Chapter 6
"Danny, I don't want you working this case. There's no room for argument."
"Jack, you can't do this."
"Yes, I can. And I am doing it. You're exhausted. You should not have come back to work as soon as you did."
"The doctor said I was ready to come back."
"Maybe physically. Mentally, you are still worn out. And all the evidence says it's the same guy. I don't want you working this case."
"That's the reason I should be working it. I know this guy. I want to bring him down."
"No, Danny. Go home. Stay in bed with your wife. Enjoy some peace. Let us worry about this one."
Danny saw there was no way he could win this argument. "Fine, Jack. I'll sit this one out."
"Good. I'll need you sharp from now on. Now go home to your wife."
"Yes, sir."
Walking out of the building, Danny got in his car and pulled out of the parking lot. His eyes didn't want to stay open while he drove home. 'Maybe Jack's right,' he thought to himself. 'I've been wearing myself out with worry.'
He started slowing for a red light, but it turned green again a moment later. "All right. Hold on," he muttered as the cars behind him honked when it took more than a second for him to speed up again.
Glancing in his rearview mirror, Danny saw a car behind him. He shook his head. "You're being paranoid. It's just going the same direction as you." He said out loud to himself. 'Yeah, but it's been there since I left the office.'
Distracted by the car, he almost didn't see the light turn red in front of him. He slammed on the brake and stopped just in time. 'Really gotta get some sleep.'
Just as the thought crossed his mind, he felt something ram into the back of his car. "Damn!"
He barely had time to think as the lights of a vehicle on a course perpendicular to his blinded him. "Shit," he cried as he jerked the wheel to the side. The oncoming car barely missed him. Danny heard horns being sounded again behind him. "Assholes," he muttered.
He managed to get the car straightened out and was instantly rammed from behind again. This time the car spun toward the guardrail. Danny saw it coming, but his reactions were too slow due to the stress inflicted exhaustion. He slammed on the brake, but the car didn't stop.
The guardrail gave way to the weight of the vehicle. Danny saw the ground as his car neared it. He heard himself scream, but it took a second to register that it was his voice. The next thing he knew, the car had struck the ground. Then everything around him went black.
The car crashed into the ground, rolled once, twice, three times. It tottered on its side, then rolled onto its hood. It stayed there. Danny hung from his seat blood pouring from a gash on his head.
Vince Craig stepped out of his car and smiled wickedly down at the scene of the crash. "That'll show them."
*******
"Renee, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Gabe. Why do you keep asking me that?" Renee turned so she was facing the other side of the room.
"Because I can tell when something's bothering you." He ran a finger down the back of her neck. "Maybe you can convince Sara, or Darvi, or even Caitlyn that you're fine. You might even be able to tell Dakota that, although it would be difficult to get her to believe you. But I will not believe you're fine. You're acting different. Amie can feel that something's wrong. And her feelings aren't wrong. You know that because she can sense your feelings. And she's worried about you. All of us are. Now what's wrong?"
When he didn't get an answer, he continued. "Come on, Renee. You've been withdrawing more and more the past couple of weeks. I've seen that look in your eyes when you think no one is watching. And I know that look. You're fighting to keep tears behind that dam you always build. What is going on in your head that's making you feel that way."
He saw her body start to tremble and knew she was crying. Her silent tears. If she couldn't hide them completely, she could at least keep from sobbing out loud. 'Weak,' she cursed herself. 'You're so damn weak.'
Gabriel reached out and touched his wife's shoulder. She let it stay there for a moment then pulled away from his touch. His heart broke. "Renee, please. Don't shut me out."
She reached out and turned on her stereo, trying to drown out his pleading.
Don't shut me out maybe baby
We should talk about it
'Cause you've got your doubts but maybe, baby
They might be unfounded.
Have a little faith you'll make it through
I'd never hesitate to talk to you.
If you tell me just what's weighing on your mind
Maybe it could help you sleep tonight
So don't shut me out.
"You-" She choked on her tears.
"What about me, Renee?" At least she finally said something.
She shook her head.
Don't be so proud don't ya know that
Before a fall it leaves ya
And it'll take you down baby that ain't
Where I wanna see ya
The sun'll rise tomorrow come what may
And you'll feel better than you do today
And in time you'll cry no more
I know 'cause my heart's been there before.
She tried once again, decided to get it all out at once this time. "You'regonnaleavemesoon." Her silent tears turned to raking sobs.
And here I am when you need someone
My shoulder's yours to cry upon
And everybody now and then
Needs an understanding friend around
So don't shut me out.
"No, I'm not, Renee. I'm never going to leave you."
"Yeah," the word sounded sarcastic through her tears. "That's what my dad always told my mom."
Don't shut me out maybe baby
We should talk about it
'Cause you've got your doubts but maybe, baby
They might be unfounded
"Renee, I am not your father. We went through this before Amie's seventh birthday. I am not leaving. Not all men leave. I didn't leave two years ago. I'm not leaving now. I'm not leaving in two years. Just because your dad left when you were seven doesn't mean I'll leave when any of our kids turn seven. I love you, Renee Mackenzie Bowman. I will never leave you."
Listen to your heart and clear your mind
And you will find the answer every time
Every road you travel on will lead
To where it is your heart's supposed to be
"I'm just so scared, Gabriel. I don't want to be without you. I couldn't handle it."
"Yes, you could. But you will never have to. I'm never leaving you."
And here I am when you need someone
My shoulder's yours to cry upon
And everybody now and then
Needs an understandin friend around
So don't shut me out, don't shut me out
Don't shut me out
Gabriel wrapped his arms around her trembling body and held her close to him. When the chorus of the next song began to play, he started singing along in a terribly out of tune voice, "Hold on to me when your world's turnin cold. When it feels like your life's spinnin' out of control. You're hopin', prayin', tryin' so hard to believe. Hold on to me when there's no middle ground. And every emotion is comin' unwound. And you don't know if you can hold on to your dreams. Baby you can hold on to me."
Gabriel could feel her body shaking again. Only this time it was with laughter. "Just let John Michael sing it. Please."
"Whatever you say, my love."
He held her as the tears came once again. "What's wrong with Mom?" Gabriel looked up to see Amie standing in the doorway. "I could feel her crying."
"She's just sad. She'll be okay."
Amie nodded and started to turn around. Before she got all the way turned around, she stopped. Even in the darkness, Gabriel could tell all the color had drained out of her face. "What is it, Amie? What's wrong?"
"Uncle Danny's in trouble." The words came out as barely more than a whisper. "He's hurt, Daddy."
*******
"I called Caitlyn, and she said he wasn't home, so I called the office."
"What did Jack say?" Renee asked.
"That he sent Danny home about half an hour ago. He should be home by now."
"Where could he be? I don't want Caitlyn to worry if nothing's wrong."
"Mom, but something is wrong," Amie said. "He's in a lot of pain. Daddy, you have to help him."
"Jack said he would drive the way Danny usually goes, see if he can find him. Check his usual hang outs. See if he's there. And he alerted the police that something might have happened to him. I'm gonna try all the hospitals." He grabbed his jacket then kissed his wife and daughter good-bye. "I'll be back." He directed this last statement at Renee. "I promise."
Gabriel got in his car and pulled out of the driveway. Heading down the highway, he pulled out his cellphone and dialed the number of the closest hospital. "Hello," Gabriel greeted the receptionist when she answered the phone. "I was wondering if a man has been admitted there in the last half hour. His name's Danny Taylor. No one by that name? Any John Doe's in that time? Thank you anyway." He didn't have any luck at the next two hospitals either. He dialed the number of the fourth, his hope diminishing. The receptionist brought it back though.
"Yes, two patients have been admitted in the last hour. A heart attack and a car accident."
"Have either of them been identified?"
"The heart attack victim, an old man-"
"That's not him. The man I'm looking for is thirty-four years old, hispanic, just a couple inches short of 6 feet, doesn't weigh much more than 160 pounds."
"Sir, you just identified the other man."
"So, he's there?"
"Yes, sir. An ambulance brought him in just fifteen minutes ago."
"Thank you." Gabriel hung up the phone and turned the car around. He had just passed that hospital. When he pulled into the parking lot, he opened his cellphone again and called Renee. "I think I found him. Call Caitlyn and let her know."
"Which hospital?" Now that she had a friend to worry about, Renee's mind had pushed her own problems into the background.
"St Joan Medical Center."
He turned off his phone and hurried into the building. The receptionist glanced up at him when he stepped into the waiting room. "Can I help you, sir?"
"I think I just talked to you a few minutes ago. About a man admitted within the last half hour. You didn't have his name."
"The car accident?"
"Yeah. I believe that's what you said."
"You don't remember after only a few minutes?"
"I was worried about my friend. I didn't pay much attention to anything but that he was here."
"Sorry, sir. Have a seat. I'll find out where he is."
A few minutes passed before she looked up again. "Sir, you're friend is still in operation. He came in with a skull laceration, a dislocated shoulder, and a simple fracture of the tibia. The doctor will come out and talk to you once they're done in there."
"Thank you."
Ten minutes later Caitlyn ran into the waiting room, Renee following close behind. She ran straight up to the desk. "My husband was brought in here. I need to know where he is." Caitlyn's voice was strained with worry.
"What's his name?"
"Danny Taylor." She was on the verge of breaking down in tears.
The receptionist looked past her at Gabriel. He nodded. "You'll have to wait. Like I told your friend, he's still in the operating room. The doctor will come out and talk to you soon."
Caitlyn let Renee lead her over to a chair. Gabriel wrapped his arms around his wife, and she laid her head against his chest. Caitlyn just stared at the opposite wall, too shocked to feel anything. The wait for the doctor seemed like an eternity. Finally, he came out. The receptionist nodded to them, and the doctor approached the three. "Are the three of you his family?"
"I'm his wife," Caitlyn said.
The doctor smiled reassuringly at her. "Don't worry. He's going to be fine. He was in a car accident. Someone who saw it called an ambulance. Probably saved his life. He had a deep gash on his forehead, probably from hitting the steering wheel when he crashed. He lost a lot of blood from it. His left shoulder was dislocated, and his right tibia broken. He suffered from a concussion when he hit his head. He should wake within the next few hours."
"Can I see him?" Caitlyn asked.
The doctor nodded. "For a little bit."
Twenty minutes later she returned to the waiting room. "Do you want me to take you home?" Renee asked.
Caitlyn shook her head. "I'm not leaving him. The doctor said I can go back and see him again in another hour or so. As soon as he wakes up, I can stay with him for as long as I'd like as long as he still rests and doesn't get excited."
"You sure you're going to be okay? I can stay here with you if you want."
"No, Renee. Go home. You look exhausted. You've been working yourself too hard. Don't look at me like that. I've noticed too. You always do that when something's bothering you. Now go home and let Gabe take care of you. I'll be fine."
Renee smiled at her friend. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Caitlyn nodded. "I'm still planning on coming to the party. As long as he wakes up, I'll be there."
When Gabriel and Renee arrived home, Meghan and Amie were sitting on the couch. "Don't worry, Aunt Renee," she told her. "The other three slept the whole time."
"Thank you, Meghan. You should go to sleep now."
"Okay."
"You too, Amie. Go up to bed. Danny's gonna be fine."
Renee realized Gabriel was trembling. She put her hands on his shoulders and asked, "What's wrong?" As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she realized. "Your parents?"
He nodded his head, and she wrapped her arms around him. His parents had been killed in the same way, or almost the same way. And it had been caused by a man bent on revenge. Same situation, different result. "Gabe, it'll be okay." The situation had been reversed. It had gone from him comforting her to her comforting him. "It'll be okay."
He looked at her through tear-blurred eyes. "It's been over nine years, and it still hurts so bad. Will it ever stop hurting so bad?"
"I hope not, Gabe." When he looked at her, shocked, she added, "Because that would mean you didn't care anymore. That you had no feeling left. Please don't lose that."
*******
"Well, Danny, I think it's okay for you to go home now," the doctor said the next day.
"It's about time," he muttered.
"But I want you to stay in bed as much as possible. Starting today, you are on a forced vacation for at least the next month."
Danny groaned. "Anything else?"
"Here's some pain pills. I'm giving them to your wife to give to you. Don't lie to her about any pain you're feeling."
"She wouldn't believe me anyway," he said with a grin.
The doctor smiled. "Don't try walking without your crutches. In fact, I don't really want you on your feet at all unless it's necessary."
"Yes, sir."
"You'll have to have that sling on your arm for the next three weeks. We'll see how your shoulder's doing then and decide where to go from there."
"And my leg?"
"You'll have the cast for at least a month. Be on crutches for a bit longer."
Caitlyn helped Danny out to the car. "I have to swing by the house," she told him. "Then we're going to Renee and Gabriel's for the twins' party."
He nodded his head. The doctor had given him something for the pain before they left the hospital, and it was making him drowsy. After grabbing the twins' gifts from their house, she drove to her friends' house. When they pulled into the driveway, she grabbed her husband's crutches out of the backseat and helped him to the house.