Round N Around We Go (Has Cupid Gone Mad?) by Belinda Elkaim Page B

impatiently
await the officer to type up the
report.
    Exhausted and in need of
caffeine, Karina scouts for a
soda machine in the unending
maze of the police station.
Walking past rows and rows of
little cubicles, she realizes
that everyone is preoccupied
with their tasks and nobody
seems to care that she is
wandering around and getting
lost within their facility.
    Taylor continues staring blankly
into the empty space in front of
her. She misses Ivan but
refrains from calling him back.
It’s a silly game, a lover’s
quarrel, and it’s about who
gives in to call first. She is
determined not to be the one who
bends. After all, he is the one
who has sent her away; calling
him would imply submission to
his over controlling ways. She
can’t help comparing notes on
how differently Conrad loves
Amber and is saddened.
    Karina miraculously finds her
way back to the desk and puts
down two cans of Coke Zero and
an assortment
of unhealthy
snacks. Opening and devouring a
bag of Cheetos, she watches the
police officer walk back to his
desk.
    “I think you girls will be happy
to know this,” The officer
begins unemotionally. “We just
heard from the hospital, Conrad
Fallen is out of surgery and is
monitored in the ICU. Amber
Winters was injected with high
dosages
of Katamine, which
explains why she was conscious
but temporarily paralyzed. The
drug has worn off and she is
fine now. They say she will be
discharged after a twenty fours
observation, you can visit her
later if you’d like.” Seeing no
interruption from the girls, he
continues.
“And, your story
checks out. Neyo
St Pierre
probably stole the Ketamine from
his doctor who was treating him
for his bipolar depression. He’s
being charged for kidnapping and
three counts of assault.”
He
closes the folder and finally
shows a faint smile. “Well, I
guess we’ll take it from here.
Thank
you
both
for
the
cooperation.”
    He hands them each a business
card and reserves the right for
further questioning.
    Karina looks at Taylor on the
steps
outside
the
police
station. “Taylor, I think I aged
ten years since this morning.
I’m exhausted and am dying for a
shower but I think we should pay
Amber a visit first. She needs
us there.”
    Wholeheartedly
agreeing
with
Karina’s suggestion, they head
over to the hospital to visit
Amber and Conrad.
Still in shock and far too weak
to do anything, Amber appears
distressed and prefers not to
speak. Barely audible, she holds
their hands feebly and thanks
them for coming to her rescue.
    Seeing Amber lying helplessly on
the hospital bed, Taylor tries
to soothe her by stroking her
hair and comforting her. “You’re
welcome.” She smiles warmly,
“But it weren’t just us, if it
wasn’t for Conrad, things would
have turned out miserably. He’s
a hero and definitely a keeper.”
    Amber tries to speak a little
louder, “I know.” She smiles
weakly and begins to drift off.
    Karina sighs, “Poor thing. God
knows what Neyo did to her. I’m
just thankful that we got to her
on time.”
    Sympathizing with the ordeal
that Amber has been through,
Taylor
suggests
brilliantly,
“You know what, I think I’ll
stay the night at Taylor’s condo
and tidy things up. I’ll pick
her up tomorrow and bring her
home to a nice home cooked meal.
Why don’t you meet us at Amber’s
place for dinner tomorrow night
at eight o’clock, it will be a
nice chance for us to get
together. I will stay and take
care of her until Conrad comes
out of the ICU and fully
recovers.”
    Karina supports her idea and
drops her off at Taylor’s condo
before heading home.
    Energy depleted, Karina is glad
to be home. She fills her
bathtub with warm water and
sprinkles in some therapeutic
salt. Eagerly she steps out of
her dress and slips into the
inviting waters to enjoy a long
rejuvenating soak.
    Soothed by the serenity of the
moment, she closes her eyes