Prisoner's Prisoner

Chapter 9

David searched the house. Then the backyard. He saw her yesterday staring at the woods below. But he saw nothing. He noticed nothing different from the house except for the empty laundry basket in the kitchen. His clothes were hanging dry on a clothes dryer which he install on top of the washing machine.

He went outside. He started his car and went down the road. He saw Tara exiting Martha's house. Head bowed. She wore his bonnet and shawl. Hands inside her pockets. He opened the door on the passenger seat.

He was worried and angry. Tara got inside the car. He was about to start the car when Martha called out.

"Hey!" Martha was running.

He opened the windows on the passenger seat.

"You did not say that she is dangerous." Martha gave Tara a killer look. Her eyes rolling in exasperation. Her hands in akimbo.

"W-what?" David was confused. She looked at Tara and she was looking at him helplessly.

"She smashed my baby like a doll! He ain't doing anything." Martha was referring to his 20- year old son, Robert.

David looked at Tara again. "What do you mean smashed?"

"She lifted him up in the air and threw him on the ground like a wrestler!"

"What? Did you do that?" David asked Tara. His voice was low but Tara felt the anger in his voice.

"I saw it with my very own eyes." Martha added.

"I, I didn't know. He was lurking at the backyard. Why would he go at the backyard? And he, he tried to open the door."

"He is used to coming in and out of the house!" It was Martha.

"I'm sorry..." Was all Tara could say.

David was speechless. Martha's word was "smashed". When he thought Robert was about a hundred and fifty some pounds. He did not know what to say.

There was a moment of silence.

"Is he okay?" David finally asked.

"Good God, I think so."

"I'm sorry for what happened, Martha. I will make sure this will not happen again. If there's anything you need, just tell me."

Martha rolled her eyes and turned her back to them. She started walking towards her house.

David shook his head in disbelief. He started his engine and made a u-turn and drove back to his house.

David closed the door behind him. Tara sat quietly on the couch.

"What the hell was that? Are you some sort of a Kung Fu master or something.?"

"I don't know. I thought he was a thief."

David rubbed his temples. His head was aching badly. Who is this woman?

"You can't just hurt people that way. You can't..." David brush his hair with his two hands. "Just...don't ever to that again."

"OK..." Tara got up and went to his room. "There's a food on the table, by the way."

Tara closed the door.

David's stomach was actually rumbling. He had missed lunch and he wouldn't wanna miss dinner as well. He only had hamburger from one of the fastfood restaurant while on the road. But he lost his appetite already. There were a lot of things bugging him. He fell asleep.

He was awaken by Tara's loud sobs. He checked his watch, almost midnight. He got up and went to the door. Tara was crying loudly. He opened the door.

Tara was on the floor.

"Are you okay?"

Tara looked at him. Tears were flowing on her cheeks. "They killed him! They killed him!"

"Who? Who was killed?" David crouched so he can level with her.

"I don't know, I don't know..."

"Was it your husband?" He asked.

"I don't know..."

David himself was confused. He put his hands on her shoulders and slowly  lifted her up and let her sit on the bed. He put his arms around her and hugged her close to him. That was the only thing he knew he could do to ease whatever pain Tara was feeling right now.