Caught In A Name

CHAPTER SIX

Nicomaine turned her head at Daniel's explosive question and she knew that she, once more, has to come up with a believable lie to save Richard's (and her) ass from further scrutiny. Dear heavens! Can I not get a break? BUT! If she doesn't, then they, meaning she, will surely have to explain their situation to the brother. The brother who is staring at them as if trying to decipher what was happening. As if he knows that Richard and her are both lying!

"Honey, it's not that bad" she stated making her voice playful as she reached for 'Charmaine'. "Richard can't stand the smell of Charmaine's poo" this she explained to the outraged Daniel.

Daniel seems to doubt that explanation for a few seconds until he got a whiff of the baby's dirty diaper.

"Oh shit! Yeah, that is some strong smell" the older man remarked while trying not to breathe. "Yap. I don't envy you little brother." Daniel turned in his seat, mainly to avoid the smell but not before he witnessed the unmistakable exchange of glances from his brother and his brother's wife. He couldn't quite put his finger on what that exchange meant but he knew that the two were lying about something. Through their teeth!

There was one thing that Richard had forgotten. Daniel, his brother, was also a decorated RCMP lieutenant until he got injured on the job 5 years ago. That was when he reluctantly retired from police work and decided to put up his own security business. Since then, his company have been employed by many a politician, famous actors and actresses as well as international dignitaries. But, he is still a cop at heart. He can smell a lie from a mile away. And like a hound dog, he won't stop digging until he finds out the truth.

Nicomaine expertly changed the baby's diaper and once that was done, she handed 'Charmaine' to Richard as she reached inside her backpack to grab a ready made formula. Once done, she handed the bottle to Richard.

"Here you go hon" she stated a little bit too loud for the benefit of the other occupants of the chopper. Richard, for his part, caught on to what Maine was trying to do. He realized that she was trying to make it look like they've been doing this together as they were supposed to be. They are supposed to be 'husband' and 'wife' after all. Shit! I hate liars, and lying and deceit but look at me now!

Richard took the bottle from Maine's outstretched hand (It surprised him that it was warm. What else does she keep in that backpack?) and gently placed the nipple into the baby's mouth as 'Charmaine' instantly started sucking. Maine was about to reach for the little being but Richard gently shook his head, silently communicating that he's got this. Maine threw him a dubious look but didn't push the issue.

"I got her honey. Just lean back and close your eyes. Have a rest. I'll wake you when we're home" Richard encouraged. With one final, threatening look, Maine finally obeyed. She leaned her head back on the seat and took cleansing breaths to forcibly relax herself. Honestly, they were air bound, where would Richard take her baby to? Jump into the middle of the ocean? And in retrospect, she knew that Richard is not that type of a man. Come on! He's already proven himself by taking a bullet meant for me and almost died in the process.

So, Nicomaine closed her eyes and focused on the loud sound of the chopper's rotor to calm her mind. To focus on anything else other than the fear that she's starting to feel. Fear of what she's gotten herself into. Fear of what's going to happen when they reach Richard's home. Fear for her baby. Fear of the unknown.

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Blood! Nicomaine looked down at her hands to see them covered in blood. Lots and lots of blood. The colour almost black and the smell, so metallic she could almost taste it. Who's blood she doesn't know. She tried to wipe the offending liquid off of her hands but the more she wipes it, the thicker it gets and it seems to get even more than before.

Smoke! Her eyes are stinging from the thick smoke. What the hell is happening here? Where is all this blood coming from? Her eyes are starting to water because of the smoke.

Crying?!? Who is that crying incessantly? Is that a baby? What is a baby doing in all this chaos? Oh my god! What is happening here?

Nicomaine looked around her and suddenly recognized where she was. She was in Hanna's house. Hanna, her confidant, her advisor, her right hand woman. Hanna, her best friend since kindergarten. Her sister, not by blood, but by heart.

"Oh god, Hanna! Wake up! Hanna! We need to get out of here! Please wake up! Please!"

"Nic! Nic please listen to me" someone whispered.

Nicomaine turned to her left, where the whispered words came from. She had to squint hard to be able to see from all the smoke, combined with her teary eyes. A few seconds passed before she spied Anton, Hanna's fiancé, lying on the floor, also covered in blood.

"Anton? Anton! What's happening?"

"Nic! Please! Take the baby and run. They will come back for her. Please, Nic. Take her and run! There's a backpack under the bed. It should have enough money for you to use until everything settles. Nic, take our baby and hide her. Don't let anyone know who she is. Please."

"But. But, Hanna. I can't leave Hanna..." Nicomaine replied looking back to where her friend's lifeless body laid.

"NICOMAINE! Hanna is dead. And I will be joining her pretty soon. But please, you need to save our baby! GO! NOW!"

Just then Nicomaine heard the sound of screeching tires and several voices approaching from the front door. That spurred her into action! She ran into the bedroom and grabbed the baby from her crib. She was about to grab the backpack from under the bed when she heard the sound of the front door being kicked open. No time! Just run Nicomaine! Run!

And so she did. She took the backdoor and ran outside, into the green belt behind the house, into the darkness and the cold. She ran as fast as her legs could take, as hard as her breath could allow. She ran and only looked back when she heard the distinct sound of her bestfriend's house blowing up into flames.

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"Maine! Maine, wake up! MAINE WAKE UP!"

Nicomaine bolted upright, her arms at the ready to defend herself. Her heartbeat racing yet her breathing measured. As she focused on the sound of the voice that woke her, she looked around her. She quickly realized the unfamiliar surroundings, a place she's never been in before. She deduced she was on a bed. A very luxurious, comfortable bed in a very big masculine bedroom. That's when she moved! She hooked her legs around the man standing by the bed, used her weight to efficiently bring him down and under her. Once that was done, she leaned forward and placed her forearm on her opponent's windpipe, using all her strength.

"Where am I? And where the fuck is my baby?"