| Chapter 26 |
| Another two weeks had passed and she'd been able to keep the whole Kevin incident under wraps but every night Howie would wake up in the middle of a dream, she knew he was getting closer to the truth of what put him where he was today. The bedside lamp went on and she slowly rose to meet the look of confusion in Howie's eyes."We had a fight about AJ didn't we?" She hesitated."Well, yes." "Why didn't you tell me it was him?" "I don't know." "Oh that's really brilliant Kara. Come on. You owe me more than that." "Why? Because I put you here?" "No." "It's what you implied though." "I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me?" "Look where it put you last time I told you." "Fair enough." "I just didn't want to add to any more problems you already have going on right now." "What did he do to you?" "Let's just say we had a volatile relationship. I was there when he needed somebody to use and he tended to get violent on ocassion." "Did he ever physically hurt you?" She turned her head away in avoidance of the question because he had a couple of times. Nothing anybody could ever physically see. It was mostly mental but Howie wouldn't understand. This is his friend we're talking about after all. He drew her gaze back to his."Did he?" "A couple of times but he never put me in the hospital." |
| He stared in disbelief. He was so stunned that she could speak so lightly of it. He could tell it still pained her when she thought of it but she'd been trying to tell him since that night in Hawaii. What a fool he'd been not to listen to her earlier. Maybe he wouldn't be here silently plotting to kill his best friend as his heart ached for the woman he loved. They say love is blind. Did she do anything to provoke it though? he wondered. Shame on you. Nobody deserves to be abused. "Howie?" "Excuse me,"he got out of the bed and went to the closet. She followed him to the large walk in closet as he dressed himself. "Where are you going at three in the morning?" "Where do you think I'm going? AJ and I are going to have a little talk." "Don't do this now." "Why not now?" "Because you're not thinking rationally right now." "As opposed to how I would be a few hours from now?" "Howie. It happened over five years ago." "But you said he was the one in your office that day." "He was. I gained a little confidence and let him have it." "You mean ?" "I brought him to his knees that day. I don't think he'll be bothering me anymore." "I'm sorry Kara but I have to confront him now." "Howie,"she begged."It's over. It's in the past." "No. I'll see you later." "Damn!"she bolted for the phone. Kristy groggily picked up the phone."Hello?" "I couldn't stop him Kris. He's on his way now,"she babbled. "Hold up,"she sat up in her bed."What's going on?" "Somebody needs to stop him Kris. He left here like a madman." "You mean you told him?" "No. He woke me up to tell me he knew." "And?" "And I tried to talk him out of it but he wasn't having it. Somebody's gotta stop him." "Calm down Kara. I'm sure it's not that bad." "You didn't see the look in his eye. He had the strength of ten men when he bolted out of here. I need help." "Let me wake up Nick and see what I can do." "You are an angel." "I'm not guaranteeing anything Kara." "I know you'll do your best." "Just take a few deep breaths and breathe in some of the ocean air. It always helps you." "Thanks Kristy." |
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