The Deal

After a long Monday at work Blair was tired, her muscles ached and she wanted to go jogging, hoping Austin would go with her. But when she called him he said he was working late and not to wait up. He was short with her and it pissed her off, again she felt he was playing games with her. So after eating the food that the housekeeper made she changed and went jogging. Austin had told her not to go alone because of the van they had spotted she did so anyway. She figured as long as she stayed on the main road where there were houses everywhere she would be safe.

An hour of running she headed back home and there just as she opened the door someone grabbed her from behind. Throwing her down onto the ground he shut the door. She stared at him in horror, he wore dark clothes and a ski mask. She could smell the alcohol on his breath when he jumped on top of her. She kicked and screamed as he pawed at her, ripping her blouse open and tried undoing her jeans. When she fought back, hitting him he slapped her a couple of times and said a few words before trying to force himself on her. Reaching out she grabbed the leg of the small table by the door, pulling at it the vase on top tipped over, falling onto the floor. Grabbing it she smashed it over his head and when he stumbled backwards she kicked him, getting up she ran outside, screaming for help. A neighbour hearing her called the cops and went over to help her, she was bleeding and crying.

The police searched the house and determined the masked man went out a side door so she was taken inside for questioning. In the meantime, the helpful neighbour called Austin to let him know about the attack.

Austin was eating a sandwich and signing some papers when he got the phone call saying Blair was attacked and was taken to the hospital. Dropping everything he tore out of his office and drove like a madman getting to her. There he ran out of breath over to the reception desk.

"I'm looking for my wife, she was just brought in."

"Who is your wife?" asked the woman behind the desk.

"Blair Cooke, I mean Sherwin."

"She's in room 201, the police are with her."

He walked into her room, she was sitting up on the bed, surrounded by police and the doctor. He was shocked to see the condition she was in. Her face bruised and bloody, her top tore open with scratches on her chest. He pushed his way through the others to get to her.

"Austin," she said, her tears flowed down her face. She felt his arms going around her, holding her tight as he stroked her hair.

"What happened?" he asked, looking at the police. "What happened to my wife?"

"You're wife was attacked inside your home." One of the officers spoke. "We brought her here to be checked out but we need to ask her some questions about the attack."

He took her face in his hands. "Are you up to this?" When she sniffed and nodded he sat down beside her, his arm around her. He sat, listening to what had happened, his rage boiling over with what the man did to her and his heart went out to her for what she had gone through.

"I had just returned from jogging and opened the door when I felt someone grabbing me from behind and he threw me to the ground. He tore at my clothes, I tried fighting him and when I did he started hitting me. Then I felt his hand going down my pants and he stuck a finger inside me," she said, looking at Austin she started crying again.

"Then what happened?" asked the young officer.

"I was able to hit him over the head with a vase and when he let go I kicked him. I got up and ran outside, screaming for help. I know he was hurt, I saw the blood on his mask."

The young officer patted her hand. "You did real good, you're very brave. Did he say anything to you? Is there anything about him that you noticed? The sound of his voice, his smell, anything at all?"

She buried her face in Austin's chest. "No," she cried out. "Wait, I remember he did say something. I know you want it. That's all he said before he tried to rape me."

Feeling her tremble in his arms he knew she had enough, so looking at the police he told them he was taking her home.

"If you can think of anything call us, we want to catch this guy," the officer handed Austin his card. "The doctor already checked your wife, you can take her home now. I'll have a squad car patrol your neighbourhood and keep an eye on things."

When everyone was gone he took off his jacket and placed it over her. Her left wrist was wrapped in a bandage from the sprain she received fighting the monster off. "I'm taking you home now and I won't let anything else happen to you, I promise." He wanted to give her hell for going jogging alone but he didn't have the heart. Putting his arm around her waist he walked her out to his car, making sure to be careful of getting her into the car. He held her hand as he drove, her head was turned, looking out the passenger window.

"Aren't you going to give me a hard time about jogging alone?"

He glanced over at her, his thumb caressed the top of her hand. "No. But until they find that prick I will ask that you don't go out alone. I'm going to hire a private investigator to find the van and do some checking. I think he's the same guy that beat and raped a young woman not too long ago."

"Why do you think it's the same guy?" she asked, looking at him.

"The woman who was raped was by a guy with the same build you described, he wore a dark ski mask and said the same thing to her. I'm sorry you went through this but you fought back, scaring him away."

When he got her home and inside he asked if he could get her something. "Would you like a drink or something to eat?"

"No. I just want to go and take a hot bath to wash the feel of his hands off me and then I'm going to bed," she said, turning she walked slowly up the stairs. Her body hurt with every step she took and she felt like crying all over again. Never in her whole life had she ever been violated like this and she knew it could have been worse, he could have gotten away with raping her.

Laying in the tub she tried to think of something, anything that could help to capture the creep that attacked her. She scrubbed herself all over, cleaning her private part over and over. It made her physically sick thinking of his finger inside her and she wondered if she would ever be able to let a man touch her again. When the water had turned cold that was when she decided to get out. Drying off she put on her nightgown and looked in the mirror. Seeing the scratches on her chest, her black eye and the bruises on her face she couldn't help it when she broke down and cried.

Covering her face with her hands she felt Austin's gentle hands on her shoulders. Turning into him his arms went around her, stroking her back. Then she felt herself being lifted up into his arms. She put her arms around his neck and let him carry her to the bedroom and laid her down, he then covered her with the blanket.

He then got into bed, pulling her into his arms he held her.

"How am I going to go to work looking like this?" she asked, pointing to her face. She then laid her head back down on his chest. It was very comforting having his arms around her in a protective way.

"You're not going to work."

"What?" she asked, looking up at him. "I have to go to work. I've got so many things to get done, we have to promote our new line."

"I've called your friend Rachel and explained what happened, she is going to take care of things for you this week. You've been hurt and need time to heal."

"You don't get it. I have to work to keep busy. If I'm alone I'll just think about what happened and I don't want to be alone."

"You won't be alone."

"What are you talking about?"

"I've called Harry and told him to clear my schedule for the rest of the week. So you see you won't be alone. I'll be here with you."

"You would do that for me?" she asked, it touched her heart when he said that, knowing how busy he was with work. He was acting like a husband in love and not one that married for a reason other than love.

"You are my wife after all so it's my job to take care of you. No woman should be abused and attacked the way you were and he will be caught. I'll make sure he is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." He pulled her in closer to him, he wanted to protect her from the evils of the world, even if it were only for the duration of their marriage.

When she woke up Austin was not in bed and when the door to their bedroom opened she thought it would be him but it was the housekeeper, Helen carrying a tray of food. This was a first, she had never done this before.

"Morning Miss. Mr. Cooke asked me to bring up your breakfast this morning," she said, setting the tray over her lap.

"Thank you, Helen this is very kind of you. Where is my husband, has he gone to work?" she thought maybe he had changed his mind about taking time off work.

"He's downstairs, making some calls. He told me what happened to you and I'm so sorry. How a man can do that to a woman is beyond me. If there's anything else you need you just let me know. I'm going to let you eat and get some rest, just leave the tray and I'll come to get it later."

Helen's kindness was touching. She had gotten the impression that the housekeeper didn't like her, it was like she was an inconvenience and causing her more work. But maybe she had the woman wrong, maybe it was herself that came across as being a snob. She was done eating when Austin came up to check on her.

"How are you feeling this morning?" he asked, removing the tray from her lap.

"Stiff and sore but I'll be alright."

He touched her cheek lightly where the bruise was. "Well, just stay in bed and rest. I'll be downstairs in my office working but if you need me I'm here for you. Helen is going to make your favourite dinner tonight."

"She is, that's so sweet of her but I don't want her to go to any trouble for me."

"She wants to do it. When I told her what you went through she was so upset. You see, her daughter went through the same thing years ago, only she wasn't so lucky. The man who raped her also murdered her, so this is something that touches her heart."

"Oh, I didn't know, how terrible," she said, covering her mouth as a tear slid down her cheek.

"It happened many years ago and she has learned to live with it, still hurts her to this day. Helen told me that I better be nice to you or she'll tan my hide. I really think she's warming up to you. I'm going to let you get some sleep now."

"Austin, is there any chance he'll get caught?"

He sat back down, taking her hand in his. "Honestly, I don't know. If only there was someone who could identify him, some kind of marking on his body that would make him stand out. But he will slip up one of these times and the police will get him. I just hope no other woman gets hurt. Sleep now," he said, leaning down kissed her lips tenderly.