Her Thirties Part 107

Cindy

Our stalker was dead.

Charlie threw everyone a curve ball. Instead of attacking Marilyn in the bookstore just at closing time, he free-lanced a pre-emptive strike that very nearly did us in.

I’d like to say I had some part in fighting off the assault, but the truth was, I was saved by Cindy who not only faced up to Charlie’s aggression, but turned his power against him by sidestepping his ambush, causing him to plunge over the edge of the cliff.

But that wasn’t all.

At the critical moment after Charlie plunged to his death, instead of hurrying to look after Marilyn, I was so enthralled by Cindy’s charms that I allowed her to kiss me.

It was only after that long and tantalizing kiss that I remembered Marilyn lying limp as a discarded rag doll on that narrow peninsula of land, still in peril of falling.

I was so ashamed, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to tell her, let alone face her.

I ran back to the ledge and pulled her to safety.

She was still unconscious, and again, I was totally unequal to the task. I had no idea what to do.

Cindy came to the rescue again. She knelt down beside me and raised Marilyn’s legs, placing her ankles on her shoulders.

She passed me a water bottle and told me to sprinkle a few drops on my hands and gently dab it on Marilyn's cheeks and forehead.

I think that was simply to give me something to do while she attended to Marilyn.

She loosened Marilyn’s clothing, making sure she was able to get air, and told me to quietly call her name.

In a few minutes, Marilyn’s eyelids fluttered and she began to moan.

“Just reassure her,” Cindy ordered, “and don’t let her try to sit up too quickly.”

We could hear sirens in the distance and within minutes, a half dozen uniform officers emerged from the woods.

“We need paramedics,” Cindy instructed, and a sergeant was relaying the message via his shoulder communicator.

Finally, the paramedics arrived and within minutes, Marilyn was sitting up, a blanket draped over her shoulders, while the EMT crew attended to her.

Abe and Erin arrived and conferred with Cindy while I stood by helplessly, gazing forlornly at Marilyn.

“How you doing, Pal?” Abe’s huge paw rested on my shoulder.

I could only nod mutely.

“It’s over, Scott. Charlie can never threaten you again.”

“I know,” I muttered miserably.

Abe seemed to read my thoughts.

“Look, there was nothing you could do. I’m only glad I didn’t have to tangle with Charlie—that’s why Cindy got tasked with tailing you guys while Erin staked out the bookshop and I tailed Charlie’s cronies.”

The surprise and confusion on my face made Abe laugh.

“I was on a training exercise with Cindy when she first came onto the force. Thought I’d show her some hand to hand combat techniques—well, wouldn’t you know, she handed me my ass. Try living that down.”

My eyes grew huge

“Yep, turns out she was a straw weight MMA fighter—she could break every bone in your body if she wanted.”

I tuned pale.

“Don’t worry, Pal—she’s crazy about you. Me? Not so much.”

His eyes crinkled and I had to laugh in spite of myself.

The EMT crew lifted Marilyn onto a stretcher.

“Sorry, Abe—I want to accompany her in the ambulance.”

“Go right ahead, Pal. I’ll be waiting at Scarborough General.”

I don’t know what it is, but when people are kind to me, I want to cry.

I didn’t cry, but I hugged Abe. He wasn’t prepared for that, but he let me.

I glanced back in the direction of the girls and Cindy was smirking.

I could figure out what she was thinking.

Such a loser.

© 2018, John J Geddes. All rights reserved

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