Thirty Five

“Oh my God!” Welsh cried as he threw open the car door and jumped out. Adams had already gone and was now wrestling with Anderson, “Grab my hand” he instructed the young woman, who was clinging onto the cliff for dear life. She shook her head fearfully, “Come on, grab hold” he continued, again she refused to let go of her safety net.

Adams, having lost Anderson, moved Welsh away. “Jo take my hand” he yelled down to her, she shook her head. “I said take my hand!” his tone now firm, but again she refused. “Josephine Logan, grab my hand now damn it!” This time she obeyed, moving her hand a fraction, he caught hold of it and pulled her immediately to safety. “You okay?” he checked, she held onto him, her whole body shaking. “You’re safe now” he assured, she nodded, he kissed her then handed her to his partner. “Take care of her. And if she moves, shoot her!” Jo glanced at Shelby Geddes, and for the first time she felt empathy for the young woman, “Adams, wait for back up” Welsh recommended but Adams had already gone. His sole intention being to find and apprehend a murderer.

Mark glanced at Hollie, who was frantically dialling her sister’s mobile. Dead. It had been registering as being busy before but these past few minutes it had gone dead. “I can’t get anything. Damn it Mark” she said, as she suddenly hurled it against the wall. “Try and calm down honey, cops are doing everything they can” he tried to reassure but even he was beginning to fear the worse. Hollie got up and began pacing the floor, “I’m gonna go out and look for her myself!” she unexpectedly announced. Mark blocked her way; she glanced down at his hands. One held each arm. “Calm down” he told her firmly, just as the phone rang and she hurried to answer. It was Jo, and from what Mark could make out she was safe and on her way to hospital, Hollie was telling her she’d meet her there.

Christian tilted his head to the side, it was still throbbing, he wondered what was going on, he’d been lying there for some time and no-one had come back to see him yet. “M-Mom, wh-what’s go-going o-on?”

He asked painfully, his mother had already tried to find out, “I’m not sure hon; Doctor said he’d be here shortly.” He blinked a few times, “I wi-wish he-he’d hu-hurry” Kate looked from Christian to his mother then marched out of the room, she’d bring a Doctor to see him if it killed her.

“You ain’t got a chance of him getting seen to” she heard the cop guarding his room say smugly. She ignored him, hurrying along the corridor to find someone.

Inger left moments later, a worried look on her face. Christian’s condition was deteriorating in front of her eyes.

“Die, you son of a bitch!” growled the young cop.

Christian moved away from his hand, which was now pressing on his wound.

“Get the hell away from him!” a voice ordered, the cop looked up.

“Or what?” he challenged.

The older man strolled into the room. “I’ll slap a law suit on you so fast, you won’t know what hit you, oh and remove the fucking cuffs now.”

“I can’t I got my orders”

Mark drew in a deep breath, seized the cop by his jacket and threw him against the wall. “Look I’m having a hell of a fucking night. So if you don’t want me to rip your fucking head from your fucking shoulders and stuff it straight up your ass then you’ll remove those things right now!”

The young man nodded fearfully then rushed over to Christian.

At last a doctor came but took one look at him and called in his team. Kate and Mark waiting outside while Inger stayed with her son. “I’ll be back, could you tell Hollie I’ve had to go do something?” Kate nodded as she watched the team working with Christian, “Tell him not to worry, it’ll be over soon” he added as he made his way from the hospital.

Christian smiled on hearing her words but wished he could believe them. Things would never be over; he would undoubtedly go back to jail the minute he was fit enough. “Chris, come on buddy try and stay with us” he heard a voice, but he couldn’t keep himself from drifting off to sleep, ‘its over’ he thought, his thoughts drifting back “Over” he kept saying.

The snow which had been falling around Hanson’s Creek all day was finally easing off. The January winds always brought snow to the town. Christian made his way home after yet another long day, wrapped up warm against the cold, the soft snow crunching under foot as he made his way from his truck, he was famished and hoped Georgia would have his dinner on the table, “Night Chris” he heard someone say as he passed, that’s the way it had been, now that he was working hard and providing for his family, he found people respected him, “Night” he called back into the darkness.

He arrived to find the house empty, he entered and called Georgia’s name as he searched every room. “Georg” he called, no answer, “Georgia” he said, still nothing. He turned on every light as he went and was just about to leave his bedroom when a pink envelope caught his eye.

Quickly he retrieved it from the dressing table and read the contents.

Chris,

Sorry but I just can’t stand it any more. I feel trapped, I know you’re trying your best but it’s just not what I thought my life would be like.

I want my freedom Chris and have gone away so please don’t try to find me.

Love

Georg

X

Ps I’ve left Jessie with your step father.

Christian threw down the letter then rushed downstairs and out into the cold night air. His mind in a whirl. What had Georgia been thinking? She knew how he felt about his step Father. His heart raced as he jumped into his pick-up truck. The one which said Kauffman’s grocers, which Olaf allowed him to take home at night. The engine coughed and spluttered before springing to life, Christian threw the gear lever into first and then set off.

As he pulled up outside his Step Father’s home, he filled with dread. Something about the place just set him on edge; it hadn’t changed in all those years. Christian quickly got out of the truck and made his way along the path. He could hear Jessica’s cries from where he stood, “Jess, Jessie” he called as his pace quickened, he pulled open the screen door and then walked inside. The stench from within almost chocking him. “Jessie” he called again, nothing, his heart began to pound as he made his way to the lounge room. It was in darkness, with just the light from the television. Christian drew back on seeing him, the man he’d feared all his life was nothing to him now, he stood there staring down to where he sat. Whiskey bottle in hand, stained pants and a vest, which had seen better days. Christian simpered as he looked at him, he was nothing. A nobody, he couldn’t hurt him now. “That you come for your brat?” he said suddenly, Christian leant on the back of the sofa “My child is no brat” he said quietly. The man opened one eye, “Your brat has been screaming her head off since that bitch brought her here”

Christian looked around for his daughter “Where the hell is she?” he inquired, the man pointed to the kitchen and Christian went immediately to fetch her.

She was sobbing heartily when he took her out of her little seat and held her close, warm tears fell from her eyes onto his neck. “Your lucky you came now, if she’d screamed any more I were gonna do to her what I done to your dog” he sniggered, Christian twisted round, his eyes wide and fist clenched, “You come near me or mine and I’ll kill ya!” he threatened, “You wouldn’t have the bottle boy, besides you wouldn’t wanna face jail now would you?” Christian moved into his space. “Come near us and I just might risk it!”

Larry Anderson raised a hand but found himself floored instead, Christian quickly straddling him. “No no don’t hit me please!” he heard him say, he simpered, straightened and then slowly walked away.

A smile crept across his face as he climbed into the truck next to Jessica, “I’m free” he thought “He can’t hurt me now” he said out loud.

“Wow I’m free, wow Jessie, it looks as though it’s just you and me hon” he said with a smile, for the first time in his life the weight had been lifted. Larry Anderson was nothing, he couldn’t hurt him anymore it was over and boy it felt good to be FREE!!!!!

Kate pleased her hand on Christian’s forehead and smoothed back his damp locks. His eyes flickered open and a faint smile curved at his lips, “Hey you’re suppose to be asleep” she whispered.

“I can’t sleep”

“The Doctor said you’ll be here until you’re well”

“Yeah, when will that be?”

“Who knows?”

“I’m going back to jail Kate”

“No! No you’re not”

“Don’t get your hopes up hon”

“Chris, the cops know you didn’t kill Larry”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. Chris I’m sure Mark will get those release papers signed”

He smiled, and drifted off to sleep, content in the knowledge that just maybe; this whole nightmare was coming to an end.