Chapter 22: The victim

Odetta swabbed lip balm on her lip, she wore a lightweight flower print, a black vest and trousers. Her sneakers gleamed and she ruffled her hair and pushed up her glasses.

"Yeah, Danica, I got you," She held up her phone.

"Let's not forget I don't have any friends, kay?" Caroline waved her manicured hands.

"Yes, I know," She waved her hand "This is gonna be a breeze,"

"Whatever,"

"I'm starting to get the feeling that you hate Edward,"

"Oh no, I don't hate him, I'm following my brain here and if it looks like hate, then I'm sorry, that's the way logic rolls,"

"Uh huh. I wore the ugliest shirt I could find,"

She leaned over on her desk "Don't tell me it's the O'ahu top," She looked sardonic.

"Yes, it is,"

"Perfect!"

"I don't know, I'm starting to like it," She tugged at her red shirt

"Not you dumbass,"

"Okay? Not funny," She was starting to get an unsettling feeling and took a left.

"What kind of a maze is this?" She asked.

"Oh, the redecorating, you'll get used to it,"

"I can't tell them apart," She groaned at the houses and turned back at the mailbox, her eyes narrowed. "I can see you,"

John McCain stepped outside and brushed his sleeve.

Her eyes rounded in shock "I will call the cops on you,"

"I might have said differently if I wasn't half dead,"

She winced scanning him.

His hair was a low cut to his skin and he had a dent on his eyebrow, his eyes were remarkably dark and he had a steely look and his grey get up evened it out.

"Not bad, those trainers, you look like you've been visiting the tailor," She said even under tension.

"I'm a big fan,"

"Am I supposed to know you?" Half dead? She thought.

"Ollie_I mean Odie,"

"Hold on a minute," She said and tilted her head to give that tattoo a second look. She blushed and ended the call.

"It's okay, there's no need to be alarmed,"

She fanned herself "I hope I'm not going to jail," She waved her hands.

"Not necessarily,"

She quirked an eyebrow at that. "I'm confused,"

"You would make a good nurse,"

"And you have a way with words, my friend,"

She braced her hands on her hips then softened at her tactic that day. "I thought I did more harm than good, I couldn't think of anything else to do,"

He shrugged and he shook her hand.

She shivered at his cold hands, he had doctor hands.

"I've been to a few AA meetings, myself, there's a lot more I can take,"

"Congratulations, Mister..."

"John McCain,"

"John, I'll see you,"

"Watch your back, Lawrence," He stepped back and took another route.

"Okay, bye," She huffed.

"How does he know my name?"

***

'He has some serious trust issues' A servant said.

'Yeah, at least the peanut colada tastes right,' The manservant said.

'You mean good?'

'Right,' He repeated leaving and the chef thought twice.

Edward stirred his tea making sure there was a test.

Odetta sat back after reprising another look about the big dining room. "Marvellous,"

"How did you break a leg again?" She jumped as he dropped his tea.

"Are you here to ask questions or to answer them?"

Her hands tightened on her thighs "I have some explanations," She tapped her hands together.

"The man in the cap, all I could pick up was the smell of alcohol, he had blond hair and a goatee, his accent is southern_if that helps and he's not very tall, about my height maybe, I couldn't see his eyes,"

Edward looked at the table scrutinizing the man from the tent.

"Those shoes though," She laughed "I reckon he's a hipster," She snorted and his head lowered.

"I almost had him and I let him walk away like that,"

"What do you mean, when?" She bit her tongue when he looked up.

"In India,"

She paled. "You're being watched?"

"No, he wants something," He refrained from talking.

***

Brooke clenched her fist and she sat on a chair watching David recuperate, he was breathing, that was all he was doing, and she didn't know if he was going to wake up.

"My darling Brooke,"

"David?" She saw his colour return and his eyes barely hung open she scoffed and she signalled a nurse.

"He's awake," She brushed her eyes and held his hand.

"I'm fine," He said stubbornly as they checked his blood pressure.

"It's fine but anything way over would kill you,"

"Yeah yeah," He said clutching his blanket.

"Take it easy, he thinks he's okay but it's just on the surface," She warned briskly and Brooke growled.

"I reckon Yvonne's left me," He said feeling empty and his confidence hit. "When she said it was over, I thought I lost everything,"

"I know,"

He sighed. "I suppose you can let me have it,"

He lurched when Brooke hugged him from behind and his heart dropped swallowing in guilt. He turned around.

"You're not gonna yell at me or toss a heel?" He asked.

Her eyes flickered laughing. "Not at all but I will when we get home and I'll be bringing you right back.

You really thought I had a shot with Edward didn't you?"

He gruffed when her arms tightened.

"Anything's possible,"

"Oh right and I understand where those stunts and lavish parties were coming from," She let go.

"That was for you,"

She took her purse "I can't believe you, David. We separated just so you could punish me for what I didn't do. Or anyone else couldn't, You're the worst person I have ever met,"

"Brooke_"

She marched to the door.

"Brooke, if I had a close bond with you as you have with Ed, I'd be the happiest man on earth," His eyes flickered.

"Well good riddance to you!" She left and shut the door sobbing. She brushed her eyes and walked to the waiting room.

***