Murphy and Connor's eyes snapped opened after Louisa screamed and Connor moved the blankets back.
"Was that Lou screamin'?!" Murphy asked. Connor carefully headed for the switch as he turned the lights on and Murphy got out of bed.
"Aye, I think so," Connor said. Murphy placed his bathrobe on then he tossed Connor his bathrobe and Connor placed the bathrobe on. Louisa screamed a second time as they ran for the door and Connor unlocked the door. He swung the door opened, nearly hitting Murphy in the face, as they ran out of the apartment and Connor closed the door. They ran down the hallway when Murphy started pounding his fist on the door to Louisa and Dorothy's apartment and he felt his heart slamming in his chest.
"Lou?! Dorothy?! Are you alright?!" he called out. They stood back when they heard the locks being moved back and Dorothy opened the door just enough to look out at them.
"Not now," she said in a soft voice. Louisa screamed again as Dorothy saw the anger in Murphy's eyes and she closed the door. They heard the chain being moved back as she opened the door and Murphy quickly moved by her. Connor gave her a nod as he walked by her and Dorothy closed the door. Dixon was whimpering near Louisa's bed with its head on the mattress and Louisa had her knees bent up. Murphy could see the tears rolling down her cheeks as she rocked back and forth and her arms were wrapped around her stomach.
"Lou?" Murphy said in the soft voice as he knelt down next to Dixon, but he was afraid to touch her. "Can you hear me?"
"What happened?" Connor asked while he followed Dorothy into the kitchen and she opened the cabinet door. She removed a small red box as she removed a syringe and a small glass bottle and she looked at him.
"She had a nightmare. She's been having them since she went blind."
"What are you gonna do with that?"
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to sedate her."
"You're gonna put her back t'sleep after she had a nightmare? That doesn't make sense."
"It's more like I'm knocking her out."
Murphy was listening to their conversation as he glared at Dorothy then he slowly moved his fingers toward Louisa's right elbow.
"Lou, I need you t'listen t'me. I'm here. I'm here," he said as his finger barely touched her elbow, but she just rocked back and forth. "Can you hear me? It's alright."
Louisa whimpered as his fingers lightly rubbed against her elbow then he moved his fingers up her right arm. He tried to think of something to calm her down when he thought of something and he placed his hand on her right shoulder.
"Do you remember that time Connor talked us into goin' up on th'roof? Th'lock to th'door leadin' up to th'roof was busted, so we didn't have any trouble gettin' up there. But th'piece of wood Connor used t'keep th'door open fell over an' we got stuck because there was no door handle on th'other side of th'door. Connor started freakin' out, but Norman…"
Louisa moaned after he said Norman's name and Murphy moved his hand back.
"Lou?"
"N-nor-normie," Louisa said with a tremble to her voice and he stood up. He carefully sat on the edge of the bed as he looked at her and she whimpered.
"What about him?"
"He… He…"
He carefully moved up the mattress until he was sitting next to her and he sat back against the wall. He gently placed his left hand on her right shoulder as she leaned back against him and he slid his arms around her.
"You back with us?" he asked and she nodded. Dorothy had placed the syringe and the small glass bottle back in the small red box then she placed the small red back in the cabinet and she and Connor walked to the bed.
"Hey, Lou," Connor said as he knelt down next to the bed and her left hand reached out for him. He took her hand as they wrapped their fingers together and she gave him a small grin.
"Did I…? Did I wake you?" Louisa asked.
"Well, it was more like your screamin' woke us. Which is fine. We have th'day off an' we weren't plannin' on gettin' up before noon," he teased and she gave him a tiny smile.
"I'm…"
"No. No need t'be sorry."
Louisa pictured Connor smiling at her as she felt the gentle rise and fall of Murphy's breathing and she started to calm down.
"I'm still sorry," she said in a soft voice.
"Dorothy said you had a nightmare," Murphy said and she felt a slight vibration of his voice rumbling in his chest.
"Yeah, I did."
"Well, Ma always says th'best way t'get rid of bad dreams is t'bring them into th'light," Connor said as he saw the unsure look on her face and he sighed. "But only if you wanna."
Louisa leaned her head back while Murphy looked at her and Connor noticed the concern in his twin's eyes. She thought for a few seconds then she raised her head and they waited for her to say something.
"I noticed you haven't asked about Norman," Louisa said.
"Well, we did wonder why he wasn't here. If Murphy was th'one who was blind, or if I was, we would be th'ones takin' care of th'other," Connor said as he glanced at Dorothy. "No offense."
"None taken," Dorothy said.
"You're right. He should be here. But…"
Murphy felt her body tensing as he resisted the urge to rock her and Louisa pressed her lips into a thin line.
"What happened t'Norman?" Murphy asked. She became silent as she tried to figure out where to start and she barely felt his heart beating against her back.
"He… He's…. He died," she said.
"When did he die?" Connor asked.
"It was a few months ago."
"Was he sick?" Murphy asked.
"No. He was murdered."
Murphy and Connor gave each other stunned looks and Louisa made a deep sigh.
"Like you two, Norman and I did a lot of things together. We even went to the same collage. I studied photography and he was an art major. When we graduated, we decided to share an apartment. We found a loft apartment in Greenwich. We divided it in half so we'd each have our own place, but there was this gated archway in the middle of the wall so we could still see and talk to each other."
"Could you go into each other's apartment through th'archway?" Connor asked.
"Yeah, we could," she said then she smiled. "That also included whoever we were dating. I remember this one girl Norman was dating. I walked out of the bedroom and she was in the kitchen with nothing on, but a smile. She said Norman didn't have any eggs and he said I had some."
Murphy saw the amused look on Connor's face as he glared at him and Connor shrugged.
"When he was away, I took care of his side of the apartment and he did the same for me. But that all changed when I…. When…"
"Take your time," Connor said and she nodded.
"His name is Dillon Brady. He was my assistant and…"
"He was your boyfriend?" Murphy asked and she heard the sadness in his voice.
"Yeah," she said with a nod. "We met at one of my shows at a friend's gallery. He found people willing to give me a chance and my career took off. The thing is Norman hated Dillon. He kept telling me to break up with him, but I wouldn't listen. I told him to mind his own business. It wasn't until Dillon hit me…."
"He hit you?!" Murphy said and she felt his heart thumping hard against her back.
"Th'bastard!" Connor said.
"When he did that, I told him it was over. That we were done. That I was getting a new assistant."
"I bet he took that well," Murphy said.
"He didn't. He would call me. He would just show up when I was out with friends or at a gallery show or on my assignments. He would be in my apartment when I got back from a trip and Norman was away."
"Did you call th'police?" Connor asked.
"I called them so many times, I was on first name basis with most of them. But they kept telling me they couldn't do anything unless he did."
Connor and Murphy looked at each other as they had a silent conversation and Louisa reached down to hold onto Murphy's hands.
"While I was in Paris, he just showed up and I nearly lost my career and got sued."
"Why?" Murphy asked.
"He insulted and punched my client."
She became quiet as Murphy held her and Connor stood up. He paced back and forth as he brushed his fingers through his hair and Dorothy saw the anger on Murphy's face.
"I thought he had finally gotten the hint when he had to spend a few weeks in jail after he did that. The day Norman… The day it happened, Norman and I were talking about him. Norman wanted me to leave town, but, like I told him, Dillon could somehow find out where I was. Anyway, Norman knew I was getting upset so he hugged me. That's when Dillon showed up. I didn't even hear door open. He took one look at us and he… He accused us of…"
"He accused you of what?" Connor asked.
"Incest."
"He accused you of havin' sex with your brudder!?"
"Yes," she said and Murphy leaned his head against hers. "Dillon went nuts. He pushed Norman off me then he punched me in the face. Before I knew it, he was on top of me. He punched me in the face, in the stomach and he started choking me. Norman pulled him off of me and I barely remember trying to roll over. I finally did while they fought and I started crawling across the floor. My eyes were sealed shut, so I couldn't tell where I was going. That's when I heard Norman calling my name then gunfire. The next thing I knew, someone was on top of me and something was pressed against the back of my head. The last thing I remember was Dillon telling me I would never be free of him and someone screaming."
Dorothy noticed Connor looked like he wanted to punch a wall, but Murphy was just looking straight ahead. Connor could feel the raw emotions coming from his twin as he walked to the bed and he knelt down next to the bed.
"Let it out," Connor whispered. Murphy's eyes moved to look at him as he shook his head and Louisa rubbed his hands. Murphy closed his eyes while Connor helped Louisa off the bed then Murphy titled his head back as he screamed. His voice started cracking as Murphy finally ran out of air and Connor held Louisa in his arms. Murphy breathed hard and fast as tears rolled down his cheeks and Dorothy moved to sit on the edge of the bed.
"I am amazed no one's calling the police with all this screaming," she said as she tried to make them smile. "Are you alright?"
"Aye," Murphy said. Connor helped Louisa get back in bed as she snuggled against Murphy and Murphy wrapped his arms around her. Her head rested against his shoulder as she placed her right hand on his chest and he placed his left hand on top of her hand. His heart thumped against the palm of her hand and Louisa felt the deep rise and fall of his chest.
"Calm yourself," she whispered and Murphy took a few deep breathes to calm down.
"He killed Norman, didn't he?" Connor asked and she nodded.
"Yes. Norman was shot three times in the chest. I was in a coma for a month and a half," Louisa said.
"Did th'police catch th'bastard?"
"No. Dillon just disappeared."
"Shit," Murphy whispered.
"I was under guard while I was in the hospital and every doctor, nurse, surgeon and therapist was closely monitored. When I was well enough to go to a rehabilitation hospital, I thought I was safe."
"He found you?" Connor asked and she nodded.
"That is why we're here," Dorothy said.
"Then Rocco was right? You're under witness protection?" he asked, looking at Louisa.
"Yes," Louisa said.
"An' you're not a nurse," he said, looking at Dorothy.
"No, I am a nurse. I am also a trained bodyguard," Dorothy said and she saw the concern on the twins' faces. "There is no need to worry. I never told anyone about the two of you."
"You didn't?"
"No. And the reason I didn't was because I know they would have placed Louisa somewhere else if they found out and assign someone else to look after her."
"An' that would've made things worse," Murphy said.
"Exactly."
Louisa snuggled a little closer when she closed her eyes while her hand slid down onto his lap and Murphy watched her drift off to sleep. He placed his left index finger against his lips as Dorothy noticed something and she made a small grin.
"Is there a story behind that tattoo?" she asked and he looked down at his chest.
"Aye, there is."
"Want me t'tell it?" Connor asked and Murphy nodded. "You see, Lou, Murph, Norman an' I became really close that summer they came t'Ireland. A few days before they were gonna leave, we decided t'do summat really crazy."
"What did you do?" Dorothy asked.
"Well, Lou an' I couldn't think of anythin' until she talks me into dyin' my hair."
"You jus' had your hair spiked up an' th'tips were dyed a bright blue," Murphy corrected and Connor glared at him. "Lou jus' had this pink stripe which went from th'top of her head an' it arched over her fringe."
"So, whose Idea was it to get the tattoo?" Dorothy asked. Murphy half-closed his eyes while he looked at Louisa and he sighed. He felt his mind drifting into the past and he held Louisa a little tighter.
Ireland – 1986
"You wanna do what!?" sixteen years old Murphy asked while he and Norman walked down the sidewalk and Norman gave him an amused look.
"I wanna get a tattoo," Norman said.
"Won't your ma have a fit?"
"Aye, she will, but it's my body."
"An' you want me t'get one?"
"Aye. Unless you're a chicken."
Murphy glared at him as Norman nudged him and Murphy shook his head.
"I'm no chicken."
They walked down the sidewalk when they came to the tattoo parlor and Norman opened the door. They walked inside as the tattoo artists looked at them and Murphy noticed there were some boys and girls their age sitting on some of the chairs.
"Hullo, lads. What can I do fer you?" Roger Donovan asked. Murphy and Norman notice the numbers of tattoos Roger had and he folded his arms over his chest.
"We'd like t'get a tattoo," Murphy asked.
"How old are th'both of you?"
"We're sixteen," Norman said.
"Do you have a particular tattoo in mind?"
"Uh…," Norman said.
"Um….," Murphy said.
"Why don' you take a look at th'drawin's on th'wall then come tell me which one you'd like," he said then he walked away. Murphy and Norman walked to the drawings on the walls when Murphy saw the word Aequitas on a piece of paper and a cool chill moved through him.
"What does that mean?" Norman asked.
"It's Latin. It means justice," Murphy said.
"Cool. You wanna get that one?"
"Nah," he said when he saw the word Veritas on another piece of paper and the cool chill moved through him again.
"What does that one mean?"
"It means truth."
"Cool."
Murphy looked at the drawing of the Celtic cross and he tilted his head to one side.
"Do you want a Celtic cross?" Murphy asked.
"I don't think so."
"Why?"
"It would take too long t'do."
"Aye," he said then he looked at the shield knot. "What about a shield knot?"
"Nah."
They looked at the drawing of Mary Magdalene and Murphy titled his head to one side.
"Who's that?"
"That's supposed t'be Mary Magdalene."
"Cool."
Murphy looked at the drawings of two winged demons and a demon as he made a soft humming sound then he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Maybe this was a bad idea," Murphy said, softly.
"Wait. I got an idea," Norman said and he whispered in Murphy's right ear.
"No. No way."
"Why not?"
"Norman's a boy's name."
"So?"
"There aint no way I'm gonna walk around with a guy's name tattooed on my body."
"Jus' put it somewhere no one can see it."
"Like where?"
"Your chest?"
"I have t'take my shirt off at some point."
"Come on. I wanna do it."
Murphy thought for a few seconds when he nodded and Norman smiled.
"Did you fall asleep?" Connor asked while Murphy opened his eyes then he shook his head. Murphy told Dorothy what he and Norman did and she made a soft laugh.
"What did your mothers do when you showed them the tattoos?" she asked.
"Their mother was really angry, but Norman told her my name can be male or female. Ma? She just laughed then she said it gave me an excuse not t'take my shirt off during swimmin' class," Murphy said when he yawned and he shook his head. "Sorry."
"No. It's late," she said as she and Connor stood up and Murphy's eyelids started drooping. "I am sorry that we woke you up,"
"Like I told Lou, there is no reason t'be sorry," Connor said. He noticed calm look on Murphy's face as Connor smiled and Dorothy placed a finger to her lips. "Would it be alright if I slept on th'couch?"
"Yes, that will be fine."
Dorothy went to get a pillow and blanket while Connor walked to the couch and he went to lie on his back. He nodded to her while he took the blanket and pillow then he placed the pillow under his head, covered himself with the blanket and he closed his eyes. When she was sure he was asleep, Dorothy went to lock the door then she looked at Murphy, Connor and Louisa, walked to the cabinet, removed the laptop and she walked to the table. She placed the laptop on the table when she opened the laptop then she pushed the power button. She looked at the screen when she opened the email application and she looked at the emails. She opened the IRISH ROSE email when she started typing and she glanced over at Louisa and Murphy. His left hand was over her right hand and his chin was resting on the top of Louisa's head.
Irish Rose experienced a nightmare about the attack. Woke up hysterical. Had to sedate. Any word on his location?
She sent the email when she turned the power off, closed the laptop then she got up. She placed the laptop away as the soft sound of snoring came from the couch and she looked at Connor.
"He snores," came from the bed as she looked at Murphy and his eyes were slightly open.
"I thought you were asleep," Dorothy said, walking to the bed.
"Nah," he said with a small shake of his head. "What were you doin'?"
"I was filing a report about what happened."
"Did you mention us?"
"I told you I don't do that. Now, go to sleep."
"G'night," he said as his eyelids closed and he sighed. She walked to the switch as she turned the lights off then she carefully moved toward the bed. Getting under the blankets, she went to rest on her right side and the last things she heard before she drifted off to sleep was the soft sound of Connor's snoring.
The next morning, Dorothy woke to the sound of voices as she opened her eyes and she saw Connor at the stove and Louisa was sitting at the table. Dorothy looked around for Murphy as the door opened and Murphy led Dixon into the room.
"Mornin', Dorothy," Murphy said as he removed the leash from Dixon's collar then he ruffled the dog's neck.
"Breakfast's ready," Connor said, grinning.
"You really didn't have to do this," Dorothy said as she got up and she placed her bathrobe on.
"Aye, but we thought this would repay you fer all th'times we came over fer dinner."
"Who helped get Louisa up?"
"I got myself up," Louisa said with a sly grin.
"But I helped her with her toothbrush."
"I see," Dorothy said. Murphy and Connor looked at each other as they had a silent conversation then they looked at Dorothy. She watched them turn their backs so she could get dressed and she smiled, shaking her head.
After they ate breakfast and the twins washed up the dishes, pans, silverware and glasses, Murphy and Connor gave them a hug before they went back to their apartment and Dorothy closed the door.