璇玑之心刃·冷血悍将-第73部分

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uncut　drugs；　and　that　frightened　her　more　than　the　threat　of　a　beating。　Unable　to　go　home　…　she‘d　called　once　and　had　the　phone　slammed　down　by　her　mother　even　before　she　could　beg　for　help　…　and　not　trusting　the　social　services　which　might　have　helped　her　along　a　different　path；　she　finally　found　herself　in　Washington；　DC；　an　experienced　street　prostitute　with　a　drug　habit　that　helped　her　to　hide　from　what　she　thought　of　herself。　But　not　enough。　And　that；　Kelly　thought；　was　probably　what　had　saved　her。　Along　the　way　she‘s　had　two　abortions；　three　cases　of　venereal　disease；　and　four　arrests；　none　of　which　had　ever　e　to　trial。　Pam　was　crying　now；　and　Kelly　moved　to　sit　beside　her。
‘You　see　what　I　really　am？‘
‘Yes；　Pam。　What　I　see　is　one　very　courageous　lady。‘　He　wrapped　his　arm　tightly　around　her。　‘Honey；　it‘s　okay。　Anybody　can　mess　up。　It　takes　guts　to　change；　and　it　really　takes　guts　to　talk　about　it。‘
The　final　chapter　had　begun　in　Washington　with　someone　named　Roscoe　Fleming。　By　this　time　Pam　was　hooked　solidly　on　barbiturates；　but　still　fresh　and　pretty…looking　when　someone　took　the　time　to　make　her　so；　enough　to　mand　a　good　price　from　those　who　liked　young　faces。　One　such　man　had　e　up　with　an　idea；　a　sideline。　This　man；　whose　name　was　Henry；　had　wanted　to　broaden　his　drug　business；　and　being　a　careful　chap　who　was　used　to　having　others　do　his　bidding；　he‘d　set　up　a　stable　of　girls　to　run　drugs　from　his　operation　to　his　distributors。　The　girls　he　bought　from　established　pimps　in　other　cities；　in　each　case　a　straight　cash　transaction；　which　each　of　the　girls　found　ominous。　This　time　Pam　tried　to　run　almost　at　once；　but　she‘d　been　caught　and　beaten　severely　enough　to　break　three　ribs；　only　later　to　learn　of　her　good　fortune　that　the　first　lesson　hadn‘t　gone　further。　Henry　had　also　used　the　opportunity　to　cram　barbiturates　into　her；　which　both　attenuated　the　pain　and　increased　her　dependence。　He‘d　augmented　the　treatment　by　making　her　available　to　any　of　his　associates　who　wanted　her。　In　this；　Henry　had　achieved　what　all　the　others　had　failed　to　do。　He　had　finally　cowed　her　spirit。
Over　a　period　of　five　months；　the　bination　of　beatings；　sexual　abuse；　and　drugs　had　depressed　her　to　a　nearly　catatonic　state　until　she‘d　been　jarred　back　to　reality　only　four　weeks　earlier　by　tripping　over　the　body　of　a　twelve…year…old　boy　in　a　doorway；　a　needle　still　in　his　arm。　Remaining　outwardly　docile；　Pam　had　struggled　to　cut　her　drug　use。　Henry‘s　other　friends　hadn‘t　plained。　She　was　a　much　better　lay　this　way；　they　thought；　and　their　male　egos　had　attributed　it　to　their　prowess　rather　than　her　increased　level　of　consciousness。　She‘d　waited　for　her　chance；　waiting　for　a　time　when　Henry　was　away　somewhere；　because　the　others　got　looser　when　he　wasn‘t　around。　Only　five　days　earlier　she‘d　packed　what　little　she　had　and　bolted。　Penniless　…　Henry　had　never　let　them　have　money　…　she‘d　hitched　her　way　out　of　town。
‘Tell　me　about　Henry；‘　Kelly　said　softly　when　she‘d　finished。
‘Thirty；　black；　about　your　height。‘
‘Did　any　other　girls　get　away？‘
Pam‘s　voice　went　cold　as　ice。　‘I　only　know　of　one　who　tried。　It　was　around　November。　He　。。。　killed　her。　He　thought　she　was　going　to　the　cops；　and‘　…　she　looked　up　…　‘he　made　us　all　watch。　It　was　terrible。‘
Kelly　said　quietly；　‘So　why　did　you　try；　Pam？‘
‘I‘d　rather　die　than　do　that　again；‘　she　whispered；　the　thought　now　out　in　the　open。　‘I　wanted　to　die。　That　little　boy。　Do　you　know　what　happens？　You　just　stop。　Everything　stops。　And　I　was　helping。　I　helped　kill　him。‘
‘How　did　you　get　out？‘
‘Night　before　。。。　I　。。。　fucked　them　all。。。　so　they‘d　like　me；　let　me　。。。　let　me　out　of　their　sight。　You　understand　now？‘
‘You　did　what　was　necessary　to　escape；‘　Kelly　replied。　It　required　every　bit　of　his　strength　to　keep　his　voice　even。　‘Thank　God。‘
‘I　wouldn‘t　blame　you　if　you　took　me　back　and　set　me　on　my　way。　Maybe　Daddy　was　right；　what　he　said　about　me。‘
‘Pam；　do　you　remember　going　to　church？‘
‘Yes。‘
‘Do　you　remember　the　story　that　ends；　"；Go　forth　and　sin　no　more"；？　You　think　that　I‘ve　never　done　something　wrong？　Never　been　ashamed？　Never　been　scared？　You‘re　not　alone；　Pam。　Do　you　have　any　idea　how　brave　you‘ve　been　to　tell　me　all　this？‘
Her　voice　by　now　was　entirely　devoid　of　emotion。　‘You　have　a　right　to　know。‘
‘And　now　I　do；　and　it　doesn‘t　change　anything。‘　He　paused　for　a　second。　‘Yes；　it　does。　You‘re　even　gutsier　than　I　thought　you　were；　honey。‘
‘Are　you　sure？　What　about　later？‘
‘The　only　"；later"；　thing　I‘m　worried　about　is　those　people　you　left　behind；‘　Kelly　said。
‘If　they　ever　find　me　。。。‘　Emotion　was　ing　back　now。　Fear。　‘Every　time　we　go　back　to　the　city；　they　might　see　me。‘
‘We‘ll　be　careful　about　that；‘　Kelly　said。
‘I‘ll　never　be　safe。　Never。‘
‘Yeah；　well；　there‘s　two　ways　to　handle　that。　Yon　can　just　keep　running　and　hiding。　Or　you　can　help　put　them　away。‘
She　shook　her　head　emphatically。　‘The　girl　they　killed。　They　knew。　They　knew　she　was　going　to　the　cops。　That‘s　why　I　can‘t　trust　the　police。　Besides；　you　don‘t　know　how　scary　these　people　are。‘
Sarah　had　been　right　about　something　else；　Kelly　saw。　Pam　was　wearing　her　halter　again；　and　the　sun　had　given　definition　to　the　marks　on　her　back。　There　were　places　which　the　sun　didn‘t　darken　as　it　did　the　others。　Echoes　of　the　welts　and　bloody　marks　that　others　had　made　for　their　pleasure。　It　had　all　started　with　Pierre　Lamarck；　or　more　correctly；　Donald　Madden；　small；　cowardly　men　who　managed　their　relations　with　women　through　force。
Men？　Kelly　asked　himself。
No。
Kelly　told　her　to　stay　in　place　for　a　minute　and　headed　off　into　the　machinery　bunker。　He　returned　with　eight　empty　soda　and　beer　cans；　which　he　set　on　the　ground　perhaps　thirty　feet　from　their　chairs。
‘Put　your　fingers　in　your　ears；‘　Kelly　told　her。
‘Why？‘
‘Please；‘　he　replied。　When　she　did；　Kelly‘s　right　hand　moved　in　a　blur；　pulling　a　。45　Colt　automatic　from　under　his　shirt。　He　brought　it　up　into　a　two…hand　hold；　going　left　to　right。　One　at　a　time；　perhaps　half　a　second　apart；　the　cans　alternatively　fell　over　or　flew　a　foot　or　two　in　the　air　to　the　crashing　report　of　the　pistol。　Before　the　last　was　back　on　the　ground　from　its　brief　flight；　Kelly　had　ejected　the　spent　magazine　and　was　inserting　another；　and　seven　of　the　cans　moved　a　little　more。　He　checked　to　be　sure　the　weapon　was　clear；　dropped　the　hammer；　and　replaced　it　in　his　belt　before　sitting　down　next　to　her。
‘It　doesn‘t　take　all　that　much　to　be　scary　to　a　young　girl　without　friends。　It　takes　a　little　more　to　scare　me。　Pam；　if　anybody　even　thinks　about　hurting　you；　he　has　to　talk　to　me　first。‘
She　looked　over　at　the　cans；　then　up　at　Kelly；　who　was　pleased　with　himself　and　his　marksmanship。　The　demonstration　had　been　a　useful　release　for　him；　and　in　the　brief　flurry　of　activity；　he‘d　assigned　a　name　or　a　face　to　each　of　the　cans。　But　he　could　see　she　still　was　not　convinced。　It　would　take　a　little　time。
‘Anyway。‘　He　sat　down　with　Pam　again。　‘Okay；　you　told　me　your　story；　right？‘
‘Yes。‘
‘Do　you　still　think　it　makes　a　difference　to　me？‘
‘No。　You　say　it　doesn‘t。　I　guess　I　believe　you。‘
‘Pam；　not　all　the　men　in　the　world　are　like　that　…　not　very　many；　as　a　matter　of　tact。　You‘ve　been　unlucky；　that‘s　all。　There　isn‘t　anything　wrong　with　you。　Some　people　get　hurt　in　accidents　or　get　sick。　Over　in　Vietnam　I　saw　men　get　killed　from　bad　luck。　It　almost　happened　to　me。　It　wasn‘t　because　there　was　something　wrong　with　them。　It　was　just　bad　luck；　being　in　the　wrong　place；　turning　left　instead　of　right；　looking　the　wrong　way。　Sarah　wants　you　to　meet　some　docs　and　talk　it　through。　I　think　she‘s　right。　We‘re　going　to　get　you　all　fixed　up。‘
‘And　then？‘　Pam　Madden　asked。　He　took　a　very　deep　breath；　but　it　was　too　late　to　stop　now。
‘Will　you　。。。　stay　with　me；　Pam？‘
She　looked　as　though　she‘d　been　slapped。　Kelly　was　stunned　by　her　reaction。　‘You　can‘t；　you‘re　just　doing　it　because　…‘
Kelly　stood　and　lifted　her　by　the　arms。　‘Listen　to　me；　okay？　You‘ve　been　sick。　You‘re　getting　better。　You‘ve　taken　everything　that　goddamned　world　could　toss　at　you；　and　you　didn‘t　quit。　I　believe　in　you！　It‘s　going　to　take　time。　Everything　does。　But　at　the　end　of　it；　you　will　be　one　goddamned　fine　person。‘　He　set　her　down　on　her　feet　and　stepped　back。　He　was　shaking　with　rage；　not　only　at　what　had　happened　to　her；　but　at　himself　for　starting　to　impose　his　will　on　her。　‘I‘m　sorry。　I　shouldn‘t　have　done　that。　Please；　Pam　。。。　just　believe　in　yourself　a　little。‘
‘It‘s　hard。　I‘ve　done　terrible　things。‘
Sarah　was　right。　She　did　need　professional　help。　He　was　angry　at　himself　for　not　knowing　exactly　what　to　say。
The　next　few　days　settled　into　a　surprisingly　easy　routine。　Whatever　her　other　qualities；　Pam　was　a　horrible　cook；　which　failing　made　her　cry　twice　with　frustration；　though　Kelly　managed　to　choke　down　everything　she　prepared　with　a　smile　and　a　kind　word。　But　she　learned　quickly；　too；　and　by　Friday　she‘d　figured　out　how　to　make　hamburger　into　something　tastier　than　a　piece　of　charcoal。　Through　it　all；　Kelly　was　there；　encouraging　her；　trying　hard　not　to　be　overpowering　and　mainly　succeeding。　A　quiet　word；　a　gentle　touch；　and　a　smile　were　his　tools。　She　was　soon　aping　his　habit　of　rising　before　dawn。　He　started　getting　her　to　exercise。　This　came　very　hard　indeed。　Though　basically　healthy；　she　hadn‘t　run　more　than　half　a　block　in　years；　and　so　he　made　her　walk　around　the　island；　starting　with　two　laps；　by　the　end　of　the　week　up　to　five。　She　spent　her　afternoons　in　the　sun；　and　without　much　to　wear　she　most　often　did　so　in　her　panties　and　bra。　She　acquired　the　beginnings　of　a　tan；　and　never　seemed　to　notice　the　thin；　pale　marks　on　her　back　that　made　Kelly‘s　blood　chill　with　anger。　She　began　to　pay　more　serious　attention　to　her　appearance；　showering　and　washing　her　hair　at　least　once　per　day；　brushing　it　out　to　a　silky　gloss；　and　Kelly　was　always　there　to　ment　on　it。　Not　once　did　she　appear　to　need　the　phenobarbital　Sarah　had　left　behind。　Perhaps　she　struggled　once　or　twice；　but　by　using　exercise　instead　of　chemicals；　she　worked　herself　onto　a　normal　wake…sleep　routine。　Her　smiles　acquired　more　confidence；　and　twice　he　caught　her　looking　into　the　mirror　with　something　other　than　pain　in　her　eyes。
‘Pretty　nice；　isn‘t　it？‘　he　asked　Saturday　evening；　just　after　her　shower。
‘Maybe；‘　she　allowed。
Kelly　lifted　a　b　from　the　sink　and　started　going　through　her　wet　hair。　‘The　sun　has　really　lightened　it　up　for　you。‘
‘It　took　a　while　to　get　all　the　dirt　out；‘　she　said；　relaxing　to　his　touch。
Kelly　struggled　with　a　tangle；　careful　not　to　pull　too　hard。　‘But　it　did　e　out；　Pammy；　didn‘t　it？‘
‘Yeah；　I　guess　so；　maybe；‘　she　told　the　face　in　the　mirror。
‘How　hard　was　that　to　say；　honey？‘
‘Pretty　hard。‘　A　smile；　a　real　one　with　warmth　and　conviction。
Kelly　set　the　b　down　and　kissed　the　base　of　her　neck；　letting　her　watch　in　the　mirror。　Kelly　got　the　b　back　and　continued　his　work。　It　struck　him　as　very　unmanly；　but　he　loved　doing　this。　‘There；　all　straight；　no　tangles。‘
‘You　really　ought　to　buy　a　hair…dryer。‘
Kelly　shrugged。　‘I‘ve　never　needed　one。‘
Pam　turned　around　and　took　his　hands。　‘You　will；　if　you　still　want　to。‘
He　was　quiet　for　perhaps　ten　seconds；　and　when　he　spoke；　the　words　didn‘t　quite　e　out　at　they　should；　for　now　the　fear　was　his。　‘You　sure？‘
‘Do　you　still　…‘
‘Yes！‘　It　was　hard　lifting　her　with　wet　hair；　still　nude　and　damp　from　the　shower；　but　a　man　had　to　hold　his　woman　at　a　time　like　this。　She　was　changing。　Her　ribs　were　less　pronounced。　She‘d　gained　weight　on　a　regular；　healthy　diet。　But　it　was　the　person　inside　who　had　changed　the　most。　Kelly　wondered　what　miracle　had　taken　place；　afraid　to　believe　that　he　was　part　of　it；　but　knowing　that　it　was　so。　He　set　her　down　after　a　moment；　looking　at　the　mirth　in　her　eyes；　proud　that　he‘d　helped　to　put　it　there。
‘I　have　my　rough　edges；　too；‘　Kelly　warned　her；　unaware　of　the　look　in　his　eyes。
‘I‘ve　seen　most　of　them；‘　she　assured　him。　Her　hands　started　rubbing　over　his　chest；　tanned　and　matted　with　dark　hair；　marked　with　scars　from　bat　operations　in　a　faraway　place。　Her　scars　were　inside；　but　so　were　some　of　his；　and　together　each　would　heal　the　other。　Pam　was　sure　of　that　now。　She‘d　begun　to　look　at　the　future　as　more　than　a　dark　place　where　she　could　hide　and　forget。　It　was　now　a　place　of　hope。
C6
　　　　CHAPTER　6
Ambush
The　rest　was　easy。　They　made　a　quick　boat　trip　to　Solomons；　where　Pam　was　able　to　buy　a　few　simple　things。　A　beauty　shop　trimmed　her　hair。　By　the　end　of　her　second　week　with　Kelly；　she‘d　started　to　run　and　had　gained　weight。　Already　she　could　wear　a　two…piece　swimsuit　without　an　overt　display　of　her　rib　cage。　Her　leg　muscles　were　toning　up；　what　had　been　slack　was　now　taut；　as　it　ought　to　be　on　a　girl　her　age。　She　still　had　her　demons。　Twice　Kelly　woke　to　find　her　trembling；　sweating；　and　murmuring　sounds　that　never　quite　turned　into　words　but　were　easily　understood。　Both　times　his　touch　calmed　her；　but　not　him。　Soon　he　was　teaching　her　to　run　Springer；　and　whatever　the　defects　in　her　schooling；　she　was　smart　enough。　She　quickly　grasped　how　to　do　the　things　that　most　boaters　never　learned。　He　even　took　her　swimming；　surprised　somehow　that　she‘d　learned　the　skill　in　the　middle　of　Texas。
Mainly　he　loved　her；　the　sight；　the　sound；　the　smell；　and　most　of　all　the　feel　of　Pam　Madden。　Kelly　found　himself　slightly　anxious　if　he　failed　to　see　her　every　few　minutes；　as　though　she　might　somehow　disappear。　But　she　was　always　there；　catching　his　eye；　smiling　back　playfully。　Most　of　the　time。　Sometimes　he‘d　catch　her　with　a　different　expression；　allowing　herself　to　look　back　into　the　darkness　of　her　past　or　forward　into　an　alternate　future　different　from　that　which　he　had　already　planned。　He　found　himself　wishing　that　he　could　reach　into　her　mind　and　remove　the　bad　parts；　knowing　that　he　would　have　to　trust　others　to　do　that。　At　those　times；　and　the　others；　for　the　most　part；　he‘d　find　an　excuse　to　head　her　way；　and　let　his　fingertips　glide　over　her　shoulder；　just　to　be　sure　she　knew　that　he　was　there。
Ten　days　after　Sam　and　Sarah　had　left；　they　had　a　little　ceremony。　He　let　her　take　the　boat　out；　tie　the　bottle　of　phenobarbital　to　a　large　rock；　and　dump　it　over　the　side。　The　splash　it　made　seemed　a　fitting　and　final　end　to　one　of　her　problems。　Kelly　stood　behind　her；　his　strong　arms　about　her　waist；　watching　the　other　boats　traveling　the　Bay；　and　he　looked　into　a　future　bright　with　promise。　
‘You　were　right；‘　she　said；　stroking　his　forearms。　
‘That　happens　sometimes；‘　Kelly　replied　with　a　distant　smile；　only　to　be　stunned　by　her　next　statement。
‘There　are　others；　John；　other　women　Henry　has　。。。　like　Helen；　the　one　he　killed。‘　
‘What　do　you　mean？‘
‘I　have　to　go　back。　I　have　to　help　them。。。　before　Henry　…　before　he　kills　more　of　them。‘　
‘There‘s　danger　involved；　Pammy；‘　Kelly　said　slowly。　
‘I　know。。。　but　what　about　them？‘　
It　was　a　symptom　of　her　recovery；　Kelly　knew。　She　had　bee　a　normal　person　again；　and　normal　people　worried　about　others。
‘I　can‘t　hide　forever；　can　I？‘　Kelly　could　feel　her　fear；　but　her　words　defied　it　and　he　held　her　a　little　tighter。
‘No；　you　can‘t；　no