LITMIR.BIZ

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red. The bandages on her fingers became soggy and fell off. Blood seeped through the dressing on her chest. She stopped washing. She didn’t feel any cleaner. She sat for a moment with her arms at her side, and then she cried.

      She stayed in the bathtub until the coldness of the water brought her back to reality. Then she wrapped the damp bandages back over her fingers and went to her room and put on jeans and a loose-fitting shirt. She eased herself down on a mattress on the floor. There were no sheets and the mattress was dirty and badly stained. She started to shake and curled up in the fetal position.

      Moments later, Red walked into the room. She sat down on the edge of the mattress and gently brushed the hair back from Marcie’s eyes.

      “I’m so, so sorry, baby. I had no idea this guy would hurt you. You’ve got to believe me.”

      Marcie didn’t respond.

      “I’ll tell you what, you won’t have to do this kinda stuff ever again. You just stay here and rest for as long as ya want. I’ll take good care of ya! You’ll see!”

      She closed her eyes and drifted in and out of sleep. Suddenly, he was back! Wearing the same mask and holding the leash in one hand. He was naked, except for his shoes. He walked toward her, rattling the silver chain on the end of the leash. “Okay, Cutesy…” His dog was at his side.

      She tried to yell, but no sound would come out. The dog’s lips pulled back over its gums as it snarled, its hot breath on her face. Then it shook its head, flinging saliva across her cheek and mouth. Claws scratched her skin. She screamed and sat up.

      “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay,” said Red, sitting on the edge of the mattress, hugging her tight. “You’re just havin’ a bad dream. It’s okay.”

      She opened her eyes. There was daylight in the room. She looked at the bandages around her fingers. “It’s not a dream!” she cried.

      “Just lie here, baby, everything will be okay,” said Red, easing her down on the mattress. “I’ll get ya somethin’ that’ll make ya forget. You’ll feel better,” she added, as she left the room.

      Seconds later, Red was back. She smiled as she kneeled down beside her. A small piece of surgical hose dangled from her hand, along with a syringe. Red put them both on the floor.

      “Just lie still,” she said softly. “Close your eyes. Soon you’ll feel real good.”

      Red tied the hose tightly around her arm, slightly above her elbow. Marcie lay there, staring up at Red’s face. Red picked the syringe up off the floor, then smiled at her while gently brushing the hair back from her face. “This ain’t gonna hurt a bit, baby, you’ll see. It’ll help ya.”

      Marcie watched Red put the needle over a vein in the crook of her elbow. Her skin resisted slightly before relenting. Marcie turned her head as the needle entered her body. Instantly she felt warm all over. Then she felt sick and scrambled to the washroom.

      “It’s okay, baby!” yelled Red from the bedroom. “Lots of people puke the first time or two. Don’t worry, ya get use to it real quick. After that, it feels good, you’ll see.”

      Marcie woke up in her bedroom. She felt so tired. She tried to get up off the mattress but couldn’t. She slept some more. Red came in and sat beside her, smiling, brushing the hair back from her eyes. She felt the hose around her arm again and shook her head.

      “No, Red,” she murmured, “it makes me puke.”

      Red smiled, shaking her head. “Not this time, baby, not this time.”

      She felt the needle slip under her skin. It didn’t hurt this time, and she didn’t feel sick. Red was right. She felt like she was floating on air. Her whole body felt good, really good. For the first time in her life she was truly happy. No pain. No dog. No Daddy. No more anything. The restaurant was crowded, so Danny stood up and waved to Jack and Natasha when they arrived. They were both laughing and laughed louder when they looked at him.

      Danny introduced Susan, and the two women greeted each other warmly.

      “So what was that all about?” Danny asked. “When you came in, I had the feeling that the two of you were talking about me.”

      “We were,” said Jack.

      “Jack! That was supposed to be confidential!” said Natasha.

      “Okay, out with it!” said Danny, flicking his fingers to emphasize his demand.

      Jack grinned, then said, “Well, I’m sure that Natasha here, being a doctor, had the utmost professional concern when she asked me if I had ever spoken to you about your problem.”

      “His problem?” Susan leaned forward. “You mean about his hand?”

      “No, not that,” said Jack. “She asked me if I had ever spoken to him about his BO.”

      “BO?” asked Susan.

      “Body odour,” said Jack. “She’s only met your husband twice before tonight. The first time he smelled of urine. The second time he smelled like garbage!”

      “Hey! That’s from working with you! I don’t smell….”

      Danny’s protest was drowned out by the laughter of his three dinner companions.

      “Think what I have to put up with,” said Susan. “I have to sleep with him!”

      Jack ordered the cannelloni. Natasha and Danny did likewise. Susan ordered linguini of the sea. It came with scallops, prawns, and clams.

      The food was delicious, and the evening went by quickly. Perhaps too quickly, thought Danny. Tomorrow I have to call Wigmore. He waited until Susan and Natasha went to the ladies’ room before talking work.

      “So, what’s next? Are we going to the Black Water tomorrow?”

      “No. Give it a few days. Make them think I’m busy selling the speed I bought.”

      “What about Marcie? I think I should try to convince her to go to Social Services.”

      “Do that and you’ll blow your cover. If what she has just been through doesn’t convince her to leave, nothing you say will.”

      “Maybe I should call them myself. It bothers me thinking about her.”

      “I feel the same way, but now is not the time. With what she has been through, she probably won’t be downtown for a week or so. She’ll be going through the honeymoon phase with Red, or someone else she thinks is her friend.”

      “Honeymoon phase?”

      “Someone will be extra nice to her and try to earn her trust, or at least get her to be dependent upon them. Once we dispose of Leonard I’ll figure out how to bypass Red. Then we won’t be at the bar and you can take your chances with Marcie.”

      “How the hell do you expect to come up with the money to buy quantity? Not to mention disposing of Leonard?”

      “I’ll figure something out,” said Jack. He then changed the subject as Susan and Natasha returned. Danny had the feeling that Jack had already figured something out.

      A couple with two children sat at a nearby table. Natasha caught the silent reflection on Jack’s face.

      “You come from a big family, Jack?”

      “No. I just have a sister and brother-in-law who live on a farm outside the city.”

      “Sounds nice. Do they have children?”

      “No. Would you please pass the garlic toast?”

      “You still have some on your plate. I take it you’re the private type and don’t like to talk about your family?”

      “Not tonight.” Jack quickly looked around the room and said, “Excuse me, I have to go the men’s room.” The table shook, slopping wine from their glasses as he stood

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