The realisation of something crawled up his spine and into his brain as he stared at the crudely painted number.
Six. That was Anabel’s age.
Elijah stood up and then sat back down. The information was useless to him and everyone else, yet he still felt some small elation from the knowledge. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and hit the speed dial for Paul.
“You arrived then?” Paul said upon answering, his voice hard and on edge.
“Number six—it’s her daughter’s age,” Elijah replied. “And yeah, I did.”
Paul was silent for a moment as he thought about that information. “Okay, that theory works,” Paul replied, automatically following Elijah’s line of thought.
“I can guarantee that the other number was four—Owen’s age,” Elijah continued.
“Not much use to us though,” Paul added.
“I know, I just…” he took a deep breath, “I thought I’d pass it along,” Elijah said, the familiar feeling of uselessness draping itself around his shoulders like an albatross.
“I wonder why she didn’t want to stay in those rooms.” Paul pulled his chair closer to his desk, and the legs dragged along the floor, screeching loudly. “I mean, surely a memory of her kids would be a good one, right?”
Elijah scratched at the back of his neck, feeling a light sheen of sweat building. “You’d think,” he replied.
Paul sighed. “It all just keeps pointing to her not being in the right frame of mind, Elijah. That perhaps she didn’t quite have all her bearings together.”
Along with her trying to kill herself, this was just more evidence to suggest that she needed more serious medical care. That was if she ever woke up.
“I know you’re right, Paul, but I’m just not ready to give up on her yet. I think we’re missing something,” Elijah said, swallowing down the anger he felt towards his partner.
It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, at least not that he could prove yet. But he had a feeling. An instinct, and he wasn’t ignoring his gut this time. The last time he’d ignored that feeling was how this mess had all started. He should have known that she wasn’t in the right frame of mind to speak to Michael alone. He should have insisted that he go along with her. But then, he thought darkly, he should have done a lot of things differently.
Secretly, way down deep, he wondered if she would even be in this mess if it weren’t for him. If he would have never kissed her, perhaps she would be okay. Instead she was in a coma.
‘I don’t know what it is about you, Delores,’ Elijah shook his head, a smile playing on his mouth. ‘You take away the heavy feeling that I’ve carried around with me for so long.’
Delores blushed and looked away. ‘I don’t know how, I mean, I’m no good. I’m nothing.’
Elijah scooted himself along the sofa until his knee bumped hers. She looked around sharply, her beautiful eyes swallowing him whole. He’d only knocked on her door because he was passing. Of course, he’d only been passing this way because he’d been thinking about her. Last week she’d wrapped her arms around him and cried herself dry. She’d apologised afterwards, embarrassment flooding her blotchy cheeks.
She never told him what she’d been crying for, but it hadn’t seemed to matter. She’d taken some painkillers, poured them both a cold lemonade and they had sat and talked for over an hour. That first time she’d smiled, he was blown away.
‘Delores, you are not nothing,’ he took one of her hands. ‘I don’t know why you say things like that, or why you would ever think that.’ He pulled her hand up and kissed her knuckles, the entire time holding her gaze.
She’d smiled, that half smile that she only did when she was embarrassed. The color flooded her cheeks and her features lit up. He smiled back, disarming her. He knew it was wrong, he knew she was married, but sometimes when you met someone you had no choice but to follow the road it took you down.
The road with Delores was going to be a bumpy one, he knew that, but he was a victim to it regardless. He took a shaky breath, knowing that he should leave, but knowing that he wasn’t going to all the same.
‘I know it’s wrong. And I know you’re married, with kids. And I know that I’m an officer and I’m supposed to serve and protect, not rip families apart.’ He looked away shamefully, staring down at their hands entwined together, her slender fingers tucked into his. When he looked up, she was watching him with those soulful eyes of hers. ‘But I can’t stop these feelings I have for you.’ He was silent for a second before continuing. ‘I’d really like to kiss you. If that would be okay.’
Her mouth opened in surprise, her lips inviting him in of their own accord and before she could say a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ to him, he leaned forwards and pressed a kiss on her mouth, and decided damn to the consequences of it.
A moment passed before she melted against him, her mouth clinging to his and her arms wrapping around him. Lemonade forgotten in favour of lust.
*
“Have you got in to see her yet?” Paul asked, tearing Elijah from his memory. He sounded tense, anxious almost. They’d both be in trouble if Michael found out Elijah was there.
“No, not yet, but I will,” Elijah replied, his voice husky with emotion.
Paul sighed. “I really think that this is a bad idea. How about I come up there and swap with you? I could get in to see her, maybe, and pass any news along.”
