Bruce hated acted impatient in front of his boss as he sat there listening to him speaking on the phone. He managed to leave the hospital without no one apprehending him. He just wished he had Helga with him right now. Hearing, Scheck get off the phone, Bruce didn't wish to bother him with questions.
"Once we have her back you can marry her." Scheck knew what was driving him mad. "That is if she hasn't her memory knocked back into place."
Bruce narrowed his eyes. "I want her back."
"So do I, dear Bruce. She has become so highly profitable for me. So many love her."
"I love her."
Scheck knew why he did. "Because she is nothing but a doll."
"A doll that hit me!" Standing up, Bruce let his emotions brim to the surface. "When I get her back she'll be a very cooperative housewife to me. I want them to knock every bit of those independent thoughts away from her."
"They will and I'm planning on letting that Detective see every bit of the process through. It would be such a joy to watch him suffer again."
Bruce stopped at his cackling. "I wonder when he'll use the trigger words on her?"
"I don't know, but I would love to see that show." Scheck could imagine the look on his face when he did. He wondered if it would break his heart.
"I wish I knew how to drive in order to help you out."
Arnold smiled at her warmly. So many years in being made into a doll. To be held captive in this way was truly depressing. "Maybe when we get far enough away I can help you there." He offered her.
"I would love that." Her smiled disappeared as she studied her feet. "Why do you like red heads?"
He wondered if she had a memory burst. "Why would you ask that?"
"You were oddly specific to me back in the hotel. So I'm curious."
She was twiddling her fingers in her lap. "Why are so loyal to Nicholas? He never allowed you to do anything at all. One outing is not enough."
She stopped twiddling her fingers to look at him with defiance. "He loves me. He protects me."
"How does he love you?"
"Like an uncle."
"It doesn't sound like that, Helga."
"Why are you being insulting?"
"Because I want to know the truth, Helga." He hated enraging her like this, but she was practically rising on her hunches now. "Is there something else that you haven't mentioned to me?"
Her jaw set. Her grip tightened. "He loves me. He loves me more than an uncle! At least he is real unlike that harpy you swooned over so many years ago!"
His head turned to her quickly. "Harpy? Who is this harpy, Helga?"
"The name is Anna. Also you know very well whom I'm referring to." Leaning her head against the window, she released a puff of air.
"Your name isn't Anna."
She was tired over her exertion with him. "It is. Just drop me off and I'll let you be with your girlfriend."
That hurt him. "I have no girlfriend. The girl that I wanted to be with has been taken from me. She sacrificed herself. I want her back. I want my Helga back."
"Oh? And not Lila? What about her?"
He swerved to the side of the road stopping it quickly. Placing the car in park, he turned in his seat at her mentioning that name. "I don't like Lila like that. She is still nothing but this little girl who refuses to grow up. She is nothing like this wonderful girl that I wanted to be with. A girl that was taken away from me before I can tell her the truth of my feelings. Where did you get that name from anyhow?"
"I don't know. Maybe I have a gift to see into the past." In honesty she had no idea. "I thought you wanted to keep driving."
"I do, but this needs my attention."
"I thought driving away from Bruce is your number one priority."
"I'm keeping you safe from him and Scheck."
"Scheck?"
"Nicholas."
The way those green eyes bore into her own had her trembling in excitement. She couldn't speak. Couldn't think. Well she did think about one thing. "Arnold, I'm confused. I wish I knew what to say, but I can't think. Bruce frightened me. I thought he was going to kill you. I know he harmed others in that hospital. I'm frightened because for the first time in my life I don't know what to think."
His eyes softened up at what she said. The way those lips parted had him wishing to kiss her again. The way she looked made him want to embrace her. He prayed that everything in that brain will shift back to normal. "I don't mean to be hard on you, but it happened. This isn't like me."
"Have you ever fought with this Helga?"
He loved how she went back into that cute mode again. How is it possible to keep falling deeper for someone? "All the time, but I didn't mind. She is the only one I have ever forgiven so quickly."
"She's lucky then." She then turned her head away. She wasn't allowed to talk back. Was that normal? It didn't feel it.
Feeling it was time to get back on the road, Arnold shifted the car into gear. "I hope she thinks so."
Phoebe was walking into their place just pinching the bridge of her nose from all the stress from school and this Scheck business. She wished to speak to her best friend right now. Hoped that her husband is safe. Hoped that Arnold and Helga are safe. She hoped for many good things to happen.
Dumping her book bag to the ground, she strolled into her bedroom to change out of her clothes. Coughing, Phoebe heard the sound of a gun cocking. She froze at it. Tried to determine how far away this person was to her.
"You are to tell me everything that you know, Mrs Johanssen. Tell me where, Detective Shortman is heading."
Phoebe trembled at the sound of his voice. It chilled her. "I have no clue where he's heading. As far as I know no one does."
Bruce stepped forward a bit as he considered the young woman. "Turn to face me. I do know that you have martial arts training here."
Turning to face him, Phoebe saw that he was as tall as Gerald. He had slicked back hair, brownish eyes, lizard lips, and toned even in his suit. "I really don't know where he is heading and if I did know I wouldn't say a word."
Bruce liked the brave little woman, but wasn't too fond of mouthy. "The name is Bruce." He chuckled as her eyes opened up wider. "Guess you heard of me."
"Helga wouldn't marry you in a million years." Was it stupid of her to be this bold back? No. Her hatred for what they've done to others and her best friend fueled her.
"That is why we done what we've done with her. When I first met her she was this mouthy person. Would bite at us and kick us." A tension filled his arm as he readied his shot. "Even I have to admit that while she was young she was perfect. I will have my fiance back and I just needed to send a little warning to your husband." He squeezed the trigger enjoying seeing the girl crumple to the ground holding her shoulder. "Tell your husband and his partner hi for me."
Phoebe squeezed her eyes shut against the pain. Looking to her phone she rose up shaking just a bit. She didn't care about blood right now as she knocked it to the ground, got down on her knees to use her now limp arm to press the buttons for 911. Bringing herself closer to the ground, Phoebe spoke to the operator who answered.
"Hello? My name is Phoebe Johanssen. I have been shot in the shoulder." Listening to the questions involved, Phoebe really didn't want to pause to hear her rattle them off. "I am in my residence. I'm in the bedroom. Yes I did see who shot me. My husband is Detective Gerald Johanssen of Hillwood P.D. Please send my husband and an ambulance here right away." Feeling sickened from the increasing pain, Phoebe passed out.
At the station, Gerald received the call. "Detective Gerald Johanssen." Listening to the operator on the line, Gerald stood up. "What?! Where is she right now?" Listening to her say that they are bringing her to the hospital right away, he told them he'll be right there. Hanging up he rushed to his Captain to inform him what happened.
A/N: Don't hate me for the Phoebe part, but bad guys will do anything to get information and to distract someone in the process. Also I don't normally like to post during the weekends so I can catch up with my writing. Now who wants a balloon animal? I offer cookies normally, but this time I have balloon animals.