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“Allee? Sweetheart? I need to know where the phone number is for your real estate. They need to know what's happened. I'm also going to call a glazier and a locksmith to come and sort your doors and windows out.”
Allee simply sat there, oblivious to what he had just asked.
“Please, sweetheart, where is the contact information for your real estate?”
Allee blinked slowly, her eyes gradually focussing on Noah, “The real estate?”
“Yes, the real estate. Where are their contact details?”
Allee's brow furrowed and then responded, “In the office. The filing cabinet.”
Noah kissed Allee's icy fingers, then quickly walked through to her office. Riffling through the filing cabinet, he found the information for the property manager. By the end of the call, the agent had promised to send a glazier and locksmith.
Noah walked back out to the living area and gathered Allee close to him.
“You've had a big shock, and you're freezing. We gotta warm you up and get you comfortable. C'mon sweetheart, let's get you warm.”
Half leading, half carrying her, Noah led Allee upstairs to her bedroom. Beth and Charlie followed, hovering in the doorway.
“What can we do?” asked Beth.
“If you could make up a big mug of hot, sweet tea, and perhaps something for Allee to eat, that would be great, Beth. Charlie, I think Allee left most of her stuff at the office. Could you grab it and then drop over to my place and pick me up a change of clothes?”
Noah tossed Charlie his car keys, and she nodded, heading back downstairs.
Noah turned back to Allee, gently undressing her, before leading her into the en suite. He turned the shower on, making sure that it was hot, but not scalding. Holding her close under the stream of water, he kissed her hair as the warmth of the water stole into her icy flesh.
Once her body felt warm enough, he turned off the taps and stepped out, bringing Allee with him, bundling her into a towel before wrapping one around his own waist. He gently towelled her hair dry, then sat her on the toilet as he dried himself, stepping back into his boxers and jeans. He finished drying her off, and after pulling his own shirt over her head, guided her into her bed and pulled up the covers. At that moment, Beth appeared at the door, a tray in her hands. It held a large, steaming mug, as well as a steaming bowl.
“Sweet tea, and porridge with milk and brown sugar,” Beth said, handing Allee the mug. “Drink up, sweetie. This will help,” she said, guiding the brew to Allee's lips. Allee took several gulps and lowered the half-empty mug. Beth took it from her then lifted the bowl of porridge. “Now, you need to eat something. This is warm and filling.” Beth began spoon-feeding Allee, and after a moment, she took the spoon and fed herself. She ate silently, mechanically, as though she could only follow instructions.
Once finished, she leaned back against the pillows, eyes closed. Beth quietly gathered up the tray and bowl, leaving the mug behind, and headed back out of the room. Noah settled on the bed, gathered Allee in his arms, and held her. He felt a fine tremor move through her body, and his hold tightened. He thought the dam was about to break, and if he was right, she'd need him there. Sure enough, the trembling turned to shudders, and then Allee began shaking violently as the day’s events finally hit her. Noah's heart tore in two, tears filling his eyes at the pain, fear, and grief he felt pouring through Allee.
This was the last time that Stuart would ever get the chance to harm Allee, Noah thought to himself, making a silent promise that he would make Stuart pay for the pain he had caused.
A while later, Noah heard voices below and then footsteps running up the stairs. Allee had fallen asleep in his arms, exhausted after the flood of emotions that had roared through her. Charlie walked through the doorway.
“There are people downstairs who want to talk to you or Allee.”
Noah nodded, easing his arms from around Allee's prone body. She stirred slightly, and Charlie hurriedly took Noah's place on the bed, soothing her back into sleep, while Noah quickly threw on a clean shirt, then put his socks and shoes back on his feet. He made his way downstairs to see a room full of people; the glazier and locksmith had both arrived, as had the police specialist. There was an older man as well, and Noah realised that this must be Mr Barker. Noah quickly spoke to the specialist, who got to work straight away. The locksmith went to work at the front, and the glazier stood patiently to one side as he waited for the specialist to move away from the glass.
Noah walked back over to the older man, “Mr Barker? I'm Noah. Do you have any news about Piddle?”
“Yes, well, she was a mess when we found her,” said Mr Barker, “and it was lucky for her that we did. She's at the Eight Mile Plains vet, they've pumped her full of blood to make up for what she's lost, and they've patched her up the best they could. But they're optimistic, and if she improves overnight, they think she can come back on Saturday.”
Noah breathed a sigh of relief.
“Can I go and check on her? I know Allee would feel better if she knew I had seen Pids with my own eyes.”
“That's fine, I’ll let them know to expect you.”
“Thanks for that.”
The two men shook hands, and then Mr Barker left. Noah walked over to Beth, letting her know he would check on Piddle if Allee woke up while he was away. He left instructions for the glazier and locksmith before heading out to his car.
The pain was searing, jagged, relentless in its onslaught. There were voices around her, strange voices, but she didn’t think they meant her harm. She had run, but it hadn't mattered. He had found her, stripped away all vestiges of safety and security. Her screams and cries only delighted him, but she had somehow managed to escape.
She couldn't recall much, only the pain and fear as he had flung her through the air, hurling her against the walls. The smell of singed fur as he'd ground out lit cigarettes, using her as an ashtray. He had stabbed her as she scrabbled to flee, and she had also managed to draw his blood. That had enraged him, and she had felt him snapping the bones in her tail in his rage.
