Read Fighting Back (Mercy's Angels) for Free Online Page B

until we wrap this up. It was probably just an idle threat. It’s not common for a random criminal to come back for a second attempt, but it’s better to be safe than sorry,” Frank confessed.
    “What if it wasn’t a random attack?” asked Charlie, his eyes blazing with anger. As far as I was concerned it had to be; there wasn’t a single person I knew that had it in them to do this—not even Luke Hollywell.
    “We’ll figure it out, Charlie, sexual assault investigations take a little time though. The case rarely solves itself then falls into our lap all gift wrapped and nicely presented. Just call me if you think of anything else.”  Frank gave me another of his pointed looks over his silver rimmed glasses.
    “And you’ll call if you find anything?” Charlie countered. Frank nodded and left the room. Charlie rubbed the back of his neck; he looked tired and worried. I knew just how he felt, probably more so. “I’m going to go sort out the paper work, I’ll be right back, okay?” I nodded. It was all I could manage. Talking was too hard, my throat was too sore. I had nothing left inside me to offer so non-committal head movements would have to do.
    “Rebecca, I’m going to have to call Lola and Annie. You need someone to take care of the store for a few days. What do you want me to tell them?” Mercy asked. Shit, I hadn’t even thought about Bouquets, which was in fact now called Mercy’s Angels and Bouquets, but Ella and I still referred to it as Bouquets. Old habits die hard.
    “ Ummm...maybe just tell them that I’m sick?” I shrugged.
    “Perhaps I can tell Annie what happened. She would understand and you’ve known her for quite some time now. You aren’t going to be able to explain the bruises easily; she’ll find out soon enough. We’ll just tell Lola you’re sick and she can take care of Bouquets for a few days, okay?” It all made sense and I knew Lola and Annie would take care of the store for me. I also knew Annie would understand what I had been through. She had faced her own demon, in the form of her ex-husband, who physically and mentally abused her. She had fled to Mercy’s Shelter eighteen months ago. Annie had trusted me with her past, with her nightmares, the least I could do was be honest with her about my own.
    “That sounds fine. Lola needs to get the order for Mr. Benoir out by this afternoon. Tell her the order is in the book.”
    “How about you get a ride back to my place with Charlie and I’ll stop by the store and talk to the girls. Charlie can help get you set up in the spare room at my place; he has a key.” I nodded. Whatever...I no longer really cared what happened or how it happened. I was so tired I thought I might fall asleep standing.
    Charlie sorted out the discharge instructions, he collected the prescriptions for pain medication and, much to my horror, sleeping pills. Seriously, sleeping pills? I slept like the dead as it was. If I had any trouble, my good ol’ friend Hangar One Vodka would help me pass out—it was just as effective. Charlie and Mercy walked, one on each side of me, as a nurse pushed me along in a completely unnecessary wheel chair, navigating the hospital corridors with ease. I closed my eyes and ignored the sights and sounds that frightened me so much.  Once Charlie helped me climb up into the ridiculously high cabin of his Ford truck, my head leaned against the cool glass of the window and my mind drifted. I couldn’t believe how different I felt compared to yesterday, when my dramas included a nagging sister, bills, and my need to get laid. Now part of me was dying to hear my sister’s voice, the bills could take a flying leap, and the thought of getting laid made me ill. Oh God, the last person I had sex with was sitting right beside me, and it seemed as though he would be the last person who ever touched me in that way. A tear rolled down my cheek. The thought of anyone touching me intimately made me shiver. He had touched