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Authors: Leanne Davis
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array of scars from the myriad cuts he inflicted on her using anything from knives to forks to writing pens. He burned her. He cut her. He punched her. But rarely, however, did he bruise or cut anything in any area of her body that was visible to others. Elliot would not tolerate any curious questions from friends or neighbors. As long as there was no evidence, no suspicion was cast.
Thus, Lindsey literally became a hollow, air-headed Stepford wife, who groomed herself and did everything Elliot demanded to play the part of his mate. It might as well have been two decades since she knew how to be anything other than what she was now. She could not even remember how to function as an officer in the United States Army. Imagining herself now, being fully competent and accomplishing the necessary tasks and goals, was beyond her. She doubted if she could open a Band-Aid correctly anymore.
“I want nothing more than to help you, Jessie. And to be here. I am, so happy to be with you.”
Jessie hugged her with a big, open grin. There were no more secrets for Jessie. Thankfully, there was also no more brutality.
“But, ah, I need to call Elliot and tell him I arrived safely. Do you mind if I use your phone?”
Jessie scoffed at her concerns and handed her the phone with affectionate ease. Lindsey had to get her phone charged. She was always required to check in with Elliot, or he her, several times a day, every day. If she had to use their phone, Will and Jessie would soon realize the strange frequency with which she talked to her husband.
****
Something was wrong with her. Something was desperately wrong with Lindsey.
THE MAN s tared at the picture that downloaded from the Virginia section of The Washington Post that was taken over the weekend. It featured Elliot and Lindsey Johanson’s arrival at the Georgetown University Charity dinner. She was too skinny. Freakishly thin, she appeared bony and scrawny. She lost twenty or more pounds just in the last year, weight she did not need to lose. Her eyes looked hollow and empty. But it was something more. It was the way she held her torso. She seemed stiff, and unnatural. Her shoulder appeared strange. Why? What was going on? And what was with that arrogant, cool, not-so-affectionate glare Elliot had pasted on his face?
He fisted his hands. Something wasn’t right. He didn’t know what or why, but something in his gut told him that Lindsey was far from being all right.
Chapter Five
Noah glanced up when the door chimed, and in came Jessie and Lindsey. He leaned into the counter to stare at the pair. They were startlingly attractive, and virtual contrasts in beauty. One was small, dark, curvy and sensuous; and the other tall, slender, regal with classically elegant features.
They were giggling and laughing in a banter of conversation that bounced between them.
“I don’t suppose you’re here to work?” Noah kept his tone dry.
Jessie halted before waving her hand around to dismiss him. “Oh, Noah, I’ve worked every day this week.”
“Yeah, whenever you manage to fit it in with your busy social calendar.”
She ignored him and rounded her desk before flipping through her IN basket. She glanced at the computer while biting her lip in concentration. There was no one else in the clinic at the moment.
“So, what were you two doing today?” Noah directed his inquiry to Lindsey. She had been in town for a few days now and he’d seen her several times here and there with Jessie.
“We ran by the college to pick up some notes Jessie needed; and now we’re off to home.”
Noah smiled absently as he rifled around for the bill he set somewhere, intending to ask Jessie about it.
“So, Noah, how was your date last night?”
Jessie didn’t bother to look up from her work. Lindsey shuffled her feet behind him, obviously uncomfortable with her question. He rolled his eyes at Jessie’s back. She never seemed to notice that before. Her sister did not do
Thus, Lindsey literally became a hollow, air-headed Stepford wife, who groomed herself and did everything Elliot demanded to play the part of his mate. It might as well have been two decades since she knew how to be anything other than what she was now. She could not even remember how to function as an officer in the United States Army. Imagining herself now, being fully competent and accomplishing the necessary tasks and goals, was beyond her. She doubted if she could open a Band-Aid correctly anymore.
“I want nothing more than to help you, Jessie. And to be here. I am, so happy to be with you.”
Jessie hugged her with a big, open grin. There were no more secrets for Jessie. Thankfully, there was also no more brutality.
“But, ah, I need to call Elliot and tell him I arrived safely. Do you mind if I use your phone?”
Jessie scoffed at her concerns and handed her the phone with affectionate ease. Lindsey had to get her phone charged. She was always required to check in with Elliot, or he her, several times a day, every day. If she had to use their phone, Will and Jessie would soon realize the strange frequency with which she talked to her husband.
****
Something was wrong with her. Something was desperately wrong with Lindsey.
THE MAN s tared at the picture that downloaded from the Virginia section of The Washington Post that was taken over the weekend. It featured Elliot and Lindsey Johanson’s arrival at the Georgetown University Charity dinner. She was too skinny. Freakishly thin, she appeared bony and scrawny. She lost twenty or more pounds just in the last year, weight she did not need to lose. Her eyes looked hollow and empty. But it was something more. It was the way she held her torso. She seemed stiff, and unnatural. Her shoulder appeared strange. Why? What was going on? And what was with that arrogant, cool, not-so-affectionate glare Elliot had pasted on his face?
He fisted his hands. Something wasn’t right. He didn’t know what or why, but something in his gut told him that Lindsey was far from being all right.
Chapter Five
Noah glanced up when the door chimed, and in came Jessie and Lindsey. He leaned into the counter to stare at the pair. They were startlingly attractive, and virtual contrasts in beauty. One was small, dark, curvy and sensuous; and the other tall, slender, regal with classically elegant features.
They were giggling and laughing in a banter of conversation that bounced between them.
“I don’t suppose you’re here to work?” Noah kept his tone dry.
Jessie halted before waving her hand around to dismiss him. “Oh, Noah, I’ve worked every day this week.”
“Yeah, whenever you manage to fit it in with your busy social calendar.”
She ignored him and rounded her desk before flipping through her IN basket. She glanced at the computer while biting her lip in concentration. There was no one else in the clinic at the moment.
“So, what were you two doing today?” Noah directed his inquiry to Lindsey. She had been in town for a few days now and he’d seen her several times here and there with Jessie.
“We ran by the college to pick up some notes Jessie needed; and now we’re off to home.”
Noah smiled absently as he rifled around for the bill he set somewhere, intending to ask Jessie about it.
“So, Noah, how was your date last night?”
Jessie didn’t bother to look up from her work. Lindsey shuffled her feet behind him, obviously uncomfortable with her question. He rolled his eyes at Jessie’s back. She never seemed to notice that before. Her sister did not do
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