Make-up Sex, Chapter 15: Realization

Cole stared at the picture of Calleigh lying prostrate on a grimy mattress. Through his tears he could barely make out the bruising on her breasts and inner thighs, the blood caked on the side of her face, on her triangle of pubic hair and jagged lines of dried blood running down her thighs.

“We’ll get her out,” a soft voice intoned and Cole tensed. A small hand slid over his shoulder and Cole growled with frustration. Her touch reminded him of Calleigh and that thought made him instantly hard. He hated himself for reacting that way when right now his wife, his love was being mercilessly raped.

“Look at this, Annie!” Cole slammed the photo down on the table and began to pound a vicious rhythm atop it, welcoming the pain as the table top began to splinter.

“She’s strong. She’ll get through this,” Annie said, frowning and backed away in fear. After a moment, she overcame her initial reaction and reached out and caught his hands, but she couldn’t control his rage fueled frenzy. A hand lashed out and accidentally hit her in the face.

Annie cried out in pain and clasped her cheek, turning and doubling over on herself.

“Oh God! Annie! I’m sorry.” Cole rose, turned her and took her face in his hands. His stunningly blue eyes spitted her and for a moment she forgot her pain. For years she’d wanted him and imagined herself in this exact position. Her entire body reacted and she wanted to throw him onto the floor and have her way with him. 'Fuck Calleigh. I want to fuck him.'

Cole saw her reaction and quickly withdrew. “Are you okay?”

Annie’s cheek began to throb viciously and she winced. “It’s been better. A little ice and ibuprofen and I’ll be okay.” She smiled weakly.

He’d been so caught up in his misery that he’d allowed himself to hurt a friend and Cole hated himself. Everyone close to him ended up hurt. And she most precious to him was now a plaything to a sick bastard. How could he let this happen?

‘She must feel so scared and used,’ he thought in desperation. 'I'm assistant D.A., criminal lawyer extraordinaire and I can't even save my own wife!'

“I’m fine. We need to focus on finding Calleigh,” Annie said, jarring him from his thoughts and waving off his concern although she was secretly pleased at his attentions.

“I’ll get you what you need,” Cole said, raking his hand through his hair and hurrying from the room. He walked down the hall to the kitchen and absently wrapped some ice in paper towels. Mark had been pouring over Sherman’s transcripts, mail, and evidence for hours and had found nothing. Drew had forbidden Cole from getting involved as anything but an eye-witness and a victim. It was a choke chain on a rabid pitbull. It only infuriated Cole more, fueling his rage and desire to save his wife.

Mark, however, had been sneaking him information and keeping him updated. Mark had gone from friend to foe and back to friend when Cole needed him. Later, he would be grateful. Now he thought that it was strange that Sherman cared so much for his dogs and so little for human life. For months, Sherman’s mail contained nothing but inquiries about and directions for the care of his dogs. If he cared half as much for people, his client’s wife would still be alive.

Suddenly, Cole dropped the ice. “Fucking Christ!”

He bolted from the room and ran up the three flights of stairs to Drew Calter’s temporary office, taking two steps at a time. “Drew!” Cole burst into the corner office, Drew's temporary office outside the police station, interrupting a meeting. “I need to see Sherman’s mail!”

Drew frowned deeply. “You’re interrupting a meeting, Cole. I asked you to get a hotel and wait for my call.” He was greatly annoyed by Cole’s disobedience and embarrassed by his behavior in front of his colleagues.

“You don’t understand. I think I figured out how to decipher them. They’re NOT about his dogs,” Cole said with desperation in his voice. The presence of the other men didn’t even register. He was a man on a mission, one goal in mind and nothing could deter him.

Drew pressed his lips into a straight line. “You better be right.” He rose and walked the two men he’d been meeting with to the door. “I’m very sorry about this. Ask Michelle to book a time tomorrow. It won’t happen again.”

A few more words were exchanged and then Drew turned to Cole. “This better be good.” He was livid. The men had been potential investors in his wife's new business.

“Get me the letters,” Cole demanded. He didn't register that he'd just ordered his boss around and interupted something important. Drew yanked out a file with copies of the letters. Cole snatched them from Drew and quickly perused them. Drew's lip pulled back over his teeth. His heart went out to Cole because of his plight, but Cole needed to learn his place. Meddling would not find his poor wife any faster.

Cole pulled out the three of the most recent letters. “Read these.”

Drew raised an eyebrow and with a sigh of acquiescence he read the short letters.

September 16

I told you not to let Magnus onto the sofa. It makes him feel alpha. This can’t happen. When I get out, you’re not getting within two feet of my pack. You better get things together.

September 23

I want my bitches fixed. But you can take them out to play at the dog park before you do it. Just make sure they’re in one piece for the trip to the vet.

September 25

Is Lucy pregnant? No! Then why are you being so careful. Just get her to training before the trainer goes on her date. It’s where Lucy HAS to go.

Drew glanced up. He'd read these letters hundreds of times. “He’s obsessed with his dogs. So what?”

Cole shook his head with aggravation and took them from his boss. He smacked the back of his hand on the first. “Don’t you get it? These aren’t about his dogs! It’s a way for Sherman to give Kris directions! I’m Magnus in the first letter. I was getting too close. He was getting nervous.” Cole pointed to the third. “He heard about my night with Calleigh and was telling Kris, my kidnapper, to hurry and put their disgusting plan into action.” He swallowed hard and indicated the second, the one he’d saved for last to explain. “That gives him permission to do…” He paused and rubbed his eyes. A choked sob escaped his lips and he sank into a chair.

“Permission to do what was in the picture,” Drew finished quietly, finally understanding with a nauseating realization. Guilt flooded him. He'd been so annoyed at Cole for interupting and this was the most vital discovery of the entire case thus far.

Cole’s jaw clenched. “He let that monster hurt my wife.” His voice was soft and shaky, but Drew could hear the rage. It made his blood run cold. “He told that monster to…to…”

“Cole?”

He glanced up and saw Annie standing in the door. Both men glanced up at her. One blanched.

“What the hell happened to you?” Drew demanded, striding over to her and touching the bruise blossoming on her cheek.

“Oh…” Cole realized he’d dropped the ice back in the kitchen in his hurry to tell Drew the news.. “I’m sorry, Annie. I forgot because I figured out how Sherman was communicating with Kris.”

“Really?” Annie asked excitedly.

“Wait a minute. What the hell happened to your face? And what are you doing here? You should be down at the lab,” Drew said, glancing between the two.

“It’s nothing. Cole didn’t mean to…”

“Cole?” Drew was shocked.

“He didn’t mean to,” Annie protested and quickly explained what had happened.

Drew sighed. Cole was in pain and he shouldn’t be here. But without his desperation, the letters may never have been deciphered. “Go get her some ice and meet me in the conference room.”

Cole nodded and ran off for the second time.

“Wait for me Calleigh,” he whispered.

…………………

Hello. Here’s the next installment. I know they’re short, but I hope they satiate a little. Please give all the constructive criticism possible. I know little about the legal system, which I believe is one of the weaknesses of this story. But thank you so much for taking the time to read and review!

~Lisa