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“FEEL GOOD?” RAYNE WORKED Jake’s calf muscle.
He moaned, half asleep.
She pressed her palms against the pressure points in his leg.
“Ooh.” He raised his head. “Yes, right there. My muscle’s so tight.”
“Yes, it is.” She caressed. “Might have a little fluid buildup from being in the chair all the time. Since you can walk some, I think it might be good for you to walk more. Did the doctor say you’d always have to use a wheelchair?”
“My legs are shot for life.” He stuffed his head in the pillow. “I’ll never be able to walk on them for more than a few minutes. They go weak.”
“I bet it was quite the adjustment period having to be in a chair for the rest of your life.”
“For a while I thought my life was over.”
“Did you?” Rayne dug her fingernails into his skin.
“Ow!” He leaned up. “You pinched me?”
“Sorry.” She chuckled, pretending she hadn’t done it on purpose. “I got a snag on my nail.”
He scowled, laying back.
“What were you saying?” She massaged his thigh.
“I thought my life was over when the doctor told me I’d be in a wheelchair. I didn’t know how I’d survive having to step into a whole new world.”
“You weren’t just thankful you were alive?” She lifted his towel. “Wasn’t that more important than being able to walk?”
“And I was grateful to be alive, but it was still hard to accept.”
Rayne stood on the side of the table and poured oil on his back. “I bet you had the support of your family to get you through it.”
“My family’s been amazing. I’m so lucky to have people there for me.”
“Yeah.” She exhaled. “You are.”
“And Katherine’s family was great. I was surprised that they didn’t hold a grudge.”
Rayne stopped massaging. “They didn’t?”
“No. They were distraught and angry about what happened but didn’t blame me.”
“But you were the one drinking.” Rayne smoothed oil over his skin. “If it weren’t for you, then Katherine would still be alive. How could they not blame you for that?”
“Hey.” He peered at her. “I don’t like your tone.”
“Huh?” She held her hands up. “Did I say something wrong?” She rubbed his arm. “I seem to put my foot in my mouth around you. I didn’t mean to sound accusatory, but it’s amazing how her family can forgive you like that.”
“Well, they did.” He rolled his eyes and got back into position. “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this anymore.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you.”
He closed his eyes.
She slipped the syringe full of Midazolam HCI out her pocket. “Because my family deserted me, I guess I’m shocked at how gracious other families can be with people who aren’t even related.” She raised the syringe. “You’re right. We don’t need to talk about this anymore,” she whispered. “Relax and let my hands take you to Wonderland.”
“Sounds good.” He moaned.
“Sh.” She brought the syringe to his neck. “You’ll be drifting in Heaven.” She lowered the needle point to his skin, almost pricking him.
The doorbell rang.
Shit.
Rayne tucked the syringe in her pocket as Jake opened his eyes.
“Is that Lisa?” She sighed.
That bitch.
“Jake, it’s Guy!” He knocked. “I gotta talk to you, man. My dad’s hurt and in the hospital.”
“What?” Jake sat up, throwing his legs over the side of the table. “Just a minute man.” He straightened the towel around his waist.
“I’ll get the door.” Rayne answered it.
“Hey.” Guy brushed past her and made it to Jake. “Man, someone was texting and ran straight into my dad’s SUV. He turned over about six or seven times on the freeway.”
“Guy.” Jake covered his mouth. “Dude, I’m so sorry. Is your father all right?”
“He’s in ICU.” Guy rocked, fondling with his hair. “He has a bruised kidney, bruised liver, spine’s all messed up, and broken leg. They’re still running tests to make sure nothing else is wrong.”
“I’m so sorry, man.” Jake hugged him.
“This is my dad.” Guy sniffled. “What am I gonna do if I lose him?”
Rayne huffed, crossing her arms.
“Everything’s gonna be all right.” Jake got off the table. “Just be positive.”
“I need you to be at the hospital with me. My family’s there, but I need you too.”
“Say no more,” Jake said. “Rayne, we gotta cut this session short.”
“I understand. So sorry about your dad, Guy.”
Tears trickled from his eyes. “Thanks.”
“Let me get my stuff.” Rayne folded the massage table into the large bag and scooped up the oil and towels. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Jake.”
“I’ll get the door for you.” He opened it.
She maneuvered the stuff out the door.
“Wait, your purse.” He got it off the chair and handed it to her.
“Thanks.” Rayne put her purse around her shoulder. “I hope your father is okay, Guy.”
He nodded, sobbing.
“See you tomorrow, Rayne.” Jake closed the door in her face.
“Fuck!” She stomped toward her car.
****
LISA ENTERED THE THERAPEUTIC Massage Clinic, which sat between a dentist office and sandwich shop.
An intense aroma of coconut and fruit smothered her as she approached the front counter and hit the little bell. “Hello?”
A black woman with yellow-brown skin, sashayed from behind a curtain in spiked heels.
By the looks of Rayne and this woman, you have to be a supermodel to work here.
“Hello there.” The woman’s European features and frizzy curls suggested she might’ve been biracial. “I’m Tonia. May I help you?”
Lisa shook her hand. “Detective Lisa Swanson with the Baltimore Police.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Detective.” Thick, black eye shadow covered Tonia’s eyes. “I hope there isn’t a problem.” She smiled.
“Not at all. I wanted to know more about one of your therapists. Are you the manager?”
“Yes, ma’am.” She went behind the counter. “Who are you inquiring about?”
“Rayne Jessup.”
“Rayne?” Her face lit up. “She’s one of our best employees. Clients love her.”
“I bet they do,” Lisa muttered. “She’s my boyfriend’s massage therapist, and I’d like to know more about her.”
“Who’s your boyfriend?” Tonia opened a ledger.
“Jake Jenson.”
“Here he is.” She pointed to his name in the book of clients. “Yes, he’s in a wheelchair and was referred to us by his doctor for daily massages Monday through Friday.”
“Yes.”
“Is there a problem with the service?”
“I just need to know more about Rayne.”
“She’s been working for us for a year.” Tonia set the ledger aside. “Not much to tell.”
“I’m interested in what she did before she worked here. She’s thirty-five, so she had to have been doing something else all this time.”
“Uh, I’m not at liberty to discuss anything else with you.”
“Come again?”
“I can only share what she does concerning Therapeutic Massage. It’s against our policy to share information about employees that doesn’t pertain to this job.”
“I wanna know where she worked before.” Lisa rested her hip against the counter. “I don’t think that’s a big issue.”
“It is to us. We can’t share personal information about our employees and this is making me uncomfortable. Has Rayne done anything?”
“No, but—”
“I don’t understand what this is about then. Unless she’s committed a crime I’m not obligated to tell you anything else. If you want further information, I suggest you come back with a warrant.” She went behind the curtains.
A young woman with a broom stood behind Lisa.
“Hi,” Lisa addressed her. “Uh, you know Rayne Jessup?”
“Yeah.” The woman swept toward the counter, strands of straggly, brown hair escaped her ponytail.
“I’m Detective Lisa Swanson and I wanted information about her.”
She stopped sweeping. “What’s this about?”
“I...”
Tonia stuck her head out the curtains. “I told you we can’t help you, Detective. Please leave.”
“I’m going.” Lisa headed out. “But, don’t be surprised if you see me again.”