Burning Admiration

Chapter 3

LIZ

I felt someone holding my hand, brushing their thumb across my knuckles, "Honey, please wake up," mom. Her words were soft and hopeless. I wanted to, but I didn't quite have the energy to open my eyes yet. I could overhear my dad talking to another man in the room, "Will there be any long-term damage from the chemicals he used to drug her?" he asked the doctor. The mention of last night made my stomach churn. My eyes shot open, and I heard that fast-paced incessant beeping of the monitor again. "Oh, honey!" my mom flung her arms around me, "We're here, everything is okay, you're safe now." My dad joined her by my bedside and grabbed my hand. The doctor dismissed himself to give us some alone time. "Liz. I'm so sorry. I should've been there for you, I should've protected you," my dad said, tears welled in his eyes. I wasn't sure what to say. I just knew that being in their presence made me feel safe. I wrapped my arms around them, and I felt tears roll down my cheeks.

"Dad, you know there's nothing you could've done. This isn't your fault" he looked so pitiful, and I could tell the guilt was weighing him down. "But it is. I have the resources to keep you safe, and I should've implemented security measures a long time ago." As he said that, I looked past him and noticed two men standing at the door to my hospital room. "Dad, is that necessary?" The memory of last night's events flooded into my mind-yes, it was. "Nevermind, thank you. Thank you both for coming to be with me. I'm so confused...and scared." Tears continued to roll down my cheeks, my parents held my hands in theirs. "Honey," my mom looked down at her feet, "the police are about to be here, and it's important to tell them everything you remember. I know it will be difficult, but we need to find out who is behind this.", "I'll try my best, but I don't remember much, and it's all...blurry." My mom squeezed my hand, "We'll stay right here. You won't have to do it alone."

Two policemen walked in right as she finished her sentence. They gave me the same sympathetic look that the paramedic did. Pity. One bad thing happens to you, and now everyone looks at you like you're a broken doll - maybe I am, now.

"Hello, Ms. Carlisle, I'm Detective Bennett, and this is my partner, Detective Smith" they stood at the foot of my bed, "I know this is a difficult time, but it's important that we comb through last night while your memory is fresh so that we can try to catch the person who did this. Does that sound okay with you?" Okay? None of this was okay. I nodded my head. "Okay, let's start from the moment you arrived home last night," he pulled out a notepad and pen from his chest pocket. "Um, well, I got home at around 12. The lobby was quiet - but that's usually the case at that time of night. I was in the elevator alone. Once I made it to my apartment, I scanned my keycard, and I walked inside. I kicked off my shoes and tossed my purse onto the counter - or barstool maybe... I was heading to my room when someone came up behind me and wrapped their arm around my neck. He shoved some cloth over my nose, and that's where it all gets...blurry." I felt my lip quivering. I was moments from breaking down, but I tried to hold myself together - for my parent's sake. "Okay, that's a great start, Ms. Carlisle. Did you happen to get a chance to look at the man? Notice any tattoos or scars that stood out to you?". "No, I was unconscious for the most part, and when I wasn't, all I could see was an outline of him," I looked down at my hands, willing myself not to throw up.

"Ms. Carlisle, I understand you're struggling, but you're doing great. We only have a couple more questions. As for possible suspects, do you have any enemies or ex-boyfriends who come to mind?". "Enemies? I mean, not that I know of-", "Of course she doesn't have any enemies. My Liz is so kind and sweet," my mom brushed a hair behind my ear, "Who could possibly want to hurt her?" her eyes welled back up with tears. "And how about ex-boyfriends?" the detective looked up at me. "I have ex-boyfriends, yes, but I don't think any of them would do this. I'm on good terms with all of them." The detective jotted down notes in his notepad, "Well," he sighed, "at this point, we have reason to believe it may have been an inside job - possibly a maintenance man or another staff member within the building. We'll look into it and keep you updated on any news." He nodded and walked out, followed by his partner.

"I fucking knew it," my dad's sadness had manifested itself into rage, "We're getting you moved out before you even get out of this hospital. I will burn that apartment complex to the ground with lawsuits if it turns out to be one of their employees. How dare you not vet your employees before hiring them?!" My mom grabbed his arm, "honey," her soft words brought him back down to earth. "I'm sorry, Liz, but you're not going back there. I'll find you a new place to live, and I'll handle the moving logistics. I just want you to feel safe, and I can't trust that you're safe in that apartment after last night" he squeezed my hand like he had thought he'd lost his only daughter for good. "I can't - I don't - there's no way I could go back there. It would mean a lot". The flow of tears was never-ending. "Of course, sweetie, let me go get this handled," he kissed my forehead and walked out.

"I love you so much sweetie, and you know that your dad and I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Your dad, well, he may have already gone a smidge too far," she gestured over to the security guards and sheepishly smiled. "It's okay, and I know. I love you both so much" she held me in an embrace.

The security guards may have been too much. But it did make me feel safer. I smiled at the thought of my dad web surfing for security guards in the area. Where did you find these guys anyway?