Saving Proud Mary: Requires Rescue, #4

By Liza O'Connor

Mary Matthews may have lost her job and reputation, but she has too much pride to allow vengeful women and their manipulative husbands to destroy her life and steal her newborn babies. Unfortunately, pride alone isn't going to save her. When Captain Chad Danton answers a call about a prostitute soliciting at the local library, he discovers a determined woman in desperate need of medical care. Upon hearing Mary's story, he resolves to help her, not realizing her enemies will join those who wish to destroy his career.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Authors Online
• Release date: Mar 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386068600

Liza O'Connor

   Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens in a myriad of genres. http://www.lizaoconnor.com/   

Book preview

Chapter 1

The nurse entered the room and glared at Mary. You’ve been cleared to leave. You’ll find your clothes in the closet. Someone will be by to wheelchair you out in a half hour.

Mary sat up and grimaced in pain. She sure as hell didn’t feel ready to leave, but her insurance only paid for two days’ hospital care after a Cesarean.

Can I see my babies, before I go?

The nurse sighed as if the request was far beyond reasonable. If you can get Torrell to wheel you there. If not, then you will need to leave the hospital premises first, and then return as a visitor. She crossed her arms and tilted her head at Mary. I’d suggest you go home and rest a few days first. You really shouldn’t be walking around yet.

Mary couldn’t argue with that, but she also wanted to see her frightfully small twin babies again. She’d only seen them for a few minutes yesterday. They needed to know they weren’t alone, that they had a mother who loved and wanted them more than anything in the world.

After the nurse left, Mary painfully pushed herself from the bed and waddled slowly to the closet. She stared in confusion at the polyester leopard skin tube dress. Where the hell were her clothes? And her purse? Her eyes frantically searched for her belongings, but the bare white closet held nothing but a dress that even a hooker might shun for it’s bad taste.

She leaned her head on the frame of the door and cursed. How much blood did these women need? Wasn’t it enough they had gotten her fired, killed her dog, and nearly caused her to lose her babies? Hadn’t she paid enough for her stupidity?

Honest to God, if she had a do-over, knowing what she knew now, she’d have driven a letter opener into their husbands’ chests before she let them touch her. She pulled the hooker-wear from the hanger and painfully returned to the bed.

She pushed the nurse’s call button and waited. And waited.

After fifteen minutes, she gave up and pulled the tube dress on, cursing through the pain and indignity. A surly, young black man shoved a wheelchair through the door as he yelled at someone in the hall, Go fuck yourself. He then glared at her. Come on, I ain’t got all day. My shift is over in one minute and since this damn place don’t pay me for working overtime, I ain’t working a second beyond.

Mary didn’t bother asking him if she could see her babies. Her mind settled on a different plan.

As he rushed her past the nurse’s station, she hoped to ask the nurse about her purse, hoping they had put it someplace secure.

However, no nurses were in sight during the short moment they zoomed down the hallway. She sighed. It had been a long shot anyway. More likely, her purse had been stolen by the vengeful bitches and given to some street kid, who by now had probably maxed out her credit cards and stolen her car.

They had just entered the elevator when Torrel’s watch beeped. That’s it. I’m off duty. His surly eyes met hers. You’re on your own.

Mary smiled. This was the first bit of luck that had gone her way. Could you hit the elevator to take me to the preemies?

He seemed confused by her question and then angry. Lady, I’m not taking you anywhere! I’m done here!

I understand and I don’t blame you. But could you just be a good person and hit the floor with the preemies, so I can go visit my new born babies before they find someone else to roll me out?

He chuckled and hit the elevator button. The elevator is going down right now, just stay on it. I’ve pushed nine for you. Sorry about being a jerk. It’s just this place pisses me off. Every second, someone is giving me grief.

She nodded in sympathy. I know the feeling.

When the elevator door opened downstairs, the young man looked at two cops standing at the inquiry desk. He cursed and pushed the elevator close-door button as he pressed himself into the front corner. When the door closed, he sighed with relief. I’ll take you up to the preemies. That way, they won’t question your right to be there.

She was certain Terrell’s change of heart was due to the police, but she didn’t care. As long as she got to see her babies, she’d let Satan himself push her wheelchair.

Terrell didn’t stop at the observation window. He rolled her through doors marked authorized personnel only and into the room holding ten incubators.

He sighed. Which one is yours?

Two. A boy and girl.

He quickly walked through the incubators, looking for twins. He stopped and smiled when he found two. He glanced at the tag on the incubator. What’s your name?

Matthews.

He nodded and returned to her, rolling her to the proper incubator. I’m going to stand over there and wait. Take all the time you need.

Clearly his change of heart was due to his need to sit out of sight and wait for the police to leave, but it gave her time with her babies, so she didn’t care.

Unable to see them well from her wheelchair, she ignored the aching pain in her lower stomach and stood up.

Her beautiful little babies! Karena had a cute button nose and wisps of red hair. Jason had olive skin and dark black hair. Their tiny, yet perfectly formed fingers touched each other. She smiled, happy her babies didn’t feel alone. They had each other.

She bit her bottom lip. And she’d do everything in her power to ensure they always did. She just needed a break to get ahead of all the shit happening to her. She glanced at Terrell lurking in the corner, yelling at someone on his phone.

Good things could come from bad. Terrell’s police problems got her in to see her babies. She slipped her hand into the gloved opening of the incubator and caressed them. These two beautiful blessings were even greater evidence that good could come from bad. Had she known Danny was still married and living with his wife, she would’ve never allowed their friendship to progress into an intimate relationship. Yet, she could not regret the precious son which came from Danny’s lies and deceit.

Her attention turned to her daughter, Karena. How could she ever tell her angel the truth of her origins? How could she explain why they each had different fathers? The scientific explanation was easy enough. Two sperms from different men had managed to fertilize two of her eggs during a single night.

If she told them the truth, they would be scarred by their father’s behavior, and yet, if she said nothing and left them to hear the lies and gossip, they would think their mother was a whore.

Excuse me, ma’am. Who let you in here?

She looked up at the angry nurse. She pointed to the corner, only to find Terrell gone. A staff member. I just wanted to see my babies before I leave the hospital.

The nurse gave her a look of contempt as she eyed Mary’s tube dress. You have to leave now. And I want the name of the staff member who let you in.

Caressing each of her babies, she returned to her chair. I don’t remember his name.

The nurse snorted and pushed her from the room. Right, they’re all Johns to you.

Mary refused to let the woman see the indignity her words caused. Until she had become pregnant by two different men at once, no one had ever thought her remotely whorish. In fact, most people chided her for being a prude. But now with evidence to the contrary, she was learning a lot of ‘bad’ people’s problems were made worse by the way ‘good’ people treated them.

Once in the hall, the woman released her chair. Come in here again and I’ll call the police.

Mary rolled her chair to the window and stared at the incubator that held her babies. She pressed her hand against the glass. Hopefully, by the time the babies were ready to come home, she’d have all this hatred out of her life.

It was not as if she had publicly declared the men as fathers of her babies. She didn’t even seek them out. They came to her and asked, and when she told them one was, but the other wasn’t, they acted as if she’d betrayed them.

She shook her head in disgust as she rolled her wheelchair to the elevator. One lied to her about being married and the other forced himself upon her...and they felt betrayed. The audacity still astounded her. And then to tell their wives! God! That only proved how much they hated her, because you’d have to hate a person with all your heart to set those vindictive bitches loose.

After Charles’ wife came to her workplace and announced her sins to the entire department, her boss fired her.

Worse yet, the bitches released a vicious pit bull into her backyard. She might have died if her beagle had not taken the dog on, giving her time to get inside and call 911. As it was, by the time the police came, her beloved dog was dead and she was close to losing her babies.

Thinking of Brandy, her sweet beagle, caused her to burst into tears just as the elevator doors opened. The two policemen she had seen in the lobby stepped out of the elevator. As they passed, one said, I haven’t seen her before. Think we should search her for drugs?

The other cop sighed. Maybe later, we don’t have the time right now.

Mary had never felt afraid of the police before, but she did now. Her hands were shaking as she rolled into the elevator, and hit the lobby button. She had never realized how easily a person could fall from grace.

She rolled her wheelchair to the older woman at the inquiry desk. The gray-haired lady took one look at her clothes and her face pruned up.

Mary ignored her scowl and forced a smile. May I borrow the phone to call a friend to pick me up?

The woman’s eyes rounded at her suggestion and her hand fluttered protectively over her phone. There’s a pay phone outside on the corner.

There was a payphone on the wall behind her, but that wasn’t going to do Mary any good. Someone stole my purse and I have no money.

The woman’s brows furrowed as she wagged a finger. You don’t have money because you spend it on drugs and drink, that’s what you do. So don’t come begging to me. I’m a born-again Christian, and I don’t cotton to the likes of you.

Mary sighed and rolled her wheelchair to the door. The moment the door closed behind her, the torment began.

Whore! an all too familiar voice screeched. I’m glad to see they aren’t letting you keep those babies. Women like you have no right bringing children into this world.

Mary ignored Danny’s wife and rolled faster down the sidewalk. She avoided being cut off by the two terrors, but almost hit a little old couple in the process.

Land’s sake! Watch where you’re going, the husband yelled.

Mary didn’t bother with an apology, she pushed forward trying to get as much space as possible between herself and the harpies.

She thought she was winning until she heard jangling footsteps behind her and then her wheelchair came to a sudden halt almost tossing her onto the sidewalk.

Girl! You can’t steal the wheelchair. They’ll have you locked up for sure! the security guard yelled.

She fought through the pain the sudden halt had caused and looked up at the heavy set black man. I wasn’t. I was just trying to get away from someone.

He glanced toward the hospital. Don’t blame you there. But you can’t take the chair.

She nodded in agreement, but didn’t move as she waited for the pain to ease.

His hand pulled her chin up so he could see her eyes. You on something?

First assumption. If a ‘bad’ person looks ill, they must be on something.

I had a Caesarian two days ago. I’m still in a lot of pain.

He knelt beside her, grimacing from the effort. What happened to the baby?

Babies...two. They’re preemies. They won’t come home until they double in size.

He frowned. You got a home for them to go to?

She nodded. She had a very nice home, at least until her savings gave out.

His brow wrinkled as if he didn’t believe her.

He looked at her bare feet. How you planning to get home?

She sighed. I don’t know. Somebody stole my purse while I was in the hospital, so I don’t have money for a taxi, nor a cell phone to call a friend.

He pulled out his cell phone and handed it to her. Make it a short call. I’m just about out of minutes for this month.

Finally, a good person willing to help. She smiled at him and took his phone. Thank you so much.

She stared at the dial pad. Who could she call? She had moved to the town of Brady when her company relocated here last year and she worked so much, that she hadn’t had a chance to meet people outside of work, except for her married boyfriend, Danny. And now, everyone from work was treating her like toxic plutonium.

She dialed Sandy’s number. She and Sandy had a strange off again/on again friendship that ran back to when they both interned at DRG Commodities during college.

Unfortunately, due to Sandy’s high moral code, their friendship had cooled since Mary told her about the babies.

Yet, it was the only number Mary could remember. So she gave it a shot.

Sandy Cull, a professional cheery voice declared.

Sandy, I need your help.

Dead silence came in response.

I’m at the Baptist Hospital. I’ve been discharged, but someone stole my purse and I have no way home. Can you give me a ride?

A harsh short laugh of disgust answered her plea. "You’ve always got something to blame your problems on. Dan never mentioned he was married, Charlie raped you, and now someone has stolen your purse. Well, I don’t believe a word out of your mouth. If you didn’t know Dan was married, it was because you didn’t want to know, and since you never filed rape charges against Charlie, he clearly didn’t rape you. So why should I believe you now?"

She noticed the security guard frowning as he glanced at his watch. Will you please pick me up? I’ll wait for you at the bench in front of the library.

Not until you stop lying and admit the truth. You’re a whore who steals other women’s husbands. Of all things you could have possibly done...

She sighed. I have to get off the phone now. If you’ll just pick me up...

Sandy hung up the phone.

Mary closed the phone and handed it back to the nice man. Thank you.

Is he going to pick you up?

He? She grimaced. He probably thought she’d called her pimp.

I hope so. I told her I’d wait at the library.

The security guard frowned. You new here?

I’ve been here a year.

Then you should know they’ll pick you up in a second hustling on this side of town.

She tugged at the top of her tube dress. I’m not a hooker and normally, I don’t dress like this. One of those women sitting in the SUV behind us stole my clothes and left this. I had nothing to wear but this or a hospital sheet.

Man! He glanced at the SUV. What’d ya do?

She sighed. I dated a man I thought was single, and trusted my boss.

He patted her on her back and glanced at the hospital. I gotta get back to my post. You gonna be okay walking that far?

What choice did she have?

I’ll make it.

He helped her stand and steadied her while she waited for the pain to lessen.

Why didn’t you have your friend pick you up here?

She sighed. Because if she doesn’t come through, I think I can get the librarian to give me a ride home when she gets off work.

Well, good luck with that. His worried expression said he didn’t think it likely. I’ll drive by the library on my way home. If you’re still there, I’ll give you a ride.

She shook his hand. Thank you for being so nice. I’m Mary Matthews.

He glanced at the SUV and then back at her. I better not shake your hand less someone thinks we’re passing drugs. I’m Sam Hazelip and I sure do hope you get yourself on a better path. You got your babies to look after now.

She nodded. I will. I just need to get home and get out of the horrid dress so people will stop making the worst assumptions about me.

Chapter 2

Captain Chad Danton was driving home when he heard the call to check out a complaint of prostitution occurring at the library. Since he was one block away, he picked up the com unit. I’ll take it.

Aren’t you off duty? the dispatcher, Lois, challenged.

Not now.

Since he’d taken over the Vice group, prostitutes never strayed from their assigned streets, enabling the good people of this city to believe unseemly matters didn’t happen in their town.

He spotted the woman the second he turned onto Baker Street. He’d never seen her before. He noticed the SUV parked about three hundred feet away. Probably her pimp, which meant he’d need backup to ensure he wasn’t shot while arresting the girl.

He sighed. Last thing he wanted was to create a major event over one stupid hooker.

As he passed the SUV, he observed two angry, middle-aged women inside. He drove on and turned on the next block for another go around. He picked up his com unit. Who called this in?

No name, Lois replied.

Male or Female?

Female, on a cell phone.

He didn’t know if that was good or bad news. He was less likely to be shot now, but more likely to have this episode end up on the front page of the local paper.

I’m going undercover. If you don’t hear from me in fifteen, send a car.

He pulled in behind the SUV and checked it out as he walked by. All it contained was two pissed off ladies with teased and tidy hair.

He continued to the bench.

The woman didn’t seem to notice him until he sat down beside her.

He leaned forward trying to catch a glimpse of her face. Do I know you?

She jumped an inch at the first sound of his voice and glared at him.

No, she said and looked down the road, as if hoping for someone to come.

You waiting for someone? He kind of felt sorry for her. While she looked haggard and worn out just now, he suspected she’d once been a beauty and her auburn hair reminded him of the old time movie stars. It glistened and rolled in unified waves over her shoulders.

She didn’t respond to his last question, so he began a line of chatter that had proved very successful at getting the pros to make him an offer. He activated the recorder in his shirt pocket as he fished out a pack of gum and offered her a piece.

She shook him off.

Look, I can see you’re in a bad place right now, but maybe I can help.

She looked at him as if she were about to take his offer, but then shook her head. I’m waiting for someone.

He nodded. All right, but would you rather wait in my car? I’ve got some protein bars if you’re hungry. He knew these girls often lived on nothing but crack. He’d made several busts where the girls would offer him a blow job just for food. He and the judge had an agreement not to send them to jail, but to put them in a halfway house in the poor side of town.

Yet, this one looked a bit heavy around the waist, so maybe she hadn’t reached the hunger stage just yet. In fact, by her shell shocked expression, he’d guess this was her first week on the job.

He leaned in and touched her bare leg.

She moved further away, and then cursed as she clenched her stomach.

You okay?

Just go away, she whispered through her pain.

He sighed. There was no way in hell he was going to get a collar on this one. She was in too much pain. I’m going to take you to the hospital. Can you walk to my car? Or do I need to call an ambulance?

She shook her head. I just came from the hospital. What I need is for my friend to pick me up, so I can go home.

Well, now he understood how the woman ended up here. The hospital security probably chased her off after she saw the doctor...if she saw a doctor.

Did a doctor see you at the hospital? If not, I can take you back and insist you get medical care.

She turned and stared at him in confusion. "I did see a doctor. Thank you