The B Girls

The Why Of It





Lucy stared at the woman on the hospital bed for several seconds before responding to the woman's obvious fear. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The woman didn't look entirely convinced and Lucy realized she must be quite a horrifying sight. Especially in the sterile surroundings of this bedroom turned hospital room.

The woman on the bed looked like she was closer to death than life. "Mrs. Dawson?"

"Do I know you?"

Her voice was weak and dry.

"No," Lucy said. "I know your husband. He told me you'd been ill. I just didn't know . . ."

The woman managed a weak smile. "James likes to act as though I'm going to respond to my latest treatment. I've seen every specialist in the country and tried every treatment protocol available."

Lucy realized the woman must be pretty heavily sedated. It would explain her odd emotional shifts. And the specialists and treatments meant money which was probably the motivation behind Dr. Dawson's actions.

"Where is my aunt?" Lucy asked.

The woman looked confused. "Who? I'm afraid you must be confused. James and I are the only ones here. Where is James? I think it's time for my medication."

"I promise, someone will explain," Lucy said. "But I have to find my aunt. Is there a basement?"

"Yes, a walk-out that opens lakeside."

Lucy left before the woman could ask more questions. She felt bad about the poor woman's situation but surely a man as smart as James Dawson could have found a better way to solve his money problems.

She found the stairs leading to the lower level of the house and pounded down with approaching sirens wailing in the background.

Downstairs she found a media room with no media, two empty bedrooms and bathroom. A third door led out of the media room deeper under the house.

Lucy went through door number three, into a basement storage area and found yet another door with a crudely added padlock.

"Belle! Are you in there?" She pounded on the door and rattled the knob.

"Belle?"

Lucy put her ear to the door and held her breath, listening. She was almost sure she heard a groan and a croaking whisper that could have been her name.

She looked around the storage area for something she could use to knock the lock off the door but aside from some camping gear and a couple of fishing poles, the room was empty. She was about to leave to search the rest of the house for a hammer or a pry bar when she saw a key dangling from a nail in the wall next to the door.

Once she managed to control her shaking hand, the key slid into the lock without a hitch and the lock popped open. She tossed the lock aside and pulled the door open with a racing heart.

A dirty, bruised figure squinted up at the light streaming in from the storage area.

With a small cry of distress, Lucy dropped to her knees and brushed a careful hand over Belle's face. "Are you okay? Are you in pain?"

"I've been better but the damage is minor." Belle said. Her lips were cracked and dry and she looked frail for the first time in her life. Her clothes were filthy. She had several ugly looking scratches on her arms and a bruise along her jaw-line.

Lucy ran her hands gently over Belle's arms and legs searching for injuries and finding nothing more than the obvious.

Shouts came from upstairs.

"Police!"

"I have to let them know where we are," Lucy said, hugging Belle and reluctant to let her go. They were both crying "I was so scared." Lucy opened her arms and eased back.

Belle nodded wiping her face. "I'll be fine now."

Lucy gave her a reassuring pat, wiped her own face with the back of her hand and went to the bottom of the stairs from the main level. "Down here!"

A police officer appeared. "Are you Mrs. Deen?

Lucy nodded. "We need paramedics down here. My aunt isn't doing well."

"Is there anyone else in the house?"

"Upstairs. Mrs. Dawson. She isn't well. I'm not sure what her diagnosis is. She might need medical attention too."

Lucy went back to Belle and held her hand until the paramedics took over.