Chapter 5 The Taste of Fear

Disclaimer: These characters, with the exception of one, are not mine, but the property of DEK. I just manipulate them according to my whims. Other disclaimer: I apologize in advance if any part of this story upsets anyone. That is not the intent. It had been a long day at Donnell, Young, Dole, and Frutt, and the lawyers were eager to get home. Bobby helped Lindsey with her coat and they stopped by Marina's desk. "I suppose you're going to be here all night again?" he asked. "No, not all night. Just most of it." It had become a joke around the firm, how many hours Marina worked. It was not unusual for her to work until 2 or 3:00 in the morning, and then be back at 7 or 8:00 for another day. "Well, I've got Celtics tickets. I am outta here!" said Eugene as he passed. "Lucky you," said Jimmy, pulling on his jacket. " I've got a TV dinner and 'Who's line is it, anyway' waiting for me." "'Anything to get out of here for a few hours," Elinor muttered. She had been wrestling with a very difficult case and was eager to get away from it for a few hours. Marina sat at her computer and bid them all goodnight. She was accustomed to being the last one there. She had no real home to go to. She didn't see the need to rent an apartment when she traveled so much, so she stayed in a hotel room. It was an allright arrangement. Laundry service and breakfast. She worked for several hours when she heard the door click shut. Who could that be at this hour? she thought. She glanced at her watch. It was just past midnight. She got up and went to the door. "Hello? she called. "Oh, hello," said a handsome, sandy-haired, all-American boy type. "I was looking for Bobby Donnell. I know he works late sometimes." "I'm afraid he's not working late tonight. Are you a client of his?' she asked. "Yes," he answered. "Can I leave a message for him?" "Sure!" Marina went around behind Lucy's desk to grab a pen and some paper. He followed her, uncomfortably close. She took a step back, but came up against a file cabinet. He pressed in closer, pinning her. She felt a familiar knot of fear in her stomach, but she didn't want him to know, so she said firmly, "Excuse me, please." "What's the matter, you too good for me?" He pressed against her, leaving her no room at all. "I never thought I'd see the great Marina Donnell this close before." He said, mockingly She had had enough. "Back off!" she ordered. He laughed. She tried shoving past but he held her firmly. She brought her knee up as hard as she could. That worked. he let go and doubled over. "You bitch!" he yelled. She jumped over Lucy's desk, scattering everything on her way, but he caught her by the arm. He leapt over the desk after her and punched her across the face. She felt her eye begin to swell, but she hit him back with all her strength. He cursed again and began to hit her again. Over and over. Her mouth filled with blood and she was having a hard time seeing, but she put on a good fight. They knocked over chairs, overturned tables, emptied desks, but still she fought. She was terrified, and the fear made her stronger than she realized she was. He was much stronger, however, and he managed to pin her wrists behind her with one of his hands and he held her facedown on a table. She felt her stomach knot and tasted true fear. She fought from becoming hysterical. He took off his belt and hit her with that for a while, but she didn't make a sound. She know there was no one to hear her, and she didn't want to give him the satisfaction. She felt her clothing being ripped and heard the sound of a zipper. Oh God, oh God.....SOMEONE HELP ME!!!! she screamed in her head............. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Bobby and his buddy were playing basketball behind the apartment building. Bobby was 11, Marina was 8. Marina sat against the wall brushing one of her doll's hair. It was a beautiful day, and she sat with her bare feet tucked under her. She was lovely, even then, with an innocent sensuality. She was humming the theme to "The Brady Bunch". The friend Bobby had over was not one of her favorites. Most of Bobby's friends were really nice to her, but she didn't like Chad. He was always looking at her funny. Plus he was 13, ands too old for Bobby, she thought. He lost control of the ball and it bounced next to her. "I'll get it!" yelled Chad. He knelt next to her as he picked up the ball. "Hey, Reenie. How about letting me see your underpants?" She didn't look at him. He was a big kid, and he frightened her. "Leave me alone, Chad." "Hey, Chad" Bobby called. "What's taking so long?" He grinned at her and returned to Bobby. They played for a while longer, but he continued to steal looks at her. The upstairs window opened and Dad stuck his head out."Bobby! Come up here for a second, please." "Be right there, Dad." Bobby passed the ball to Chad ." I'll be right back. You better practice your free throws." Bobby ran into the building. Chad bounced the ball for a few seconds, then aimed it at Marina. It hit the wall hard right next to her. He ran up to get it. She stood up to go inside. She didn't feel safe out here with him when Bobby wasn't around, but Chad put both his arms around her , pinning her to the wall. She was helpless and she felt a knot of ear in her stomach. "Where you going, Reenie? The fun's just starting." He pressed his body against hers, pinning her back against the wall. His hand was under her skirt, lifting it. She was terrified, and her enorrnous eyes reflected that. "Stop it, Chad." Where was her voice? He laughed, mocking her, as his fingers found the waistband of her panties. Oh God, Oh God. Someone help me.... "What the Hell are you doing?" Bobby was pulling him off of her and shaking him. She had never seen her brother so angry. "Don't ever think of coming near my sister again!" Bobby turned to Marina as Chad ran away. "Reenie, are you OK? Are you OK?....." ------------------------------------------------------- "Marina, are you OK? Hey, its me. Are you OK?" Jimmy had come in early for a change. He had been ready to put the key in the lock when he noticed the door was open. He pushed it and saw the destruction of the office. There were papers, books, folders, everything scattered everywhere. And blood. Copious amounts of blood. He looked around. "Hello? Is anybody here?" He had a terrible feeling someone was there. Then he saw her. Up against the far wall she sat with her legs up against her chest and her arms wrapped around them. She sat with her head down, rocking slightly and humming softly. He quickly took off his coat and put it around her, noticing enormous black bruises all over her thighs and hips, and huge welts across her back. He covered her, then knelt down next to her. "Marina, are you OK? Hey, its me. Are you OK?" What was he thinking? Of course she was not OK! She didn't respond to him at all, just kept rocking. He lifted her chin and smoothed her hair out of her face. Oh, God! The right side of her face was swollen and black. Her eye was swollen shut. The left side wasn't much better, but at least he could see into that eye. "Marina," he said as gently as possible, "its me. Its Jimmy. You're gonna be OK." She looked up at him then. Her eye was clouded with shock and pain. Jimmy....she thought, Jimmy.......good, safe. "Jimmy?" she whispered, a small bit of reality coming to her. She reached for him and he put his arms around her, cradling her to him. Her entire body was trembling and she continued to rock. He held her and stroked her hair. "You're OK now. Its gonna be allright, "he whispered. The door opened. "OH my God!" Lucy cried. Jimmy turned his head towards Lucy. He couldn't turn all the way without upsetting Marina. "Lucy, call an ambulance, and then call Bobby!" Bobby? She didn't want Bobby to see her like this. He was her big brother, her hero. She didn't think she could stand the shame. She began to cry, and she desperately clutched at Jimmy's shirt. Sobs shook her body, and she burrowed deeper in Jimmy's arms. He felt safe. "What the hell happened?" "Bobby!" Lucy wanted to warn him somehow, but he had already heard the sobbing and seen Jimmy. He ran to Marina and reached for her. He looked at Jimmy. "What happened?" Jimmy shook his head and continued to hold Marina. "I don't know. I found her like this." God. "Hey," he said softly to her. "Its Bobby, honey. We're going to take care of you." He lifted her chin to make her look at him, but she kept her eyes down. He couldn't believe the damage that had been done to her beautiful face and his stomach tightened in anger. But right now he was overwhelmed with concern for her. She seemed OK with Jimmy so he just sat next to her and spoke gently until the ambulance got there. They arrived a few minutes later and prepared a stretcher for her. "Come on, sweetheart. They're here to help you." Bobby said. The paramedics began to pry her fists from Jimmy's shirt. At this point she became hysterical, sobbing and screaming. "No!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!! JIMMY!!!!!!" They managed to get her secured to a stretcher but she remained uncontrollable. Bobby was trying to console her, and she calmed down a little. Jimmy remembered that she could only see out of one of her eyes, so he went around to her left side where she could see him. She reached for him and he took her hand. "You want me to come with you?" She nodded and gradually calmed down. Bobby took her other hand and looked at Jimmy. "Thank you." He said softly to him. Jimmy nodded. Bobby turned back to Marina. "Reenie, I'll be right behind you, OK? I'll be right there." She nodded and the medics took her off to the ambulance. Lindsey moved out of the way as they went by. Bobby embraced her. "You want me to come?" she asked him. He nodded with tears in his eyes. "If I'd only been earlier....." "If you'd been earlier it still would have happened." She told him. "No blame. That won't help anyone. Now lets go." She turned to Lucy. "Tell everyone where we are, OK? And don't touch anything until the police get here." Lucy nodded, tears in her eyes, and watched them leave.