Carla was curled up under a blanket on the couch.
The night had been a whirlwind of doctors and detectives, but now the two of them were finally alone in their apartment.
Carla was looking at the blank television screen, a cup of hot tea in her hands.
Maria had asked if she’d wanted to watch something.
Carla had just shaken her head. Said she wanted silence.
Everybody had a million questions, but Maria had fought them all off. The questions could wait, Carla needed time to recover without a million people poking and prodding her.
“What was I injected with?” Carla asked.
“We don’t know yet. Tox screen will take some time,” Maria said.
“I only remember bits and pieces. I was constantly fading in and out,” Carla said.
“We don’t have to talk about it now. We can talk about it later,” Maria said.
“I think it was a man,” Carla said.
“Baby, just drink your tea. I don’t want you to stress yourself out.” Maria reached out to touch Carla’s shoulder.
Carla flinched. Some tea sloshed over the side of the cup, and Carla pulled a hand back. Shook it.
Maria leapt off the couch and grabbed the cup from her hands. Placed it on the coffee table.
“I’m sorry,” Carla said.
“It’s fine. It’s just tea,” Maria said.
“No, I should have stayed with Michael. I should have listened to you,” Carla said.
“It’s not important. What matters is you’re here now,” Maria said. She sat back down next to Carla. Put her arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
Carla burrowed her head into Maria’s chest. Started to sob.
Maria kissed the back of her head.
“Whoever it was, this person had the chest of a man, but he sat down behind me and I didn’t feel anything,” Carla said.
“What do you mean?” Maria said.
“A wetsuit, the person wore a wetsuit and some strange mask. I couldn’t see any hair, and at first, he, she, whatever this thing was, it just stood behind me and stared at me in the mirror. That’s when I told it, Fuck you, and it sat behind me, and pressed against my back and just sat there. I think it wanted me to scream or cry out or something, but I just kept cursing at it. Telling it how pathetic it was. But I didn’t feel anything. No dick pressing against my back, but the muscles, the chest, it felt like a man,” Carla said.
“Then what happened?” Maria said.
“Then it left and came back and injected something into my neck. The next thing I remember, you were pulling me off the chair,” Carla said.
“What about when you were kidnapped?” Maria said.
“I got out of the Uber, and I went to grab a water from the corner store. I didn’t notice the van parked there, didn’t notice anyone watching me. I should have been more aware, shouldn’t I? For Christ’s sakes, I knew serious things were going on, and I didn’t even look around,” Carla said.
“You couldn’t have been expected to be kidnapped. It’s kind of rare,” Maria said.
Carla closed her eyes. Shook her head.
“I’m an idiot,” she said.
“Stop beating yourself up,” Maria said.
“Whoever it was, he grabbed me from behind,” Carla said. “Put something over my head and shoved me into the van. It happened so fast I couldn’t even react, and then I was in the van, and a gun was pressed against my back. Whoever it was, hissed in my ear, ‘Not a fucking sound,’ and the van drove off, and I felt a needle, and I was out shortly afterwards,” Carla said.
“So, two attackers,” Maria said.
“I don’t know. Someone holding me down and someone driving at least,” Carla said.
“Could you recognize that voice again?” Maria said.
“Maybe?”
“I don’t want to push you if this is uncomfortable,” Maria said.
Carla leaned forward. Picked up her tea.
“I understand why people want vengeance now. I’ve never had anything happen to me that wasn’t at least partly my fault, situations I’d put myself in, hanging out in places I shouldn’t have hung out in, surrounded by people, you know, dumb kid things. But I was just going to a class and grabbing a water, and that motherfucker shoved me in a van and…” Tears streamed down her cheek.
Maria tried to pull her close again, but Carla wouldn’t let her.
“People like that don't deserve to live,” Carla said.
The doorbell rang. Maria checked her watch. Who the hell could be here? She went into her bedroom and grabbed her gun. As she headed for the door, Carla was getting up off of the couch, but Maria told her to stay where she was.
Maria looked through the peephole.
Saw Millie standing on her stoop. The doorbell rang again.
Maria pulled open the door.
“You had to come by? You couldn’t have called?” Maria said. Then she saw the two other police officers standing behind Millie.
“There are some FBI agents at the station, and they want to talk with you,” Millie said.
“There’s no way in hell I’m leaving Carla to go talk to anyone. We can set up an appointment for tomorrow,” Maria said.
“They’re not asking,” Millie said.
“What the hell is this?” Maria said.
“I need you to come with me,” Millie said.
“I’m not leaving Carla alone. And you brought officers to my home?” Maria said.
“They will stay here and guard your home while you’re at the station. Your attorney has already been notified,” Millie said.
“My attorney? What the hell is going on?”
“Just please, come with me. Don’t make this any harder than it already is,” Millie said.
“Yeah, you look real broken up right now,” Maria said.
Carla looked down the hallway. Asked what was going on.
Millie looked over Maria’s shoulder. Smiled.
“How are you holding up?” Millie said.
If not for Carla, Maria might have punched Millie in the face, right in front of the two officers standing behind her.
Maria turned to Carla, told her she needed to go to the station for a little bit but she’d be right back.
“Down to the station? Are you serious?” Carla said.
“It’s just for a little bit. We have some time sensitive things that we need to deal with,” Millie said.
“I’m not staying here alone,” Carla said.
“You’re not going to be alone. These officers will be guarding you,” Millie said.
Maria walked to Carla and led her into the living room. Millie didn’t follow, demonstrating some tact and patience that Maria didn’t know she had.
“Unfortunately, I have to go, but I promise I’ll be right back, and I promise you’ll be safe here with them protecting you,” Maria said.
“Can you call your mother? Ask her to come over,” Carla said.
“Of course,” Maria said.
“Naomi too. I just, I’d feel better if I was surrounded by family, and other than you and my uncle in Florida, they’re all I got,” Carla said.
“It won’t be for long,” Maria said.
“It better not be,” Carla said.
Outside, Millie waved to a waiting unmarked car.
“You’re out of your mind if you think I’m going in a car with you,” Maria said.
“I’m not asking,” Millie said.
“Am I under arrest?” Maria said.
Millie didn’t say anything.
“I didn’t think so. I’ll drive my own car. Don’t worry. I know where the station is,” Maria said.
“Why are you making this harder than it has to be?” Millie said.
Maria laughed. God, this woman was ridiculous.
“We’re almost ready for our parking lot date,” Maria said.
She turned away from Millie and clicked the doors unlocked on her car. When she reached the driver’s side door, she looked at Millie standing there, unsure of what to do.
“And if those men aren’t here when I get back, I will be coming after you,” Maria said.
“I’d choose your words more carefully if I was you,” Millie said.
“You heard me. I said what I said, and I meant it,” Maria said.