Jackie's Week (2 page)

Black continued to focus her unblinking
stare.

"What I don't like," Jackie said, "is the
feeling I get that I have to answer your questions, but you don't
have to answer mine."

"Did you have a question for me?"

They sat in silence for another minute or so.
For some reason, as the silence continued, Jackie felt the pressure
building up, along with a feeling that she was expected to perform,
somehow. To say something that might justify her presence, to make
a case that she was worthy to take up an hour of the doctor's time.
She wondered how long they had been sitting there, but it was
impossible to tell; there were no clocks in the room.

"To tell you the truth," Jackie said, "I'm
feeling a little trapped in here. A little panicky, even. The truth
is, and I know I shouldn't say it, but I could use a drink right
about now."

Black's level gaze was unblinking. She tilted
her head slightly. "Is that how you've been handling it?" she
asked.

"Handling what?"

"The anxiety. Is that how you've been coping?
By taking a drink?"

"Ah. It's not what you think. I was just
thinking it might make it easier for me, that's all. And that's not
why I am here. I'm not here because of a drinking problem, if
that's what you mean." Jackie rolled her eyes. "Oh my God, I'm
babbling, aren't I? I'm just wasting your time. "

"I have an idea," Black said. "I will ask you
a question and you give me a quick answer. Just whatever comes off
the top of your head. Then I will ask another question, and so
forth."

"Sounds fair," Jackie said. She took a deep
breath and with it the realization she'd been barely breathing. Her
entire body was practically rigid, for some reason. She wondered if
she'd even be able to stand at the end of the session.

"What happened to you, Jackie?"

"Oh God. The first question. Okay. Here it
is. I was attacked."

"Okay," Black said. "Where did it
happen?"

"You'll never believe this, but it was in the
parking lot of Gelson's supermarket."

"When?"

"New Year's Eve."

"Who did it?"

"A man I never saw before."

"Can you describe what happened?"

Jackie stared at her hands. "He mumbled
something in a foreign language. Then he grabbed me. The next thing
I remember, I was in the hospital."

"And what did you do after that?" said
Black.

"Now that is a long story, " Jackie said. "I
was in the hospital for about three weeks. When I got out, I moved
to a new apartment."

"Why?"

"The guy took my car and my purse. He knew
where I lived. I had to find somewhere safe. I found this place
where there are a thousand apartments that all look alike, and
where there is a lot of security. Kind of like a prison."

"And what did you do after that?"

Jackie laughed. "What did I do?"

Black did not fire another question. Jackie
felt her body becoming even more rigid. The air in the room seemed
warm, as though the heater was on, unlikely, as it was late summer
in Los Angeles and hot as hell outside.

"I guess that is the reason I am here isn't
it, Dr. Black? Because of what I did after the attack. I am here
talking to you because for the last six months what I did was hide
in my new apartment and drive myself crazy. Oh. I probably should
not use the word crazy, should I?"

Blacked laughed softly, a pleasant sound. "So
tell me again," Black said, "why you are here today. What gave you
the courage to come see me."

"Okay," Jackie said. "First of all, it isn't
courage. It's fear. That's why I am here. The reason I am here
today is because the guy who attacked me six months ago found me
this morning. I am here because my sister said you could help me.
Not just with my emotions, but also help me with safety issues. She
said you had a group or something. That you teach women how to
fight back"

"You said the man found you," Black replied.
"You saw him?"

"No. He left me a message. When I opened my
door this morning, there was an envelope on the doormat with my
charm bracelet in it. The one I was wearing the night I was
attacked. When I saw that bracelet, I guess I kind of fell
completely apart."

Black leaned forward, the gesture pregnant
with concern. "The random attack you experienced six months ago has
gone to a whole new level. You're worst fears have been realized.
You're being stalked," she said.

"Yes."

"By the same man who attacked you."

Jackie nodded.

"Did you notify the police?"

"Oh yes. In fact, the cop who has been
handling my case is sort a friend of mine. He came and stayed with
me this morning until my sister could bring me here. But there is
nothing he can do. Not really. You know how the police are."

"Your sister was right to bring you here,"
Black said. "I do assist with safety issues as well as emotional
healing. Right now, we have to arrange for your safety. You
shouldn't be alone."

"I do have my sister with me," Jackie
said.

"You need more than that. In fact, you need
protection." Black got up and walked over to her desk and
speed-dialed someone on her Blackberry.

Good Lord, thought Jackie. What is this? She
could hear Black speaking softly to someone, just a few words,
before ending the call. Black came over and sat back down in the
opposite chair. "A few years ago," Black said, "I started a group
for ladies just like yourself. It became to me apparent that women
facing the threat of a stalker need more than therapy. They also
need personal protection."

"You mean like a bodyguard?"

"For the moment," Black said, "yes. Until we
can get a better handle on things."

They sat in silence for a minute or two.

Black checked a fresh text message on her
Blackberry. "There's someone outside I want you to meet," she said.
"With your permission, of course."

"Who is it?" Jackie asked. This was all
getting a little too crazy, and she was starting to feel way out of
control.

"My brother, Bobby," Black said. "He and I
work together, in a manner of speaking. The group pays for his
services. I want to bring him in on this. That is, if you are okay
with it. It is up to you."

Jackie nodded, her tongue for the moment
being stuck to the roof of her mouth.

Black opened a private door at one end of the
room, and in walked a tall, slender man, obviously Dr. Black's
brother, but perhaps older, his long black hair in a braid down his
back. Despite the summer heat, he wore a loose fitting, dark
windbreaker. Jackie remained in her chair, not sure what the
protocol was. There was no handshake, and he kept a respectful
distance. Dr. Black stood between them. "Jackie, this is my brother
Bobby. What we are going to do is just have Bobby keep an eye on
you for a few days until we can sort this thing out further."

"I don't know about this," Jackie said.

"You have a stalker," Bobby said simply.

"Yes. But I am going to my sister's house.
She has a gun in her purse."

Bobby looked into her eyes. She could read
nothing in his face, but the man's eyes had an aura of absolute
confidence. He was probably in his mid-40's but his eyes were a
thousand years old. "You'll never even know I'm around," Bobby
said. "You just go about your business and don't worry about a
thing."

Jackie began to cry, leaning forward and
covering her face with her hands. The sobs became great heaves. Oh
great, she thought. A great time to prove to everybody what a
basket case I am. When she looked up, Dr. Black handed her a
tissue. Bobby was gone. She never heard him leave.

"That's enough for today," Black said.
"Tomorrow, same time. Call me sooner if you need to."

"Should I stay at my sister's house or go
back to my apartment?"

"Whatever you like," Black replied. "You can
even go home if you want. Bobby will keep an eye on things."

Chapter 3

Jackie, arm-in-arm with Donna, left the
building, attracting more than a few stares along the way, what
with Jackie being tall, hollow-eyed and disheveled, in stark
contrast to the starlet good looks and perky demeanor of her
ash-blonde younger sibling who was terminally radiant, as though
the sun itself was a mere fashion accessory for the goddess. They
arrived at Donna's classic ride, a tiny red MGB, which looked great
on Donna but made Jackie feel like a clown

"Well?" Donna said, easing herself in and
smoothly gliding out into the heavy Ventura Boulevard traffic.

"Not now," Jackie said.

"Yes, now," Donna urged. "I want the
details."

"You mean like show and tell? Like, my first
visit to the shrink?"

"Yes."

"I cried," Jackie said. "And the minute Dr.
Black found out I was being stalked, she brought her brother in,
the most dangerous looking man I have ever met. Apparently, as we
speak, he is watching over us."

Donna eyed the rear view mirror as she
approached the onramp to the Ventura Freeway.

"You won't see him," Jackie said. "He's a
Navajo Indian. He's invisible."

"So what do you want to do this afternoon
when we get back to my place?" Donna asked.

"Oh. Cancel that. Take me back to my
place."

"Jackie, you can't be alone. You have a
stalker."

Jackie smiled grimly. "Ah," she said. "But I
also have a bodyguard."

"And you are sure you're safe?"

"Donna, you should have seen this guy, Bobby.
It was in his eyes. Believe me, I feel safer than Fort Knox right
now. And I feel a bit stronger after talking to Dr. Black."

The apartment was a safe place once again.
Jackie left Donna at the curb and headed through the heavy doors,
past the security guard kiosk, and down the landscaped pathway to
her second-floor Encino apartment.

Upon entering and after carefully locking the
front door, she went to the kitchen and poured herself a quick shot
of vodka. Settling in on the couch, and not long after the first
sip, a powerful wave washed over her, carrying with it a vast
darkness, without form, and void of all feeling, thought or
emotion. Within seconds she was in the grip of a deep and potent
sleep.

Then the dream hit. She could clearly make
out the T-shirt tuxedo, but for some reason she could not see his
face.

"Vzjat’ na abordaž."

Chapter 4

Jackie had slept, to her astonishment, a good
16 hours straight on the couch. Unfortunately, because of the dream
at the tail end of the sleep splurge, the day was starting out
badly.

She shook off the thought. Today was going to
be different. Better. She had a bodyguard, and she would be seeing
Dr. Black later. The thought of it gave her an almost giddy sense
of courage. She could tell Dr. Black about the dream. That would
get things rolling to wherever they needed to go.

As was her habit, she decided to walk
downstairs to the lobby and get a copy of the Times. Perhaps she
would even see Bobby, her new bodyguard, and wave to him. She
checked the security monitor on the kitchen counter to make sure
the front door was clear. She retrieved the box cutter from her
pocket where she always kept it and held it firmly while she opened
the door a crack, first making sure it was still on its safety
chain. All clear outside.

But something was wrong. At her feet was
another white envelope. Just like the one from yesterday. She felt
the sickening surge of adrenaline force her heart into
palpitations. She plucked the envelope inside and closed and locked
the door. There was something substantial in the envelope. She tore
it open and out it came. Her jade ring. The one she had been
wearing the night of the attack. The one he took from her on New
Year’s Eve. Another message from the stalker.

Where the hell was Bobby?

It was not a safe place.

Well, this is it, then, she thought. She was
crushed. She had put all her trust in Dr. Black and her brother and
it had failed. She had stupidly trusted them and risked her life by
returning to the apartment. The police had failed. Hiding had
failed. She knew exactly what this meant. She was going to die.

She was certain of one thing. She would never
allow herself to be attacked by that man again. She would kill
herself first. She eyed the box cutter and looked at her wrist. The
phone rang in the kitchen. No point in answering. Not anymore. On
the fourth ring, the machine picked up.

"Jackie, pick up the phone," the machine
squawked. Johnson. The cop handling her case. "C’mon, Jackie. I
know you’re in there. Pick it up. Jackie ... Jackie. Okay, then
listen. I think we busted the guy we have been looking for. He was
booked in last night. It is urgent you call me. You know my number.
If you don’t call me back I’m coming straight over and I’m coming
in to get you."

"Oh my God," Jackie said aloud to the empty
room. Johnson knew every detail of the attack. Especially the part
about being penetrated with the foreign object. Somehow, his gruff
congeniality had kept her from feeling emotionally naked, but
whenever she pondered this, she sometimes felt in her heart of
hearts he must think of her as a terrible loser.

She put down the razor, picked up the phone
and hit the speed dial, her heart pounding right through her chest.
First, she would call Johnson. Then she would call Donna for a ride
to the police station.

Chapter 5

Johnson hunched over the folder and extracted
a photo lineup of six different ugly male faces and slid it across
the table to Jackie. She smoothed her hair out of her eyes and
crossed her slim quick legs, taking a deep breath before looking at
it. They were sitting in a room by themselves upstairs at the Van
Nuys police station.