BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY (27 page)

Carrie nodded and tried to blink away the
pain.  Her eyes tired and heavy with the effort of keeping them
open.  She held onto her bag like a safety blanket.  It was scuffed
and damaged beyond repair.  One of the handles completely ripped off and
blood from the cuts on her hand smeared across it but throughout it all the
contents were still the same and undamaged.  She had checked that Rob was
still intact.  She vaguely remembered doing that as she sat in the booth.

“The ma-a-an,” she stammered. 

“He’s outside, don’t you worry now” she
repeated, “We’ve got him secured”

“The window, I’m sorry about that but I didn’t
know what else to do.  I will pay for a replacement of course.”

“Hush there dear, don’t worry about that, don’t
you worry about anything, everything is going to be okay”

Her head was aching were she had hit her attacker
and she felt like throwing up as the room began to spin.  She slumped down
in the booth as everything went black.

Carrie was out cold on the floor in the recovery
position when the paramedics arrived.  She tried to sit up disorientated
and frankly getting a bit upset at all the faces surrounding her. 
Panicking she pulled at the oxygen mask on her face.

“It’s okay; we just need to get your stats back
up, just breathe for me”

 Carrie nodded.

“Can you tell me your name?”

She pulled the mask aside.  “It’s Carrie
Reynolds-Davies”

“Not from around here”

She shook her head.  Ouch bad idea that
hurt. 

“Okay Carrie, we are going to take you to the
hospital to get you checked out.  You’ve fainted and might have a
concussion.  There are a few bruises and I think your left wrist might be
sprained or have a fracture”

Carrie automatically attempted to move her arm
and couldn’t.  She winced in pain and gasped.

The next hour was a blur for Carrie.  Her
head ached so much and all she wanted to do was sleep.

“Hey Carrie, keep your eyes open for me, that’s
it.”  A light shone in her eyes and she blinked rapidly.  She was
having flash backs of ten years previous when she had her accident and could
feel a panic rising.

“It’s okay Carrie; you are in the ED at Mercy
Hospital.  The physician will be with you shortly.  We are going to
send you for x-ray and scans then we will give you something stronger for pain
relief, is there anyone we can contact for you?”

“My Aunt is staying at the Captains Rest
Inn.  It’s in Cape Elizabeth.  Her name is Belle Hamilton” She
managed to say this before she vomited.  Oh god!

After feeling like she had nothing left inside
her to throw up her exhausted body flopped back on the bed.  They had
asked her so many questions her head was spinning trying to reply.  What
happened?  Where was the impact of the blow?  Eh look at the lump on
my forehead!  Did she have a headache?  Was she dizzy?  Did she
have a previous concussion?  This she did answer too explaining about her
accident when she was seventeen and that she was knocked out cold when that
happened.  She apologised as she felt so nauseous that she had to stop
speaking a few times until the sickness passed. 

Nico had returned to his home after his
fruitless search for Carrie at the Inn.  Frustrated after verbally sparing
with Belle about mishandling everything with Carrie whilst trying to persuade
her to change her mind and return to the Esperanza.  Belle was a damn good
member of his team and her get out last night of the contract was one his
lawyers had missed.  A point he made this morning when he bawled them out
over this error.  Carrie hadn’t returned to the Inn and he could even
sense the disapproval from the members of staff.  Back at the house Chiara
was waiting for him.  Clearly his shouting out with her last night had
little effect. 

“Chiara I’ve told you, stay out of my way. 
You have royally screwed things up for me with Carrie”

She followed him into his study were Beau was
lying sprawled on his large cushion.  Close to Nico’s desk and the open
fireplace he could be found there most days.  He gave a soft growl as
Chiara flounced onto one of the chairs.  Chiara was not a favourite of
Beau’s.

“Yeah, yeah!” she replied giving Beau a
stare.  “Look I’ve told you I’m sorry but you made me so so so mad. 
I thought well I would just teach you a lesson not to dismiss me.  To take
me serious.  You wouldn’t listen to me about the TV show, which
incidentally I still think is a great idea”

“Chiara” he warned.

“Well it is and you wouldn’t have to be in it
much, just pop up here and there for the ratings or specials, it is supposed to
be about me and my so-called fabulous life.  Lea even agreed we could
cover your wedding in the show.  But that’s not going to happen since you
finished with her.”

“I will not discuss this again with you Chiara,
NO!  I don’t know what rubbish Lea told you but I never asked her to marry
me and it was NEVER going to be an option.  She knew the score well
enough.”

He sat in the large leather chair behind the
desk.  Rage still emanated from his body. 

“As I told you last night, this room is private
and you are no longer welcome as I cannot trust a member of my own family with
private and confidential information that is in my possession”

Tears filled her eyes.

“I’m sorry Nico, I just wanted to do something
for me and when you wouldn’t do the TV show I thought I would make you pay when
I saw you
all
over Carrie at the dance.  Lea was calling me and
texting that you wouldn’t take her calls.  She was a mess.  Crying
over you and what an ass hole you have been to her.  She’s my friend I
thought I was helping her too.  I should also confess, I was causing some
more mischief for you.  I swapped the table places.  Before you go
firing the planner or something”

“What?  You are unbelievable.  What
loyalty do you owe Lea?  I am your brother.  Chiara the last twenty
years have been all about you, Mom and Dad have pampered and spoilt you but no
more it stops now.”

“Okay, okay I will help Mama with the foundation
or something but just say you forgive me, I won’t say anything else to Lea or
side with her, please, please Nico you are my big brother and I don’t want you
to be angry with me as well.  I will even apologise to Carrie.  Even
though she did throw a drink all over me.  Pops is still mad at me. 
He called me selfish, I mean
me
selfish
.  
I don’t have
a selfish bone in my body.”

Before he could reply the ringing of his mobile
interrupted their conversation, it was Belle.

“Okay Chiara, I have to take this call.”

“Yay, I’m going, I’m going” She ran over to hug
him briefly.  Taking his okay as a sign of his forgiveness.

He shook his head as she left the room.

“Hey Belle, when did Carrie get back?  Is
she still mad at me?”  When he left he made Belle promise to contact him
as soon as she heard from Carrie.

“Nico, I uh” she drew a breath in.  The
hair on the back of his neck prickled as Belle was one of the most confident
women he knew and she hesitated.  Clearly a bad sign.

“What’s happened Belle?”

“It’s Carrie Nico, she’s in hospital.  They
just called me.  She’s in the emergency department at Mercy
hospital.  She’s been mugged.  They won’t tell me her injuries. 
I need to go, she needs me”

“Belle wait, I will take you, I will be there in
five minutes, are you still at the Inn?”

“Yes I am”

“I will be right there, don’t go anywhere”

He was poleaxed.  What on earth had
happened to her?  The fear creeping in his stomach that she had been
harmed shocked him.  Was she okay? 

He opened the study door.  “Jay get the
car” he bellowed.

On the drive to the hospital Belle updated in
him on what little she knew.   Carrie had fought off an attacker in
the car lot of a diner.  They didn’t know the full extent of her injuries,
some cuts and bruises etc. but not much more.  It was a taught and tense
journey to the hospital.

She lay on the trolley in the white hospital
gown in a room separated by a grey curtain.  She was quickly transferred
to the hospital bed.  Her eyes heavy with the waves of exhaustion hitting
her.  Her clothes had been taken away by the police as evidence after they
had processed her.  They had taken scrapings from her nails, swabs for DNA
and lots pictures of her face and injuries.   She gave them a statement
of events.  Oh she had gotten herself into a right old mess here. 
Where was Auntie Belle?  Did she contact Nico?  Would he be with
her?  The tears were once again threatening her.  She could hear the
TV playing for the next bed.  The applause and canned laughter of a comedy
boomed out.  The room alien and un-familiar to her.  It was bright
and clean but it was no hotel room.  She didn’t know who was behind the
curtain and was in no hurry to make an introduction.  Her battered hand
bag was clutched tightly in her bandaged hands.  Looking like a prop from
a horror movie with a smear of dried blood and missing a handle.  She
slowly tried to look for her compact mirror.  Slipping her hand briefly
out of the sling to grab the mirror as her other hand was restricted with the
drip in her hand.  Opening it up one side the glass was cracked and
broken.  Did this count as seven years bad luck? 

“Oh my,” no Doris Day this time just her shock
at her injuries.

From top to toe not a part of her body had
escaped her assault.  She could see her cheek was bruised and red with a
small cut that she had been assured would not scar.  It didn’t require
stitching or glue just a small butterfly closure.  A large bruise and lump
had formed on her forehead where she had smashed her head into his skull. 
Ouch it was tender to the touch.  Pulling forward the hospital gown she
tried to look at her injured shoulder and collar bone had two deep scratches
were his fingers had dug in; again violent purple bruises had rapidly formed. 
Her hands and knees had taken the brunt when she fell.  The pads of both
hands had tiny cuts and lacerations from the rough stones of the car
park.  The only consolation her left wrist wasn’t broken just badly
sprained.  Her knees had suffered a similar fate as the pads of her hands
but the thick cotton of her jeans had protected them more than her bare skin
had.  They too were cut and bruised.  Her ankle from repeatedly
kicking out at her attacker was sore but it had been weakened from her accident.  
To her eternal embarrassment she had vomited in the ER room after waves of
dizziness overcame her.  They had an IV drip in her hand which hooked her
up to fluids to replace those that she had continually vomited. 

“We think you have a minor head injury, a concussion,
that’s why you have been so sick and sleepy.  The best thing for you will
be to stay here for a few days to rest and recover from your injuries.  We
need to keep you under observation.”

“But I can’t stay here, I have to fly home on
Thursday, It’s my sister’s birthday” 

 “Let’s see how you recover the next few
days and we can talk about that flight home”

At the admissions desk Nico was trying to
contain his growing frustration.  They wanted Carries insurance
details.  His frustration was part in the bureaucracy but also that he had
little ‘personal’ information on Carrie.  Even though he had the file he
could not recant her home address etc.  He was intimate with her body but
unable to do this task and it exasperated him.  Belle provided the information
and gave her details as next of kin.  Nico handed over his credit
card.  The palladium credit card giving no doubt to his credit worthiness
for the bill.

“Charge it to me; I will be paying the bill” His
tone brooked no argument. 

“Nico, Carrie has insurance,”

“Yes, for the basics, I want her moved to a
private room.  Immediately.”  He instructed the desk to arrange this.

“Now can we go and see her?”

They were given directions for the ward where
she had been admitted.  He held his breath.  Carrie looked so small
and pitiful in the hospital bed. 

“Auntie Belle,” she exclaimed as they entered
the room.  Belle rushed to her side and embraced her even though Carrie
winced in pain.

“I’m sorry, oh where does it hurt? What
happened?”

She hadn’t told him to leave and part of her was
relieved he was there.

“Hello you,”

“Hello you,” she replied, as she always
did.  He leaned over and kissed her cheek.  He noted the bruises all
over her beautiful face.  Her hands were bandaged, her arm in a sling the
other hooked up to a drip. 

The TV continued to blare from the other bed.

“Carrie, you can take your time telling us, I’ve
asked for you to be moved to a private room”

“My insurance, the nurse said they would be here
to take some details but my paperwork is at the hotel.”

“It’s okay Carrie, Nico is dealing with that,
it’s all taken care off.”

The Nico influence was in play as within a few
minutes porters had arrived to move her to another room. A private room all to
herself.  She knew she should argue with Nico about the move but her
nerves were frazzled after the day’s events. 

“Start at the beginning, I want all the
details,” her Aunt prompted once Carrie was settled.  The waves of nausea
were receding but she still felt queasy.

“There isn’t much to tell but I will try, I’ve
already given the police a statement and been ‘processed’ for evidence.”

“When did you see them?”

“A couple of hours ago, I’ve kind of lost track
of time, they left me a card to contact them if I remember anything else. 
They said someone else from the sheriff department would come by later”

“Carrie darling, just start when you are
ready.”  Belle prompted.

“I went to the diner earlier, had a coffee then
drove out to Bug light.  The weather hadn’t improved much so I decided to
head back to the Inn.  I wasn’t quite ready to come back so I thought I
would return to the same diner first.”