Safe In Your Heart

Italics denote a Flashback

‘We are finally getting some responses from her lower limbs. No voluntary movement as yet, but even the reflexive movements were unexpected, I think she may well recover to walking with assistance.’

While happy with the news, both Jimmy and Orlando were sober. Jimmy knew that Addie would never be happy if she wasn’t able to walk freely. Orlando remembered how he had felt when the doctors had told him practically the same thing. The two men shared a look of understanding, then joined Eric and Paul in Addie’s room.

As predicted, she was thrilled with the company, but lamented being unable to hug two of her favourite people. After Jimmy and Orlando greeted Addie again, with Orlando taking what he came to think of as ‘his spot’ at the edge of her bed, Paul looked pointedly at Jimmy, then the phone. Understanding the meaning, Jimmy stood.

‘Addie, we need to tell you something,’ he started.

He looked up and spoke this time to Paul, ‘Would you mind watching the door, Paul?’

Jimmy then continued, speaking slowly and deliberately. ‘Mom called me and Eric today. Honey, I’m sorry, there is no easy way to say this: Frank is out of prison; he was paroled three days ago. I’ve made some phone calls, and I would like you to accept a personal protection agent, I can get one from Gavin de Becker’s firm up here in a matter of hours.’

Lips thin and eyes flashing Addie looked at Jimmy a full minute before she spoke. ‘I don’t need or want a babysitter,’ she spat out. ‘I’m not the same helpless little girl I was back then!’

‘Um, far be it for me to point out the obvious,’ started Orlando, who had until now remained quiet, absorbing the information and emotions before him, ‘but you are lying, immobilised, in a hospital bed, unable even to lift your arms for a hug, much less defend yourself.’

Addie glared at him as menacingly as possible. He refused to back down, meeting her glare with one of his own. Through clenched teeth he spoke, ‘This... this nutter did God only knows what to you, has been in prison, which is not a therapeutic environment, he could only have gotten worse. Now if your brother thinks you need a “babysitter” you will take one and let him or her do the job! Understand?’

Addie gasped, but Eric and Jimmy both grinned. No one had ever stood up to her like this before, and they could see she had clearly met her match.

‘How dare you! Who the hell do you think you are giving me an order?’

At this point Orlando planted one hand on the bed at either side of her shoulders, leaned over and looked her straight in the eye. ‘And how dare you. How dare you have so little regard for those who care about you that in a small attempt at independence and, dare I say, defiance, you would risk your life, and thus hurt those that care! If you’ve that little regard for others, I’ve no desire to know you.’ With that he stood, turned on heel, and headed for the door. ‘I’m going for a pop, if you decide to grow up, your brother can find me.’ And he walked out, the door closing behind him.

Stung, Addie’s jaw was agape, and her eyes tearful. Eric and Jimmy stood, arms crossed against their chests, leaning against the wall next to her. Neither spoke, waiting for Orlando’s words to sink in fully.

After a few minutes, Addie turned her eyes toward the two men and saw them looking at her. Shock turned to anger, and just as quickly to sadness. ‘I really deserved that didn’t I?’ she queried finally, her voice soft and sad.

‘Uh-huh,’ both men nodded as they replied in stereo. Then Jimmy spoke, ‘The question now is not whether you deserved it, but whether the message sank in.’ He studied her carefully, his eyes probing hers. He sighed, and started toward the door.

‘Wait! Where are you going?’ asked Addie in a panicky voice. He turned and grinned at her, ‘To get Lando back up here.’

‘Jim said you had something to tell me?’ Orlando knew what was coming, but was not going to give Addie an inch. He could see her jaw working, and the struggle in her eyes. After a moment, she spoke.

‘I’m sorry, Orlando. I hate accepting help, and admitting I can’t do something–well I don’t take well to it. I know that I am lying, immobilised, in a hospital bed,’ Addie parroted his earlier words. ‘But how would you feel if this was you?’

‘I’ve been there, luv. I was lucky, the injury was not nearly as serious as yours. But I had doctors tell me I would never walk again. But I didn’t have a pity party, my family would never allow that–especially Samantha,’ he smiled indulgently, thinking of his beloved sister. ‘Now you have options, and they aren’t bad. I’ve heard of the de Becker chap–top notch security, Julia Roberts uses his firm.’

Addie coughed in amusement. ‘Ah, actually I knew that. I want to work for him someday. It wasn’t the company, I just don’t want a bodyguard.’ Her voice trailed off then, ‘but I guess I don’t have much choice, do I?’ she finished quietly.

Orlando and Jimmy looked at each other with a grin.

‘What?’ Addie demanded suspiciously, drawing a chuckle from both men.

‘Well, luv, there is another option; your brother and I discussed it when he came to get me. We’re done shooting, and I have time off now, months before my next movie, and only a premiere or two until then. I wanted to take a private holiday, and if you wanted, you could come with me. I was thinking a secluded island in the Mediterranean, and it would be awfully tough for this Frank to find you without us knowing. I would arrive first, then you and Jim come in a day later.’ At her questioning look he explained, ‘If you fly in WITH me, Frank would know where you were, your face would be on every gossip rag and show in the world.’

‘What about all this though?’ Addie indicated the bed and such. ‘Travel isn’t possible?’

‘Well,’started Jimmy, ‘the doc says that if things go well, he expects the halo to come off in two more days. The swelling around your spine is going down, and it appears you are regaining limited movement as it goes down.’

Orlando picked up again, ‘We would have to hire a nurse and a therapist, but that is not an issue, there is a pool at the house, plus the sea. It is a private residence, with privacy fences and such, and a small, helpful local population. I used to go there with. . .well never mind that,’ he trailed off with a slight flush, drawing chuckles from all in the room.

Addie appeared thoughtful. With a grin she finally said, ‘OK, better than having a bodyguard, and better company for sure. If the doc okays it, well, who am I to argue with the doc?’ Addie said with a grin.

‘The paralysis appears to be due mainly to the shock to the spine, and not to any permanent damage. There was some damage, I suspect that is the main reason she cannot move her muscles voluntarily. The therapy will counter this, I hope.’

Orlando left the following day, so that he could arrive before Addie, and with luck deflect any publicity from Addie. Soon, it was time for Addie and Jimmy to fly to the island. Addie had to travel in a medical equipped plane; she still wasn’t strong enough for sitting on her own for extended periods of time.

After they landed and cleared customs, Jimmy and Addie, riding in a wheelchair, headed outside. Orlando had said he would have a car waiting for them, and true to his word it was there. With some difficulty, Jimmy manoeuvred Addie into the car, loaded her wheelchair into the trunk, and climbed in.

Jimmy gave the address, and the driver started off. Before long, they were at the house and Orlando was at the door waiting. Once Jimmy got Addie out of the car and settled into her chair, the driver got out and was warmly greeted by Orlando, while Jimmy grinned.

‘Addie, this is Viggo, one of my mates from the Rings movies.’

Slack jawed, Addie could only stare, Jimmy had already met Viggo, and had clasped the man in a warm embrace. ‘Good to see you again, man ’ Viggo returned the wishes and headed over to Addie. Bending he gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, then gently picked her up, getting a squeal of surprise in return. He carried her into the house, and set her on the sofa, hugging her once again. ‘Keep fighting,’ was all he said.

Once Addie was settled, Orlando spoke, ‘Viggo is going to keep an eye out around the village, he does so well with altering his appearance that he is seldom recognised if he doesn’t want to be.’

‘Your nurse and therapist will both be here in about an hour,’ Jimmy informed Addie.

Yawning hugely Addie indicated she heard, and her eyes drifted closed. Smiling, Orlando tucked a hand-crocheted afghan around her, and brushed a kiss across her forehead. ‘Sleep well, angel,’ he whispered.

He went to the island in the spacious kitchen and took an apple from the bowl of mixed fruit. He joined Viggo and Jimmy, straddling his chair backwards. ‘So,’ he said after taking a bite of the apple, ‘have we heard anymore about Frank and what he is up to?’

Jim shook his head. ‘Not a thing. Frankly–pun not intended–that is what bothers me. He made clear when he was convicted that when he got out he was going after Addie. She was the key witness in his trial, and sentencing hearing.’

Viggo spoke up, ‘What was he convicted of?’

Orlando and Jim shared a dark look. ‘First degree rape, first degree criminal sexual act, 3 counts of each, and 4 counts of third degree assault. For that he was given five to eight years in prison. Five to eight years for beating, sodomising, and raping an eight and nine year old little girl.

‘She put him in jail, in his eyes, of course refusing to take responsibility for the fact that his OWN actions are what landed him there. So he swore he would get even with her.’ Jimmy heaved a sigh. ‘I started carrying my sidearm again, something I had hoped I’d given up for good when I left the Department.’ His eyes were troubled.

‘Do you think you will actually need it?’ queried Orlando.

Jimmy didn’t meet his eyes. ‘I hope not,’ is all he would say.

Moments after the two men stepped out, a scream pierced the quiet house, from the sitting room. Orlando jumped to his feet, knocking over his chair in his haste. He ran across the sitting room, and dropped to his knees beside Addie’s head. She was sobbing when he took her in his arms.

‘What’s wrong sweetheart?” Orlando shifted positions so he could better hold her, resting her head against his chest. Addie continued to cry, tears streaming down her face.

‘Sshhhh, it’s okay luv, I’m here. No one can hurt you now angel; Lando’s here,’ he soothed, using the nickname she’d given him. Using his free hand, he cupped her cheek and thumbed away the tears. Stroking her hair, he let her cry herself out. When she was finished, he kissed her on the forehead, and waited for her to speak.

‘I . . . I dreamed that Frank found me. He . . . he . . . he . . . ,’ she couldn’t finish, tears starting again.

Without a word, Orlando picked her up carefully, and carried her to the bedroom where she would be sleeping. Setting her down on the left side of the bed, he walked around, and crawled onto the bed beside her, gathering her into his arms. Addie smiled shakily at him, grateful he understood her fears. With a sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Orlando watched her sleep, and within a few moments, he too was asleep, Addie held securely in his arms, safe from her nightmares. And that is where Viggo found them 40 minutes later when he and Jimmy returned.

Standing in the door, looking at them Viggo smiled. ‘That boy’s got it bad,’ he remarked, to no one in particular.

He walked back to the sitting room, where Jimmy was already busy on his notebook computer, outlining security weaknesses and consulting with Matt–a former colleague who now provided private security consultations. With a sigh, Viggo folded up the afghan that Orlando had used to cover Addie, and sat down.

Jimmy looked up while an aerial map of the property downloaded, for him to label and send to Matt. ‘Everything all right, Vig?’ he asked the older man.

‘Fine. Addie’s asleep, in Orlando’s arms,’ he replied with a grin. ‘He always was a sucker for pretty ones, but this one has substance too. She is going to be good for him. And, I suspect, he for her.’

Jimmy nodded, eyes on the monitor, but replied with, ‘He stood up to her during a snit fit. No one but me has ever done that. If anyone can tame my sister, it’s going to be him.’

With that pronouncement, Viggo grinned, and stood. ‘Well, my legs are asleep, and my eyes want to be. Off to bed for me.’

Jimmy bade him good night, and promised to alert him if anything happened. He sighed, knowing he was in for a long night. Deciding to secure the house before he became too engrossed in his work, he stood, and adjusted the gun tucked into the holster at his side, praying he would never again need to use it, but knowing, deep in his soul, that before this was over, he would be forced to use it.

Quietly he crawled out of bed and went into the kitchen. He was surprised to see a pot of coffee already brewed, and a pot of breakfast tea waiting to be heated. After turning on the stove, he went looking for whoever was awake. He found Jimmy on the deck, eyes glued to his computer monitor. Without looking up Jimmy muttered a hoarse good morning.

When the tea pot whistled, Orlando turned off the stove and prepared two cups. To one he added two spoonfuls of honey and one of lemon juice. He brought both onto the deck and handed one to Jimmy, who looked up questioningly.

‘Your voice,’ Orlando said simply.

‘Thanks,’ croaked Jimmy, taking a drink. ‘I’ve been on the bloody phone all damned night; it’s a wonder that I have any voice left.’

‘Anything new?’ queried Orlando.

‘Nothing; the dirtbag dropped off the radar.’

‘That’s good, isn’t it?’

‘Not at all,’ Jimmy replied. ‘If he isn’t doing anything wrong, he’s no reason to hide, and for him to be this far off the radar, he’s hiding.’

Jimmy’s phone rang just as Viggo joined them, carrying a cup of coffee and a newspaper. While Jimmy was talking, Orlando filled Viggo in on what Jimmy had told him. When Jimmy disconnected the call, he looked up. The men could see dark rings under his eyes, and a mixture of worry, fatigue, and frustration clouding his eyes.

Jimmy sighed. ‘It didn’t take Frank long to violate his parole,’ he said bluntly. ‘He was to check in every morning at eight a.m. with his parole officer. He made his first check in, yesterday, but missed this morning. His parole officer, Luke, is a friend of mine and knows the situation. Instead of giving him until the end of today to report, as he might with some others, he is immediately violating him. Because of his sex offender status, more agencies will be informed of his violation. That’s the bad news. The worse news is that Luke thinks Frank took off immediately after reporting in yesterday, giving him almost a full 24 hours head start on us.’

Viggo spoke up, ‘Does he have anyone that would have helped him? Did he tell anyone in prison his plans?’

‘Luke is looking into that now. If he told someone, we will probably find out. Frank is a child abuser and molester; prisoners don’t like his kind much. Besides, despite what you read in books or see in TV and movies, prisoner loyalty is pretty rare. Most of these guys would kill their mother for a few bucks, to say nothing of a child molester they served time with. At worst, we may have to offer to knock a few months off their sentence. It’s not like it hasn’t been done before.’

They were interrupted when a car pulled into the drive. Orlando saw now why Jimmy had chosen to sit on the deck. It had nothing to do with the scenery, but rather the fact that he could see all the way to the beginning of the long driveway.

Standing, Jimmy unsnapped his holster. ‘Why don’t you two head inside, maybe check on Addie. This should be the nurse and therapist, but I don’t care to take any chances.’

Orlando was unnerved; he was now starting to realise how relatively sheltered an upbringing he’d had. Viggo, New York City in his blood, looked calm, although he admitted to being unsettled himself. They made their way to Addie’s bedroom, and found her just waking up. Orlando went over and greeted her with a smile and a hug.

As he was standing Jimmy led two women into the room. He introduced them as Addie’s new nurse, Jan, and her therapist, Rita. Viggo and Jimmy stepped out, and Orlando moved to join then, but Addie’s soft voice pleaded , ‘stay?’ He turned to the two ladies who nodded their consent.

The nurse had him sit Addie up, so that she could examine Addie’s neck and back. Then she had him turn her so she could check Addie’s reflexes. Although her knees reacted, it wasn’t as full a kick as it should’ve been. The nurse seemed pleased with the response nevertheless. After taking Addie’s blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, she turned Addie over to Rita.

Over the next 30 minutes, Rita both massaged and worked Addie’s muscles in a variety of exercises. She explained that they would increase circulation to the muscles, keep them flexible, and help prevent atrophying–the muscles withering away from lack of use. Throughout the time, she talked cheerfully to both Addie and Orlando, which helped pass the time. Orlando carefully watched each exercise she did, and, at the end of the session, asked if that was something he could do to help speed her recovery.

‘Well, the massage certainly. I’d rather you didn’t do the stretching, because she can’t tell you to stop if it hurts, which would indicate too much stretch. As we add more activities, I’ll show you which you can do with her to help, and which you should let me do. I’m glad that Addie has people that care enough to want to help. I have noticed a greater success rate among my patients when they have this kind of care.’

Orlando walked Rita out to the sitting room, where she spoke briefly with Jimmy then bade them farewell. When she left Jimmy spoke.

‘The nurse is going to come every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the therapist is coming seven days a week for now. They both have good hopes for a full recovery,’ he finished, providing the first good news of the day.

Addie called out requesting to get up for breakfast. Orlando went to help her, and soon realised they had an interesting situation. Addie couldn’t bathe or dress herself; the only other people in the house were men.