Chapter Seven
Kat sat with Howie on the bench outside Lissa's room in the ER, ironically enough, the same bench where Lissa had sat with Alex. Shock, the paramedics had said. A mild case of exposure. Thank God for the warm temperatures. "Never mind the rain last night," Kat muttered."What?" Howie asked.
Kat shook her head. "Never mind. Any word from Alex?" she asked.
"None," he sighed. "I've tried his cell and his house, but he's not answering either one."
"Did you leave him a message? Did you tell him Lissa's in the hospital?"
"Yes, I left him a message, on both his cell and at his house. And, yes, I told him Lissa's in the hospital." He patted her hand reassuringly. "She'll be okay, Kat."
"I know, I know," she said then sighed. "I just wish I knew what the hell happened."
The door opened, and Doctor Kelly came out. She smiled at Kat. "Nice to see you again, Ms. Morigan. How are you feeling?"
"Fine," she bit out. "How's Lissa?"
Doctor Kelly looked uncomfortable. "Are you family?" she asked.
Without hesitation, Kat lied, "she's my sister."
Doctor Kelly looked up and down the hall, then nodded. "Would you come with me so we can speak privately?"
Kat rose instantly, and hobbled down the hallway after the doctor with Howie at her elbow. As soon as the door shut behind the doctor, Kat pounced on her, "What's wrong?"
"Please have a seat. You need to rest that foot." With a glare, Kat sat. "Now, then...you know that your sister was suffering from exposure?"
Kat nodded impatiently. "Yes, but what about those bite marks?"
"This is supposition, but, I believe someone attacked and bit your sister."
"Someone?" Howie asked, drawing the doctor’s attention. "It couldn't have been a dog or something?"
Doctor Kelly shook her head. "The bites were definitely human." She paused. "There was also some tissue damage and bruising in the pelvic area."
It took a moment to sink in. "She was raped?" Kat asked, fury in her voice.
"There was evidence that she had sex. Whether it was consensual or not, she won't say."
"Won't or can't?" Kat asked.
"Won't," Doctor Kelly insisted. "She refuses to talk about the incident."
Kat dragged herself up, and started out the door. "I'll get her to talk," she insisted.
"I don't want to talk about it," Lissa insisted, pulling on the jeans that Kat had thoughtfully brought along.
"Who attacked you? You know who it was don't you? Or was it some bastard out on the beach? Or..."
"Kat," Lissa gripped Kat's shoulders, and met her angry gaze with a calm one, "I don't want to talk about it, and I'm not going to. It's over, okay?"
"No, not okay." She swallowed. "You could have died if we didn't come."
"Maybe so, or maybe not," Lissa said, turning away from Kat and wringing the hospital gown into a ball. "It was warm last night." She tossed the balled up gown into a corner. With a sigh, she turned back to Kat. "Can we leave now?"
"Sure you won't talk?" Kat asked.
Lissa nodded. "Positive."
Kat sighed in defeat. "Fine. You still insisting on going home?" Lissa nodded again. "You sure you want to be alone, I mean, after everything that's happened..."
"Yes, Kat...I just want to go home."
Alex slouched in the chair, staring off into space. Lissa. He should have never gone over last night. If only he hadn't met Sara for dinner. He had told her it was over, but not before she started sucking on his neck. Damn. One quick kiss was all he gave her, and she jumped him. Then Lissa....
The ringing doorbell intruded on his thoughts. The hell with it, he thought, closing his eyes. Lissa...
Howie marched into the room. "Where the hell have you been and why haven't you called me back?"
"Go away, D," he growled. "I'm in no mood."
"You'd better get in the mood, then. Kat and I just dropped Lissa off from the hospital."
Lissa...hospital. Those two words penetrated. "Why was Lissa in the hospital?" Alex asked, sitting up.
"She was attacked last night."
Alex paled. "Is that what she said?"
Howie shook his head. "She won't talk about it. Where are you going?" he asked, as Alex quickly rose from the chair and crossed the room.
"To talk to Lissa," he said, passing Howie.
"She won't talk about it," Howie called after him, following him to the door.
Alex turned to face him. "She'll talk to me," he insisted.
As Howie watched him go, he wondered, "Why does everyone think that Lissa is going to talk to them?"
Lissa stood at the window, watching the surf. She sighed as she sipped her iced tea. Kat and Howie were gone, finally. Not that that would stop Kat from pestering her about what had happened.
But she wouldn't talk about it...couldn't. Alex...
She sighed, turning away from the window. Her gaze fell on the couch. It came back to her in a rush...the feel of him inside her...his blood on her lips...
She shook her head, turning back to the window. Waves crashed on the shore, spraying white foam. The sea was rough today. Whitecaps crested the waves further out.
The doorbell rang, and she sighed. Kat would just not go away. "Listen, Kat," she called, crossing to the door, "I don't want to talk about it." She opened the door.
Alex stood on the doorstep. "Hello, Lissa."