Shattered Edge(34)

When Justin did call back, it was to inform me that I was probably imagining things. He asked me if everything was locked up and if the security system was on. I said it was so he told me not to worry about anything.

I fell back to sleep, but only for a little bit. The alarm system had been tripped and I suddenly heard loud beeping and “Intruder Alert” over and over. Then the phones started ringing. First the security company called wanting to know if it was a false activation. No, it was the real deal I told them. Yes, they needed to call the police. I could barely breathe as I told them to call Justin as well. My hands were shaking so badly that I almost couldn’t hold onto the phone.

Then Justin was calling. The police had called him and so had the security company. He was on his way home. The police were on the way too. Justin told me not to leave the room. I was in a state of panic and didn’t have my pepper spray. I maniacally looked around the room in search of some sort of make shift weapon. The best I could do was the bedside lamp. I tore off the lamp shade and held the thing in my hands, much like a baseball bat. Hiding in the corner, I waited. I don’t know why I even bothered to hide at all because I was panting so loudly the intruder would undoubtedly be able to hear me from the floor below.

Fuck! Where are the goddamn police?

A few minutes later I heard the sirens. Then I heard Justin’s voice. I was glued to that freakin’ corner. Someone must’ve come in and poured super glue all over my body. My arms and legs would not obey my brain’s messages at all. Next thing I knew, Justin was prying that lamp out of my fingers and I was in his arms.

“You’re okay Terri. The police are here and they’re checking things out downstairs. Terri? Terri?”

I was frozen in time. I heard him but I couldn’t respond.

“Terri!” He was slapping my hands and then he was cupping my face. “Talk to me Terri. Damn it, talk to me or I’m gonna have to take you to the hospital. Don’t go into shock over this on me.”

I started crying and trying to talk all at the same time. It was the most bizarre feeling. My body felt like it wasn’t mine anymore. My skin tingled and my arms and legs felt nearly felt numb.

“Okay...you’re okay baby. Everything’s going to be fine.”

He hugged me to him and rubbed my back. My heart was getting ready to go “Pop” and I didn’t feel myself at all.

Then those soothing words starting flowing from his lips. “Deep breaths honey. Controlled deep breaths. Come on. You have to breathe.”

I took one long pull of air and held that precious commodity in my lungs. “Okay, release.” I blew it out, just like he asked. This was a trick Phil had taught me, but my mind wasn’t functioning properly for me to think of it on my own. “Again baby.” I just followed his orders and pretty soon my arms and legs began to feel like I owned them again.

“Whew,” I said as I blew out that last breath.

“Hell, Terri. You scared me.”

“Hell, Justin. I scared me.”

He let out a sound that sounded like a cross between a laugh and a groan.

“Do you think you can make it down the stairs? The police want to ask you some questions.”

“Are they gonna be mean?”

“No. Why?”

“They were so mean to Lexi after she was abducted.”

“Oh yeah. They were, weren’t they? Well, I won’t let them be mean to you. Okay?”

“I won’t let them be mean to me either. I was just gonna prepare myself. I was gonna bring the lamp.”

“I see.”

I got the feeling he wanted to laugh now. It was a good thing he didn’t. He could laugh another time. I wasn’t quite ready for laughing.

The police wanted to know if I saw anything. I told them everything I could, which wasn’t much. It turned out someone had slashed my tires and then tried to break into the house. The alarm scared them off. It was a good thing. I’d had way too much excitement lately. I was seriously considering getting a gun after all this. I just didn’t feel safe anymore.

It was close to four in the morning when everyone left. Justin was leery about leaving me here alone. The alarm system was reset and he would be home in a couple of hours. I assured him I’d be fine. It was the biggest lie I ever told. I lay there with my eyes wide open, waiting for every tiny noise to worry me to death. I finally relaxed when he slipped into bed next to me and pulled me close. We both slept until noon.



********



On Monday, my own alarm system was up and running so I moved back home. My front window had also been repaired and Justin had taken care of getting my tires replaced. We had briefly argued over that, but his insistence won out. He had caged me against the counter and told me he’d wouldn’t let me leave unless I let him do that. Then he threatened to tie me up and do all sorts of unmentionable things to me if I let him take care of my tires. I was a panting, dripping, throbbing bundle of neurons by the time he stopped whispering in my ear, but when his tongue began that torturous descent down my neck, I went all animal on him. He got his wish and I got my tires...er, among other things.