Code 3: Finding Safety (3 page)

Seven

Mark’s anger is inhibiting his ability to think straight.  “Where the fuck could she have gone?” he screams into the receiver at the person on the other end of the line.  He knows he shouldn’t yell as his Pa like that, but he’s so irritated he can’t control himself.  He grabs their wedding photo from the bookshelf in the living room and chucks it against the wall. 

“Son, you need to calm down.  You aren’t going to find her if you’re not thinking clear.  Have you checked the bus station?” Pa asks.  His Pa was always good at thinking on his feet.  Marks Ma tried leaving his Pa on several occasions.  She was a stubborn bitch and his Pa had to do what was necessary to prevent her from leaving the family again.

“No, I haven’t, Pa.  Thank you!” Mark shouts before disconnecting the call.  Why didn’t he think of the bus station?  That’s the only place that Leanna could have gone if she thought about leaving him.  He grabs his car keys and heads out the rickety old screen door.  One way—one way or another, he will find her and he will make her pay for her stupid decisions.  No one leaves Mark Dickson and gets away with it.  Caroline learned that lesson the hard way.

Mark reminisces back to his high school sweetheart.  She was a gorgeous girl who was dealt a bad hand in life.  She was abused from an early age and ended up in foster care at fifteen years old.  She was the perfect girl for Mark.  She was beaten down to nothing and no one would notice if she went missing.  Yeah, she was the perfect girl for Mark but he underestimated her hard headedness.  He miss calculated her sense of self-worth. 

Mark shakes Caroline’s thought from his head and focuses on the mission before him; finding and bringing Leanna home. 
It won’t be long, Bitch, and I’ll find you and teach you a fucking lesson,
he thinks as his car slips and slides along the old dirt road.

Eight

James pulls into the driveway of his home.  This house has been in his family for more than a hundred years.  His grandfather was born here, grandparents were married here, father was born here, parents were married here and, eventually, he was born here.  Rebecca wanted an over-the-top wedding on a golf course, so he didn’t get the pleasure of marrying his wife here.  He should’ve known that the marriage wouldn’t last.  This house is good luck for his family.  By not marrying in the house his marriage was cursed from the start.  If his mother could see how his marriage turned out, she’d surely be rolling in her grave.

“This is where I call home,” James announces as he put the truck in park and looks toward Leanna.  His breath hitches as he sees her profile in the moonlight.  Her eyes are closed and her breathing slow and steady.  She looks like an angel when she sleeps and the moonlight gently touches her face.  His lips turn up as he is content watching her.

He reaches over and gently strokes Leanna’s face.  He hates having to wake her.  “Leanna,” he sing-songs her name.  “We’re here.”

Leanna squirms a bit and a groan escapes her.  James removes his hands from her face.  Her groan tugs on his heart strings.  He knows that she’s in pain and she’s been through a lot in her short life.  He never wants her to hurt again, especially by his hands.  No woman should ever go through the hell that she has and he’s determined to right all the wrongs that she’s been forced to endure. 

He exits his truck and circles around to her side.  He gently eases the door open as not to jar her head as she’s lying against the window.  He reaches his hand in and cradles her head before reaching in and unbuckling her seat belt.  Wrapping her in his strong arms, he hoists her up and carries her to the front door. 

Patches, excited to see him, jumps and barks and whimpers when the front door swings open.  He jumps up on James trying to get a whiff of the new person entering his personal space.  “Down, Patches,” James commands just moments before Leanna begins to stir, her eyes fluttering open.

Oh, her beautiful eyes.  They are as green as emeralds.  He could get lost in her gorgeous eyes all day long but the look she’s giving him now breaks his heart.  Fear fills those gorgeous eyes.  Fear that he can’t take away from her. 

“It’s okay,” he whispers.  “We’re home, er, uh, here and you were sleeping and I didn’t want to wake you.”  His face turns red as a smile forms.  “I guess I didn’t quite succeed in that.”

A small chuckle escapes her throat.  “Yeah, I suppose you failed at that.”

“God, I love your laugh,” the words leave his mouth before he can stop himself.  Leanna’s face turns a deep crimson.  “I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have said that,” he places her feet upon the ground and runs his hands through his hair.

Leanna diverts her eyes to the hardwood floor.  “It’s alright.  I’m just not used to compliments.  I’m sorry,” she twists the tip of her tattered tennis shoes against the floor in a nervous behavior.

James makes a mental note to buy her a new pair of shoes tomorrow.  He can’t let her walk around in shoes that shouldn’t be on a homeless person’s feet, let alone a gorgeous woman’s feet.  “You don’t need to apologize.”  James hates that she’s always apologizing for things she shouldn’t be sorry for.

“I’m sorry…er, um, okay,” she tries to correct herself.

James chuckles at her statement.  It’s not really a laughing matter but she’s just so damn cute that he can’t help but laugh.  “Okay, would you like something to eat before I show you your room?”

“Um, no, I’m fine.  I’m just really tired and would like to turn in for the night.”

“Okay, let me go grab your suit case and then I’ll show you to your room.”

He walks out the screen door to his truck. 
What am I doing?  She’s a broken soul.  I shouldn’t be growing so close to her yet but I can’t seem to help it.  Her face is so innocent and her voice…it’s like a voice from heaven.  I could never grow tired of hearing her sweet voice.

He quickly returns back to the house as soon as he has her suit case.  As soon as he steps on the porch he hears her soft giggles and sweet voice talking.  He quietly approaches the screen door and peaks in.  Patches has his paws up on her lap, giving her wet doggy kisses along her face.  “You’re such a sweet puppy,” she says between laughter. 

Watching Leanna and Patches warms his heart.  Rebecca hated dogs.  Patches couldn’t stand her.  “It looks like he likes you,” James chuckles as he crosses the threshold.

“Well I’m quite fond of him, too.  I grew up with dogs but I haven’t had one since before my parents passed away,” she stutters at the last three words. 

James knows the loss of parents, however not as soon as Leanna.  He was an adult and already married when his parents passed away.  He’s curious as to what happened to Leanna’s parents but he refuses to push her tonight.  He doesn’t think his heart could handle hearing more negative today.  He’s seen and heard too much already.  “How about I show you to your room so you can get some rest?”

Nine

Mark is fuming.  Everything about Leanna is pissing him the fuck off.  The way she left him, the money she took, the fact that she was only thinking of herself.

Mark skids to a stop in front of the bus depot.  The dust hadn’t even settled before he jumps out of his car, slamming the door behind him.  His strides are long and determined as he makes his way to the depot doors.  He flings the door open so hard that it smacks the wall, shaking with the force. 

Mark is seething red as his hands open and close into fists. “Listen you little fuck, I know my wife came in here,” he says to the cashier at the bus depot while holding a picture of Leanna.  “I need to know where the fuck
she
went!”  Mark is in no mood to deal with the prick standing before him. 

The little guy behind the counter begins to shake as Mark’s lips purse together and his eyebrows slant.  Mark isn’t a man many people would want to encounter and this guy is no exception.  If Mark wanted, he could knock the prick out with one punch to the nose. 

“I’m fucking waiting!”

With a startled and confused look the little guy gives him the information.  He doesn’t even need to search the computer system to remember where she went.  “Austin, Texas,” he says, diverting eye contact from the raging devil before him.

What the fuck is in Texas?  Why the hell would she go there? 
“One ticket for Austin, Texas,” he orders, slamming his bank card against the counter.
  When I get ahold of her, she’ll never pull this bullshit again.  If she thought she got a beating last time, she’s got another thing coming.  I’m going to show her what a real fucking beating is this time.

The little guy charges the card and slides it back to him, avoiding any and all contact with the fire breathing dragon before him.  “Bus leaves in four hours,” he explains as he slides the ticket over and quickly removes his hand.

Mark grabs the card and ticket and storms out the door. 
I have just enough time to pack some shit and get back here. 
He grabs his cell phone from his pocket and dials it.  “Pa?”

“What?”

“I need a ride to the bus station.  Can you do it for me?”

“Where the fuck you headed?  Was I right about the bitch going there?”

Mark grows angrier by the second.  He hates when his dad is right and he knows that the old bastard is going to rub this in his face for years to come.  “I’m going to fetch my bitch from Texas!”

“Aight boy, I’ll meet ya at your place.  Ya want me to get the dungeon ready for the stupid bitch while you’re gone?”  Earl breathes heavily into the receiver.

Mark’s eyes light up at the thought of using the dungeon.  He’d love to see Leanna suspended from the rafters and her skin glowing with every switch of his whip.  “Would ya, Pa?”

“I’ll start on it tonight, boy.  I’m on my way.” 

Mark hangs up and throws his phone on the passenger seat of the car before sliding in the driver’s seat. 
I’m coming for you, Leanna.  I’m coming for you and you can’t hide from me. 
He starts the car and peels out into the deserted road and heads for home.

Ten

Leanna wakes early the next morning.  The spare room at James’ house was comfortable and, once she got to sleep, she slept like a log.  For the first time in a long time, nightmares didn’t plague her.  She woke rested and ready to start the first day of her new life.  She can’t remember the last time she didn’t have a nightmare about Mark beating her to death.  Yes, the abuse that she’d suffered from Mark inflicted a rational fear of death in her subconscious. 

She quickly gets dressed and throws her long, brown hair into a messy bun and makes her way downstairs to the kitchen.  She fumbles through the fridge to find breakfast fixings. 
Yeah, I’m going to need to go to the store today.  He doesn’t have much food at all in here;
she makes a mental note to herself.

With eggs, cheese, ham and bread in hand, she makes her way to the stove.  After a quick search through all the cabinets, she finally finds what she’s looking for—a skillet!  As the skillet preheats, she beats the eggs and seasons them before pouring the mixture into the, now hot, skillet.  She places the cheese and ham in it and scrambles it together—yeah, she can’t make an omelet for the life of her but scrambled eggs she can do.

“Something smells good,” James’ voice echoes across the kitchen causing Leanna to throw the egg carton up in the air.  The eggs fall to the ground and break.  “I’m sorry sweetie, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he rushes to her side.

“No, no, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean…”

“Stop!  You’re fine.  It’s not your fault.  No reason to apologize,” he cuts her off. 

Leanna’s face grows red from embarrassment.  James has done so much for her in just one day than her good-for-nothing husband did for her in five years.  “I’ll get it cleaned up,” she quickly says as she begins to turn to find a rag.  “Oh crap, no!”  The smell of burnt eggs catches her nose.  She grabs the skillet and turns to the sink.  “I ruined breakfast.”

A tear escapes and slides down her cheek.  She quickly swipes it away and begins to clean up the mess she created. 
I’m such a fuck up.  I can’t ever do anything right.  Mark’s right, I deserved every beating he ever gave me. 
Her mind begins to drift to the first beating she ever suffered at his hands.

It was just after they’d gotten married and she was fumbling with dinner.  She’d never learned to cook before her mom passed away and Mark didn’t believe in recipes.  He believed that a woman should just know how to cook.

She got the cast iron skillet too hot and the pork chops burnt on the outside but was raw in the center.  When Mark cut into the meat, his mood changed ten-fold.  Before she had time to react, he’d thrown his plate against the wall behind her and had his hands around her throat, strangling her and pushing her backwards toward the stove.  “You stupid bitch!  You can’t do anything right.  No wonder why your parents killed over; they didn’t want to deal with you anymore,” he snarled at her as he pressed her face near the burner.  Had the phone not rang, she’s sure he would’ve burned her face against it.
 

“Stop that,” James startles her from her memory.

“Excuse me?”  She asks, perplexed and dumbfounded.

“You heard me.  I know you’re thinking you’re worthless and all that other BS your ex put you through and I want you to stop.  Accidents happen and you move on, simple as that!”

Leanna nods her head but the thoughts still bellow in at full force.  It’s hard to stop thinking negatively when that was all that has been told to you for so long.  Her parents raised her to be a strong and independent woman but Mark took all of that from her in almost no time at all.

“Come on, leave the mess and let’s go grab breakfast.  Dottie’s Café has the best damned pancakes this town has ever seen.”  James gives her a huge, toothy smile and an adorable wink.  Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t say no to that face.

***

James wasn’t lying when he said that Dottie’s had the best damned pancakes.  Leanna scarfed down her stack and then, like a little piglet, ordered another stack behind it.  Mark had her on a ridiculously insane diet plan for the past six months.  She wasn’t allowed anything but a piece of celery and a cracker for breakfast.  She hasn’t tasted pancakes in so long.  Sure, she made pancakes, bacon and eggs for him but she was never, never allowed even a taste of what she made.  She was on his fatty-diet-plan, as he called it.

“Damn, these really are good,” she compliments between bites.  “I never eat like this but…” she swallows another bite.  “I sure could get used to eating like this every morning.  You think the owner will give me her recipe so I can make these at home, er, um, I mean at your house.”

James lets out a hearty laugh.  “Well, for all intents and purposes, it is your home now too.”

“Thank you, James.  I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help.  You saved me from spending one more second in that crappy motel,” she adds, battling the tears that threaten to fall.

“Hey, James,” a burly voice calls out.  Both Leanna and James look toward the sound.  A tall, fit and handsome man is making his way to their table.  “And who is this lovely lady you have here?”

“Hey Devon, this is Leanna.  Leanna, this is my friend and fellow officer, Devon,” James makes the introductions.  “Devon’s mom, Sandra, is the head dispatcher for the PD.”

Leanna wipes her hands on her napkin and extends her right hand.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Devon.”

“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you too, Leanna,” he responds while kissing the top of her hand.

“Pull up a chair and join us,” Leanna offers Devon to join them for breakfast.

He pulls up a chair and sits on it backwards.  “I’ve already eaten,” he says.  “So, where are you from, Leanna?”

Leanna diverts her eyes to the table and taps her finger on the table top.  She doesn’t want to lie to him since he’s a police officer but the less people who know where she’s originally from, the better.

“Oh, she came in from Georgia,” James starts for her.  Winking from across the table, he gives her a heart-melting smile.  “She wanted a fresh start and thought that our town was the best place to do just that.”

“Georgia, huh?  I heard that state is pretty gorgeous.”

“Um, yeah, but when you’ve grown up there your whole life, you just sorta need a change in scenery,” she pops another bite of pancake in her mouth.  “Now, all I need is a job and I think I’ll be set.”

“The police department is about to have a dispatching position available.  My mom is planning on putting in her retirement package in the next couple of days.  Do you have a high school diploma?”  Devon pours some sugar in his coffee and stirs.

“Yes, and I can even type,” Leanna’s eyes light up.  If she can get this job she’ll be able to get her own place and stop being a burden on James. 

“Well,” Devon sips his coffee, “you should apply for the position.  You could even use James and I as references.”

“Really?  I’d love to apply for that position,” she glances toward James.  “Could you take me to the station so I could fill out an application?”

“Sure.  After breakfast, we’ll head to the precinct and talk to Gidget in human resources about getting you on.”

Leanna quickly finishes her breakfast while the men talk about sports.  Leanna is smiling both on the outside as well as the inside.  Her new start in Austin was rough in the beginning but things are looking up for her now.  She has an amazing friend that opened his home up to her and a job prospect and she’s only been in town for just over twenty-four hours.  Yeah, life is good.

***

James takes Leanna by the house before heading to the department.  She wants to look her best when meeting with Gidget for the first time.  After half an hour, she races down the stairs and past James to the truck.  “Come on,” she hollers.

James shakes his head before heading back out the door but not before giving Patches a pat on his head.  “Women, right?”  He chuckles at the pooch before shutting the door.

“Do you think this Gidget lady is going to like me?  Do you think I’ll get the job?”  Leanna rambles off questions as James focuses on the road. 

“She’s going to love you,” James rolls his eyes.

She purses her lips and stares James down.  He glimpses at her from the corner of his eye.  “What?”  He feigns innocence.

“You know what!  You rolled your eyes at me,” Leanna plays with James.  She can’t even pass off a fake angry face. 

James tries to act scared but he can’t.  He bites his cheek for as long as he can before he lets out a deep belly laugh.  “I’m sorry, sweetie but…owww,” he yells out after she back hands him in his chest.  “Damn, for a little lady, you carry a mean back hand.”  He rubs his chest as if she hit him with the strength of a man.

They both chuckle before riding the rest of the way to the precinct in silence.  James knows that Leanna is going to get the job that she’s so nervous about applying for.  While she was getting ready, he made a quick call to Gidget Shallot and put in a good word for her. 

They pull into the parking lot and he puts the truck in park.  He looks over toward the woman next to him and notices that she’s biting her nails and bouncing her leg—a nervous behavior.  He places his hand on her knee.  “Hey, you’re going to do well.  Trust me, Gidget’s gonna love you.  Stop stressing so much.”