Chapter 5
After dropping Harper off at work, I headed to my apartment to pack the rest of my things. I was grateful to my boss for giving me the time off, because my head was all over the place. It felt good to get the truth off my chest, but I also felt like shit for burdening Harper with my secret. Wes had forgiven me for so many things in our lives, but I couldn't take the chance that he'd forgive me for this. Some secrets were just meant to be buried, and this was one of them.
I tossed all of my clothes into garbage bags, and gave them a shove down the stairs. I didn't need much else considering Harper's house was fully furnished so I placed my small appliances in boxes, and taped them up for donating. I took one last look around the place, making sure I'd gotten everything I needed, when something caught my eye. There was a piece of paper under the kitchen table. It was off a yellow legal pad, and it was folded in half. I crouched down reaching for it. It had my name written on it in cursive, and when I opened it, my eyes went straight to the bottom where it said “xoxo Vanessa.”
I was right, she was the one who tossed the place. Her little note confirmed it, reading “Thanks for holding onto my cash. You never know when you'll come across a rainy day.” I crumpled the paper up, and shoved it into my pocket, swearing under my breath. She must have come back after the fact, and left it just to fuck with me. I should have used a safety deposit box, or an off shore account, something. She's probably half way to Bora Bora laughing her ass off right now.
I locked the place up, and walked down to the super's office. I handed him my keys, and he said he'd be mailing my security deposit in a few days. I decided to head straight home, that way I could get everything unpacked before I had to pick Harper up from work. When I pulled my car into the garage, something just felt off. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and a chill crept down my back. I scanned the garage, but nothing seemed out of place.
It wasn't until I opened the car door, that I seen him. He was tall, with dark hair, and eyes, and he came rushing at me. I tried to duck when he swung, but he clocked me right in the left eye. “Fuck!” I yelled out, swinging hard at the brick wall of a man standing in front of me, but it turns out he was only a distraction. I felt a sharp sting in the back of my neck, and then, my world went black.
I came to some time later, and I was sitting behind the wheel of my car. My head throbbed like hell, and I instinctively tried to reach up and touch it, only my hands wouldn't move. My vision was blurry, and my left eye was swollen completely shut, but I could just make out the ropes around my wrists. They were tied to the steering wheel, and I realized the car was running. Squinting hard, I noticed the key was broken off in the ignition, and a quick check of the rear view mirror confirmed my fears. I was trapped. The garage door was shut, and I was breathing in exhaust fumes.
I tried to remember what time I pulled in, trying to gauge how long I'd been stuck here, but I couldn't think straight. I had just filled my car up on the way home so there was no hope that I'd run out of gas. I moved my leg, seeing if I could feel my cell phone in my pocket, I couldn't. “Fuck!” I roared, knowing exactly who had pulled this stunt. She may not have gotten her hands dirty, but I knew without a doubt that Vanessa was behind this.
I took a steadying breath. It was four thirty. Harper got out of work at five. When I don't show to pick her up, she'll call someone. Maybe she'll just walk home. It's a five minute walk. That's thirty five minutes. Forty five, if she waits. Do I even have that much time? I wondered. I tugged my hands hard against the rope, and I could feel it biting into my skin. There had to be a way out of this. I tried to bring my feet up but soon realized that they were tied down too.
I leaned as far forward as I could, attempting to honk the horn with my chest. I'd managed to bump it slightly, but not enough to emit a sound. If only I could lay on the horn, maybe a neighbor, or someone would hear it. I tried using my head next, even though it was throbbing so much I was seeing stars. A small beep echoed around me, so I tried again, and again, each time only making small beep sounds. I was going to die in here, I had no other choice. I bashed my head against the horn repeatedly, the sound filling the garage, until that's the last thing that I remembered.
When I came to again, I was laying in a bed. The lights were bright above me, and I had to squint to try and focus. My throat felt raw, and dry, and it felt like someone had taken a hammer to my head. I tried to focus on my surroundings, but my vision was almost nonexistent. I cleared my throat, hoping someone was near enough to hear me. It was then, that I heard Harper's voice.
“Cole!” She said, her voice shaky. “Don't try to speak OK. You're OK. You're at the hospital, I'm just going to run out and grab the doctor OK?”
I tried to nod my head, but the pain was just too much, so I closed my eyes tightly trying to block it out, and I waited. It wasn't long before Harper returned with a couple of nurses, and a doctor in tow.
“Glad to see you're awake son. My name is Dr. Bradford. You're head probably feels a little fuzzy right now, if you'd like something for the pain-”
“No.” I gritted out. “No drugs.”
“Mr. Stephens, you've had severe trauma to your head. You're going to be in quite a bit of pain for the next few days, weeks even. Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I whispered, barely audible.
“He's a recovering addict.” Harper said, placing her small hand over mine. “I can get him some Tylenol, or some ibuprofen if that's alright?”
“Of course. I'll be back later on to check your vitals Mr. Stephens. I'd like to run some tests on your vision as well, but we'll give you some time to adjust.”
“Water.” I said.
I heard shuffling around the room, as the doctor exited, and Harper poured me a glass of cool water from the pitcher. “Here.” She said softly, placing the straw to my lips. The cool liquid felt like heaven on my raw throat, and I guzzled it greedily. When I'd had enough, she pulled the cup away, and sat beside me on the bed. “Do you remember what happened?” She asked, rubbing her hand over my cheek.
“How? How did I get out?” I whispered.
“The neighbor heard you honking. At first he thought it was the car alarm going off. He came over to give you a piece of his mind, but when you didn't answer the door he grew concerned. He walked around to the back of the garage and peered in the window, and that's when he saw you slumped over the steering wheel. He broke the windows, hoping to let the exhaust clear out, and then he called 911, and then me. Cole, I have to ask.. was this Vanessa?”
“Who else would it be?” I asked, a bit harsher than I intended. Her intake of breath, made me feel like an ass. “I'm sorry.”
“No, it's alright. It was a dumb question.”
“At least we know not to invite her to the wedding. It seems she doesn't approve.”
“Dammit Cole!” She yelled, standing abruptly. “This isn't a damn joke! You could have died today! I almost lost you!”
I could hear her sobbing openly now, and I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms and tell her how sorry I was. I wasn't trying to make light of the situation, I was just trying to make her feel better. I knew she'd blame herself for Vanessa's actions, she always did. I started to pull myself up into a sitting position, gritting my teeth as I did. “Sweetheart.” I said, catching her attention.
“What are you doing!” She said, rushing back to my side. “Lay back down. Please.” She begged.
I patted the space beside me on the bed, and she eased down slowly. “Come here.” I said, blindly reaching for her, and pulling her down beside me. “I'm sorry.” I kissed the top her her head, and she buried her face into my chest sobbing softly. “I'm so sorry.” I said, kissing her again, and again, trying to show her that I was alright, and that I wasn't going anywhere. “All I kept thinking about was you. I was worried that she was going to come after you next. I kept thinking she was just waiting in the house for you. I had to get out of there. For you Harper. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She said, her tears finally dissipating. “Which is why I think we need to break up.”