Chapter Two
A rerun of a cop drama played on the big screen television that was tacked to the hotel wall. From the hot bath that she soaked in, Dani could hear that a perp was running from the police, but Jamie and Bride seemed not to pay attention to what was going on with the show and instead recounted the night’s escapades. The show only served as background noise to their conversation.
It had been after two in the morning by the time Dani and Jamie had been able to drag Bride from one of the clubs and finally back to the hotel. Bride had complained and pouted the entire way, about how everyone was still out having a good time and they were trying to ruin her weekend.
But by that time, both Jamie and Dani had had enough.
Jamie couldn’t stop yawning, and she blinked too often and too long. And Dani’s feet were in a world of pain. The pedometer on her smart watch had zeroed out at midnight, and by two, she was already at seven thousand steps. Every step she took sent needle pricks of pain firing from her heels up to her calves. By the time she’d dragged Bride down Canal Street, Dani had almost been at a full limp. The only thing that she’d wanted to do was regain her hearing, her sanity, her safe bubble, and go to bed.
Unfortunately, Jamie and Bride had wanted to spend another hour talking.
While they’d talked and giggled, Dani had taken advantage of the whirlpool bathtub. She’d filled the tub with water as hot as she could stand, dumped the hotel sized shampoo in and eased into the bubbly mess. It. Was. Heaven.
While she relaxed in her bath, letting the water relieve the tension in her muscles, she heard yawning from the next room, and after a few more minutes of reminiscing, all talking stopped.
After the water turned from steamy hot to lukewarm and her fingertips were reduced to bumpy ridges, Dani hauled herself out of the tub. She dressed in her pajamas, an old t-shirt and leggings, and thanked God that she could at least be comfortable while she slept. The tight jeans that cut into her stomach and her shoes that were clearly not made for a lot of walking, had done a number on her. She made a mental note to take pedi-cabs for the rest of the vacation.
Dani turned off the television. She didn’t need a reason to dream about burglaries or police chases all night long, and she slipped into the bed she shared with Bride and pulled the blanket around her. Bride murmured something about hot dogs and train tracks and turned, taking most of the blanket with her, leaving Dani with a sliver of the sheet.
If she really wanted to fight with Bride over the blanket she could’ve. But, physically she was exhausted. Even though they hadn’t shared a bed since their elementary school days, Dani remembered the blanket tug-of-wars. History reminded her that Bride would win. Dani sighed and shut her eyes.
Hm. Why do butterflies have wings?
I guess if they didn’t that would make them caterpillars.
But caterpillars have so many legs.
Why do they have all those tiny legs?
She snorted. I guess they couldn’t have a bunch of huge legs. That would make them look odd.
She frowned. But they already look weird.
A snore erupted in the quietness.
Dani opened her eyes. “Turn to your side, Jamie,” she called out.
Snoring. That was the reason why she had opted to sleep with Bride rather than Jamie. While Bride was a blanket hog, Jamie was a snorer. Dani’s only choice had been to pick the lesser of the two evils. Well, she could’ve made them sleep with each other.
Huh. Why hadn’t I thought of that before?
Jamie didn’t answer, but rustling came from her bed as she adjusted and turned. The snoring stopped.
Dani and Jamie had been best friends since freshman year at college. Both of them hadn’t known a soul on the entire campus, and as roommates they’d decided to stick close. They hadn’t separated since.
Dani shut her eyes again. As tired as she was she should’ve fallen to sleep in the tub. She concentrated on blackness, making her mind blank.
Do ladybugs have teeth?
For fuck’s sake.
She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. I’m not going to sleep anytime soon. She was at the point of no return as she called it. If she went to bed at a normal time she would’ve fallen to sleep as fast as a two-year-old kid who’d missed her nap. If she stayed up past her bedtime, she was doomed to greet the sun. That was the result of working twelve-hour night shifts for the past five years.
Ugh.
Dani figured she had two choices. She could stay where she was and stare at the ceiling or she could put some words in her thesis paper. It wasn’t a question really. Her paper wasn’t going to write itself, and she had a deadline looming over her head.
With a small grunt she pushed herself to sit up. The bath had helped to relax some of her muscles, but she still ached. She’d thought that running up and down hospital hallways three to four nights a week was a workout. Sheesh!
Dani leaned over her side of the bed and pulled her laptop from her bag and flipped it open and typed in her password. The welcome message chimed. She held her breath, waiting for Bride to roll over and scold her for working. Bride buried her head under her pillow. Dani let out a sigh of relief.
Time to get to work.
She didn’t have a whole lot left to do. Her paper was almost done. Another two weeks and she could call it completed. So much work had gone into it already. The semester would end in less than a month, and she would finally receive her Master’s degree. With the degree would come an opportunity to apply for a Manager’s position, get off the night shift, and work normal hours for once. Oh, yeah and a substantial pay raise.
She grinned to herself. Two and a half years of hard work, long hours, and countless papers and presentations was finally coming to an end. She let out a yawn.
Oh hell no. I have some free time to finish this paper. I’m not blowing it.
Dani set her laptop in the empty space between her and Bride and rolled out of bed. Softly, Dani padded her way to the little kitchenette. She grabbed a single sized cup of coffee. Coffee. Her mouth watered. She fired up the coffee maker and grabbed a paper cup. She scanned the kitchenette area looking for the coffee fixings. Nothing. Where the hell were the sugar and cream?
You have got to be fucking kidding me. She growled under her breath.
Coffee without sugar or cream? She could stay up all night, which she thought made her a badass, but she wasn’t that hardcore.
Dani eyed the clock. 2:50 AM. It was late, probably too late for a run to the mini-market a few doors down from her hotel. The coffee machine spurted to life, and the water poured into the cup. The heavenly aroma filled the air. Mmmm.
She made her way to the window and peered at the street. Cars went by, not as many as were out before, but there was enough activity from their headlights to give the street life. The sidewalks were still filled with people either out partying or going back to their hotels. She couldn’t tell which.
The water in the coffee machine stopped. Her mouth watered. It wasn’t like she had a caffeine habit. Oh, who was she kidding? She had a habit. Dani licked her lips. I’ll be in and out, five minutes tops.
She slipped into her flip flops and on her way out the door grabbed her hotel key and stuffed a ten-dollar bill down her shirt and into her sports bra. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about anyone robbing her. One look at her and a would-be-robber would keep on their merry way. No purse, no jewelry, and nothing of value.
She tiptoed to the door and opened it slowly. With just enough room for her to squeeze out, she left and closed it securely behind her. She took the three flights of stairs and passed the vacant front desk. The moment she stepped outside thick, humid air hit her. The hotel had been cool and refreshing, but outside was probably a muggy ninety degrees. A group of four walked by her, and she stepped out, slipping behind them. Anyone watching would’ve thought she belonged. When they reached the corner store she broke away and climbed the one step to go inside.
She was met by an elderly Indian man. “We’re closed.”
“But all I need is sugar and creamer.” She tried to go around him, but he blocked her path.
“We’re closed.” He motioned out the door. “Come back tomorrow.”
“I have coffee going now.” She did her best to flutter her eyelashes. The man only frowned. She blew out a breath. The pretty girl in distress act did not work for her. “Fine then. Is there another place open this late?”
He escorted her out the step and pointed toward the river. “On the next block, make a left. Two blocks down is a twenty-four hour convenience store.”
She eyed where he pointed and bit her lower lip. That wasn’t the five-minute in and out trip she’d had in mind. “It’s a far walk. Is it—”
The door shut, and the owner secured the security gate.
“Safe?”
She really needed to figure out the distressed act. Bride had it down pat. If she were here, they would’ve gotten everything that her little heart desired. The man turned off the light, leaving Dani standing in the dark. She let out a deep sigh. She could either brave it or go back to the hotel and force down black coffee.
Dani scanned the sidewalk, noticing there were still a fair number of people out and about. So what if her five minute jaunt turned into a ten minute one? She would be back in no time at all.
Two guys and a girl walked by, going in her direction. She took a breath and fell in line behind them. One of the guys did a double take, and she grinned at him. He shrugged, probably either too drunk to care or thinking this was about to be the easiest lay that he’d ever had in his life. She stayed with them until they reached the end of the block. When the light changed she walked across the street with them. Most of the people made a left, and the others took a right. She was the only one continuing straight.
Shit.
The street was dark. The uncertainty of the unknown made her pause. All of the businesses had closed except for one. She spotted the blue, flickering light of the convenience store sign. All she had to do was make it the two blocks by herself. She could do it.
Right.
Dani made her way up the block. Walking with purpose, that’s what her father called it. Head held high and hands down. Don’t run but walk as a steady pace. As long as she didn’t look scared, creeps wouldn’t notice her. But if she was taking her father’s advice, then she really wouldn’t have gone out all. At least not by herself.
One block down and one block to go.
“Help me.”
She whirled around. No one was behind her, but she could’ve sworn that the plea had been whispered in her ear. She stilled, watching, listening.
“Help me.”
Dani whirled around again, No one there.
“I’m in the alley.”
Dani squinted. Where is the alley? She spotted blackness nestled between two buildings. There.
She tiptoed to the mouth of the opening and paused. Darkness greeted her. Boxes were thrown about. Overflowing trashcans were pushed against one wall, and a large garbage container was in the back.
“Help me.”
She didn’t jump this time. She’d expected the voice, hoarse and with a French accent. “Hello? Is anyone in there?”
“Help, dying.”
Dying? She patted her hip. Shoot. Why hadn’t she brought her cell phone?
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
The stranger groaned. The sound came from somewhere in the darkness. Shit. I can’t go in there alone.
Dani turned to scan the street. Empty. Maybe she could run back to Canal and ask someone to call the police? But what if the guy died by then? Maybe she could pull him out and to safety? Or at least give him medical attention until someone else walked by.
“Help. Hurry.” The voice was more desperate now.
This is how people got killed. But she couldn’t just leave him.
Dani let out a groan and made her way down the alley. The pitter patter of little feet greeted her. Knowing that rats were in her path sent a shiver down her spine. She stepped over trash, and her foot landed in a puddle. A puddle of what was the question. She gagged as the smell of rotten garbage wafted to her nose. “I can’t do this. I can’t do this.” She started to turn around.
“Over here.” The voice was only a few steps away from her.
With renewed determination she focused, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. Against the wall was a man. He sat slumped on the ground with his back propped against the building. His long legs stretched out in front of him. His torso shifted at an odd angle, and his head hung low with his chin resting on his chest.
Even though it was hot out, he wore a button up shirt, slacks, and what looked like expensive dress shoes. She couldn’t make out his face, but he looked young, maybe in his early or mid-twenties. But even with his hair hanging across his eyes she could tell that he was handsome.
“What happened to you?”
“Jumped. Stabbed. Dying.” His accent was thicker now.
Maybe he was a businessman or foreign tourist who’d had the misfortune of coming across robbers?
What if they were still around? Her hackles rose, and she glanced over her shoulder. Still no one in sight.
He tried to push away from the wall but collapsed again. He whimpered in pain.
“Do you have a cell phone? I have to call for help, but I left mine at the hotel.”
“My … my back pocket.” His voice was choppy now.
She rushed to him and kneeled at his side, not minding that her knees hit warm liquid. A coppery scent filled her nose. “Holy shit. This is all blood. You need an ambulance, mister.” She pushed against him, letting her hands roam his backside, feeling for a cell phone.
The man wrapped his arms around her. She tried to push him away. “Hey.” His arms were like metal vises holding her. “Wh-what are you doing?”
“Sorry about this.”
He opened his mouth. Sharp pointy teeth that gleamed white against the dark descended on her. She never got the chance to scream.