AN/ Sorry this took a lifetime to post. I've been very busy and plus I had a funeral to go to and tons of christmas shopping and decorating, working retail during holidays. Just a chaotic mess, which I'm sure you are in the same situation. But don't worry I won't abandon this story. I've already started a few pages of the next chapter. I know I say this all the time, but I'm going to try my best to get chapters to you faster. Besides it's harder to come up with ideas when you've been away awhile. Anyways...on with the story. ~Eisac
Chapter Seven
McCarthy had sat next to her on the bed and waited patiently for Alice to say something; which took her a moment considering she was having trouble keeping her stomach from purging. At this rate the baby would never get any nutrients, she groaned.
Her pants leg was almost burning, as she thought about the amulet tucked away snug at her hip. It only took a moment for her to decide to show him. She stood to lose everything, including her own life and having a hurt ego, if this detective didn't believe her, would be minimal in comparison.
Alice reached down inside her pocket and pulled the amulet out. She held the warm gem and closed her eyes, rocking back and forth slightly. Her mother's cold, dead face kept popping in her mind and what it'd be like lying on a metal slab next to her. Alice didn't want to find out.
Dropping it into McCarthy's hand, she didn't say anything because she knew he'd figure it out quick.
He didn't disappoint her. "The killer left you this, didn't he?"
She nodded her head and let the few tears she'd been holding back free. Her tongue felt paralyzed, but she worked it around in her mouth hoping that would help her to speak. "David t-thinks I'm overreacting. Is that what you think I'm doing?"
The detective sat quietly beside her a moment, examining the amulet, flipping it one way and turning it another. He stood up, walked to the closet and squatted over the burn mark. His brow furrowed as he rubbed his stubble chin back and forth. "Miss Hamilton…"
He stood back up and faced Alice on the bed instead of sitting back down beside her. She craned her neck up to him, "Yes?"
"You're obviously in some kind of trouble…" he began.
"Trouble?" Alice knew it was true, but the way he spoke as though he knew who was causing it made her slightly panic.
"Yes…and I know David is involved. Are you aware he isn't who he says he is?"
Her slight panic went to full blown hysteria. "No! No! You've got this all wrong. David isn't the guilty one here. The killer is after me! You have to find him!" She snagged his hand with both of hers, pleading.
"I'm trying Miss, but when your boyfriend's background shows up as blank, I have reason to suspect he's involved in this somehow. If he had anything to do with your mother's death, I'll find it."
She shook her head over and over, "Please no…" Alice quickly thought up a lie to explain his missing background, but regretted it as soon as it left her mouth. "He's had his identity changed for protection."
"Protection?" His eyebrow raised in suspicion. "From what?"
Alice had already starting digging herself a nice size grave and wasn't sure if she should start shoveling the next foot or not. Lying to a cop sent a red flag waving around in her head, but there was no getting around it. Hell, even if she told him some great big story about how he was running from some mob or insane person that was supposedly a friend and they'd changed his name to keep him safe, McCarthy would be able to check the story out and not to mention he would demand Hatters real name.
Alice decided to stick as close to the truth as possible. "Okay, he isn't from this country." Thank God for Hatter's accent. "His home is far from here and he and his family don't see eye to eye. He just wants a normal happy life and I'm trying to help make that happen."
"So you're trying to make his stay in this country legal?" McCarthy ran his tongue across his dry bottom lip and waited with wariness.
Alice pinched the bridge of her nose and rubbed her eyelids hard. They were so puffy and sore; she felt a migraine starting to pulse behind them. "It's not like that. I love David and we are going to start a family. Sooner than I thought," she mused to herself.
For some reason, McCarthy didn't push the subject anymore than that. Alice was expecting him too and was already coming up with a further explanation, but he'd thrown her off guard. "Miss Hamilton…Listen, I know something is going on here. I know your mother's death has something to do with you and I can even smell the fear radiating off of you. Now, if you or your boyfriend is in some kind of danger…you can tell me. Let me help you, Alice."
He'd used her first name again, making it harder and harder to keep the truth to herself. He seemed like such a caring, do-gooder type of man.
"Look, I can't tell you what's going on or who is doing this," she said with exasperation. "But I do know that this is not over by a long shot and I'm going to need your help."
McCarthy straightened his posture, "Name it and we'll figure this out."
oo
The next morning Alice began dressing for Mr. Ortiz's arrival to discuss the funeral and other finalities, he called them. Detective McCarthy had given her strict instructions not to leave the house for any reason, but if she did Alice was to call him to send a dispatch to tail her. Not to mention the badge sitting outside three blocks down, making rounds through the neighborhood. Precautions, right? It felt more like an at home prison sentence with McCarthy as her ward.
Alice knew he wasn't fully satisfied with her answers about Hatter's identity and the detective would be digging further into that. She shivered knowing exactly what he'd find…nothing. Alice didn't know how in the hell she was going to explain it. She'd already lied about Hatter's past. Although, technically the part about him coming from another country was in fact true. Wonderland is not in the United States.
And speaking of Hatter, Alice wasn't sure what to do. He'd returned late that evening from work, not speaking to her, going directly to bed and then left again early this morning…so she wasn't able to tell him he was supposed to be commuting with a police escort. Despite his safety issue, Alice was afraid Hatter would flip a lid if he found out what she'd been discussing with the police behind his back. According to him, she was just overreacting. If there was any matter of mercy in this world, Alice was.
There was no way she was going to tell Hatter about McCarthy's interest in him or the fact he doesn't really exist in their system, which puts cops on alert. She should, but the last thing she wanted for David was to piss him off royally. Besides if worst came to worst, they could always escape to Wonderland and shack up with Charlie in the woods or Jack in the manor, or even Drew in the Red Kingdom…although that would make Alice a little uneasy, truth be told.
As soon as she finished slipping on her navy house shoes, that looked more like real mary-jane slip ons, someone knocked loudly on her front door. More like pounded. Alice couldn't remember Mr. Ortiz having large enough hands to make that kind of sound. He was stout, but a small man with a shiny bald head that bounced when he walked. What he lacked in size, he accommodated with a superior attitude and self-assertion. If she hadn't have known him for years, Alice wouldn't have wanted to deal with the man. He could be intimidating in his own right.
Another pound on the door, this one with more force. Alice was down the stairs and on the other side now. Yeah, it couldn't have been Mr. Ortiz. The pound was high on the door and urgent. If it wasn't her family's lawyer, than who was outside her door?
Before she let herself panic, a man's voice hollered through the wood. "Miss Hamilton! It's Officer Burk. I've been placed in charge by Detective McCarthy to keep an eye on your house. Please open the door!"
Just by the fact he called McCarthy by name made Alice felt better, but was still semi-wary opening the door. Even if this was a ruse, she'd been in much worse situations before. She did as she was told and tried not to laugh at the sight she saw after pulling the door back.
The incredibly large built officer had poor Mr. Ortiz held by the collar, his face was turning beet red from anger or embarrassment, but he was definitely about to start swinging his briefcase any moment if this Officer Burk didn't unhand him.
"Do you know this man, Miss?" Burk's "too big for his face" sunglasses, pink chewing gum and black cop uniform made him look like he was auditioning for a B-movie in Hollywood. If Alice was judging she wouldn't have given him the part. This man had cliché written all over him; buff as a linebacker and probably with as much brains as a goldfish.
"This is my lawyer, Mr. Ortiz, Officer. If you would kindly unhand him, I'd much appreciate it," Alice stated slowly for his sake.
He apparently didn't particularly care for the sarcasm because he simply grunted, dropping his hand from Mr. Ortiz' collar and turned to march down the couple concrete steps. He didn't turn back around, but merely yelled over his shoulder, "If you need help, dial 911."
Right, she thought. How heroic? Someone polish his purple heart, please.
"Well, I never… Big ogre…" Mr. Ortiz mumbled under his breath as he straightened his shirt and jacket as he entered. "How are you holding up Alice?"
"Okay," she sighed and led him to the living room. "To be honest, Mr. Ortiz, I want to get this over with. The more I have to deal with, the more real her death seems."
He nodded his round, shiny head. "It's tough losing people we love, especially someone as wonderful as Carol was." Deep staccato laughs busted from Ortiz making Alice raise her brow, "She was certainly a worthy woman in my book…never took any of my hogwash, to boot."
Alice watched him set his briefcase on the table in front of the couch and pull a small stack of papers out. "Would you like some coffee or lemon snap tea?" She really didn't want to make his stay any longer than it had to be, but Alice felt inhospitable if she didn't offer the man at least a drink.
"Coffee please. And make it black, four sugars. None of that capp-o-ccino crap. We might be here a lick."
Alice grimaced and headed for the kitchen. Her head was already hurting, but she'd get through this just as she had everything else so far.
Mr. Ortiz finally left after three long hours past. Alice's head was now on to a full blown migraine and her eyes were throbbing. She hadn't heard anymore from that ogre cop and was thankful for at least that. Ortiz had been amusing at times and annoying others, but she'd signed every necessary line, crossed her t's and dotted her i's and discussed further business that would need to be handled at a later date…such as Carol's will. The good news was Ortiz would be able to handle most of the paperwork at his office without Alice present. All she would need to do is show up to his office to sign finalized documents and get a list of everything left to her by her mother. "Simple enough", he'd said.
Yeah right, she sighed. This had been a long day and all she felt like doing was lying down. But she knew she wouldn't sleep if she did.
Alice had also received a phone call from the detective saying they were releasing her mother's body tomorrow…so her funeral was schedule for that afternoon. The sooner the better. Ortiz agreed.
The only thing left really bothering her was Hatter. Alice figured he was still angry with her or annoyed… or whatever. She wished he wasn't. Alice really needed him right now. Just him holding her would make her feel a million times better. If only.
