Chapter Twenty-One

Running Into Cotton

"TATUM!" Mickey yelled. He leaned over to her. "Stay away from her you motherfucker." He yelled shoving him.

"I didn't do anything to her." Cotton yelled shoving him back.

"Guys, please. We need to stop fighting and help Tatum before she bleeds to death." Gale said.

"Move." Mickey said shoving past Cotton again. He lifted Tatum up making sure to cradle her head so she wouldn't lose any more blood. Mickey went back up the stairs. He's followed by Gale and Officer Sanders. Cotton followed them as well. "Help, Help. My girlfriend it hurt." Mickey yelled as the nurses on staff as well as the doctors on staff assisted him in helping Tatum.

"What happened?" Asked one nurse.

"I don't know. This bastard was there. I saw him standing over my girlfriend." Mickey said angrily.

"I didn't do anything to her. I found her lying at the bottom of the stairs and tried to help her." Cotton said still defending himself.

"The killer must've been here." Gale said thinking. "The killer must've heard you coming and ran off before he could hurt Tatum." She said.

"You scared him off without knowing it." Officer Sanders said. Cotton had a dumbfound look on his face.

"She has a gash on the right side of her forehead. We have to take of this. Excuse us." Came the voice of the second nurse. Mickey, Gale, Officer Sanders and Cotton stay behind while Tatum.

"Wanna tell me what the hell you're doing here Weary?" Officer Sanders asked.

"I heard about what happened to Dewey and wanted to make sure Gale was ok." Cotton said sincerely.

"That doesn't explain what happened to Tatum." Mickey said angrily.

"I was coming into the building and heard some commotion. I rushed up the stairs and found Tatum lying at the bottom of the stairs. I tried to help her. I would never hurt her or anyone else for that matter."

"Yeah right. You probably hit her over the head when she discovered you're identity." Mickey spit out.

"Are you listening to yourself?" Cotton asked almost amused by the notion.

"Yeah right. You're a killer and everyone knows it." Mickey said angrily.

"I'm not a killer." Cotton continues to defend himself.

"Whatever." Mickey said to him.

"Stop it you two. Enough." Gale said to them. She was tired of the arguing. She was tired period. "Cotton, just go."

"I came because I care about you Gale and Dewey. I just wanted to see if you were ok." Cotton said sincerely.

"I'm fine. Dewey's going to make it. Thanks for coming but you don't have to stay, I'm fine." Gale said. She knew Cotton cares and it was her who helped him clear his name.

"Ok. I'm a phone call away. Call if you need me." Cotton said to her.

"I will." Gale said as Cotton leaned into her and kissed her cheek. The kind of kiss that you give a sister of close friend. Gale smiled thinking that she has to be a lucky women to have two men who care about her.

"Thanks." She said. Cotton nods before leaving her alone.

"Why did you let him leave?" Mickey asked her.

"Cotton is a lot of things but a killer isn't one of them." Gale said.

"How do you truly know that?" Mickey asked her. Gale didn't respond. "Gale for all you know he could've killed Tatum tonight. He might have been the one who came after you and Dewey tonight. And you just let him go."

"Enough!" Gale yelled. "Cotton is not a killer. Besides what reason would he have to kill Tatum?" Gale asked.

"Well may not have tried to kill Tatum but he could be after Sidney. I mean after all she did send him away for a year." Mickey said to her.

"You're wrong. Cotton can be an ass at times and has brash personality but he is no killer. Sidney's already apologized to him for that. You're wrong." Gale said to him. Mickey sighed heavily. "Cotton couldn't hurt Tatum, she did nothing to him. If Cotton said he was trying to help her, I believe him." Mickey shook his heads running his hand through his hair.

"Who is doing this shit?" He asked frustrated.

"I'm not sure. My guess is that whoever is doing this knows us and is close to us." Gale said.

"That could be anyone of us." Mickey said to her. Gale rolled her eyes thinking.

"I have to go back and get those tapes." Gale said to him.

"You mean going back to campus. The same place where you and Dewey were attacked?" Mickey asked.

"Yes. Well we were attacked in the sound proof room when Dewey was stabbed. The audio room is where the tapes are. If I can get those tapes, I can we can see if the killer is on the video."

"Gale I don't like this. The killer can attack you again. This time, you will be killed. Then what?" Mickey asked her. "What do I tell Dewey?" Gale sighed.

"I didn't know you cared." Gale joked.

"Look, Dewey happens to be Tatum's brother and I love Tatum. Dewey cares about you and that means I have to help make sure you're safe as well." Mickey said to her. Gale smiled.

"I appreciate that but I can handle myself." Gale said to him.

"Fine. Do you need any assistance?" Mickey asked.

"No." Gale said. Officer Sanders came up to the two.

"They stitched up Tatum's forehead. The doctor said it may be a while before she wakes up. Someone needs to stay with her." Officer Sanders said.

"I'm staying with her." Mickey said.

"Good cause I have something to take care of." Gale said to them.

"Do you need any assistance?" Officer Sanders asked.

"No. I'll be fine." Gale said.

"Keep your phone on cause I'm going to call you to check." Officer Sanders said. Gale nodded.

"Watch them." Gale she said then running out of the emergency room.

Officer Sanders and Mickey watched her thinking that Gale has to be either stupid or crazy or both. Gale wanted to find out who was behind these murders. Would she be successful?

To Be Continued!