Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
GHOSTLY
I blink as I awaken, annoyed by all of the beeping and whirring sounds I’m hearing.
I want to roll over, but I feel like something is holding me in place.
And, crap, I hurt all over. The entire left side of my body feels like a Mack truck drove over it.
Oh, God. My leg hurts. So does my arm and hand. “Ouch,” I moan.
I turn my head toward a new noise and see a huge, shadowy figure. I gasp. When the large form comes closer, the very little light illuminates a tired but handsome face. Handsome…. Someone else was handsome. Who?
“MacKenzie?”
“Yes?” I croak.
“I’m not sure if you remember, but I talked to you on the phone. I’m Hank Flynn with Chicago PD. Are you up to answering a few questions?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Why were you in Touhy-Herbert Park?”
Clearing my throat, I wince. My throat is dry. It hurts. “I was cutting through to get to the United Center. I was, um, running late.”
“Can you tell me what happened—from the beginning? Anything you can tell me will be helpful. Descriptions of your surroundings, sounds or noises you heard, stuff like that.”
“Okay. Um, I wanted to cut a few minutes off my walk, so I took that shortcut.” I clear my throat. God, this is weird. “It was a little scary because some of the lights were out, so I put one of my earbuds in and started to walk faster.”
He gives me a stern look but says gently, “Good. What else do you remember?”
“I remember the pain in my side.”
“Did you hear any noises before that? Do you remember someone walking behind you? Anything?”
“No. I was singing, sort of.”
“Okay. What happened next?” Detective Flynn says in a calm voice.
“After I felt the pain in my side, I felt another flash of pain in my leg. I started to lose my balance, and that’s when I saw him.”
“Him?”
“The man. The man that was hurting me.” A tear appears out of nowhere. My voice shakes. “He… he looked like a ghost.”
“A ghost?” The officer’s shoulders slump. I’ve said the wrong thing.
“What I mean is, he looked like a ghost because his hair was pure white and his eyes… they were like ice crystals but dead. Do you know what I mean?”
Detective Flynn nods.
“He was wearing a hood, but the front of his hair was lying over his forehead. I remember thinking he was handsome.” I suck in a deep breath. “After I fell, I tried to roll away from him, but he started to come after me. That’s when I saw Bobby.”
“Bobby?”
“Yeah, Bobby from the toy store.”
“What was Bobby doing there?”
I shrug, and it hurts like hell. I must have done something to my shoulder. “I don’t know. It was kind of surreal.”
“What did Bobby do?”
“He pushed the guy away from me. That’s when I got the cut on my arm. It was as Bobby was pushing him away from me.”
“You’re doing a great job, MacKenzie. What happened next?”
“Um, I was hurt, but I sat up when I heard them fighting. I heard fists and a clanking sound.”
“A clanking sound?”
“Uh-huh. Like something metal hitting the ground. Maybe it was the weapon. I don’t know what it was. It was dark.”
“Then what happened?”
“Bobby was on top of the guy. His arms were going crazy on the ghost guy. He was punching until the ghost guy got one punch on Bobby. He pushed Bobby off him and stood up.” God, I don’t want to tell him what he said to me, but I know I have to do it.
My throat is dry, I swallow to try to get moisture in my throat.
“The bad guy was about to run, but he turned to me…”
“He turned to you?”
I nod. “Yeah, he turned to me and called me….” I swallow hard. God, my throat hurts.
“He said something to you?”
I nod again, and in a shaky voice I say, “He said ‘slut’ in a really creepy voice.”
“Did you notice if the ghost guy was injured? Did you see in which direction he ran?”
“His nose was bloody. I don’t know if he was hurt anywhere else.” I close my eyes, trying to think which way he ran. “I believe he ran north, or at least that’s what it seemed like.”
“Good. You did great, MacKenzie. I appreciate you talking to me—I know you’re hurting. Do you have any questions for me?”
“Where’s Bobby? Was he hurt?” I don’t remember much after the whole thing happened. Bobby called 9-1-1, and when the paramedics came, they took me in an ambulance. I assumed Bobby would be here too. Is he here?”
“He was taken into police custody.”
“What? Why?”
“He was holding a knife. We assume it was the knife that was used on you.”
“He didn’t have a knife. He saved me,” I squeak. “He saved me,” I say, getting more agitated. I’m panicking and starting to hyperventilate. “He saved me,” I shout this time. “He shouldn’t be in jail!” Tears are streaming down my face.
“Shh, it’s okay, MacKenzie. It’s going to be okay. We’re taking his statement, and then I’m sure he’ll be released. Please don’t worry. I’m heading there now, and I’ll take care of it, okay, honey?”
The sobs are causing my entire body to shake. It won’t stop.
“MacKenzie? Did you hear me? I promise he’ll be out tonight. Okay?”
Detective Flynn attempts to calm me down, but it’s not working. “Where’s Sam? I need Sam.” I really need him.
“I’ll get him for you.” He steps out of my little room in the ER, and I do my best to get my breathing under control. It’s not easy.
I hear the curtain slide open, and I lift my head.
“Sam?” I gasp when I see him. The feeling of relief is overwhelming.
This has shaken me to the core. I tried to stay calm with the police, but I start to fall to tiny pieces when I see Sam.
Because this man will keep me safe—and I haven’t felt completely safe since Pops died.
Sam makes me feel like Pops did. I could count on him no matter what happened to me.
Pops would be so happy I’ve got someone like him in my life.
Even if it ends up as friendship only, I have the unshakeable feeling that he’ll look out for me.
I release the sob to end all sobs all while holding my one good arm up. Asking for Sam to come to me. To hold me.
“Jesus, sweetheart.” He moves fast. He carefully wraps his arms around me, kissing my face, my neck, the top of my head. “I was so scared. Worried, baby,” he whispers between kisses.
“Me too, Sam.” I’m taking in gulps of air, attempting to get myself under control.
“How’re you doing? Really,” he says in a soft voice.
“Better now that you’re here.” The tears drip down my face. As soon as he walked into the room, I gave in and let it all out. “I was so scared, Sam.” The tears gush. “Wh-wh-why would someone want to hurt me?” I stutter.
With his arm still holding me, he carefully sits on the bed on my good side.
Careful not to cause me pain, his right hand slides up to touch my cheek.
Pushing my hair back behind my ear, he kisses me gently even though it’s a tear-soaked kiss.
“Baby, shhh, it’s going to be okay. I promise you. No one will ever hurt you again.”
I choke up again at his confident words.
“Oh, sweetheart. It’s my fault. I should have had a car pick you up. I never fathomed you would walk to the stadium. I’m so sorry, baby. So sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. How could it be your fault? I didn’t even tell you I was coming to the concert for sure,” I blubber.
“I should have taken better care of you.”
“Stop, Sam. Please? It’s not your fault. I should have been more careful.”
He leans down and gives me the sweetest kiss I’ve ever had. “I’m just glad you’re going to be all right, MacKenzie. I’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you ever again.”
I don’t know how he can keep bad things from happening, but I like the sound of his statement. “Bobby.”
Sam’s eyes narrow. “What about him?” he asks angrily.
“He saved my life, Sam. He saved my life.”
Sam’s face changes from angry to confused. “He saved you? I don’t think….”
“He attacked the guy with the knife. Sam. Bobby saved me,” I say pleadingly.
“He sa-saved my life.” Sobs start up again.
“The po-police arrested him, Sam. If it weren’t for him, I’d be d-dead now.
I know it. Please be sure they let him g-go.
” I hiccup as I attempt to calm myself down. “Please? Help him?”
“All right, baby. I’ll take care of it.” Sam leans down and kisses my lips again. “I’ll take care of it.”
I lie back with my head resting on his strong arm.
“Lauren’s here. She’s worried sick.”
I sit up too fast and regret it. “Can you go get her? I want to see her.”
“Sure. Be right back.”