning, Ned had been playful and gentle--teasing her body with warm hands and tender everlasting kisses. They'd played and explored--going as far as nature would allow. But somewhere along the way, their passion had fallen off.

  Rachel believes it was just after she started working at the bar. The idea of men fawning over her body, and giving her monetary tips for the pleasure, had seemed to make Ned secretly vengeful. More and more, when they made love, Ned began to experiment with ways to cause her undue pain. He would bite, scratch, claw deeply at her flesh, jostle her crudely, and use horribly abrasive language. When they weren't making love, he would insult and berate her. Then, there were the other women.

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  Despite the fact that Ned often refers to Karine as a whore, he and Karine were more than a little close. Several times, Rachel had come home to find evidence that Karine had been there as well. An expensive thong, a torn lace bra, a 24k gold diamond earring, Karine's favorite brand of condom, and even a nightgown stuffed behind the toilet plunger.

  Rachel had told herself, it couldn't have been Karine. It just couldn't be. Not her only sister. It had to be someone else. Some other woman. But she'd always known better. White fur everywhere. Fur on the couch, on the bathroom floor, and the kitchen counter. Even on the bathroom mirror. Karine's beautiful fur coat was all white. And the lost earring? A gift from their adoptive mother years ago. It was Karine, alright.

  It was denial all the way; until the night she caught Ned and Karine making out on their bed--naked as can be. Rather than confront Ned, Rachel had tiptoed back into the dark hallway. She'd walked around town for hours, crying the entire time. Strangers had stopped to ask the grieving woman what the problem was. And if she needed help. Rachel had ignored them all. Hours later, she'd returned home. Never a word was said to Ned. But Rachel was certain he knew she'd seen his lovefest with Karine. He seemed to be gloating all of the time. And their relationship was never the same.

  Returning to the present, Rachel continues to look Detective Mackey over for another brief moment. She notes the color and shape of his lips, the profile of his nose, the gradual sloping of his shoulders, and the tint of his nipples. If only. Well, if only. But no. James is as straight-laced as they come. But she can see why the insane bitch from the construction site might want to jump his bones.

  "Rachel?" James inquires, noting the manner in which Rachel studies him. "Is something wrong?"

  "No," Rachel says, her eyes going to James' lips yet again. "No. Nothing. I'm fine."

  "Okay," James says, his heart beating erratically in his chest.

  It is obvious, from the way Rachel's eyes continue to scan his face, that everything is not fine. Observing the young woman, James can almost feel the sexual energy radiating off of her. She wants to make love to him. And bad. Did she always? Or is it because of what happened at that abandoned building? Finding him with his manhood practically out couldn't have been an easy thing. And if the attraction was already there? Oh boy.

  Many women tend to fall for their perceived saviors. Madison is evidence of that. Although, he loves the dear woman to pieces. Rachel seems to be exhibiting what he would call second-hand savior attachment. She loves him for what he tried to do for Karine. What he failed to do for Karine. But the attraction is there just the same.

  "How did you get mixed up with a guy like Cole Ethridge?" James asks, quickly changing the subject. "He seems a little...Colorful."

  "He and Karine were a thing for a bit. Before she moved on to Stefan," Rachel answers with a chuckle. "Well, she never really moved on. She and Cole just...Kind of made it work...For the three of them. He tried to get me in on it a few times. I refused. He's crazy about me though."

  "I can tell," Detective Mackey responds.

  Rachel approaches James a little closer. She stares down at him with intensity behind her gray-brown eyes.

  "I was watching the news earlier, James. I think I should go back into town. Me being here...With Ned's van...Is a big risk. Even if Cole can get it painted in time, it's gonna grab a lot of attention. I'm gonna go back to the apartment. Make things up with Ned."

  "No, Rachel," James starts to say.

  He pulls the towel around his waist tighter and prepares to slide off the table. Rachel stops him with a slender hand against his right pec.

  "Yes, James. It's what's best. If they find the van...They find you. I can go back. I can pretend I just lost my head for a bit and wigged out. I'll tell him...I realized I needed him. He's arrogant enough to believe that. I'll give him a night to remember. Or, he'll just take what he wants. It's happened before. Your wife and child are in danger, James. Every day that those criminals are on the street. If Ned knows something...I can find it out for you."

  "No, Rachel. It's too big of a risk," James pleads.

  Rachel doesn't give James a chance to react. She moves in quickly, kissing him passionately on the lips. James' eyes widen and he draws back. Rachel places her hands on his face and tries to draw him back to her, her lips partially opening. However, James is the one to place a hand between their mouths.

  "No, Rachel. I think there's been enough of that for one night. Wouldn't you say?"

  Shame overcomes Rachel as she remembers the awful circumstances surrounding James' violation at the hands of the unknown woman.

  "Oh gosh, James. I'm...I'm so sorry. It's just...Oh goodness. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."

  "It's okay, Rachel," James says in a reassuring voice. "I...This has been a rough time for everyone. I understand your need to find...I understand. But, I love my wife. I won't hurt her. Even for you."

  "I know," Rachel says, wiping tears from her cheeks. "I'll call you. Or rather, I'll call Cole if I find out anything. Goodbye, James."

  Rachel hurries from the studio, leaving James with a sinking feeling in his stomach.