Jack and Djinn (The Houri Legends, #1)(29)

“She was beat senseless, Detective. I ain’t kiddin’. I was just startin’ a double shift when she was brought in.”

“And when was this, Mrs. Grimes?”

“It was exactly a week ago today. I remember because it was my birthday.”

“Can you tell me who brought her in?” Carson asked.

“Just some guy. I don’t think she knew him. He said she’d just collapsed in front of his car, bleedin’ all over the place. He said he thought she was gonna die in his car on the way to the hospital.

“Well, honestly, she shoulda died. Most of her ribs were broke, both eyes black, cheekbones cracked, back of her head busted open. She had a concussion, for sure. We were gonna do an MRI once she woke up, but she had to okay the procedure since she had no next of kin and no insurance. She was bruised all over, and I mean all over. I remember thinkin’ when I first saw her, man, whoever done this to her hated her. I seen a lot in my thirty years at this hospital. I seen boys gang-beat and curb-stomped and hit with bats and stabbed and shot…shit, you’re a cop—you know what happens. This girl was beat to death, only she didn’t die.”

Carson nodded, a grim expression on his face. He’d seen his share of awful things, of course. He’d seen a woman beaten to death by a jealous boyfriend before, and the image was one he would never be able to banish from his mind.

“Did anyone visit her while she was here?”

Rhonda nodded. “Mmm-hmmm. She had two visitors. The first was a nice boy. Handsome, too. Big blue eyes, lookin’ at that girl like he couldn’t get enough of her. Never left her side until she woke up.”

This was new. “Do you know who he was? Can you describe him for me?”

“Maybe six feet tall, brown hair. He had a motorcycle jacket and helmet. Jack, I think she called him. That boy loved her something fierce, although I’m not sure either of ’em knew it yet. Or maybe they did, but they didn’t want to believe it.” Rhonda wiped her fingers on a napkin and stood up. Carson followed her, fitting a lid to his coffee cup.

“Did they have an argument? Did she leave with Jack?”

“Oh, I think he was tryin’ to convince her to, but she wasn’t havin’ none of it.” Rhonda shook her head sadly at this. “They didn’t argue, not like they were mad at each other, but eventually he did leave by himself, and he wasn’t none too happy about it. She cried for a long time after he was gone. Of course, this is just what I could see from across the hall. I wasn’t tryin’ to pry none….”

“Of course not.” Carson took a sip of bitter, burnt coffee. “So then Ben showed up?”

“Ben’s the other one, right? Yeah, he came as she was gettin’ ready to leave. She was healin’ faster than anyone understood. She didn’t have insurance, like I said, and she was determined to leave. Don’t blame her, poor girl. Hospitals are awful expensive, any way you slice it.

“Well, then the other guy showed up and was tellin’ her how sorry he was, but she didn’t believe him none. Neither did I. I been in her shoes, years past. They come to you with them sad puppy-dog eyes, actin’ all sorry, buyin’ you flowers and tellin’ you how much they love you, but shit, you can’t believe ’em ’cause they’ll just do it again next time they get drunk.” Rhonda fell silent for a moment, lost in bad memories of days gone by.

“But she left with him? Voluntarily?” Carson pulled a business card from his wallet, handed it to the nurse.

“Yeah, she did. I don’t think she wanted to, but she didn’t want a scene. That’s as much of it as anything, you know. You don’t want to draw attention. You don’t want ’em to get mad in public, because they’ll blame you for it when you’re home, and that’ll make it even worse.”

“Well, I think I’ve got what I need for now. Thanks for your time, Mrs. Grimes.”

“Oh sure, honey.” Rhonda seemed lost in her thoughts, and Carson felt bad that he’d brought up memories she’d obviously worked hard to forget.

Carson knew all about memories that were best left forgotten.





Chapter 10





Miriam

One week earlier





Ben grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back in the car, holding her down as she screamed and thrashed. The car swerved, and Ben was cursing, trying to hold Miriam and drive at the same time. The exit appeared, and Ben pulled off the interstate, the car door swinging open, Miriam’s leg dangling out, inches from the ground. Ben yanked the car over to the shoulder, slammed it into Park, leaped out, and circled around. He knelt in front of her.

“What the hell was that?” He was whispering, looking utterly baffled.

Miriam was numb, cold and rigid. She heard Ben speaking, felt him shaking her shoulders, trying to get her attention, but she had no energy to respond, no emotion left. She wouldn’t fight, she couldn’t. She felt Ben latch the seatbelt across her, close the door, get in, and continue driving. He got back on the freeway, but he took her to his place. But she didn’t care. She followed him blindly, felt him lay her down, strip her clothes off, and cover her with a blanket. She felt completely empty. Nothing mattered now. She’d sent Jack away, and that was it.