Chapter 10

Randy looked into Taylor's surprised eyes. It was the only real kiss they had shared. He released her and without saying a word, turned and picked up John's gift card from the dresser. he headed toward the door, only stopping to stare at John who still breathed heavily and cursed from the pain in his arm.

He squatted beside his victim.

"If anything happens to Taylor, I'm holding you personally responsible," He growled low so only John could hear him. He stood, threw his card at him and glanced over his shoulder at Taylor once more before retreating.

"John." Taylor went to his side and knelt down again. "I'm sorry."

"I'll be alright." John smiled. "I must really like you girl, because a sane man would have walked away when Viper walked in."

"He's not that tough." Taylor helped John to his feet.
"Only towards you sweetheart. He doesn't love me," John joked but Taylor knew there was some truth in what he said and she did not want to think about what Randy would have done to her if he did not like her. "I'm going to head to the infirmary. Take care of yourself."

John bent down and picked up the card that Randy had tossed at him. Sheila, Felicity and Bridget stood at the door watching with satisfied grins on their faces. They were like vultures waiting to dive in and devour.

He handed the card to Sheila.

"Isn't this what you wanted?"

"Huh?"

"Go on take it!" John spat. She took it from him. "You should be real happy with yourselves. Looks like you got exactly what you wanted." He growled realizing that they knew all along what was going to happen when John got Taylor alone. They probably went straight to Viper and told him after John had closed the door.

That night Taylor went to bed thinking about John and how he had done the right thing when he realized why she was taking him up on his offer. She thought about the kiss she had shared with Randy and how it had sent a tingle up her spine. Randy. The one who had pushed himself on her. Why hadn't she felt that way when John had kissed her?

Days went by quickly and Randy stayed away from Taylor as much as possible. She returned to work and the officers did not see the need to separate them. A week later when John was able to return to work they placed him in the packing room as if the thought of one of them killing the other was entertainment for them. John normally ran a slasher, a machine that used chemicals to make the strings stiff and took six big beams of thread and rolled them onto several smaller ones before sending them to be woven, but he was not able to with one arm and was put on light duty until his arm healed.

"Hey babe." John was all smiles the moment the door was slid closed. He kissed Taylor's cheek and began to pack the boxes. She had a feeling he had worked in the department before. "Maybe later we can slip away for some privacy." He winked and shot a menacing glare at Randy who stared with ice in his eyes. Taylor just knew there was going to be another fight.

"Don't instigate a fight, John." Taylor whispered.

"I'm not worried about him." John told her and slid a box of seconds with his foot over to Randy. "You're nothing to worry about are you Viper." He laughed and dueled the man with his eyes.

Randy belted him in the jaw.

"You have a big mouth." Randy said as John laid on the floor wiping blood from his lip. "What do you see in this guy?" he went back to closing boxes and sending them down the shoot.

Taylor rolled her eyes and continued to pack the boxes. Later that day as she stood outside smoking with Randy she realized she was not scared of him anymore.

"Huh." She said to herself causing him to look her way. She laughed to herself thinking about how the closed in area and being alone with him had scared her before. Now, she didn't worry any more. Maybe she had become stronger and braver.

John did not join them outside on the old dock. He always disappeared into the inspection room. Taylor never asked because she really didn't consider him her boyfriend.

"Randy."

Randy was standing outside his apartment as he always did after work, watching John as he sat with Taylor with his arm around her. He looked up and saw Chyna. He turned and put his hands out knowing why she was there.

Taylor watched as Randy was handcuffed and lead out of the complex. It was not the first time he had been led away during that week. She didn't know what was going on. Randy never told anyone anything about his life. No one knew what he had done to be incarcerated unless they talked to one of the cops.

Randy rode in the back of Chyna's car until they reached the hospital which was a four hour ride.

"I don't think we need those in there." She smiled sympathetically. She unlocked his cuffs and got out of the car. She went to the back door and let him out since the door did not open from the inside. He was glad that Chyna had waited until that evening to take him because they had to wear their uniforms in the mill and in his jeans and tee shirt he looked like a normal person walking into the hospital.

"Hey Mom." Randy walked into a small room with three people in it. Cherry turned her head toward the door and smiled when she saw her son walk in. She had not expected to see him again.

"Hey baby." It took great effort for her to hold out her arms and motion for him to hug her. "Look at you, all pumped up. You feel like a brick wall, kid. You're working out?"

"Just lifting boxes, Mom." He said and sat down on the edge of her bed. He took her hand in his. "How do you feel?"

"It's just a cold. These doctors just want to make a buck. You know that. Jokes on them though, they won't get a penny from this poor girl." She laughed and then went into a coughing fit. She motioned for Randy to hand her the tray beside the bed. He handed it to her and she spit up black and brown stuff from her lungs. He knew it was more than a cold.

"I'm so sorry I'm not home to help you, Mom."

"Oh, son. You know I'm not mad at you. We all make mistakes. But you learned from it, right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. And in six months you'll be home." She patted his hand. "Everything will be back to normal." She closed her eyes and Randy slipped into the chair beside her and watched her sleep.


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