Four weeks had passed. Four weeks of depression, loneliness fear. Tension traveled through her veins, stiffening every muscle in her body. Joints cracked. She kept thinking that things might have been different is only she was stronger. Stronger physically. Stronger emotionally.

The pursuit of strength became an obsession. Mail order catalogs became her best friend. She had an entire gym’s worth of exercise equipment delivered to the penthouse. Everyday, with without fail, she put her body through sheer torture, not feeling her burning muscles. It was only when she vomited, that she would stop.

She was preparing for combat. When the bastard was caught, and he would be, she was going to be ready. He wouldn’t see that weak woman ever, ever again. No one would.

Scenes from her life flashed before her eyes, with each clank of the falling weights. Every time she had allowed herself to be victimized. Her breathing became ragged as she increased her speed, increased her intensity.

Papi does love you; he’s just very busy.

“You never loved me. You only loved your bottle. It was the only thing that meant anything to you.”

Clank.

You’re just like your mother; you nag.

“I’m nothing like her.”

Clank.

You’re everything like her.

Clank. Clank.

What? You think you’re better than us? You and your fancy education, and your fancy white friends.

Papi, no. I’m just trying do better for me; for our family. I thought you would want that for me. I don’t think I’m better than you. I love you guys.

Alcohol drips from his chin, wiped by the back of his hand.

You wanna live in that white world? Is that what you want? Get out! You are dead to me.

“Aren’t you proud of me know, Papi? Isn’t this what you always wanted? To see me hurt, just like Mami? You want to see me hurt, huh? I am dead to you. I am dead to me.”

Clank. Clank. Clank.

The acid in her stomach lurches to the back of her throat. She slams the weights one last time, and walks to the bathroom. Time after time, she vomits, until there is nothing left but the dry heaves.

Sweat drips from her body, onto the edge of the sink. She brushes her teeth, washes out her mouth, gargles. Reaching for the light switch, she catches just a glimpse of herself in the mirror, then looks away. She turns her face, so that she can look at herself straight on.

Her face was pale and drawn, dark circles sagged beneath her eyes. They were red. Her cheeks were sunken, hair sticking to her head. *****

An Apartment Across Town

“Commissioner Buchanan, I am surprised at you; leaving case files lying around. Don’t you know anyone can come in and make a copy? And you call yourself a cop.” He flips through the file, page by page, analyzing the evidence. “I have to admit, I did cover my bases. What’s this?” He asks, discovering the statement signed by Donald Wilkenson.

He separates it from the rest of the file, methodically reading through every sentence, dissecting it. Black LHS. “Stolen. Dumped it last week.” Letters HTC on license plate. “Stolen.” Short dark hair. “You got that right.”

“Well, Mr. Donald Wilkenson, I might have to pay you a visit,” he says, returning the statement to the file.

“All this time, and this is all they have. How inept,” he chuckles.

*****

Llanview Police Department
Lockup

Donnie lay on the top bunk, freezing. It was so drafty, and no amount of blankets or sheets could warm him. He was all alone; again. Nobody cared about him. Nobody but her. She was the reason why he ran.

Her name is Angela. Angel, his angel. The first time he saw her, he wanted her. She was laughing; she always laughed. Her eyes would light up, her head would fall backwards, and she would just laugh. All of his friends said that he could never get her. She was classy. Rich and classy. Her father owned a string of bookstores all over the state.

They had a couple of classes together; one was a literature class. He would sit behind her just to get a whiff of her shampoo. It was a Friday. The teacher returned their reports on “Romeo and Juliet,” everyone got theirs except for him. The teacher read his aloud, saying that it was the best analysis that she has ever read by a student. She didn’t name names, but Angela knew. After class, she approached him, asking him out on a date. That was the beginning.

They spent almost all of their free time together, to the dismay of her family. She didn’t care. She would see the bruises on his body, and listen as he told her the truth of where he got them. She would kiss him all over, telling him how much she loved him. Somehow, someway, they would make it through it, together.

The first time they made love, she was the aggressor. Her touch was so gentle, the only gentleness that existed in his world. Over and over she whispered “I love you” in his ear. Promises of forever were exchanged, then, it happened.

She was late. Together, they went to the clinic so she could have a pregnancy test. The positive result was no surprise of either of them. She wanted to have an abortion; he wanted to get married. They fought about it constantly, but she relented, on the condition that they leave the state. Her family had always threatened to disown her if she did not end their relationship, but he was her life.

They pretended to breakup, all the while planning their escape. Donnie was to go ahead of her to Llanview, while she finished out the semester. He would find a job and a place for them to live. That was the plan anyway. Nothing was easy. He couldn’t find a job. He couldn’t find a place to stay. A meal was even difficult to come by. So, he turned to drug dealing. It was only supposed to be a temporary thing, but the more money he made, the more he sold. Angela was used to a certain lifestyle, and he was going to make sure that she maintained that lifestyle.

He got caught for petty theft, then for dealing. She probably thinks I don’t care about her and our baby. Damn, I’ve gotta get out of here.

Footsteps echoed through the corridor. Heal first. The guard slammed the bars shut. The footsteps stopped in front of his cell. The visitor hung back in the shadows, his face invisible.

“Donald, how are you?”

“Who are you?” He asks, peering at the visitor.

“Oh, I think you know who I am. You and I are going to have a little talk. That’s not entirely true, I am going to have a talk, you are going to listen. If you make a sound, I will have no problem silencing you…permanently. Do we have an understanding?”

Donnie nods his head in agreement.

“Good. I understand you think you saw something a few weeks ago. Something in an alley. You’re going to retract your statement. And you’re not going to remember anything else about that night. Do you understand? Nod your head yes you little piece of shit.”

Donnie nods, his fingers crossed behind his back. He had been a doormat far too long, and it was going to stop.

“Good. Now, I must be going. If you go back on your promise, I will know, and you will pay. Enjoy the rest of the night.” The visitor clicks away, stepping from the shadows just long enough for Donnie to memorize his profile.

*****

Penthouse 1

He paced, sipping coffee. His pants hung loosely from his thinning frame, his open shirt dangled from his shoulders. He oily hair brushed his shoulders.

It was time for Todd to reveal his presence. She was not getting better, from Viki’s accounts. Whether or not he could help or hurt her, remained to be seen. But, he was willing to try. It tore him apart inside, being so near her, loving her so much, and not being able to comfort her. She had given him her everything; it was only now that he understood what she must have gone through all for loving him.

He was literally a zombie. Too afraid for her and his nightmares to close his eyes. Seeing the rapist outside of the penthouse freaked him out. He relived the scene over and over in his mind. He was stalking her, just like he stalked Nora. This guy reminded him of his past, the man he was before Tea. He had to do something, something to help.

He downed cup after cup of coffee, his only source of energy. Food, the sight or smell of it made him sick. Viki tried to force him to eat something, but he couldn’t even if he wanted to. His only thoughts, his only concerns were for Tea. There was nothing left for him.

Viki told him that if he continued living like he was living, he would be dead. Said that is would be the final blow to Tea, losing him forever. She could recover from the rape, but Todd’s death would be the death of her soul.

Two days, two days before he went to her. He needed the time to pull himself together.

*****

Penthouse 2

Tea stood in front of the picture window, wrapping her arms around herself; hugging herself. The phone rang. She answered it before the answering machine could pick up.

“Hello?”

“Hi. It’s Donnie.”

“Donnie, what’s wrong?” She asks, sitting on the bottom step.

“Can you come down here right away? I have something to tell you, but you have to come now.” His voice is shaking with emotion.

“Donnie, you’re scared. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I can’t talk over the phone. Just, please come down here as soon as you can.” Donnie hangs up the telephone, before she can say anything else.

Something was wrong. She dialed Bo’s number at the office.

“Buchanan.”

“Bo, it’s Tea.”

“Tea,” he says, leaning back in his chair, “what can I do for you?”

“It’s about Donnie. He just called sounding very upset. I’m on my way down there, but could you please sit with him until I get there? I’m worried about him.”

He sighs into the phone. “Tea-“

“Bo, please. Consider it a personal favor.”

“I guess I can sit with him for a few.”

“Thank you.”

She tries to contact Viki at the office, to ask for a ride to the station, but she’s in a meeting. She dials Ben’s number at the office. His secretary puts her through immediately.

“Hey, Tea. How are you?” Ben asks, studying a set of x-rays.

“I’m okay. Are you busy?”

“I don’t have to be. What’s wrong?”

“Donnie asked me to come and see him. He didn’t sound too good. I hate to ask but-“

“I’ll be right there.”

*****

Llanview Police Department
Lockup

Donnie eyed Bo suspiciously, as he looked at all cops. Bo wouldn’t tell him why he was there, only sat at a table in the corner. Each silently wondered what the other was thinking. They both looked up when they heard Tea’s footsteps. The guard lets her in, leaving the door open.

“Commish, is it okay for me to open his cell for Mrs. Manning?”

“Okay, go ahead. He’s all yours.”

“Thank you.”

The guard opens the cell; Tea steps inside. She frowns, remembering being in the same cell with Todd, wrapping his hand.

“I’m scared,” Donnie says.

“Of what? What happened today?”

“He came here. I know it was the same guy who raped you.”

“What?” She asks, keeping her voice even.

“He was here. He told me to retract my statement and not to remember nothin’ else. If I did, he said he would kill me.”

“Did you see him?”

“Just from the side.”

“Okay, tell me what you remember.”

Donnie tells her every detail that he can remember, leaving nothing out.