INK: Abstraction Read online

  “Okay, I’m so glad we’ve all chosen to come together. But Eli and I were pretty clear that this is a private affair.” I interlace my fingers with Eli’s, who’s hesitant and studies my hands closely.

  “I think you should wait, kid,” McNab offers.

  “Yeah, well, I thought about it and we’re not waiting.” I look up to Eli for reassurance and he doesn’t look so sure.

  Eli leans down to my ear. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  With an incredible seriousness I look him in the eye. “I don’t want to spend one more minute not being your wife.” I pull him by the hand in the direction we were going before this clusterfuck happened.

  “Eli,” Sharron calls to him insistently.

  “Shayleigh,” Dad pleads, but I ignore him. I feel a slight pang, but damn it, I’m going to do this.

  “Miss Baynes, I was just coming to see you.” A vaguely familiar voice calls from behind. I stop in my tracks.

  “Eli, listen.” Sharron tugs on Eli's shirt.

  “I'm sorry, what?” Eli's confused by all that's happening at once.

  “What the fuck now?” I whirl around to see that asshole cop Filson.

  “I wanted to see if you had a few minutes so we could talk.” He’s holding a manila folder and uses it to indicate the direction he’d like me to follow him.

  “Um, you’re going to need to schedule something with her attorney,” Eli chimes in.

  “Well that’s the thing. You’re an attorney, right?” he asks. This fucker is so condescending.

  “I’m not her attorney, I’m about to be her husband.” He straightens the collar on his suit.

  “Well I just have a few questions, nothing too terribly deep. It’s about her abduction.” He puts the folder behind my back, herding me toward a hallway past the judge’s chambers.

  I look to Eli, who’s at a loss, but he’s still trying. “Filson, you can’t question her without her attorney.”

  “This isn’t about the Roth case, this is about her kidnapping. We have a few leads and I’ve yet been able to really talk with her. Surely she has nothing to worry about in answering a few simple questions.” The words drip off his tongue like honey, but I’m well aware I need to be wary of the sting of the bee.

  “Yeah, I’d prefer to have my attorney present any time Palm Harbor’s finest is questioning me.” I don’t give a shit if he catches the implications, but I’m not so sure he’s smart enough.

  “Miss Baynes.” He moves his coat to the side, revealing his side arm and badge. “Do you see this badge?” He grabs it lovingly with pride and seems offended that I’m not impressed. “It means I took an oath to protect and serve the citizens of this fine city, and I’m going to do just that. I believe we can possibly close the case of your kidnapping and the heinous murders taking place if I can talk with you for a few short minutes.”

  “That’s all fine and good, but when an asshole dirty cop is the one that kidnapped me, I’m sure you’ll understand if I have a few trust issues with your ability to make or keep an oath of any kind.” I can’t believe I said those words. Someone please stop me from running off at the mouth.

  Eli steps between Filson and I like a human shield. “Make an appointment.” He hands him a card. “Jason Eddins is her attorney. Now if you’ll excuse us.” Eli takes my hand and pushes past him. I offer him my best “fuck you” look I can afford, but there’s something haunting in his eyes. Something’s not right here.

  I just need to keep her here for another minute and I'll have this little twat. Filson looks at his cell phone then me.

  “Eli, we need to leave, now.” My tone is urgent.

  “What?” He looks down at me, bewildered.

  “I’m telling you there’s something off. Is there a back door?” I tug at his hand. “Get me out of here now.”

  He’s confused for a minute, but the seriousness in my eyes reaches him. “Okay, this way.” He takes off down a side hallway toward the fire exit, still holding my hand.

  Behind us we hear someone winded yelling, “Filson, I got it.”

  I look at Eli. I don’t know what that was, but betting that has something to do with me. “Miss Baynes.” Filson calls to me. “Miss Baynes, you’re going to have to come with me.”

  Eli and both ignore his calls and continue to the fire exit. Eli pushes the door open and we take off across the parking lot to his car. As we’re running, Eli looks down at me. “This isn’t exactly what I had in mind for our wedding day.”

  “Well the way things have been going lately, maybe you should have.” I look up at him and smile. “Hey, can we use this thing anywhere?”

  “The marriage license?” He squints his eyes trying to figure out what I'm getting at.

  “Yeah, the marriage license.” Duh.

  “Anywhere in this county.” I think he gets it now.

  “To a notary!” I yell like a battle cry.

  “Then a Bonnie and Clyde honeymoon?” He laughs. “You know this may not be the best idea we’ve ever had.” He’s more serious and the laughing has turned nervous.

  “What do you want to do?” I ask, slowing my pace since I’m already winded.

  He picks me up into his arms. “I’m going to marry you, that’s what we’re going to do.”

  He rounds the corner of the building and stops short. There are three cops standing next to his car. He ducks back behind the building and looks down at me with a hopeless look. “Keep running?”

  “No.” I slide down and seal my mouth over his in a passionate kiss. I pull back, reveling in his moisture on my lips. “Get me out so we can be married by morning.” I wink at him and offer a wicked grin.

  He rests his forehead on mine. “I’ll call Jason, we’ll get you out. Don’t say a word. I’ll be right there.”

  Filson reaches us with two uniformed police officers behind him. He grabs me and twists my arm behind my back and slams a cuff on my wrist. I know he would use more force if Eli wasn’t standing here. “Miss Baynes, why the wild goose chase? We just wanted to talk.”

  “Filson, why the handcuffs? I thought you just wanted to talk.” He pushes me up against the wall to guide my other arm behind my back.

  He leans in close enough that I can smell the whiskey and BO on him. He says it low so only I can hear, “Because I’ve heard you like it this way.”

  He tugs me back from the wall and hands me over to the two uniforms. “Make sure Miss Baynes is made to feel welcome. It’s going to be a long day.”

  Eli is fuming and I know he’s having a hard time controlling himself. He’s already started making phone calls. I see Dad and Miranda come out of the front of the building with McNab and Carl. I look back over my shoulder to McNab. The sadness in his eyes lays on me heavy like wool and sticks with me while they push me into the police car.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Officer Down

  Eli

  The drive from the courthouse to the police station is only ten minutes, but it felt like an eternity. Now I’m standing here waiting to get in to see her. Filson appears from the back area. “Hey Walker,” he calls me over.

  “Filson, I need to get back there to see her,” I tell him, trying not to sound too frantic. I know they’re going to push the envelope since she’s not smart enough to keep her mouth shut about the Glass issue.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry Walker, only her attorney is allowed back.” He plasters a mock smile on his face that I’d like to shove up his ass.

  “Cut the shit Filson, let me see her.”

  “No can do.” He turns and walks toward the door, stopping at the desk where the guard on duty buzzes in visitors. “Call me when her attorney gets here and we’ll be up to get him as soon as we can.” He looks back over his shoulder as if to imply it’s going to be a long wait.

  Harry rushes in the front door, talking on the phone. “This is bullshit and you know it. How could you let this go through?” He pauses, listening. “That’s nice Todd, so your own depa
rtment is keeping you in the dark now?” More silence on his end. “Listen, get your ass down here and help her. You know she didn’t do this.” Harry hangs up the phone and looks at me with heavy disapproval. Okay, it’s more like raging anger. I’m pretty sure if Harry could get away with it, he’d have my nuts on his nightstand.

  “Harry, do you have any idea what this is about?” I ask, hoping to forgo the pissed off father routine for trying to elope with his daughter.

  He sits in one of the chairs in the waiting area blowing out a labored breath. He looks like he’s aged since I saw him thirty minutes ago. “Sit down, Eli.”

  Shit, this isn’t good. “What is it?”

  “They, ah, they found Aiden.” He says it simply, but I can hear the quiver in his voice.

  “Good, but that doesn’t explain why they arrested her.” I’m confused and completely lost. This should get her off the hook. Harry doesn’t answer. “Harry, if they found him—” It hits me. I’m pushed back in my chair from the gravity of this revelation. “Shit.” A myriad of emotions floods my being running the gambit between relief, anger and sorrow.

  Harry confirms with a simple nod. “Apparently his truck was covered in his blood and Shayleigh’s. They were working on the warrant when you two got to the courthouse.”

  “That must be what Sharron was trying to tell me.” I run my fingers through my hair, full of a mixture of feelings I can barely verbalize.

  Carl and McNab enter the lobby of the police station followed by Jason. I give everyone a nod and stand to meet Jason. Carl and McNab sit by Harry. Jason glares at me, walking to the front desk.

  I get up and button my jacket and follow him. “Thanks for getting here so quickly.”

  Jason doesn’t look at me, it’s apparent that he’s pretty pissed off. “Attorney Eddins for Shay Baynes.”

  The female officer at the desk cringes and looks up apologetically. “I’m sorry sir, she hasn’t been processed yet, so you can’t see her.”

  “Can you tell me how much longer it will be until I can get back to see her?” he asks.

  “No, we’ve got quite the backlog right now. It could be as much as twelve to twenty-four hours.” The words are hard for her to say, but she obviously doesn’t have a choice.

  Jason leans on the counter, making note of the officer’s name. “Officer Olander, you do realize that my client has the right to council?”

  “Yes sir, as soon as she has been processed you will be allowed to see her.” She can no longer look him in the eye.

  Harry approaches the counter. “Charlise.”

  She smiles apologetically. “Hello Commissioner Baynes.”

  “Oh, I’m not a commissioner anymore, you can call me Harry. I’d really like to get back there to see my little girl.” His tone is smooth and persuasive.

  “Commissioner, I’m afraid she can’t have any visitors until they have processed her.”

  “Surely you can buzz me back.” He smiles.

  “I’m really sorry sir, but I have specific instructions to not let anyone including you back to see her.” She lowers her eyes again. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Can you let me back to talk to Brewer please?” He’s grasping at straws.

  “I’ll let him know you’d like to see him.” She picks up the phone.

  “Commissioner Brewer? Commissioner, er, um, Harry Baynes would like to see you.” She pauses for a moment. “Okay sir, I’ll let him know.” She hangs up the phone. “He’ll be out in a few minutes; you can have a seat while you wait.” She tries to smile.

  Harry motions for us to follow him to the seating area. “Now listen you two, let me do the talking. He’s not going to respond to your legal bullying.”

  “That’s an interesting choice of words,” Jason chides.

  “Well, he doesn’t need to have you whining about her civil rights. We have two dead cops and another cop that she’s trying to throw under the bus. We have to be delicate.” He inhales a breath and rubs his left arm.

  “Whoa, wait a minute. Two dead cops? When did this happen?” Apparently I missed something.

  Harry looks at Carl, perplexed. “Did you not fill him in?”

  Carl rubs the stubble on his head, frustrated with himself. “I didn’t have a chance yesterday, and this morning, well, you were there.”

  “What happened?” I sit forward in the chair.

  “Pitch and Quag were called to a warehouse over off of Malabar Road. There were two cops in there that were splayed out Specter style.” Carl grimaces at the memory of the scene.

  “There were a few variations, more of what we’ve seen lately. Instead of the eyes, the hearts were removed and something put in their places.” Harry adds, “I thought you knew, Eli.”

  “I hadn’t heard any of this either, for that matter we weren’t even offered the opportunity for Shay to turn herself in with this warrant,” Jason says, shaking his head. “We still don’t know what the actual charges are and I fully expect we’re going to get stonewalled for…” he looks at his watch, “at least another twenty-two hours.” After taking a thoughtful breath Jason hops up on his soap box.

  “You know, Eli, knowing the disgusting abuse of power that the DA and police exercise around here, you'd think you would have done a better job keeping her out of jail.” He stands, picking up his briefcase. “I’m going to head back to the office and get the investigators briefed and the team ready for the arraignment.”

  “Jason, we can’t leave her in there for twenty-four hours. She’s not going to be able to handle it. She’s in rough shape. Can’t we file a motion?” I ask.

  “I’ll get the research; she’s certainly been through enough over the course of the last few weeks that we might be able to get an exception.” He looks at his watch again. “I gotta go. Keep in touch and call me as soon as they are ready to let us back in.”

  I stand and shake his hand; he pulls me into a hug. “I know this is tough, Eli, but I need you to hold it together. If you pull another stunt like you did today your bar card is as good as gone. Don’t throw away your career, you’re a good lawyer, you should know better.” His disapproval is mixed with regret. He knows none of this is looking good.

  “I know, things are just—”

  Jason finishes my thought before pushing the door open to leave, “Fucked up.”

  “Yeah.” I pull my lips to the side. “That’s an understatement.”

  Jason continues out the door. “Keep it together Eli, she needs you to be strong right now.”

  McNab has been uncharacteristically quiet. “So what’s your take on all of this?”

  “I think it was a bitch move forcing her to marry you.” There it is, he came right out and said it.

  “What’s it to you?”

  “I care about her, and the position you put her in because of your assumptions was unfair and unkind,” he says simply.

  Harry perks up. “What are you talking about?”

  “This whole rushing to the altar was Eli’s mind fuck trying to nail her down because he’s scared.” McNab cuts me a hard look and I’d like to put his balls in a vice. “He played on her fear and made her beg.” He stands and walks over to the window as if he needed to get away from a bad smell.

  “Is this true, Eli? Was this marriage a manipulation on your part?” Harry squints hard into me, trying to find the truth in my eyes.

  I’m at a loss, because essentially it is. There’s nothing else that possibly could have been. It doesn’t matter that I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her, I want to make her happy, and she wasn’t happy begging for me to stay on her knees in the driveway. The problem is when we’re together I live in fear of Aiden’s next appearance. I guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore. To prepare for Harry’s onslaught of disapproval I inhale a deep breath. “Yes Harry, it’s all true. I’m a son of a bitch and forced her hand.”

  Harry looks away from me as though he’s disgusted. The shame of what I did sits in the pit o
f my stomach like bad milk. “Eli, I’m disappointed. I always thought that you would consider what my little girl needed, take her feelings to heart. With what she’s been through...” He pauses, rubbing his arm again. This is the second time I’ve seen him do this.

  “Harry, are you okay?” I ask with true concern.

  “No Eli, I’m not okay.” He leans back in the chair and all the color drains from his face. “None of this is okay.”

  My concern is growing when I see beads of sweat forming on his forehead, “Harry, I think you need to see a doctor.”

  “Eli, I’m staying here for my little girl. She needs me. It would seem I'm the only one she can rely on.” He protests. “I’m fine.”

  Miranda actually shows concern for Harry, and McNab makes his way back to the sitting area. “Harry, I think Eli’s right. You should see a doctor.”

  McNab looks at me with deep fear in his eyes, as though there is something I can do to make him listen. I go back to the front desk. “Charlise, please get an ambulance. I think Harry’s having a heart attack.”

  The care shows in Charlise’s eyes. “Oh God.” She picks up the phone and calls the fire department. “I need an ambulance now, there’s an officer down.”

  I look at her knowingly and reach over the desk and touch her hand to show my sincerity. “Thank you.”

  “I love Harry and I don’t want any of this for him. I wish there were something I could do.” She apologizes.

  “You’re doing all you can, I know.”

  “I’m going to get the v-fib machine just in case.” She goes to the back and reappears with the machine.

  I go back to Harry, who’s now laid out across three chairs. Carl has his hand on his shoulder and is speaking to him in a low tone. I have to get close enough to be able to hear what he’s saying. “It’s okay Harry. You’re going to be alright. The paramedics are going to be here soon.”

  Harry nods, but he’s unable to speak. The paramedics come in the door and start working on him. In this moment I feel more hopeless than I have felt. I can’t help Shay, I can’t help Harry, Aiden’s dead. If Harry dies, she’ll never get over this, she’ll never forgive herself for leaving things the way she did. And she may never forgive me.