Rap. Rap. Rap
. The knocking continued.
Mace! the voice repeated; louder and more insistent. Are you okay?
Masculine features blurred, and then formed into a face, peering at me from above. Worried look. Firm jaw. Full mustache.
Did you grow that mustache in heaven, Daddy?
Mace! Cmon back to Earth, girl.
I could almost feel my synapses struggling to fire all the fog out of my brain. Where am I, Donnie? I finally asked.
Donnie Bailey, from the jail, stood in water to his waist. He was tapping his flashlight loud against the hood of my Jeep. Cracks branched out across the windshields glass like the bare limbs of a dead pine tree.
Youre sitting in a ditch up to your wheel wells off Highway 98. Are you hurt?
I moved my left arm and then my right; lifted and lowered each foot. I was surprised to hear them splash into the water that swirled around the floorboards. When I put my palm to my forehead, I felt something else wet. I dropped my hand and stared at my own blood.
Donnie spoke calmly: Thats a head wound, Mace. You might have banged it on the steering wheel, or caught some of that barbed wire through your open window. He blinded me, shining his flashlight into my face. Thatll bleed, but it doesnt look too deep. Do you think you can undo your seat belt and help me get you out of that Jeep?
Barbed wire fencing was draped like Christmas garland across the Jeeps front half. Donnie used the long handle on the butt-end of his flashlight to move the wire away. Pulling open my door, he leaned awkwardly into the drivers seat.
Put your arm around my neck, Mace. Im gonna slip my hands under your legs and lift. Careful. Youre gonna be shaky.
He swung me clear of the door. Very good, he said. Now, Im going to carry you over and set you down on the hood of my squad car where I can get a look at you. Is that okay? He was using that slow, deliberate, ABC-teaching tone.
I understand you perfectly, Donnie. Im not going into shock on you. Did I hit the concrete culvert?
I could smell the muddy sediment and the grassy scent of water spinach stirring as we moved. I hoped that was all that was stirring in that dark water. Donnie slipped a little climbing up the steep bank. Im heavier than I look.
You missed hitting it head-on. Grazed it. He stopped at the top to catch his breath. Theres a big scratch along the culvert. Then it looks like you flew over that grassy berm, and right into the water.
We waited on the bank, as Donnie gathered strength. Mosquitoes hummed in the still air.
You can put me down. Im fine. I felt embarrassed that someone whose diapers Id changed was carrying me like a baby.
Youre not walking until I know what youve hurt. He was still panting a little.
We made it the twenty feet or so to his car. He sat me down on the hood and grabbed a blanket from the trunk to wrap around me. Now, he was checking me overnoting whether my skin was clammy or warm; feeling my pulse. Id done the same thing myself to injured visitors at Himmarshee Park. After toting me through the water and up a small hill, Donnies heart rate was probably worse off than mine.
Can you feel that? Does that hurt? he asked, pressing first on my midsection and then down my legs. How bout that? he said, moving on to the rest of my body.
My head felt as big as a balloon in the Macys parade, and my right knee ached like somebody smashed it with a mallet. Im fine, Donnie, I lied. Just shaken up.
Youre lucky you didnt wind up top side down in the water, he said, moving aside my new hairdo to see if there were any more cuts. Id never have seen you if not for your headlights shining out over the canal. Its a good thing weve had some dry days, or that water would have been higher.
He backed up a couple of steps, the better to view all of me at once.
Looks like youll live. He bent down to pick a long stem of hydrilla out of his shoe. I could hear the water dripping as he held up one foot.
Thanks for coming to my rescue, Donnie. I might have stumbled out of the Jeep, fallen underwater, and never come to. I owe you.
You should still have them look you over at the hospital, though. Ive already radioed in about your accident.
Donnie using that word triggered my recall of the frightening moments before the crash. It wasnt an accident, I said quickly. Somebody deliberately ran me off the road.
I told him what happened, describing how the other vehicle had chased me, finally forcing me to lose control. Im telling you they bumped me, Donnie. Hard. If you check the Jeeps rear end once its on dry land, youll probably find a scrape of paint or something from his car. Im saying right now, this was on purpose. It was no accident.
I could see the skepticism in his eyes. Why would someone want to do that, Mace?
Ive been out there all day, asking questions about Jim Albert. So far, all Im sure of is Mama didnt murder him. But maybe its making somebody nervous that Im going to find out who did.
Donnie swung his flashlight out to the road and then to the ditch. Aside from the bugs he picked up in the beam, we were definitely alone now. Or maybe it was just you out here. You were tired, and you fell asleep at the wheel. Thats nothing to be ashamed of, Mace. Ive done it myself.
We both got quiet. I cant speak for Donnie, but I was busy trying to think of a list of suspects who might have wanted me drowned at the bottom of a canal. Frogs croaked. Crickets chirped. I slapped at a mosquito that landed on my neck. In the distance, a siren wailed.
Dont tell me thats an ambulance, Donnie. I dont like ambulances.
You need to go to the hospital to be evaluated, he said stubbornly. You could have internal bleeding or swelling in your brain.
I told you: Im fine. And Im not riding in the back of an ambulance. They loaded my father into one after his heart attack, and that was the last time any of us saw him. I still remember the sight of those doors closing on Daddy. My sisters and I stood there in the road, watching until that ambulance was no bigger than a dot. My voice trembled.
Donnie pulled at the collar on his shirt and looked down at the ground.
Sorry, I said. A narrow escape from death might make anybody a little emotional. Now, I said, shifting gears, tell me why you cant just give me a ride back to town?
If it was any other night, I would. But my little boys sick, and my wife is already late for the night shift at the nursing home. My son needs me, and those old people need her. Im sorry, Mace.
I felt bad for being so selfish. Not to mention ancient. I couldnt believe my one-time babysitting charge was married with a boy of his own. That siren was getting closer. Even as banged up as I felt, I knew Id rather walk to town than ride in that ambulance.
Suddenly, I had what seemed like a good idea. Then again, I might have had a brain injury.
Could you call Detective Martinez? I said. I believe this might have something to do with the questions Ive been asking about Jim Alberts murder. Maybe hell think so, too. Hed want to get a look at things out here, in case it turns out this is a crime scene.
I could see Donnie thinking it over. The detective outranked him. He wouldnt want to be blamed for making a mistake. I knew if Martinez came out, I could bum a ride back with him. Id prefer even that to being shut into the back of an ambulance.
Donnie finally agreed, putting in a call for the detective. In the meantime, the ambulance crew arrived and checked me over. They did essentially what Donnie had done, except they used various medical gizmos to gauge my vital signs. They grumbled a little when I refused to be transported to the hospital. But I know my rights. I dont have a cousin whos a lawyer for nothing.
Martinez arrived just as the ambulance was leaving. Donnie met him by the road, and the two conferred, out of my hearing. Donnie was probably telling him how Id hallucinated a chase scene after I got knocked on the head. That, along with my daddys visit from heaven. After Martinez stopped nodding, they headed my way.
He peered into my face. Not that I cared, but was that a flicker of concern in his eyes?
Howre you feeling, Ms. Bauer? he asked.
Not crazy, if thats what you want to know. Someone ran me off the road.
He put out his arm for me to grab hold of. I ignored it, and climbed down off Donnies hood. A shot of pain from my knee nearly took my breath away. My leg buckled, but Martinez caught me firmly by the waist. I was still shakier than Id thought. But not so shaky I didnt notice the hard muscle in his arm where he held me next to his side. Or the masculine way he smelled, like after-shave mixed with a faint trace of cigars.
Steady,
chica.
His warm breath in my ear sent a shiver south of my stomach. I wasnt sure what the Spanish word meant, but it sounded nice. Just take slow steps, okay? Martinez said. Were going to get you to the front seat of my car. Well take our time.
He nodded curtly at Donnie, dismissing him from the responsibility of me. With a wave from the open drivers side window of his car, Donnie bid me good-bye. Remember what I said about dozing off, Mace. Its nothing to have to hide.
I smiled and waved back. But I was simmering inside. I couldnt believe Donnie thought I was making it all up.
Im telling the truth, you know, I said, feeling cranky now.
As Martinez settled me into his passenger seat, I repeated what Id told Donnie. Including how I thought my crash was linked to the murder. Every once in awhile, hed nod, leaning against the inside of my open door, arms across his chest.
When I was done, he said, I dont disbelieve you, Ms. Bauer.
What the hell did that mean? He wasnt calling me a liar, but he wasnt saying he believed me, either.
Well know more about how it happened when we can look over your car. The officer called
Donnie, I said, annoyed. He has a name.
All right, Officer
Donnie
called for a tow truck. Theyll haul your Jeep to the Florida Highway Patrol, and tomorrow well see what we can find. Ive requested an accident investigator from the FHP. Shes coming out here to check the scene for skid marks, tire tracks, and anything else she can find.
He leaned across my body and fastened the seat belt at my hip. There was that cursed twinge again. Apparently, there was nothing wrong with my nether regions. His cologne smelled spicy, but subtle. It definitely beat the ditch water stench coming off of me.
After rummaging in his trunk, Martinez returned with three roadside flares. Im going to light these to mark the accident scene, and then youre going to the hospital. Your friend, Officer
Donnie
, already gave dispatch the location, but these will help the investigator narrow it down. He placed the flares on the cars roof, and stooped to look at me. Brushing the hair from my forehead, he examined my wound. I was surprised at the gentleness of his touch. His hands looked so strong. I jerked away, but the warm impression from his fingers lingered.
You were northbound when you went off the road, right?
When I was run off the road, I snapped at him, embarrassed by my bodys response to him.
What were you doing out here anyway? Its the middle of nowhere.
As if to emphasize our isolation, we heard the deep, bellowing grunt of a bull gator. All of a sudden, an image of Mamas boyfriend flashed into my head. I couldnt believe Id forgotten to mention before now how hed summoned me to the distant golf course.
Salvatore Provenza, huh? Martinezs attention was riveted as I related my story. And you say he wasnt there when you showed up?
Thats right. I didnt even want to go out to that stupid golf course in the first place. Id been busy all day, questioning people who might know something about Mamas case.
So Ive heard. Youre quite the interrogator. Did I see the tiniest smile cracking through the granite in Martinezs jaw?
Anyway, I was tired. All I wanted to do was go home, nuke some fried chicken, and vegetate in front of my TV. But hes my mothers boyfriend. And he sounded so desperate.
Sals desperate all right. Martinez rose. All trace of a smile was gone. And youd be wise to remember that desperate people do desperate things.
Dread settled like a boulder in my stomach as Martinez and I pulled up to Himmarshee Regional Hospital. Im not afraid of doctors. But I am afraid of my older sister.
I could see Maddie through the plate glass window, washed in a red glow from the emergency room sign. She was sitting in a nearly empty row of chairs. The set of her mouth was as hard as the steel bolts that screwed the chairs to the floor. Marty was beside her, staring into space and worrying the tissue in her hands into shreds.
