WARNING: Graphic language regarding violence and sex. Profanity and vulgarity at times. This is a story for adults.

by Phair

Part 8

Devyn gave a last wave goodbye as Alby steered the Rolls back down the sandy driveway. She fiddled with the key to the front door but found it unlocked. Her heart beat picked up. Why would O’Grady unlock the door while Devyn was out at her appointment?

"Hey! O’Grady?" Devyn called as she searched room to room for the doctor. "Where are you?"

"Back porch!"

Devyn’s breath finally caught up to her when she heard the happy voice. She tried to shake off the dark feeling of dread that overtook her at the front door. Moving to the porch, Devyn saw the weeping reflection of O’Grady’s other guest in the door’s glass window. In an instant of clarity, Devyn understood the moment was now.

"You look comfortable," Devyn observed as she stepped out on the weathered wood deck.

O’Grady was stretched out on a beach lounge. Her long, dark hair blowing freely in the summer wind. Sunglasses, black tank top with matching shorts, and bare feet made the woman seem like every other vacation hound. The obvious scar on her face and the bandage around her neck and the wound Devyn knew was hidden under the shirt quickly dispelled the first impression.

"I’m very comfortable," O’Grady grinned. "Pull up a chair and help me keep an eye on the tide."

"Why are you watching the tide?" Devyn giggled as she sat.

"When it gets up to the lifeguard tower on the lower beach, it’s time to eat."

"How do you know that?" Devyn put her feet up on the railing.

"Just decided," O’Grady shrugged. "We’ll be having coffee ice cream unless you want to make something."

"I’ll make something," Devyn returned a half smile. "We need to talk first, okay?"

"You okay? Did something bad happen at the doctor’s?" O’Grady sat up startled at the serious tone.

"Easy, Doc, my appointment went fine," Devyn put a calm hand on O’Grady’s shoulder. "I thought we had reached an agreement over the last couple of weeks. When I’m out, you stay in the house."

"What makes you think I went out?" O’Grady settled back in the chair.

"Front door was unlocked."

"I forgot to lock the door? Shit," O’Grady cursed herself. "I was just getting the paper. Besides, I’m steady on my feet with the cane and I wouldn’t push my luck. You don’t need to worry about me."

"I’m not the only one worrying," Devyn paused to give the doctor a moment to process the statement.

"The ghost? My ghost?" O’Grady removed her sunglasses hoping to see some shadow of the woman around them.

"She’s crying. She’s very concerned about your safety. Maybe she thinks you’re gonna fall."

"Can’t you ask her?"

"If it only worked like that with this one!" Devyn rolled her eyes as she sat back in the chair. "She’s not very strong. It’s difficult for her to come through at all. I see her in reflections or out of the corner of my eye. Sometimes she whispers a word or a name in my ear. Sometimes it’s just a feeling that comes over me."

"What does she whisper?" O’Grady asked.

"Sometimes your name and sometimes," Devyn wrinkled her nose hating to repeat the term, "she says, ‘sugar baby’ or something like that."

The doctor began to laugh. It started softly, almost sad, but grew to a deep throated full guffaw. She had to hold her wounded side against the strain.

"What’s so funny?"

"That’s got to be my grandmother," O’Grady wiped her eyes, "my Dad’s mother. Her husband was a careers diplomat. Once they moved to Europe she never came home. Not even for a visit. This house belonged to her family but I don’t even know if she ever lived here."

"Did you get to meet her?"

"No, but she made arrangements for me to spend part of my summer vacations here while I was growing up. She even sent her own maid to watch me. The maid would be waiting for me with a fully stocked kitchen, summer wardrobe, and a short letter stuffed with cash from Grandmother O’Grady. She always signed it the same way, ‘a little sugar for my baby, GOG.’" The doctor sighed as the happy childhood memories flooded her.

"So," Devyn hated to break the pleasant mood but there was a point to be made, "why would she be crying."

O’Grady frowned. She was doing so much better. Feeling a bit stronger daily. What could possibly trouble her grandmother’s soul?

"I don’t know Devyn but we should probably try to figure it out."

"Agreed," Devyn felt a weight lifted from her shoulders and sensed they were moving in the right direction. "Let’s do lunch then we’ll make a list of possibilities."

"Agreed," O’Grady was almost certain she heard an echo of her assent hushed in her ear.

* * *

"You could’ve told me before I made lunch that the OT cleared you to use the stove," Devyn rolled her eyes at the smirking psychiatrist.

"Then you would have made me cook," O’Grady pushed her empty plate forward. "By the way, that was the best turkey club I’ve had in a long time. Now, what’s for dessert?"

"Oatmeal cookie?"

"Ice cream?"

"No, oatmeal cookies or nothing."

"If I skip the cookie now can I have ice cream after dinner?" O’Grady tried to bargain.

"Fine," a frustrated Devyn tossed her hands up in surrender. "Doc, your sweet tooth needs capping."

"How ‘bout a little slack here? You try eating through a tube in you nose for a couple of weeks and see what happens to your appetite."

O’Grady was kidding but Devyn’s features pinched. The doctor immediately regretted the joke. She did not want Devyn to be uncomfortable about her injuries even if she, herself, could not stand the site of them.

"Hey," O’Grady started but the blonde held up her hand to stop the apology.

"She’s crying now," Devyn whispered.

"She’s worried about my weight," O’Grady deadpanned.

"Not funny," Devyn cautioned with a crease in her pale brow. "She started crying the minute you brought up the feeding tube. O’Grady, she must be upset about the stabbing."

"Me too," the doctor smiled even though Devyn frowned. "She shouldn’t be crying now. Why cry when I’m well. At least, I’m much better."

Devyn was quiet for a few minutes. Almost straining to listen to the silence of the kitchen. Her eyes grew wide with a sudden realization.

"What happened to the woman who stabbed you?"

"It’s a weird footnote to this whole episode. Believe it or not, she made bail and promptly OD’d. Cops think it was deliberate. You know, because her son had died and she was facing an attempted murder rap," O’Grady shrugged. "She took the easy way out."

"Strange. How would somebody like her make bail? It must’ve been set pretty high considering the circumstances. From what you told me about her, I’d have thought she’d be stuck in County until trial."

The doctor had not considered this before. She was so relieved the danger the woman still posed had ended, O’Grady did not analysize the details. The fact there was no need for a trial was an added bonus.

"You think whoever bailed her out might still be a threat to me?" The doctor watched Devyn’s eyes widen.

"We’re getting closer. She stopped crying but, shit, she’s gone!" Devyn slammed the table top with her palms. "Happy now? You sit there screwing around instead of focusing while she’s right there and …,"

Devyn let out a irritated groan before grabbing the empty plates and storming over to the sink. A few moments after the water started to run a dish shattered. Strangled sobbing broke the silence which followed. O’Grady pulled herself to her feet and crossed the kitchen cautiously without her cane. Devyn’s right palm was bleeding into the sink.

"Let’s see how deep this is," O’Grady spoke softly as she examined the cut. "It might need stitches but why don’t we clean it up first just to be sure."

"I’m …, sssorry," Devyn stammered. "Dddon’t know what happened to mmme. It was …, like…,"

"My office?" O’Grady supplied as she rinsed the wound.

"Yes," Devyn shook her head sadly. "If you want me to pack up and leave, I understand."

"Devyn," O’Grady sighed as she pulled several sheets of paper towel free and applied pressure to the injury, "I, most definitely, do not want you to go. You’re afflicted with a very powerful ability. It has both benefits and detriments inherent to its nature. We need to figure out how to best train your skill so it helps you more than it hurts you. Devyn, whether you want to believe it or not, this is a gift."

"If you say so," Devyn grimaced as the soap stung her wound and tears stung her eyes.

* * *

"Great, you’re awake," O’Grady was standing over a steaming pot on the stove as Devyn tumbled into the kitchen. "Dinners almost ready so pull up a chair."

"Are we having coffee ice cream?" Devyn asked before collapsing into one of the strong kitchen chairs.

The pair spent the better part of the afternoon at the town’s clinic. Devyn’s cut needed five stitches and the woman required a tetanus shot. At O’Grady’s constant nagging, Devyn agreed to take a pain killer. When they returned home, Devyn fell sound asleep.

"Nope, it’s pasta with pesto sauce!" O’Grady flashed a happy grin at Devyn before turning to attend her boiling pot.

"Fancy," Devyn eased back in the chair as she straightened her t-shirt and sweat pants.

"How do you feel?" O’Grady called over her shoulder as she strained the pasta.

"Like an ass."

"Devyn," O’Grady clarified, "I want to know if your hand hurts."

"We both know a few stitches is nothing for me," the edge in Devyn’s tone was not lost on the doctor.

O’Grady carefully made her way to the table with both plates. In spite of Devyn’s mood, the doctor was very pleased with herself. Setting the green pasta in front of the young woman filled the doctor with a joy she had not experienced in a very long time.

"What’s the grin for?" Devyn asked.

"Independence," O’Grady broke into a laughter. "Three weeks ago I could barely stand for five minutes without my cane. Tonight, I cooked dinner and set the table. Not half bad, right?"

"Better than that," Devyn spoke around a mouthful of food. "This is delicious. Doc, you’re cooking tomorrow night too."

The tension in the kitchen eased as the women enjoyed the meal. Devyn even laughed a few times as O’Grady detailed the steps in preparing their dinner.

"How are you feeling?" The doctor took the first lull in the conversation to ask again.

"Better," Devyn whispered and blushed her embarrassment.

"Can you describe what happened?"

"I’m afraid," the young woman looked away.

"I’m right here."

Devyn shuddered as O’Grady took her hand. However, the frightened blonde was able to manage eye contact in response. The doctor’s concern was evident and forced Devyn to answer.

"It was like a wave of anger. Like a wild mob was coming from behind me. I got swept up in their hatred."

"Behind? My grandmother was in front of you so the negative energy was not coming from her, thank God. Behind you was the back door and the beach." O’Grady frowned, "That can’t be. Nothing bad comes from the ocean." Devyn’s quiet chuckle distracted the doctor, "What?"

"Sorry, it’s just the thought of you defending the Atlantic’s reputation is a bit funny."

The psychiatrist in her stiffened up. She blinked several times to focus herself before explaining.

"The Atlantic Ocean is the birthplace of all life on this planet. Nothing bad comes from the sea."

"Storms, hurricanes, sharks," Devyn began listing dangers on her fingers.

"NO!" O’Grady objected with a smirk. "Storms and hurricanes are natural forces. While they may inconvenience people, in and of themselves, they are neither positive or negative. As for sharks, the water is their home and people are intruders."

"I stand corrected," Devyn laughed.

"Damn, right!" O’Grady flashed a big smile. "Now, back to the negative energy. I think we need to take a walk on the beach."

"Will you be able to manage?" Devyn was concerned about the doctor’s balance.

"Hey, I did get dinner together. I think a stroll on the beach should be a piece of cake."

Devyn tidied up the kitchen while O’Grady changed into a pair of jeans and jacket. The wind had started to pick up and Devyn did not want the doctor to catch a chill. The pair made their way to the sand beyond the back porch. The pale soft sand shifted heedlessly under their feet. O’Grady leaned onto the cane and Devyn to keep her balance. The effort brought a line of sweat to her brow.

"Need to rest?" Devyn offered.

"There’s a bench a little further up," O’Grady panted slightly. "We’ll sit there for a while before turning around."

The doctor scanned the terrain ahead trying to avoid a misstep. As they got closer to the bench, O’Grady’s pace slowed. It was painfully apparent that they were not the first visitors to this spot today.

"Look at that," she eyed a pile of cigarette butts.

"People are slobs," Devyn shrugged missing the point.

"No, this is private. Nobody’s suppose to be up here. There’s a fence between the lower public beach and my property line. Plus a rough climb of jagged rocks to discourage trespassers." O’Grady let out a groan and stopped in her tracks, "Condoms."

"See, it must be kids," Devyn urged the doctor forward the last few feet to the bench.

"No, I don’t think so," O’Grady muttered when they finally reached the bench.

The ancient resting stop was strewn with scotch bottles, cigarette butts, and used condoms. More troubling were the words carved into the wood surface; die bitch. Next to the block letters the author etched a tiny dagger.

"Doc," Devyn’s grip on O’Grady’s arm tightened as she realized how far they were from the house and how fast the sun seemed to be setting, "I think we need to be in doors. Let’s get moving."

"Devyn, run back to the house and lock the door. Call the police. I want you to wait for them inside. I’ll follow you. They should be here by the time I get to the porch."

"I’m not leaving you out here alone," Devyn whispered as she tugged on the doctor’s arm.

"You can’t wait for me. I’ll slow you down. Go on, hurry," O’Grady tried to release the woman’s hold.

"Nope," Devyn tugged again, "I won’t go if you don’t come with me."

O’Grady realized the argument was getting them nowhere. Refusing to listen to Devyn had wasted daylight and more of the doctor’s waning strength. With a sigh, the dark head bowed and gave into the demand.

The pair trudged through the sand. Devyn frequently peaked over her shoulder to make sure nobody was following them.

"Problem?" The doctor panted.

"I’m …frightened," it was the only word that fit.

"Almost home," O’Grady was pressed to the limit of her endurance.

The back door stood slightly ajar before them. However, both women were too concerned with getting inside to notice. O’Grady stumbled on the last few steps and Devyn practically dragged her over the threshold. The exhausted psychiatrist dropped into the kitchen chair while Devyn locked the door.

"Okay, you rest here and I’ll call the cops," Devyn’s plan was interrupted by shrill laughter coming from the living room.

"Devyn, run," O’Grady shouted with a sickening recognition of the voice.

Terrified, Devyn did just that. She lunged for the back door and tore open the locks. With her thoughts focused on escape, she raced out onto the sand. A throaty grunt behind her was the only warning she was being pursued before she was fiercely tackled. Her scream was cut off when her attacker flipped her over and backhanded her. The blow clouded her vision with stars but she saw enough of the man to know it was Jenowitz straddling her.

"Give me a reason to smack you again," he leaned in close to whisper before licking at the blood dripping from her nose.

Devyn tried to squirm away in disgust but the fugitive cop raised his hand to strike her. Every muscle in her body failed her under the threat.

"No, please, don’t hit me," Devyn cowered.

The big man snorted in disgust. He stood then pulled Devyn up by her hair and shirt front. Devyn’s hand automatically came up to grab his but he shook her hard. Once more she went limp.

"That’s better," he laughed as he hauled her across the beach into the house’s growing shadow. "If you piss me off too much and I’ll kill you sooner than I planned on. Then I’ll have to entertain myself with that fucking shrink of yours. Maybe I’ll find out how many times I can cut her before she really does die," he laughed even harder when Devyn sobbed.

* * *

"You do have a lovely home," Suse Waugh sighed as she circled the couch O’Grady was sitting on.

"Most people wait to be invited," O’Grady mumbled as she tested the strength of the duck tape that bound her hands behind her back and her legs at the ankle.

"That’s a very aggressive attitude," Waugh plopped down next to the doctor and draped a bony leg across O’Grady’s thighs, "for somebody in the bind you’re in. Get it," Waugh cackled, "bind and you’re all tied up? It’s a pun, silly."

O’Grady closed her eyes. She could not even look at the woman tormenting her. A faint scream echoed from the beach.

"Devyn," O’Grady began to struggle with her bounds again.

"Stop that," Suse insisted as she lifted O’Grady’s shirt to reveal the new, pink skin of the healing stab wound. "It looks sore. Is it?"

O’Grady remained silent when her former friend sat up straight to examine the injury. Suse traced the length of the wound with her index finger. She hummed softly as she explored the details of scar. In an instant, her features went from idle curiosity to fury. Her balled fist connected violently with the tender tissue. O’Grady, completely defenseless, was left doubled over and howling in agony.

"Hey, babe, look what I caught at the beach today," Jenowitz called happily as he burst into the living room.

The hulking man tossed Devyn across the floor. She skidded the length of the room on the highly polished wood floors. Her unresisting body crashed into the couch.

"Good shot," Suse giggled. "Kath, we brought your friend back for a play date."

Waugh grabbed a fistful of O’Grady’s hair and pulled her upright. The psychiatrist gagged on her pain but forced herself not to cry out. She glared at Suse before locating Devyn laying curled in a ball, motionless, just a few inches from her feet.

"Dev," O’Grady croaked and the blonde stirred slightly but did not lift her head to face the doctor.

"Oh, she and I had a little conversation about proper behavior so she maybe a bit more reserved than usual tonight," Jenowitz chuckled.

"What do you want with us?" O’Grady spat out defiantly.

"Well, dear, you made us move on you faster than we wanted," Waugh tisked and planted her feet back on the doctor’s lap. "So, our plans are all upside down. We’re winging it!"

"That’s right. We figured it would be weeks before you could walk that far." Jenowitz strode across the room to kick Devyn, "Assume the position, bitch!"

Devyn whimpered but rolled onto her stomach. The big man forced her arms behind her and slapped his handcuff around her wrists.

"Hey," Suse protested, "now what are we gonna use?"

"Sorry, honey, business before pleasure."

O’Grady flinched when Jenowitz pulled Devyn to her knees. The woman’s face was marked by the fine points of their ‘conversation.’ Her eye was going black from a meaty right hook. Blood trickled from her nose and corner of her mouth. Hand prints were visible around Devyn’s neck. But worst of all, her shirt was ripped open and scratched were obvious on the soft flesh beneath. Devyn kept her eyes focused on the floor.

"Okay, I’m gonna only ask this once," the man’s chest puffed up importantly. "I need a room on the second floor to lock you two in tonight. If you fuck with me, I’ll beat you until running ain’t even an option. Then I’ll let you watch the end of my lecture with your friend here," Devyn’s whole body trembled as the man spoke.

"Devyn’s bathroom," O’Grady answered quickly to avoid annoying the couple. "It has no window and can be locked from the outside. We won’t be able to get out."

"Oh, that’s perfect, cause I don’t want you to miss what you’ve got comin’ tomorrow," Jenowitz grinned as O’Grady’s fears turned to tears.

TBC

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