The Crystal's Curse (23 page)

So Joshua told him about finding Sara gone, Nathan’s picking him up, and their confrontation with Frank, and then rushing to the hospital.

“That explains your hands.” Joseph said when Joshua had finished.

Joshua paced back and forth. “This is my fault. Nathan warned me that Frank had a vicious temper. I knew he would retaliate for losing the fight, but I wasn’t worried. I was sure I could handle him, and now Sara is paying for my arrogance.”

Joseph stopped him. “You can’t blame yourself. How could you have known? The only one to blame here is Frank.”

The doors opened and Helen came out to join them. They both tensed until she held up both hands and said, “She’s still out, but doing fine. I thought you might want to sit with her while I talk to your grandfather.”

Joshua nodded and hurried back inside.

Restless, Helen began walking around the building.

Falling in step alongside of her Joseph asked, “Have you called the police?”

“Not yet. I want to wait until she wakes up, and I can find out what happened. It probably won’t do any good. There’s very little chance she’ll have any memory of what happened. That’s the way this drug works. We can’t let him get away with this, but I’m afraid we won’t be able to prove he gave her the drugs. He can always say she took them voluntarily. I know that’s not true, but it will be her word against his. I don’t want to put Sara through the embarrassment if some slick lawyer can get him off, and make Sara seem like some kind of slut. That’s why I wanted to speak to you. What do you think?” She stopped and turned to look at him.

Joseph looked across the parking lot, considering her question. “Unfortunately, I think you’re right. Even if Joshua and Nathan testify that he had the drugs on him, it won’t prove he gave them to her. As for the kidnapping, she was seen walking into his house. He’ll try to use that to prove she was willing. If cornered, I wouldn’t put it past him to file assault and battery charges against Joshua. Given his honesty, Joshua would admit to beating him up.”

“Oh no! So if we try to file charges against Frank, Sara’s reputation gets shredded, Joshua may go to jail, but there’s a very real chance that Frank gets off scot free?” When Joseph nodded, she ground her teeth, wrapping both arms around herself to control the anger. “That’s just not right.”

Joseph stopped. Looking down at her, he put his hands on her shoulders. “We may not be able to prosecute him for what he’s done, but I promise you that he will never bother Sara or Joshua again.”

She looked into his eyes. “How can you be so sure?”

“Leave that to me.”

The ruthless determination in his face made her shiver.

He dropped his hands. After a moment, they continued walking each lost in thought. Once they reached the doors to the waiting room again, she said, “Joshua refuses to leave Sara, but there’s still the threat that Erik could show up anytime.”

She had enough on her mind, he didn‘t want her to worry about them. “He won’t know to come looking for us at the hospital. Probably just stake out my house. I think Joshua is safe for now.”

Joshua came out to tell them that Sara was awake and asking for Helen. She followed him back inside. Joseph went back to the waiting room. As Helen had expected, the last thing Sara remembered was Frank coming over to apologize. Once Helen told her what happened, Sara refused to call the police and insisted on being taken home. Ever since her grandmother had come back inside and explained, Sara had refused to look at Joshua. When he tried to hold her hand, she turned over on her side with her back to him. If anyone asked her a question, she responded with one word answers. Helen checked her out of the hospital. Joseph pulled the car around. Joshua pushed the wheelchair with Sara clinging to Helen’s hand.

Once outside, Sara pulled away when Joshua tried to help her out of the chair. He stood back with his arms at his sides, looking stricken. Sara climbed into the back seat of the car, pulling Helen into the back seat with her, and leaving Joshua to sit up front with his grandfather. Once inside, Sara leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. No one said anything during the entire trip. When they reached home, Joshua held open the door, but didn’t try to touch her. Sara went straight upstairs to her room. She said she was tired and wanted to be left alone.

The look on Joshua’s face as he watched Sara climb the stairs wrenched Helen’s heart. Sara’s rejection obviously hurt him badly. He looked so lost. She tried to console him, “She’s been through a lot. She just needs time to sort through her feelings.”

Joshua just nodded. Since it was obvious that Sara didn’t want him around, Joshua got into his car and headed for Lrence’s house.

Instead of going home, Joseph headed his car toward Harvard. He knocked on Frank’s dorm room door.

“Leave me alone,” was the shout from inside.

Finding the door unlocked, Joseph marched inside. Frank was lying on his side on the bed, faced away from the door. He had his shirt off. Joseph could see that his ribs had been taped up.

“Get out, I told you I’m fine,” Frank mumbled.

Joseph pulled out the desk chair and sat down. “I’m not leaving. We need to talk.”

Obviously, surprised it wasn’t one of his roommates, Frank turned over. One eye was swollen shut. There were bruises on his face, arms, and upper torso. “If you came to apologize for your grandson, don’t bother. I’ll be talking to my lawyers tomorrow.”

Joseph jumped up. “Apologize! You little worm. The only thing I am sorry about is that he didn’t kill you when he had the chance. You are the most miserable excuse for a man I have ever come across. Please go to your lawyers tomorrow. I’m begging you. Give me an excuse to tell the world how you drugged and tried to rape a woman. I’m sure your father will be so proud. I’d like your friends to hear how the mighty Frank, football star, has to drug his women. Even if your lawyers manage to get you off, the scandal will ruin your reputation and any chance you ever had of getting into politics. Trust me. Joshua will come out looking like a hero.”

Frank flinched, but there was still arrogance in his voice when he asked, “Why are you here?”

Joseph sat back down now that he had his attention. “I am here to tell you to stay away from Joshua and Sara. I’m here to tell you if you want your father to keep his job, you better learn to keep your nose clean. If I hear you have even spoken to either Joshua or Sara, or that you have bullied or harassed anyone else, I will see to it that your father is fired in disgrace. No money, no big house on the hill, no more Ivy League college, no status or reputation. I have the power to take it all away.” He paused to let the threat set in. Making eye contact with Frank, in a voice full of menace, he said, “Let me make this clear. I will be your judge and jury. I won’t need proof.”

“You couldn’t,” Frank said.

In spite of the denial, the fear Joseph saw in his eyes told him Frank believed him. “Oh, yes I could. It would be easy to set your father up to look like an embezzler. He is obviously not as astute as I’ve given him credit for if he can raise something as slimy as you.” He glared at Frank until he looked away beaten. Joseph got up, pushed the chair back, and walked to the door without another word. He drove home knowing that Frank believed him because it was exactly the kind of thing Frank himself would do. Joseph had dealt with men like Frank. They believed that everyone thought just as they did. Joseph did not intend to destroy David Olson, whose only fault was being blind and overindulgent to his only son. However, he would be watching David a little more closely to make sure that he hadn’t missed anything else. Unlike Frank, Joseph was an honest man, who wouldn‘t hurt innocent people like David, but if Frank stepped out of line, Joseph made himself a promise he would crush him like a bug.

As he turned into the driveway, he had a funny feeling someone was watching him. He looked around. He didn’t see anyone. He parked in the garage, entering the house through a side door. Quickly he ran to the front of the house, and peered through the slats of the blinds in the dining room. There was no one on the street. The only thing out of place was a black car he didn’t recognize parked on the other side of the street three houses down. He couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

Chapter Twenty Three

Joshua walked into Lrence’s house to find everyone at the table eating pizza. He hesitated in the doorway, almost not recognizing his mom and dad, who now looked so different. “Wow, who are you, and what have you done with my parents?”

Maria laughed, got up, and hugged him. Looking into his eyes, she sobered. “Your grandpa called and told us what happened. How is Sara?”

He shrugged. “Still in shock, I think. She didn’t want me to stay, so I came here.” He couldn’t control the anguish and bitterness that slipped out with the words.

Maria hugged him again. “Give her time.”

The tension of the past several hours seem to crawl up his spine coiling his muscles into knots. He massaged the back of his neck and tried to force himself to relax. “Yeah, that’s what Dr. Whiting said. So this Erik has tracked me down. I’m hoping you have come up with the cure, because I am not hiding here. I need to get back to school.” He wanted to make it clear that this was not up for debate. He watched Maria and Sam exchange worried looks.

Lrence spoke up. “We don’t have the complete cure yet, but we think we have a way to lower your brain waves, so if Erik scans you, it will read as normal. It worked when we tested it on your folks, but your waves are higher. The problem is even if it does work, we have no way of knowing if the effect will last or for how long. It really would be better if you consented to stay here for a few days so we can make sure.”

It was a reasonable request, but he couldn’t do it. The only way he would survive Sara’s rejection was to keep busy. His main priority now had to be school. He didn‘t look at them and kept his voice flat. “No. I’m not staying. Just do what you have to do. I’ll come back periodically for a booster if necessary.”

Sam stood. “Now look here son, if Lrence says you need to stay, then you will stay.”

Joshua squared his shoulders and faced Sam. “No, Dad, I won’t. This is my life now. You and Mom are already on the run. I’ve already told you I won’t run with you. So, unless you’re prepared to lock me up, as soon as I get the procedure I am going home.”

Sam visibly bristled. “If I have to lock you up to keep you from being killed, then I will.”

Before Joshua could say anything more, Maria stepped between them. “Stop it both of you!” Turning to Sam, she said, “Joshua has just had one of the worst days of his life. Now is not the time for ultimatums.” Speaking to Joshua, she said, “How about a compromise? It’s been a long day. Let Lrence do the procedure. Stay here just for tonight. He’ll be able to scan you before you leave in the morning for school. At least that way we’ll be able to assess the danger level and be prepared. I promise that no matter what the scan says, we won’t try to stop you from leaving.” She turned to Sam for confirmation.

Sam looked at Joshua and saw the pain and determination in his eyes. He realized Maria was right. Now was not the time. Standing firm would only push Joshua to take an even greater risk. He nodded.

Then she looked at Joshua.

Joshua nodded his agreement.

Although it took more than one treatment before Lrence was satisfied that Joshua’s brain scan would register as normal, it appeared that the procedure did in fact work. To make sure, he scanned Sam and Maria again. Even though it had been several hours since their treatments, their waves continued to be normal. It was after midnight before everyone settled in bed. They led Joshua to the room that had been made up for Helen.

He lay on the bed with his eyes closed. He was exhausted. Still, sleep would not come. He kept seeing Sara’s pale face, the horror and revulsion when Helen explained how Frank had drugged her and taken her to his house. When he’d reached out to comfort her, she wouldn’t even look at him. Once she knew what had happened, she pu
lled her hand away and withdrew from him. He wondered if she could ever forgive him. Frank got in because she was expecting him. He should have been there.

***

Sara stared out at the dark sky, watching the wind blow the trees against the window. She laid on her side with her knees pulled up and her arms wrapped around herself to stop the shaking. Even with several blankets and a warm quilt over her, she couldn’t seem to get warm. Neither could she stop the tears that ran down her face. Her pillow was wet where she had held it over her face to muffle the racking sobs so her grandmother would not hear. The world she’d always known, where she had been in control and safe, no longer existed. For the first time in her life, she felt afraid. The branches scrapping the window terrified her. She had let that monster in her house and he had snatched away her security. How could she have been so stupid as to trust him? Every time she thought about Joshua seeing her lying drugged on another man’s bed, her stomach recoiled. Joshua had to come to her rescue because she had been too stupid to protect herself. She didn’t want to think about what would have happened if he hadn’t come. When they told her, she couldn’t look at him. She didn’t want to see his disgust or worse, pity. She knew he could never look at her again without seeing her lying next to Frank. If she looked at him, she would see it in his eyes.

More than anything, she wanted to curl up in his arms and feel safe and protected, and of course, he would oblige, because that’s the kind of man he was. He wouldn’t turn away knowing she needed him. However, little by little she would feel the distance grow between them until he thought she was stable enough to leave. She knew she had to let him go now. She grabbed the pillow as the sobs came again.