Hours passed, Mark still hadn't found the money. Holtz was badly bruised- she was sure her right arm was broken and her ribs cracked. He got down in front of Holtzmann and held her chin roughly- forcing her to look at her. Holtz looked into his eyes and saw nothing.
"If you don't tell me, I will go back to HQ. Grab your stupid dyke girlfriend and she can tell me where it is" he hissed. Holtz stiffened up. She could smell a trace of alcohol on his breath. She turned her face as much as she could to get away from the smell of it.
"Erin doesn't know where it is, and she's not my girlfriend" Holtz whispered.
"No? Straight girl not want you then? Not surprised. Look at you Jillian. You wouldn't want her to see you like this and worse you wouldn't want me to hurt her" Holtzmann`s breath became hitched in her throat. She couldn't let Erin get caught up in this, she couldn't let him hurt any of her friends. A tear fell from her eyes, Mark wiped it off. Holtz cursed herself for showing him how much he was hurting her.
"Well?" Holtzmann sighed and nodded at the loose floorboard under the now overturned coffee table. He dug out the money, a wild grin on his face. He sat next to Holtzmann, just far enough away so even her legs couldn't reach him. He counted his money, gloating in Holtmann`s face. He bent down to Holtz and kissed her on her cheek- Holtz whimpered as he did so.
"Thank you...Jillian"
Then he stood up to leave.
"Wait! You can't just leave. Untie me. Please" she yelled.
But he was gone, the faulty door bounced back of the lock.
Back at HQ Abby was starting to get worried. She had been pacing by the window waiting for Holtzmann.
"She said she was coming back hours ago"
"I'll try her cell again" said Patty. She couldn't even connect with the line.
"That's it, were going round there" Erin said jumping to her feet and running down the stairs, closely followed by Patty and Abby.
The three of them ran all the way to Holtzmann`s apartment. Erin cried out when she saw the door was ajar. She slumped forward, a panic attack. Abby grabbed her and made her look her in the eyes. She emphasised her breathing- trying to get Erin to copy.
"At least we don't have to figure out how than damn thing opens, I've been telling Holtz to get a new door for ages" Patty said in a vain attempt to calm herself down. Erin shook Abby off, her breathing at a more manageable rate. She then ran up the steps and pushed the door open.
"Holtz?" she shouted, her voice cracking as she did so. It was met by silence, then suddenly a tiny voice answered her.
"Erin...please don't come in" Holtz couldn't bear to be seen like that.
"Are you okay Holtzy baby?" Patty shouted. Then she heard crying.
"Holtzmann were coming in, sorry" Abby apologised as the three barged into Holtzmann`s trashed apartment. Erin was the first to clock Holtzmann lying up against the radiator, she ran to her- swallowing her tears.
"I feel so stupid" Holtz whispered as Erin`s hands fell down on her bonds. Erin's skin lightly brushed hers, Holtz jumped involuntarily. Holz`s left eye was swelled shut and was a deep shade of purple. She had bruises covering her stomach and her lip was bust. Erin took out her swiss army knife that Holtzmann had given her. Holtzmann gave a small sad smile at the silver metal. She cut the rope, Holtz moaned as her broken arm was moved. Erin noticed straight away and held it straight.
"Holtz what happened?" she asked. Holtzmann used her good hand to wipe away another tear. She hated that she was this vulnerable. Holtzmann dove into the story.
"You know what we need to do don't you baby" Patty said once Holtzmann had finished. Holtz winced but nodded. Patty put her hands underneath Holtz`s arms and pulled her up to her feet. Meanwhile Abby had called a cab. Holtz was slow to move, by the time she had gotten down the steps, onto the street the cab was there. Abby got in the front and Holtz sat in the middle at the back. She lay with her head on Patty`s shoulder and held Erin's hand with her good arm.
At the hospital Holtz was taken for an x-ray and then had her arm bandaged up. By this time the police were there, her injuries were recorded and Holtzmann had to make a statement. Erin was in the corridor crying, Abby had wrapped her up in a big hug and tried to reassure her that it wasn't her fault.
A very tired Holtzmann emerged into the corridor, she ran into Erin`s arms and told her the exact same thing as Abby. Holtz`s apartment was being treated as a crime scene, Erin wasn't in the right frame of mind so Holtz went home with Patty.
She lay in Patty`s bed, she couldn't sleep. She could hear Patty lightly snoring beside her. She shuffled around Patty and gripped the hem of her t-shirt. After a couple of hours her eyes began to get heavy and she did eventually fall asleep.
Holtzmann woke up screaming, she found herself smushed against Patty. Patty was stroking her hair- careful not to touch her black eye or any of the other bruises on her face. She quickly calmed down. Patty helped her sit up, Holtz stifled a scream as the weight pushed against her ribs. Then Patty fetched her a drink.
Whilst they were having breakfast Patty`s phone rang. It was the police, they asked to speak to Holtzmann.
