Chapter Five

Cora Grey raced through the door to the nurses’ station. Breathless, she asked the nurse behind the counter. “Raine Andrews. Where is she?”

The shrewd-eyed nurse gave her a quick once-over. “You Ms. Grey or Ms. Ellison?” “Grey,” Cora answered.

The nurse smiled. “Down the hall, last room on the right.”

“Thank you,” Cora stepped away then turned back. “Mr. Andrews?”

“Surgery. Not dead.” Her dead-pan expression belied her opinion, that Mr. Andrews should just bite the dust and leave the poor girl alone.

“I feel the same way,” Cora agreed.

The first thing Cora saw was the back of Raine’s head. She thought it odd she was on her stomach. Then she glimpsed the exposed back and expanse of bloody red welts and understood why.

“Young lady why on earth didn’t you tell us what he was doing?” Then her stomach bottomed-out when Raine looked over her shoulder. A strong urge to storm the operating room and finish Addison off overwhelmed her. And that reminded her. “In case you’re wondering, he’s still in surgery. Maybe he won’t make it.”

“I wasn’t wondering, and he’s too mean to die. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!” Raine hissed as the doctor applied soothing ointment on the wounds.

“You’ll feel better in a couple of minutes,” he promised, lightly smoothing cream over the welts. “You’ll even be able to lie on your back. Now let’s take care of the rest of you.” He flashed a meaningful look at Cora.

“I’ll be outside.”

While waiting, Cora recalled the past hour. It was the urgent ringing of the doorbell that had brought her and Ethel scrambling from their beds. Thank goodness Katy slept like a rock; the little cutie-pie hadn’t moved so much as an eyelash. Peering through the security peephole at the big man holding up a badge had scared them both.

The nurse interrupted her musings. “You can come back in now.”

Raine was sitting up now affording Cora a good look at her battered face. “That son of a . . . he should just bite the dust. How could he do something like this? He’s been acting strange for a while, but I never expected something like this.”

Holy cow! For Cora to nearly cuss was a sure sign of how upset she was. In the years she’d known the sisters she couldn’t remember either saying even one mild swear word. It made her smile and considering how swollen her lips were, that was no easy feat. She rubbed her tongue over her teeth. At least she didn’t need any dental work.

“I couldn’t tell anyone what was happening.” She picked non-existent lint from the white sheet covering her. “It wasn’t safe confiding what Addison was doing. You can’t imagine what it’s been like to come and go, see everyone, yet have invisible bars surrounding me. Addison held the trump card, too. He used Katy to keep me under his thumb knowing I wouldn’t dare force his hand.”

Cora carefully patted her swollen hand. “You must have felt so helpless. No wonder you stayed quiet, never attempting to leave,” assuming Raine had never tried. She couldn’t have been more wrong.

Raine shook her head, “I did leave once. Took Katy and went to his folks for help. Big mistake! They ratted me out.”

“What happened?” Cora asked, though figuring she knew.

“Just what you’re thinking happened. Addison lied, made out like it was just a little tiff I blew out of proportion. Even said I inflicted my own injuries.”

Cora stared in disbelief. “They believed him? Just how stupid could two people be? They always were a sorry snooty bunch, always thinking themselves better than anyone else, especially if you had less green stuff in the bank than them.”

Cora’s opinion was right on target about her in-laws. The Andrews were old-money rich but through various grapevines she’d heard tales about old man Andrews, Addison’s grandfather, having been into bootlegging and speakeasies and owning several whorehouses back in the heydays of the twenties and thirties. Rumor even had it he’d had some questionable partners back in the day. Raine could only imagine the trench-coated, machine-gun-toting partners squiring their ten-cent-a-dance girls. She bet those long ago but not forgotten rumors didn’t sit well with Addison’s hoity-toity mother, either.

Shifting on the bed, she groaned. Her entire body was one humongous ache but at least she could lie on her back now. That was some awesome magic medicine. Catching Cora’s worried frown, she assured her. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. It could be a lot worse, you know.”

“No kidding.” Cora agreed. “Just to ease your mind, Katy-bug was sound asleep when I left the house and Ethel’s loaded-for-bear should your in-laws show up. They’ll have a battle on their hands getting her away from Ethel. She’s never cared for them, either.”

That was something Raine hadn’t thought of—Addison’s mother and dad trying to get Katy. “Gosh, I hadn’t even considered that. Thank heavens you two did. Right now, I can’t seem to add two and two together.”

Cora patted her hand. “That’s because you’ve had your brain scrambled a little bit.”

“Tell me about it. Addison batted me around like I was a badminton shuttle-cock.” She fingered her bruised and swollen knuckles with a burst of pride. “But I got a few good licks in. I hope I broke his nose.”

“Honey, I doubt his nose is top priority right now.” Cora chuckled then sobered. “You did what you thought was right keeping him from taking off with Katy. Never doubt yourself for a moment.”

Raine made a disparaging sound. “That’s easier said than done. Though I stayed don’t think I haven’t second-guessed myself every second. I just didn’t trust him, or his folks. Come to think of it, I wonder if they know he’s been shot.”

“Don’t know.” Cora shrugged. “You being his wife, the police might not let them know.”

“No, they’ll let them know and I can just hear them, especially Addison’s mother, insisting it’s my fault he was shot. She’ll swear up and down I shot him but that won’t fly. I never touched the gun. The detectives don’t believe I shot him. Anyway, I don’t care what they think about me. I quit that a long time ago. After they wouldn’t help me I’ve kept my distance, only going around them when absolutely necessary.”

“They’re a real piece of work. No wonder Addison’s the way he is.” Cora peered closer at her eyes. How on earth could the girl see? “You’ve had quite a time shouldering all this alone.” Gently she traced Raine’s swollen and battered face, “You poor thing.”

And the tears she’d been holding back fell, their saltiness stinging her cuts. Cora carefully gathered her in her arms; crying helped a soul to mend. Stroking her hair, she felt a tug of maternal love. If she’d been blessed with children, she hoped they’d have been just like Raine.

Quieting, Raine wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. Snatching a couple of tissues from the box on the bedside tray, Cora dried them.

“When that nice Detective Green showed up on our doorstep, Ethel and I nearly had heart attacks. We thought you’d had a car wreck. The crazy way people drive, you just never know. Anyway, you sure could’ve knocked us over with a feather when he told us what had happened. There are a lot of things I could picture Addison doing, but not this. But like I said, something hasn’t seemed right with him for a long time.”

Sadness filled Raine’s eyes. “Addison hasn’t always been like this but he hasn’t been the man I fell in love with for quite a while.” Seeing Cora’s doubt, she raked a hand through the tangle of golden hair, wincing at encountering a knot. Cora noted the tinge of red on the roots and her lips pursed into a fine line. “I’m not defending him. I’ll never do that again, but before the alcohol and drugs took control, he was different. I’d never in a million years believe he’d do these things.”

“Maybe so, but there are no excuses for ever hitting a woman,” Cora’s eyes glittered, “but I’d sure like to give him a taste of his own medicine. He’d think twice before doing it again.”

“I’m with you there, Cora.” David Green and Nancy Collins stepped into the room. He stared at Raine, his stomach curling. He bet she was one hurting mess. “Ms. Andrews, your house is locked up and here’s your purse. It was under the hall table.”

Raine reached for it but Cora was quicker. “I’ll take it. When she leaves, she’s going home with me.”

Raine stared at David Green’s scrutinizing eyes. They were a mixture of cold steel and turbulent skies. She bet they’d seen a lot of evil and was infinitely glad he was on her side. She’d hate crossing paths with him when he was on the hunt. A smile played about her mouth knowing Addison had met his match in this man and his partner.

David knew exactly what Raine was thinking and nodded. He liked her, liked her spunk, her spirit, and toughness. Another spiral of anger zipped up his spine knowing she was trying hard to put up a brave front but there was no disguising the pain she was in—both physical and mental. He’d heard what she’d said about Andrews not always being the sadistic abuser. The initial pain in her heart would have long faded. He figured about right now she was kicking herself to hell and back for not leaving sooner. There was a reason she’d stayed, enduring the abuse, his hunch—the kid. “If you’re up to it we’ve a few more questions.”

Before leaving them to their questioning, Cora adjusted Raine’s pillows. “I’ll be in the waiting room. Come get me when you’re finished.”

Raine shook her head. “Stay. There’s nothing you can’t hear now that you’re not going to sooner or later. Just know it’s not a very pretty story.” Cora didn’t think anything about Addison would ever surprise her again. Raine gave the detectives a determined look. “Just so you know I’ll do anything in my power to make Addison pay for what this, including walking Niagara Falls on a tightrope if it will help.”

“That’s what we wanted to hear but I don’t think you’ll have to go that far,” Nancy chuckled. “We just checked and he’s still in surgery. His folks are in the waiting room. We spoke to them and I’m sure you know they hold you completely responsible for this whole mess.”

Raine shot Cora an “I told you so” look. “No surprise there. In their rose-colored world, their baby boy can do no wrong. Believe me, I know first-hand what they think of me. Everything bad that happens to Addison is my fault.”

“We got that impression in the couple of minutes we spoke to them,” Nancy said dourly.

Raine liked the opinionated Detective Collins. She’d been a big comfort on the ride to the hospital, staying with her, leaving only long enough to check on Addison. When she’d returned, she had two cups of coffee—one for Raine liberally laced with sugar and cooled with cream.

David, spiral notebook in hand, again took second string. He leaned his large frame against the only solid wall available, at the head of the bed. His partner, in her sincere and easy manner, led Raine through the events again.

Once started, the words poured out like water gushing from a geyser and Raine spoke of every violent episode she could recall. By the end both detectives’ notebooks bulged and they were positive who the real trigger-pulling culprit was.

Nancy forcefully closed her note pad. Every ounce of retribution she possessed said march into that operating room and put another bullet in Addison Andrews. And that was after giving him a gigantic taste of the beating he’d given his wife.

Seeing the yearning, David cheered her on. He’d buy Nancy coffee for a year if she’d let him join in on the fun. He wanted to mete out some serious punishment, too. And in the end, they would—the justice kind—when the slimy scumbag was put away.

Raine shifted on the bed. “I tried leaving once, but made the mistake of going to his folks for help. They didn’t believe Addison could do the things I described. You can probably imagine what happened after we got home.” From the grim expressions, they figured she’d paid double for daring to leave. “That was when he started using Katy to keep me in my place, as he put it. After that, I tried to make sure she never stayed alone with him and when I couldn’t I was a nervous wreck until I got back.”

“I’d like to do some wrecking myself!” Cora huffed. Both detectives echoed their “so would we” sentiments as a smiling orderly appeared in the doorway.

“I’m here to take you to x-ray. Stay there. Doctor said take bed and all.”

David straightened from the wall. “We’re done here for the time being. We’re going home for a few hours shut-eye but if you need us, just call. And we’ve posted a guard to your husband just in case he tries anything.” Both detectives handed Cora their cards.

Starting out the door, Nancy stopped. “Wait! We need pictures.”

“Good idea. We’ll stick around until you get back. Come on Ms. Grey; let’s get some of that wonderful hospital coffee,” David quipped, tongue-in-cheek.

By the time everyone was finished Raine was exhausted. A battery of scans was taken starting at the top of her head before she was returned to her cubicle. Then it was the detectives’ turn. About the only thing they didn’t have her do was stand on her head. On top of the scans and picture taking, she had a go-round with the doctor. He intended keeping her overnight but she wasn’t having it. Understanding her desire not to share space with the husband who’d beaten her so severely, he released her.

Dawn was streaking the sky with ribbons of mauve and pearlescent white by the time she was released wearing the loose-fitting shorts and Addison’s shirt, and feeling somewhat pain-free. That really was some awesome medicine. A bit shaky, she welcomed the wheelchair then Cora’s steadying presence as they headed for the exit. The hospital, with its antiseptic smell, was fairly quiet.

Passing the waiting room Raine stopped so suddenly Cora bumped into her. What snagged her attention—the couple in the room—her in-laws, Roberta and Addison Andrews. Sr. Roberta, a slender, perfectly coiffed gray-blond woman, was pacing the white-tiled floor while her father-in-law, an older version of Addison, sat staring into space.

Thinking it Addison’s surgeon, Roberta Andrews turned, gasping in shock at her daughter-in-law’s battered condition. However, it didn’t stop the venom from spewing. “You witch! You shot my son! You tried to kill him. You should be in jail!”

“I didn’t shoot Addison.” Getting into an argument with them was the last thing Raine wanted, but she refused to back down from the backstabbing couple ever again. From day one they’d made it abundantly clear she wasn’t good enough for their son. Roberta, in particular, made no bones about it, taking every opportunity to get Addison’s ear and bad-mouth her. At first, he’d stood up for her but once the alcohol and drugs took control that changed. She’d even bet Roberta planted the worm that she was cheating on her him.

“I don’t believe you. You goaded him into another argument and that poor boy only gave you what you deserved. Why he stayed with you putting up with your cheating this long is beyond me.” Hysteria turned her voice shrill. People passing stopped to see what the commotion was about. “Why, that poor boy even doubts Katy’s his child.”

And that snapped the proverbial camel’s last straw. Fury raged through Raine so strong she expected her head to explode. Jerking loose from Cora’s tugging grasp, she bee-lined to her mother-in-law and oblivious to the onlookers slapped her hard across the face.

“I don’t care what you say about me but don’t you ever, ever, say another word against Katy. She’s as innocent in all of this as I am and as much as I wish it weren’t true, your son is her father, but as of now he’ll no longer have any contact with her and the same goes for the two of you, you sanctimonious old crone. I’ve never cheated on your son,” she stuck her finger in her mother-in-law’s face, “despite the lies you keep feeding him. And I didn’t shoot him, either. It’s the other way around. He tried to kill me. When he was through nearly beating me to death he tried to shoot me.”

Several pairs of spellbound eyes continued watching the two women. Obviously, there was no love lost between them.

“You’re lying!” Roberta shouted and Raine thought the word “denial” should be tattooed in great big letters on her forehead. “He’d never do anything like that! You’re making this all up and he can’t even defend himself.” Scorn dripped thick from her voice.

“Yeah, I’m making this up.” Raine scoffed. “I did this to myself.” She made a sweeping motion with her hand. “Just like I beat myself up the one and only time I came to you for help. No. I’m not making anything up. Your son had the gun. It went off while we were struggling and he shot himself. I’m sure when the police check for prints mine won’t be on it, only Addison’s. His will be all over it and like it or not, I’m pressing charges.” She was fed up with her mother-in-law’s poisonous attacks and blaming her for Addison’s problems. “And, you’re just as nuts as Addison if you believe a woman deserves to be abused. If Ad ever raised a hand to you he’d have come back missing it.” She glanced at her father-in-law. He dropped his eyes.

“You’re right about that, but no matter, my son being shot is your fault. If you’d been more supportive, not always fighting him, we wouldn’t be here tonight.”

Incredulousness found its way onto Raine’s battered face, “Me? Always fighting him? You really are nuts right along with your drugged-out son!”

“How dare you talk like that to me at a time like this? My son may die and you’ve the gall to stand there hitting me and blaming him for everything!” Roberta Andrews twisted the handkerchief in her hands.

“Oh, quit being so melodramatic! Addison will come out of surgery just fine. He’s too damn mean to die. And I dare say it because you can’t run and tell him how disrespectful I’ve been. Don’t worry,” Raine looked at her with contempt, “your son will live to torment someone else, but not me. Not anymore. I’m finished with him.”

Until that moment she hadn’t thought beyond the end of her nose. Whether Addison realized it or not, he’d opened the door to freedom and by God not only was she stepping through it, she was running like hell as far and as fast as she could. Despite her aching body, the knowledge gave her the lift she needed.

“And I don’t need to defend myself to you. I don’t care what you think, I never have. I put up with you because of Addison, but that’s over. And you can tell your son I won’t back down ever again.”

Her mother-in-law huffed angrily while her father-in-law remained silent. Eyeing the couple, Cora knew exactly who wore the pants in that family. Raine gave her mother-in-law a scathing look that could have singed the hair off her head.

“And I do blame him for everything! And, I blame you for sticking your heads in the sand for years and not getting him help. You’re not blind. He needed help long before I ever came along. You knew he had problems but you just made excuses for him, bailed him out then looked the other way. And I did too, but not anymore. And you know,” she paused on a sad note, “I really loved him,” she paused again, “but I haven’t for a long time. Anything I ever felt for him, he killed. I don’t deserve to be treated this way and neither does Katy. Addison’s too far gone for me to help. I’m done. I don’t have it in me anymore. He needs the kind of help neither of us can give him. And honestly, I’m not so sure he wants help.” With that parting shot she walked out the door. Beside her, Cora silently cheered. She couldn’t have said it any better herself.