Protecting Rose (20 page)

Sheila reached out and took Rose’s hand. “Rose, what I would like to do, if you agree, is to hypnotize you. It seems to me your memory is not far below the surface. And I’ve used this method in the past with great success.”

Rose twisted a strand of hair around her finger, and watched Sheila through wary eyes. “If you think it would help, of course.”

“Great,” Sheila said. “After lunch we can get started. If you think you’re up to it?”

Rose nodded. “How about we clean up the dishes and take you and Rick for a walk through the path first? Give my stomach a chance to settle down before we get started.”

Nate was certain she was stalling, nervous about the hypnosis session, but he decided a few more hours couldn’t hurt. He wanted her ready and relaxed before she had to face her nightmares.

“Okay, sounds like a plan,” he agreed.

He stood and started to clear the dirty dishes from the picnic table. “Rick and I will clean up. You two lovely ladies just sit back and chat until we’re through.”

Rick looked at Nate with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. “We will?”

Nate glowered at him.

“Umm, I meant,
we will
,” he said with a laugh. He stood and started to gather the empty dishes.

Rose and Sheila exchanged smiling glances as the men cleared away the lunch mess. His heart warmed to see that they got along so well. Rose seemed to be enjoying herself.

The past couple days at the farmhouse had been good for her, and she seemed more relaxed. More like the strong, self-confident woman he perceived her to be, not the fragile amnesiac he’d first met in the hospital. Although even then she’d managed to bring out strong emotions in him.

This woman, the woman he’d fallen in love with, was not only sexy, sweet, and kind, she was strong enough to face her fears and not let them control her. Her sweet nature prevailed, even during her worst nightmares.

He hoped after today’s session they would learn something that would help them finally figure out her story. The fact that there was someone out there that wanted her dead, and was even now looking for her to kill her, was untenable. He needed to find him and take him out. By any means possible.

A couple hours later, after their nature walk, Nate paced anxiously in the kitchen while Sheila sat in the living room with Rose. She had asked them to step out while she put Rose under hypnosis. Nate’s gut twisted into a tight fist. He listened to Sheila’s monotone voice as it soothed and lulled Rose under. He took a deep breath.
Showtime.

“Gentlemen,” Sheila said softly.

That was their cue. They could now come back into the room. Nate walked into the living room with his heart in his throat. Rose sat in a chair with her eyes closed, seemingly asleep.

Sheila nodded for them to have a seat on the couch.

“Rose, can you hear me? Rose?” Sheila repeated.

“Yes, I hear you.”

“Where are you right now?”

“At the farmhouse with Nate,” she said. Her voice sounded happy and contented.

“Yes. That’s right. You’re at the farmhouse with Nate. Can you tell me why you’re here?”

“Because someone tried to kill me.” Her voice grew anxious.

“Yes, but no one can harm you now. You’re safe at the farmhouse.”

Rose relaxed. He just wished Sheila’s words had the same effect on him because his gut still churned.

“Rose,” Sheila said. “I want you to go back in time. Go back a day...then two. Where were you two days ago?”

“Nate and I had just arrived at the farmhouse.”

“Good, now can you go back further, back to the hospital? Do you remember when you woke up in the hospital?”

“Yes, I remember. I woke up in the hospital and Nate was there.” She still sounded calm and relaxed. “He took care of me. He promised to keep me safe.”

“That’s right. Nate was there and he took care of you. He kept you safe.”

Rose nodded.

“Now, I want you to go back further, before you woke up in the hospital. A day, two days, can you go back two days?”

Rose sat up. Her body grew tense. “No,” she said. She twisted her hands together in her lap.

“It’s okay, Rose. Remember you’re at the farmhouse and nothing can hurt you. But I need you to go back two more days and tell us what you see.”

Nate tensed. He watched Rose struggle with her internal demons.

Rick reached out and gave his shoulder a quick squeeze.

“I’m scared,” Rose said tremulously.

“Why are you scared?”

“He wants to hurt me.”

“Who wants to hurt you?”

Rose’s breathing became ragged, coming out in short shallow breaths. “I have to get away, before he finds me again.”

“Where are you?”

“In my car.” Her body tensed. “He’s looking for me.”

Nate grabbed a pencil and paper off the coffee table to write Sheila a note. He stood and walked over to hand it to her.

Take her back further. I think she is remembering the car accident. What happened before the accident?

She read the note and nodded. Nate returned to the couch.

“Remember, Rose, he can’t hurt you,” Sheila continued.

Rose’s breathing slowed to normal. Her body relaxed.

“Nate will keep me safe,” Rose said.

“That’s right. You’re safe now.” Sheila kept her voice low and her tone even. Can you go back further, Rose? Go back to when the man had you. Can you tell us what happened?”

Rose’s breathing again quickened, her hands locked together in her lap.

“What happened?”

“He found me.” Her voice shook with fear.

“Who found you?”

“He found me,” she whimpered.

“Who, Rose?”

“I don’t know.” Her body trembled. “I can’t remember.”

“That’s okay. Can you tell me what is happening?”

Nate grimaced as Rose struggled with her memory and her terror. He wanted to gather her into his arms and help her forget. An impulse he knew he had to resist.

“It was late, and I was leaving the supermarket. He grabbed me and covered my face with a cloth, with what must have been chloroform,” her voice broke. “I remember the sickening sweet smell...then I must have passed out. When I woke up, I was in the trunk of a car.” Her voice rose. “It was dark, and I was in the trunk.”

“What happened next?” Sheila asked.

“I screamed and pounded on the trunk. I tried to get out. I...I felt the car pull over and the trunk opened.” Rose paused, lost in her memory. “He...he hit me and told me I was making too...too much noise.”

“He can’t hurt you anymore, Rose.” Sheila assured her. “Can you tell me what happened next?”

“He pulled me out.”

Nate set his jaw and forced himself to remain seated. Tension poured through him as he listened to her retell her nightmare.

“Do you know where you were?” Sheila asked.

Rose shook her head. “No. It was dark.”

“That’s okay, Rose. What did he do after he pulled you out of the trunk?”

She shuddered. “He had a rope and he threw me face down on the car and tied my wrists behind my back.” Her body began to tremble. “He pulled me up against him and reached under my blouse.” Her voice quivered. “He...he grabbed my breasts.”

Nate swore under his breath and started to rise. Rick took him by the shoulder, with a shake of his head and a warning glance. Nate gritted his teeth and tried to tamp down his rage. But failed miserably as bile rose up and burned his throat.

“What happened next, Rose?”

She cried softly. “He told me that he’d wanted me for a long time and we were going to have a party before he killed me.”

“He can’t hurt you anymore. Take a deep breath and relax. Remember, you’re safe at the farmhouse with Nate.”

Rose took a deep breath, held it, and then released it. She shivered. Took another breath, and released it.

Her breathing returned to normal.

“Can you tell me what happened next?”

“I twisted out of his arms and started to run. He caught me and I fought him, kicked him. He...he hit me. The next thing I remember, I woke up in the dark, in the trunk again. This time my hands and feet were tied and I was gagged.”

Rose wrapped her arms around her waist in a protective gesture.

“It’s all right, Rose. Nate is here to protect you. You can remember this without fear of harm. Take slow, calming breaths.”

She took a few deep breaths and her crying slowed, although tears still trickled down her face.

“I tried to get away. I tried to scream, but the more I tried, the less I could breathe. I think I passed out.” She scrunched her eyes tight.

“It’s okay.” Sheila’s voice was low and calm. “You’re safe now. Can you tell me what happened next?”

“I woke up in a house.” She shuddered. “I was hanging from a beam with my arms tied above my head.” She trembled violently. “He was touching me.”

The image of that scene flashed through Nate’s mind and his gut rolled violently. He stood up and strode to the kitchen, pacing like a caged tiger, unable to just calmly sit there in the face of Rose’s ordeal.

“Remember, he can’t hurt you anymore,” Sheila said. “Did he say anything?”

Rose nodded.

“What did he say, Rose?”

Nate stopped in the entryway, leaned against the doorjamb with his hands fisted at his side and listened for any clues they could use. He needed to get this bastard.

“He said,
’I’ve wanted you for a long time, Cassandra, but Larsen wouldn’t let me touch you.’
”

Nate stood up straight. Cassandra? Larsen? Now they were getting somewhere. His heart raced with excitement.

“Good, Rose, that’s good. Did he say anything else?”

“Yes. He said...he said, ‘Now he just wants you dead. But first, we’re going to have some fun
.
Then he laughed at me. The bastard.” Her voice throbbed with anger.

“What happened next?”

Rose smiled. “I spit on him,” she said triumphantly.

Pride surged through him. Good for her! His girl was a fighter; that was for sure.

Now that she’d gotten started, the story came spilling out.

“He slapped me. Then he grabbed my face and kissed me.” She sat up straight in the chair and a look of rage crossed her face. “I fought him.” Her voice grew louder as she recalled the traumatic event. Panic and anger collided with her words.

“The struggle must have weakened the ropes on my wrists because they suddenly came free and I fell to the floor. He was so shocked.” She laughed. “I managed to roll away and grab a lamp from a table and hit him with it. It knocked him out, and I ran.”

She smiled. “I got away.”

Nate was breathing hard at the implications of her words. Rick stood and walked over to grip his shoulder, a grin on his face. He knew they were both thinking the same thing.

Rose had not been raped. She’d knocked the son of a bitch out and gotten away. Relief like he’d never known before poured through him. If it had not been for Rick holding him up, he may have very well have hit the floor.