Page 46 of Fight or Flight

“Upper arm, Frank. Quick,” Tyler ordered, as he continued to hold Katherine upright.

Katherine felt a slight pinch on the back of her arm and then, in an instant, a softness permeated through her entire body. She felt light and airy, as though she were floating on a cloud in a dreamlike state. The paper bag fell to the floor, but she didn’t care. Everyone was staring at her.

“Dogs,” she said, before collapsing into the chair the detective slid across the wood floor.

“K, your dogs are fine,” Doc said. “Can you hear me?”

She nodded. Her head felt light as a balloon yet springy like a bobblehead.

“Katherine, it’s Tyler. Doc and I are going to help you to your bedroom. You okay with that?” Tyler asked, even though he could see she was starting to feel the drug’s full effect.

“Hmmm,” she said, her eyes closed, a slight smile on her lips. “Stay.”

“Holy crap, Tyler, what did you give the girl?” Ilene asked. “Sodium pentothal? A roofie?”

“Not hardly,” Tyler told Ilene. “If you could take over here for a few minutes while we get her upstairs, we can talk after.”

“Yes, let’s do that,” Ilene said in her commandeering way. “Take those dogs with you,” she added.

Together, Tyler and Doc managed to get Katherine settled in her bed. Sam and Sophie followed and jumped on the bed, lying on either side of her, protecting Katherine.

As soon as they returned downstairs, Tyler said to Doc, “I’m not going to leave her here alone tonight. I’ll sleep on the sofa as soon as the officers finish up. I hope to high hell they’re able to figure out what’s going on. I hardly know the woman, but I do know there’s more to this story. As soon as we find out, I’ll do whatever it takes to help her.” Tyler stopped and placed a hand on the old man’s shoulder. “Were you able to hide her laptop?” he asked quietly. They stood together at the bottom of the staircase.

Doc shook his head. “No, I tossed it in the living room.”

Tyler didn’t reply.

“You’re good for her,” Doc said. “In a friendly way, right?”

“Maybe as a doctor. If you’re asking me if I want a relationship with her, I can’t give you an answer now. I just met her,” Tyler said. “Now let’s see if we can help those two officers before Ilene chases them away.”

Chapter Fourteen

Detective Ray Davidson busied himself writing in a brown leather notebook. Ilene kept a sharp eye on him and his partner. Davidson paid no attention to her. Ilene thought that maybe she should show him around the property, so they could be done with this part of their investigation. Unfamiliar with the house and the mass of land that came with it, but used to taking over, Ilene spoke up. “The girl is down for the night. Any questions, you’ll have to deal with me.”

“No problem, Ms. Silva,” the detective acknowledged, and continued to write. “Give me a minute here.” He closed his notebook so quickly that it made a snapping sound. He tucked it inside his navy-blue jacket and then removed a pocket recorder from his other jacket pocket. “Do I have your permission to record our conversation?”

“Good grief, Ray, I’m not the one you need to question. I’ve just met this woman. You’ll have to wait until whatever drug Tyler gave her wears off, so yes, you can record me,” she said, adding, “For what little it’s worth.”

Tyler and Doc entered the room. “Officer,” Tyler said, nodding. “Ilene, Katherine is not in any condition to be questioned. Maybe tomorrow afternoon. She’ll need several hours for the Ativan to get out of her system,” he explained. “I can tell you what little I know, if that’ll help.”

Detective Davidson had worked his way up the ladder for the past twenty years. At forty-two, he presented an intimidating figure. Six-three, muscular, and lean, courtesy of early morning workouts six days a week. On more than one occasion, he’d used his size and good looks to strong-arm a suspect when needed. Folks accused him of being vain, which he was, to an extent. He’d often been mistaken for the actor who played the superhero Thor in the Marvel Comics movies. His movie-star good looks didn’t take away from his skill as a detective. He knew a bit of the backstory behind the woman upstairs. Ilene hadn’t used her real name when she’d introduced him. He also knew she was an agoraphobe. Blowing Rock was a small town. People talked. He listened.

“Tell me what you know,” Davidson told Tyler, then turned to George and spoke. “Wait a minute before you get started.”

George nodded and returned the camera to his backpack.

“I want a few photos inside before you take off,” the detective explained.

“Yes, sir.” George took the camera out again, waiting for further instruction.

Doc went to the kitchen and emptied what was left of the coffee Katherine had made earlier. He knew where she kept the coffee beans and all the gadgets needed to make coffee. A few minutes later, the freshly brewed coffee scented the large kitchen. He peered out to the living area. “You all care for a coffee?” Doc asked, making himself at home while Katherine slept upstairs.

“Thank you, but no, sir. We’re just here to do our jobs,” Detective Davidson said.

“Ray, you can have a cup of coffee. I’m not going to run to your boss; you know that. I called you here because you’re good at what you do. You know who I can trust. Drinking coffee isn’t going to ruin your reputation,” Ilene said. “You, too,” she told George.

“If you insist,” Davidson said, a slight grin on his handsome face.

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