“Just humor me, will you?”
Randy hiked his leg over and straddled the bike, bringing it to life with the turn of a key. She closed her eyes, and placed her hands flat on the seat, revelling in the familiar rumble beneath them.
“Are you ready?” Randy called back to her.
Becca gave him a thumbs up in his mirror. Overcome with emotion, she wiped the tears from her eyes as he rode away from the hospital toward the lakeside.
She titled her face upward to welcome the sun’s kiss to her cheeks, the magic in the gentle breeze swirling around her. The ride proved more healing than any doctor’s prescription.
Randy kept an eye on her in the mirrors. It warmed his heart to see her eyes closed and a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. He’d taken a gamble she’d be receptive to his offer. Since she had her own bike for years, he imagined she looked to her ride for comfort during times of crisis.
As much as he treasured this time with her, a dark cloud still lingered above him. It was time she knew the truth. Only then could they move on with their lives together.
He picked a nice spot by the lake to spread out the blanket and settle Becca with her back against a shade tree. He grabbed a couple bottles of water from the bike, sat beside her, and then took a long drink.
She put a hand on his leg. “What’s wrong?”
Damn, I forgot how intuitive she is. He shuddered. He’d battled long and hard about telling her, but knew secrets had a way of coming out at the most inopportune times. No, he needed to suck it up and come clean.
“Randy,” Becca cupped the side of his face. Concern lined her brow. “Something’s wrong. I see it in your eyes.”
He sighed and took her hand away, kissing her open palm before resting it on her lap. “I’m trying to tell you something you need to know.”
“Please, Randy, you’re scaring me.”
“I know we agreed not to talk about that day, but there’s something we haven’t told you.”
He clasped her hand in his, briefly shut his eyes, and nodded definitively. “He’s alive.”
Her eyes grew big. “Who’s alive?”
“Danny. He suffered burns over eighty percent of his body. Nobody thought he’d survive.”
Panic seized her as she looked in every possible direction. “Where is he?”Her breaths came too quickly and she gasped for air.
“You have nothing to worry about. He’s in the Langford Asylum for the Criminally Insane. That place is locked up tighter than Alcatraz. He’ll never be a free man.”
“Have you seen him? How do you know for sure?” Her cheeks stained pink and she narrowed her gaze on him. “Didn’t you think I had a right to know long before now?”
Randy noted the fire building in her eyes. “At first they didn’t even tell me. They were sure he’d died. It wasn’t until he was being transferred to the Asylum.... I’m sorry Becca. Maybe I should’ve told you, but you were in so much pain. I just couldn’t bring myself to add to it.”
“Are you telling me he was in the same hospital with me and not one person let me in on it?” She used the tree as leverage to try and stand.
Randy jumped to her aid, taking hold of one arm to help her up. “Aw, come on, Becca. We were only thinking of the shape you were in. We didn’t want to add to your trauma. Please don’t be angry with me.”
“I’m not sure who I’m angry with. All I know is that the maniac, who almost killed Jacob and me, the same maniac who sewed eight mouths shut, one of which I was forced to watch, was just down the fucking hall from me and nobody breathed a word of it.”
Randy tried to pull her into his arms but she wanted no part of it and shrugged his hand away. “Just take me back to the hospital. All of a sudden I don’t feel very well.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Becca hated asking Randy for some space, but she needed time to digest his news. Now, for the third night in a row, she woke drenched in sweat, an image of Danny at the end of her bed with sewing needle in hand all too real. His face was disfigured from the fire like the gnarled bark of a hundred-year-old tree, but there was no denying the same madness danced in his eyes.
The first sounds of life came from outside her door. She needed to see Jacob today and find out if he’d been told yet. Like her, he deserved to know. The more she thought about it, the more certain she became of what she wanted to do.
“Good morning, Love. You’re up early again. Did you have another bad dream?”
Becca nodded and pulled herself up to sitting position. She told Debbie all about the news Randy broke to her. She’d been in the hospital over two months now and they’d created a solid bond.
Nurse Debbie gave her the usual pills and a cup of water. She waited for her to take them before turning to leave.
“Try not to worry so much. I’m sure once you’re home in your own bed things will get back to normal.”
“Yah, like when is that going to happen?”
The nurse paused at the door and turned to face her. “Well, if all goes well, maybe sooner than you think.”
Becca looked down her nose at her. “What do you know that I don’t?”
“A little bird told me your doc is coming in this morning to check how you’re healing. If he’s happy, you might just get your walking papers.”
“ Hallelujah. Finally some good news!”
She had mixed feelings about leaving the hospital. Of course she’d be happy to go home, but that meant leaving the hospital where she felt safe and not alone. Becca straightened her back and swallowed the fear rising in her.
No, I will not let him have any power over me. He’s no longer a threat, or is he?
A knock on the door stole her attention and she looked up to find Jacob rolling his wheelchair in for a visit.
“Well, isn’t this a nice surprise. I almost didn’t recognize you without Jeffery.”
Jacob grinned sheepishly. The puncture scars around his lips had lightened considerably. “He’ll be here any time now.”
Becca moved to a chair at her bedside and clasped his hands. “How are you? You’re looking much better.”
“I’m fine.” He diverted his gaze, feigning interest in something out the window.
“Jacob, how are you, really? You can tell me.”
He sighed wearily. “I thought I was well on my way to recovery when all of sudden I start having disturbing dreams.” He leaned towards her and spoke behind his open hand. “I keep seeing Danny. When I wake up, I swear the guy had been standing at the end of my bed.”
Becca’s breath hitched, feeling very spooked. A shiver ran through her. Is he having the same dreams as I am?
“You’re not alone, Jacob. I’m having them too.” Her heartbeat thrummed against her chest. “I guess there’s no easy way to go about this.” She squeezed his hand. “He’s not dead.”
Jacob pulled his hand away as if bitten and wheeled back from her. “Who?”
“You know who. I see it in your eyes.”
“That’s not possible. He can’t be alive. Are you sure?”
“Aside from actually being in the same room with him, yes, I’m sure. They got him locked up in an asylum for the criminally insane.”
The color drained from his face and he sat there shaking his head in disbelief. Slowly he raised his head and looked directly into her eyes. “You know what we have to do, don’t you?”
Becca didn’t have to question him or guess. She nodded.
“I’ll talk to Jeffery and make plans for us all to go.”
“I’m sure the chief can get the necessary clearance we’ll need to get inside.”
Jacob spun around and wheeled to the door. He turned enough to see her. “Here we thought the fucking nightmare was over. We should kill the s.o.b. and be done with him once and for all.”