I am absolutely, positively, SO sorry I haven;t updated this. It isn't one of my primary fics, and I've horribly neglected it. That being said- I'm shocked and incredibly grateful for your continued support and feedback, as my mom struggles with self confidence. You guys give her so much hope for her writing career, so thanks and godbless.
Chapter 13
I feel a weight on my chest. I crack open one eye. Blond hair. Joe.
My head pounds every time I breathe. Feel awful. Not sure if it's the drug or my hangover. Probably both.
I swallow and choke down my nausea.
Joe's snore comforts me…until I remember Edward cutting Joe's stitches.
Feel Joe's warm blood against my shirt. Need to check Joe's stitches, but my body won't move.
I close my eyes and darkness falls.
When I wake up again, Joe is still lying on my chest.
"Hey, sleeping beauty," I whisper.
"Five more minutes," Joe mumbles.
"Not happening," I say. "Get up."
"Smells like beer," Joe says. "You're drunk."
"I'm hungover," I say and wince. "Talk quieter."
Joe laughs.
"What's so funny?" I whisper.
"Thinking how you can buy my silence that you got drunk on a case. If I tell Dad, you're toast," Joe says.
"We may not live long enough for you to blackmail me," I say and force myself to a sitting position.
Blood has dried around the stitches Edward tore out.
I grab my jacket and tie it around Joe's chest.
"How do you feel?" I ask.
"Was good until you messed with it," Joe says.
"Tough," I say. "Leave it alone. If it breaks open you could bleed to death."
"Nah," Joe says. "Edward's gonna kill me way before then."
"Way to think positive," I whisper.
"So were you driving drunk?" Joe asks.
"No, I was driving hung over," I growl. "Slept off the drunk part."
"Where are we?" Joe asks.
"Abandoned cabin in the woods," I say.
"Visual?" Joe asks.
"One big room. No furniture. Bunch of rotted boards fell through the roof in the left corner," I say.
"No Edward?" Joe asks.
"No Edward," I say.
"Let's get out of here," Joe says and tries to stand.
I put my hand on his shoulder.
"Not going anywhere," I say.
"Cuz you're hungover?" Joe asks.
"No, can't risk you bleeding to death," I say.
"Willing to risk it," Joe says.
"I'm not and I'm your eyes," I say. "Unless you want to walk in circles until Edward finds you."
"Got a plan," Joe says.
"No! No plans," I say through grit teeth as my head pounds.
"It's a good one," Joe says.
"Your plans are never good," I growl.
"I get Edward mad, he does something stupid, we escape," Joe says.
"Edward doesn't do stupid, Joe. He's planned everything out," I say.
"Thank you, Frank," Edward says as he enters the cabin. "I wired the place for sound. And you're right, I don't do stupid. That's Joe's arena."
Joe struggles to sit up as Edward walks closer.
I roll myself so I'm between Edward and Joe.
"Frank," Edward says. "You are loyal, but stupid. I've planned for everything."
Edward takes out a needle and sticks in it my arm.
"You won't be able to move in five minutes," Edward says as he steps over me.
"Joe, you know how you lost all those papers this year and messed up all those reports?" Edward asks.
Joe remains quiet.
"That was me," Edward says. "After hours I stuffed the wrong papers in files, adjusted your reports, and shredded stuff. Your dad complimented me on staying late and finishing my work."
Edward kneels down so he's eye level with us sitting up.
"Do you know why Frank, your Dad and Sam never caught on?" Edward whispers inches from Joe's face.
"You're reckless. They're used to covering for you," Edward says. "You're the youngest son of the boss. He can never fire you."
"I'll kill you," I say.
"Frank, you can barely sit up," Edward says. "Besides you're as guilty as I am. You know Joe better than anybody. You believed the worst about him. Why wouldn't everybody else?"
"Joe was going to die in an unfortunate accident," Edward says. "I'd be your new partner Frank."
"Never," I growl.
"Temper, Frank," Edward says. He pulls Joe to a standing position by his hair.
"Remember when you upset me, Joe ends up paying," Edward says.
He punches Joe in the stomach.
I try to get up, but my legs won't move.
Joe lands on the floor inches from me.
"I'm going to kill your brother," Edward says. "While you watch. I'll kill him inch by inch. With as much pain as possible."
Blood from Joe's stomach wound pools on the wooden floor. Joe looks half unconscious.
Joe whispers something. I struggle to hear.
"God, s'okay if I die," Joe whispers. "But save Frank."
Edward hauls Joe up by his hair again.
He throws Joe against a wall.
Joe catches himself and leans against the wall. A light surrounds Joe. A glow.
Edward walks toward Joe.
Joe punches Edward in the stomach. When Edward doubles over, Joe punches Edward in the face. Edward's head hits the wall. He slides unconscious to the floor.
How does Joe know where to throw his punches? How does he have the strength to stand when the floor is covered with his blood?
"Frank!" Joe shouts. "Where's Edward?"
"Unconscious," I say when I find my voice.
"Anything I can tie him up with?" Joe asks.
"No," I say. "Check his pocket for his cell phone."
Joe falls to the floor. His fingers travel down Edward's coat until he finds Edward's coat pocket. Joe pulls out Edward's cell phone.
"Is this it?" Joe asks.
"Yes," I say. "Follow my voice."
Joe drags himself across the floor leaving a blood trail. I will have nightmares about this.
"Here," I whisper.
Joe collapses in a heap by me.
"Give me the cell phone and we're home free," I say.
Joe pushes the phone over to me.
I concentrate hard and move my right index finger. I grit my teeth and slowly hit 911.
"Kidnapped. Trapped. Abandoned cabin in the woods off Park Road."
Ed's cell phone dies as I get out the last sentence.
"Think they'll find us?" Joe asks.
"Yes," I say and pray I'm right. "Hey, stay awake. No sleeping on the job."
Scared if Joe loses consciousness, he'll die from blood loss. My arms won't work to fix a bandage.
"Good last case," Joe whispers. "Ed even cleared my rep at the office."
"Not our last case," I say. "This isn't the end."
"Can't work blind," Joe says.
"We'll figure something out," I say.
"Glad you were my partner," Joe says. "Wouldn't change a thing."
Joe passes out in a puddle of blood.
I hear sirens in the distance.
Edward shakes his head, gets up and walks toward us.