Tiger Time
Alaskan Tigers Series: Book One
By Marissa Dobson
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Sunshine Press
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Tiger Time
Copyright © 2012, Marissa Dobson
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
www.marissadobson.com
Dedication
To my husband, Thomas who spent many hours listening to my ideas for the Alaskan Tigers series.
To my sister Jenifer who loves tigers as much as I do. She inspired me to write the Alaskan Tigers.
Chapter One
Tabitha Leigh staggered up the steps to her cramped studio apartment. A plain white envelope was taped to her door. The envelope piqued her interest, but not enough to truly care. She was just too tired and her body too sore. Licking her dry lips, she realized the fever of a hundred and one was taking its toll on her body. Her weak muscles barely carried her up the steps, a clear sign of his tired she felt.
Even with her mind wrapped in exhaustion and her aching body making her miserable, she couldn’t sleep. Night after night, she lay in bed glaring at the ceiling. Deep inside she felt a desire to move, to start over somewhere new. When she thought about where she wanted to move to, the only place she could picture herself living was Alaska. Odd, since she hated the cold weather and snow more than anything else. Beside her bed hung a beautiful picture of Alaska with the aurora borealis lighting up the sky. It was the last thing she saw before going to sleep at night. Her coffee table was littered with travel brochures and Alaskan travel books.
She grabbed the envelope from her door, planning to toss it on the table to deal with later. The moment her hand wrapped around it, however, a weight lifted from her shoulders. Insane. In that instant, her plans changed. The steaming hot bath she longed for could wait a few minutes. Plopping down on the couch, she tore open the envelope. The stationary weighed heavy in her hands. It had a soft quality to it. As she unfolded the page, the manly scent of cologne hit her nose, rich and fragrant. Not from the landlord then.
Dear Tabitha,
I was a friend of your father’s and I need to speak to you immediately.
Please meet me at Tony’s Bar & Grill tomorrow night at seven o’clock.
It’s important.
Sincerely,
Ty
With the note in her hand, a bunch of questions ran through her head. Had he really known her father? Maybe he could answer some of her questions about her parents and why she was left in the state’s care. Even if Ty answers some of my questions, I don’t know him or what he really wants.
Foster homes had made her cautious of others and made it hard to form any type of friendship with people. Too many people were out for themselves.
She wouldn’t go. She wasn’t much of a risk-taker, and this was too big of a risk. As she laid aside the letter and reluctantly went to take a bath, her brain told her she was doing the right thing. But her heart wanted answers.
* * *
Ty Reynolds had been in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for three days now, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get in touch with Tabitha. She didn’t have a phone number listed, which shouldn’t surprise him. Most people were ditching landlines for cell phones. He’d stopped by her apartment three times already, but there was never anyone home.
What he had to say to Tabitha had to be done in person. He couldn’t write it in a letter or tell her over the phone. He’d made the trip from Alaska to break the news to her gently.
With no answer at her apartment, he was glad he’d come prepared. He taped the letter he brought to her door and silently hoped she would meet him. Tomorrow would be the test. If she doesn’t show up tomorrow, I’ll sit outside her door until she comes home. Time was running out, and he had to see her.
* * *
Relaxing in blistering hot bath water with lavender bath salts and a touch of vanilla scented bubble bath normally eased the tension from her body. Tonight, though, she was on edge. The letter’s contents kept running through her head.
Saying he was a friend of her dad’s wasn’t something that would make her want to meet him. She knew next to nothing about her parents. They could have been murderers for all she knew.
No, they weren’t murderers. The caseworker had informed her that her parents had died in a car accident when she was a year old. Not that she remembered any of it. Thanks to a very nice police officer, she had a picture of her parents with her that was taken a month before they died.
The Polaroid was the only treasure she had from the family she was supposed to have as she moved from foster home to foster home. She sank deeper in the tub, remembering the day the police officer gave her the picture. It had become her most cherished item, even now kept next to her bed.
A year ago, everything changed. On her eighteenth birthday, she aged out of the system. Her caseworker, Bev, handed her five hundred dollars and told her to leave.
Tabitha dunked her head under the water as the memory of how exciting and scary that time had been came flooding back. On one hand, she wasn’t tossed from home to home like some unwanted pet. But on the other hand, she didn’t have anywhere to go, though the fleabag motel she ended up living in allowed her to save every dollar she could. The worst part was not being able to find a job. It was an endless cycle. No one would hire her without an address, and she couldn’t get an apartment without a job.
She was getting desperate when a little mom-and-pop family restaurant hired her to clean tables and wash dishes. She didn't care what work she did as long as she did something to keep a roof over her head. The day after she was hired, she found a little, rundown apartment two blocks from work and thanks to Alice, her best friend and fellow foster child, she was able to rent it without a deposit. It wasn't much—only a studio—but it came furnished, and that's what mattered. The day she moved in, she had nothing but a suitcase full of clothes. She didn't need much, just a roof over her head and a place to lay her head.
The bubbles were gone and the water grew cold. Tabitha wasn’t sure how long she was lost in her memories, but it was time to move on. Grabbing a towel off the rack, she wondered if she would ever find her place in the world. What is my purpose? Why Alaska?
Chapter Two
Tabitha woke when the sun shining through her curtains hit her eyes. The bedside clock showed it was just before six in the morning. Three hours of sleep—not much to the normal person, but she was grateful for any sleep at all. Maybe taking it easy would help her get over the flu or whatever she had. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could go on in the condition she was in. She was constantly tired and her body ached all over. She struggled through the days, exhausted, but laid in bed unable to sleep.
Unlike most people, she wasn’t a coffee drinker in the morning. She preferred a cold glass of iced tea to push away the fog of sleep. The bed was only ten steps from the refrigerator, not far to go. But she didn’t make it before someone pounded on her door. Whoever was knocking would a put wrench in her plans for the day. It was too early to be a social call, and at this time of the morning, it must mean something awful had happened or was about to happen.
“Tabitha, are you in there? Please, I need your help. Open up.” Her neighbor and best friend, Alice, called from the other side of the door.
Yanking it open, she was ready to be a grouch. She wasn’t a morning person. “Alice, what's…?”
Alice fell into Tabitha’s apartment and
landed on the floor with a loud thud. Covered in blood, Alice had black and blue marks forming. Her short brown hair looked black from the blood matting it.
Tabitha stood back, appalled at the state Alice was in. How could someone do this to another person? Anger had her trembling as she examined Alice. She wanted to comfort her, but she couldn’t see an unmarked spot where she could put her hands.
“I took your advice and told him I’m pregnant.” Alice let out a pitiful sob before she could go on. “He beat the crap out of me and told me it couldn’t be his. He doesn’t have any children. None of his other girls got pregnant, so I must have cheated.”
Tabitha listened to Alice ramble on as she grabbed her cell phone off the stand by the couch. The phone was the only luxury she could afford. It was an expensive thing to keep up, but walking home late at night by herself in Pittsburgh…she needed it just in case. Tabitha dialed 911, hoping an ambulance could get there in time to save Alice and the baby, and maybe the police could arrest the creep.
“911. What's your emergency?”
Tabitha wished there was something she could do for Alice, but the only thing she could give her was comfort. She knelt close to her neighbor, gently wrapping her arms around Alice. “My friend is in real bad shape. We need an ambulance. She's pregnant, and I think she might be having a miscarriage, and she was beaten badly.”
“What’s your location?”
“5050 East Liberty Street, apartment three on the second floor.”
“Okay, I have an ambulance on its way. Can you tell me what happened?”
Alice moaned in pain. Tabitha spoke louder for the dispatcher to hear. “I don't know. She’s my neighbor, and she came banging on my door. She told me her boyfriend beat her.”
“I am sending the police out also.”
Alice must have overheard because she whispered, “No, please. He’ll kill me.”
“Shh, it’s okay. You’re going to press charges and he’ll be in jail, unable to do anything to you.” Tabitha pushed Alice’s hair off her face, holding her to her body.
The 911 dispatcher continued to gather information for her report, and Tabitha answered them but her mind was racing. Could Mike have followed her to finish the job he started? Will he come back later looking for her?
Two paramedics rushed up the stairs, leaving no time to quiet Alice’s fears.
Tabitha spoke into her cell phone again. “Thank you, the ambulance and fire department are here.”
“You’re in good hands now,” the operator said before the line went dead.
Tabitha closed her phone and tried to step aside, allowing the paramedics room to assess her friend, but Alice grabbed Tabitha’s shirt. “Please stay. Don't leave me.”
The blond paramedic looked from Tabitha to Alice. “She's just going to move back a little so I can help you. She can go with you in the ambulance if you like.”
Eyes wide, Alice looked like a scared child. “Please come with me. I don't want to be alone.”
Tabitha brushed some hair off her friend’s face. “Sure, I’ll go. But let them look you over.” After a slight hesitation, Alice nodded in agreement. While the paramedics examined her, Tabitha took the time to change out of her sweats and into a pair of jeans.
She’d just stepped out of the bathroom when the blond paramedic looked over his shoulder. “Miss, if you’re going with us, we need to go. She’s lost a lot of blood.”
While they loaded Alice onto the stretcher and prepared to move her, Tabitha grabbed her purse and keys. She followed them down the steps and out to the waiting ambulance. As the ambulance pulled away from the curb, Alice passed out.
“Josh, call it in. The victim is out, and she’s going to need blood when we get there.” Then he turned to Tabitha. “Do you know her blood type and if she is on any medication?”
How could all of this be happening? Tabitha sat there in shock for what seemed like ages. The blond paramedic reached over and touched her arm. His question clarified in her mind, and she shook her head to clear it.
“No, I don't know her blood type, but she wasn't taking anything. Maybe prenatal vitamins. She was so happy she got pregnant and didn't want to do anything that might hurt the baby.” She looked at her friend lying so still and death-like on the gurney, blood soaking her jeans. The baby.
Tabitha just looked at him, tears filling her eyes, and said, “She lost the baby?” It wasn’t really a question. She already knew the answer.
He nodded. “I believe so. I'm sorry.”
The rest of the trip was a blur.
* * *
Upon arriving at the hospital, she tried to stay out of the way. It wasn't too hard since Alice was still unconscious and didn't need her. She stood against the wall away from everyone. How could that good-for-nothing jerk do this? You didn't love someone if you beat them. That wasn't love.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't even notice the blond paramedic come up to her with a police officer at his side. “Miss, Officer O’Malley would like to have a word with you, if that's all right?”
“Yes, but I don't know if I can be of any help.”
“Thank you, Jason. If you will excuse us.” The officer led her over to the chairs in the hallway. “What’s your name?”
“Tabitha Leigh.” She perched on the chair that allowed her a clear view into Alice’s room.
When Officer O’Malley looked up from his notebook, his face was stone-cold and blank. A true cop's face. “Miss Leigh, what happened this morning?”
She tried not to cry as she thought back to how she got dragged into this and to the hospital. “When I woke up, Alice was pounding on my door begging me to help her. She told me her boyfriend did this.”
“What is her boyfriend’s name? Why would her boyfriend do this?”
“I don't know him. Alice refers to him only as Mike. He did this because she is pregnant. He told her he doesn't want children and since he doesn't want them, he believes he can't have them, so she must have cheated.”
Without blinking, Officer O’Malley asked, “Is she sure this is his baby?”
She couldn’t control the tears running down her face. It was unbelievable he had the nerve to ask that when her friend was in there dying. “She said it was. But I wasn't there. I don't know who she is sleeping with, but I have known her for years, and she is more honest and trustworthy than most people. She wouldn't tell him it was his child if she wasn't sure. She wouldn't cheat while she is in a committed relationship.” Her voice rose with emotions. She wanted to be with her friend, not sitting here answering the officer’s questions.
“We’re going to have to question the boyfriend. Do you know where I might be able to find Mike?”
“No.” With that, she was done with his interrogation. She stood and walked back to Alice's room. She wouldn’t sit there listening to him. He was just like all of the other people in her life—foster parents who would never believe she didn’t do something wrong, but she had taken all the blame. Well, Alice wasn’t going to take the blame this time. There was nothing she could do to make him believe the story if he wanted to doubt it.
“Miss Leigh, I might need to ask you a few more questions later,” her interrogator called after her.
Without turning to look at him, Tabitha replied, “You know where to find me, but I don't know what help I can be.”
* * *
She didn't want to leave in case Alice woke up. The doctors said it could be a while. The day passed, and she stayed glued to the hospital bed waiting for her friend to come to. Darkness fell and her eyes were getting heavy when Alice finally woke.
“Thanks.” Her voice was hoarse.
Tabitha poured a glass of ice water from the pitcher the nurse had brought in a little while ago and handed it to Alice. “There is no need for thanks. If you need anything, I’m here. I’ll stay as long as you need me.”
Alice tried to sit up to take a drink from the glass. She winced from the pain but managed to force her body
into a reclined position. “I feel awful. Tell me what you know. Will the baby be all right?”
“I better get the doctor.” Tabitha stood and walked toward the door.
“That bastard killed my baby, didn't he?” Alice screamed as tears started to flow down her cheeks.
Her heart broke for her friend. She wanted to do something to make things better. Give her the baby she’d lost, but there was nothing she could do. She went to her and held her close. Doctor Roberts rushed in.
Alice was crying so hard and was so upset that the doctor gave her a shot to help her sleep. As Alice closed her eyes, Tabitha laid her back down on the bed.
“I thought I gave you instructions to page a doctor and not to tell her that she lost the baby,” Doctor Roberts said, standing at the side of the bed her eyebrows knitted together.
She whipped her head around so fast, she couldn't believe it was still attached to her body. “I didn't tell her anything. When I wouldn't answer her questions and I tried to get a doctor, she freaked out. There was nothing I could do. She just knew.” Tabitha raised her hands in a “what can I do” gesture.
Doctor Roberts looked from her to the nurse. “Why is it that the family and friends always think they know what is best for the patient and disregard the doctors’ orders?” With that, he stormed out of the room. They’re all the same. No one believes what I have to say.
Tabitha sank down into the chair by Alice's bed and began to cry. The nice nurse who had brought the pitcher hung back after the doctor left and said, “Miss, she's going to sleep through the night. Why don't you go home and get a good night’s rest? She's in good hands. When you come back in the morning, she’ll be awake and will need you.”
“Maybe you’re right. Could I leave my number and if anything changes, you can give me a call?”
The nurse nodded and handed her a pen and paper.
She wrote her number on it and handed it back. As the nurse walked out, Tabitha leaned over the bed. “Alice, I’m going home to sleep. I’ll be back in the morning. You rest, and we’ll figure something out tomorrow.” She kissed her friend’s forehead before grabbing her purse to leave.
* * *
It was a nice, cool October evening. To save some money, she decided to walk home. It was only ten blocks. Pittsburgh was a beautiful city with lots of different shops and so many lights. If the crime rate wasn't so high, it would be the perfect city to live in. But as it was, a young woman walking on the streets at night alone had to worry about being mugged or raped. She kept her hand inside her coat where her cell phone and a can of pepper spray were kept in case she needed it.