The Bridge (Para-Earth Series) (8 page)

             
“That’s up to you, Sergeant.  Just don’t wear him out. My wife would be interested in those dance lessons,” Roy told her. Then he added, “And Sergeant, watch out for the button on your shoulder radio when you’re kissing.”  With that the patrol car zoomed away.

             
Shaking her head she moaned, “I’m not going to hear the end of this for months.”

             
“Yeah, but it sounds like he approves,” commented Alex proudly.

             
Glaring at him she started jabbing a finger in his chest saying, “You had better be worth it, mister.”

             
Instead of replying, Alex took her hand spun her around into a Rumba Shoulder Catch and back, then pulled her close and kissed her passionately.

             
When they broke off she panted, “I get off duty at five.”

             
“I’ll be there at 4:50.”

             
She shook her head, “I need to take a shower.”

             
“Got one inside,” he wiggled an eyebrow at her.

             
“Me, and my handcuffs will be here at 5:15,” she smiled.

             
He gave her a hurt look, “Gonna lock me in another room while you shower?”

             
“Nope,” she kissed him again. “Gonna cuff your hands to the showerhead smart guy.  They’ll remind me to go easy with YOU,” she added and then headed back to her patrol car. 

             
As she got in, she heard him mutter, “Bloody hell.  I better not tell her about the four-poster bed?”

             
Starting her vehicle, she rolled down the window and said, “Four-poster bed?  I’ll have to grab another set of handcuffs and the leg shackles.” 

             
As she pulled out of the driveway, she looked in her rearview mirror.  Alex was still standing there torn between excitement and worry.

              Ryan’s voice came over the radio interrupting her reverie.  “Is this the place, Sarge?”

             
“Yeah,” Ronnie replied, pulling off the road and dismounting.   Wandering over to the skid marks in the road she traced them to the broken railing.  From there she could see the tree that bore the scars of the ill-fated vehicle’s final stop. 

             
“Must’ve been traveling pretty fast to leave this kind of damage,” observed Ryan joining her.  “How fast were they going when you spotted them?”

             
Veronica pursed her lips, “50-60 easily.  They were bound to lose control on a road this narrow.”

             
“Considering they were already dead I don’t think they were really worried about it,” Ryan remarked staring down the road.  “There’re a lot of curves further back, so why didn’t they crash sooner?”

             
“That’s why we’re here, remember?” she replied, “Now let’s take a good look around and see if there’s any evidence of somebody being thrown from the vehicle.  Then we’ll work our way back along the road to see if someone might’ve gotten out further back.”

             
“Good plan,” her partner nodded.  But there was a troubled look on his face.

             
Veronica didn’t ask why.  She already knew.  All the witnesses reported seeing only two figures in the front seat of the vehicle.  If they didn’t find anything then their only hope was Paul Chase back at the Impound Yard.  Maybe, he’d find something that could explain how the vehicle navigated these roads with a dead man at the wheel.

JULIE

            
 
The door to Alex’s bedroom opened and a tall woman entered.  She had a mane of long black hair that hung loosely about a lovely face with sharp eyebrows that gave her an intimidating look.  She removed her jacket, revealing a set of very broad shoulders and very muscular biceps.  Moving over to the side of the bed she leaned over to check on the sleeping form.

             
Alex stirred and opened his eyes, “Blimey, she really meant it when she said she’d bring you home.  Did she remember the oil?”

             
The woman stared at him for a moment then spoke in a surprisingly soft voice, “I thought I was just supposed to keep an eye on you.  I didn’t realize you needed a massage.”

             
“Actually the two of you were supposed to oil wrestle while I got to watch,” he told her.

             
The girl’s eyes grew wide at this, “Wow!  This gig is sounding better and better.”  Then she added, “But you only get to watch, she’s mine for the duration of the match and I get to do whatever I want with her.  You can have her back after I leave.

             
“Sounds fair,” Alex grinned, “Just don’t exhaust her too much.”

             
“Why?” asked the brunette playfully, “From what I hear, you’re not up to much, Mister.  Besides I’d finally get a chance at my all-time fantasy, rolling around in a sexy match with my BFF.”

             
Nodding Alex smiled.  He could actually feel the pain Julie was hiding.  Being a powerful empath was one of the talents he’d never been able to close off, in spite of his best efforts.  But there were times like now when he was glad he had failed.  For along with the pain came images from the past. 

             
Julie’s last relationship had ended in violence and blood three years earlier.  And it had left her with a broken heart along with a nasty scar on her back from where a knife had been plunged into it.  The old wound still caused her pain from time to time and this was one of those times.

             
“That spot on your back still bothering you?” he asked gently.

             
Julie turned to him in amazement.  “I don’t know how you do it,” she said shaking her head, “But, yeah it is.”

             
Now he sensed another emotion from his companion, longing.  Julie had never been the same after that night.  She had become so wary of being hurt again, she refused to date or allow any potential girlfriends to get too close.  Instead, she enjoyed the company of her friends and satisfied her sexual needs wrestling other women in front of the cameras.  Occasionally she might take an opponent home for a night of mutual satisfaction, but nothing more.

             
“You know,” Julie said with a smile, “this is kind of a reminds me of what happened three years ago.  Only our roles are reversed.”

             
“You mean when I kept coming to visit you in the hospital after…”

             
“After my ‘break-up’ with Allison,” she nodded.  “Did you know I blamed you for that?”

             
This was news to Alex. “Seriously!”

             
Julie nodded, “I took up with Allison after Ronnie started dating you and I realized that I’d never stood a chance with her in the first place.  So when things went bad, a part of me felt like it was all your fault.  That was why I was such a bitch to you at first.”

             
Alex didn’t know what to say.  Luckily Julie went on.  “But then you kept coming to visit me every day and you even got me to laugh when I thought I’d never smile again.”

             
“My very existence has that effect on a lot of people,” he told her.

             
She tried not to laugh too hard at that. “Seriously, you really did help me.  Did I ever say thank you?”

             
“To be honest, I don’t remember,” he shrugged.  “Does it matter?”

             
“It does to me,” she said honestly, “thanks.”

             
“My pleasure,” he nodded.

             
“Good,” Julie smile and straightened up.  “Now, Ronnie sounded pretty worried when she called.  She said you collapsed.  How are you feeling now?”

             
“Full of beans,” Alex replied trying to sit up, eventually he succeeded.  “I really don’t need anyone to keep an… eye… on…” his voice trailed off. 

             
Julie had folded her muscular arms over a very ample bosom and said matter-of-factly, “You do realize you’re talking to someone who’s studied sports injuries and what can cause them, right?” 

             
“And that same person is currently working on her Physical Therapy License as I recall.  How is that coming along?” he asked.

             
“I got it last year, remember?  You were there for the ceremony.  And changing the subject ain’t gonna work.”

             
“Bugger!”

             
“Ronnie told me not to leave you alone until she got back.  And, you’re not getting out of that bed for anything except to go use the toilet.”

             
Alex’s eyes darted from one side to the other, looking for a way out.  “Was the use of force discussed?”

             
“Yes.”

             
“No injuring the patient, right?” he asked hopefully

             
Julie flexed her biceps as she replied, “Nothing permanent or anything that would interfere with her personal enjoyment.”

             
“Well, thank God for that,” he muttered.

             
“But I am allowed to make your legs into a pretzel,” she smiled.

             
He stared at her impressive physique uneasily. 

             
“So what’s it going to be?” she smiled evilly, “A-stay put, B-pretzel legs, C-take a nap, or D which is a surprise and not a pleasant one.”

             
“Can I use a life-line?  I’d like to phone a friend,” was Alex’s reply.

             
“I am a friend.”

             
“Good point,” he nodded. “What do you think I should do?”

             
Julie whispered conspiratorially, “Stay put and do as you’re told.  I hear the girl watching you can be a real bitch.”

             
“Nah… She’s quite sweet actually.”

             
“Hey, don’t be spreading rumors about me,” she complained with a laugh.  “Well, your brain seems to be intact.  Would you like me to give you a massage?”

             
“Therapeutic or the fun kin...” he began, only to be hit with a pillow.

             
“Regular!” Julie replied dropping the pillow, “God, I can see you’re going to be handful.  Now seriously, do you want anything?”

             
“A cup of tea?” he replied hopefully.

             
“Tea for two coming up,” she told him, and headed for the door.

             
“Julie?”

             
“Yes?”

             
“Thanks for coming over,” he told her warmly. 

             
“My pleasure,” she smiled and started towards to the kitchen.  “By the way, what happened exactly?  Ronnie said you collapsed.   Where did it happen?” she called out.

             
“At the Morgue.”

             
“THE MORGUE?” he heard her cry and a moment later she reappeared in the doorway, “What were you doing there?”

             
Seeing the look of concern on her face, Alex decided to be himself, “Looking for fresh sex toys.  You see we took up necrophilia a while ago and…” his voice trailed off.

             
Julie had folded her arms again. “Are you seriously telling me, that you have to take your girlfriend to the Morgue so you could give her a ‘Stiffy’?”

             
Alex stared at her in silence, knowing there was no way he was going to top a comment like that. 

             
Meanwhile, Julie continued, “Seriously, what were you doing there?”

             
“I’ll tell you once the tea’s ready,” Alex sighed, “It might do me some good to talk about it.” 

             
His nurse nodded and went back to the kitchen. 

             
A few minutes later, she returned with a tray complete with sugar, milk, two cups and the pot of tea.  Then she sat down and waited expectantly. 

             
Alex knew better than to keep her waiting so he immediately launched into his story, starting with Veronica’s arrival at the bar.  Glossing over the lovemaking session he reached the part about the call from the station when she suddenly stood up and began pacing back and forth.

             
“Julie, what is it?” he asked carefully.

             
“The coroner said both the driver and passenger were already dead?” she asked without breaking her stride.

             
“Since last night,” he told her.

             
“Oh my God…” she gasped bringing her hands to her face.

             
Forgetting his promise, Alex got out of bed and put an arm around her shoulders.  He was about to ask what was wrong when an image appeared in his mind.  “You saw them?” he breathed.

             
Julie shivered and nodded, “They nearly ran me down this morning.”