Page 92 of Fight
"How are you feeling?Really."She asked.
I glanced at Devon and Caden where they sat at the dining table talking quietly."Tired."I admitted."More tired than I really want to admit."
She nodded."I thought you'd tire more quickly than you'd like.After Ridges leaves, you can take a nap, then we'll see about feeding you again."
"I feel like all I do is eat and sleep."
"I know you do but it's helping you heal."She ran her finger softly over the bruise on one of my forearms, so softly it tickled but didn’t hurt."See, it's deep purple and blue but the edges are turning yellow and green."She ran her finger over the edges, showing me what she was talking about."You know if you were human that wouldn't happen for a week or more."
I nodded."I know, but I'm bored."
"Where's your PCD?"She asked."Maybe you've got something to read that can distract you."
"It's in my purse.I'll dig it out after Ridges leaves and see if I can find something that interests me."I nodded, agreeing that reading was a good idea.
We sat in silence for a few minutes, my head tilted back, resting on the back of the sofa and my eyes closed.I was starting to doze when a knock sounded on the suite door.I jerked my head up, startled and started to stand to answer the door, but Alexis stopped me with a hand on my arm.She nodded silently at Caden, who'd already gotten up and was headed to open the door.
He stopped before touching the door and inhaled, using scent to see who was on the other side of the door.Apparently satisfied, he opened the door and let in three men.
Bennett lead the group with Ridges right behind him.A new man brought up the rear, he was dressed in an inexpensive suit and tie.Bennett checked the room like he had on their first visit, scenting the air to be sure that only the four of us were in the suite.Satisfied of his boss's safety, he stepped aside and let Ridges came farther into the room, the newcomer right behind him.
I started to get up and greet Ridges but he held out one hand."No, save your energy." He said."I wouldn't have come, but I needed to ask you some questions, Nickie."
"What do you need to know?"
"This is William Bolser, he's part of my pack and a detective on SPD.He has some things to show you, and a few questions to ask."
"All right."I turned to the new man.I thought he probably wasn't much taller than me, maybe 5'10". He was in his late thirties and starting to thicken around the middle but still fit.He had a bushy mustache that seemed out of place on his face."What do you want to know?"I asked, totally at ease with the idea of a police officer questioning me.
"Do you recognize this man?"He held out a PCD with a photo on the screen.
I looked at the picture for a moment, the face seemed vaguely familiar but it wasn't someone I knew."He seems familiar somehow, but I don't know who he is."
Devon sat down beside me and wrapped one arm around me, silently offering both comfort and his energy.
The detective reached into a jacket pocket and pulled out a small press to seal bag with some kind of cloth inside.He pulled it open and held it out to me.
"Do you recognize this scent?"
I took the bag and sniffed the contents carefully, made a face and held it back out to him."That's the guy from the back of the van, the one who kept kicking me."Devon's arm tightened around me.
He took the bag back, sealing it before stuffing it back into his pocket."The one you hit before you got free?"He asked, watching me carefully.
I nodded."Yeah."
"How many times did you hit him?"
"Just once, but with both hands.I'd broken the chain holding the cuffs to the floor, but the cuffs were still on."
"Did you see anyone else in the van?"
I shook my head."No, I heard a couple of them talking, but I don't know if I would recognize their voices.I know there were at least four of them but I couldn't focus enough to pick out individual voices when I opened my shields to see what they were going to do with me."
He nodded, seeming to consider what course to take next. He looked at Ridges, I followed his gaze in time to see Ridges nod at him.
"We found the van.It had the man in the rear, dead, his skull had been caved in."He watched carefully as I cringed slightly at the news.
"I didn't try to kill him but I didn't check my blow either.I was desperate to get out of there."
