Chapter 6:

So That's How It Happened!

I was warm, I was safe, and I was in the arms of a lady. What could be better than that. Her hair smelled so fresh. She patted my hair. I love it when women run their fingers through my hair.

"Sleep well sweet pea!" She whispers in my ear as she kisses my cheek.

AAAAAAAHHHHHH!! I shout as I bolt upright in my bed knocking Trish to the floor.

"What the hell do you think you are doing? You scared the holy shit out of me!" I yelled at her as she picked herself up.

"Is everything all right down there!" Joe screams from the top of the steps. Trish runs over to the door and yells "Everything's fine, I just startled him!" I quickly move from the bed to the couch. It made me uneasy that she was able to make it down here without me hearing her. I shuddered at the thought of how many times that may have already happened.

"I didn't mean to scare you baby. I was just bringing you a gift. That's all" She walked over and sat down next to me. In her hands was a box wrapped very nicely. She handed it over.

"I thought now that the game is over, you would stop giving me gifts." She looked amused.

"Who said this was a game? I swear it's just like you Nick Carter to turn everything into a big giant game"

I couldn't believe she had anything to do with this. She was talking to me just like we would be talking at an early morning meeting where she would run down my day. Her demeanor was calm and loving. Same as always.

"Trish, how can you be involved in this?" I asked more to see if I would get a rise out of her than really wanting an answer. I needed to find out how mentally gone she was.

"Baby doll, didn't I tell you not to worry about that. This is for the best Nick. End of story!"

"Best for who? Me, you or him?" than I asked my question of the day,

"How are you guys connected anyway?" This has bothered me since day one. They acted like strangers in my company. She smiled and walked over to the table.

"Aren't you gonna open your present?" she asked as she took out a camera and prepared to take a picture. I hesitantly took the box and opened it up. When the contents were revealed she snapped a picture.

"Surprise!" She said

"I hope it was what you wanted" I looked it over and smiled. It was the Tae Boe tape I asked for.

"I don't know why you would want it but hey, it's better than playing video games all day!" I looked at her briefly fantasizing how good it would feel to knock her out with a kick to the head.

"Thanks" I said as I put the tape next to the TV. I walked over and took a seat across from her at the table.

"So, are you gonna answer my question? How do you guys know each other?" She smiled coyly. I knew than that I wasn't gonna get the answer from her.

"I'm going out of town for a few weeks Nick" I felt goose bumps form when she said that. I didn't want to be left alone with him.

"Why?"

"Because the guys have left town and we have some business to attend to. I'll be back in about three weeks. I have to keep up my appearance. We don't want those nasty little boys to catch on do we?" She asked me as though I would actually agree with her.

"Nick, they decided to temporarily shelf your solo project." I had actually forgotten all about it. "I'm sorry. I know how important that was to you." She actually seemed so sincere. I didn't get it.

"I also talked to the guys actually saw them with my own eyes. They are so sad. They look like they haven't slept or eaten. Especially Brian. I felt so bad. I wanted to tell him you were okay. I almost did."

My ears perked up as she spoke. Maybe her conscience will get the best of her. Maybe she will spill the beans. Maybe...

"Don't get excited sweet pea. I wanted to but I NEVER will!" suddenly her nice aura turned black. I sat back on my bed sighing deeply. she came and sat next to me, rubbing my back.

"Aw, Nicky you'll get used to being here and don't worry everything will be okay while I'm gone. Joe won't hurt you. He loves you just like I do."

Love, how could she use that word. I was always put off by people who could use that word without really feeling it. My family had taught me never to use it unless I meant it. I never took the word lightly.

"I'll miss you." She said as she got up to leave.

"Hey, wait a minute." I grabbed her arm and gently pulled her back down next to me.

"Can I ask you something?" She looked over at me with a hesitant expression on her face. She nodded.

"Did I do that to Joe? you know beat him up like that?" She started to laugh.

"Oh goodness no Nick! You thought you did that to him?"

"I had my suspicions. If I didn't than who did?" She continued to laugh.

"You were unconscious within ten minutes of your capture."

"I really don't remember anything. Reading the note and turning around to see him hovering over me. I tried to run but he grabbed me and dragged me off of my feet."

"You were out shortly after that. He used chloroform. It was painless. I promise you weren't hurt."

"So you were there than?"

"Yes" She sounded ashamed. Embarrassed that she had a part in the abduction.

"I'm the one that did that to him!" I looked over at her totally not believing that such a small woman can do so much damage. She looked me in the eye and I knew that she wasn't kidding.

"I waited outside and when he gave me the signal, I came in. You were already sleeping. He had you slumped over his shoulder. He brought you down to the car and came back in to the house. We had to make it look like someone broke in. He told me to hit him over the head with your baseball bat. We stood at the top of the stairs and I closed my eyes and hit him as hard as I could. He
fell to the floor unconscious." She looked away her voice becoming little more than a whisper. She seemed to detach from reality at that point almost becoming childlike.

"After he was unconscious, I was about to run out of the house when I stopped. Something made me stop. I ran back over to him and pushed him down the stairs. He didn't wake up. He flew down the stairs like a steamroller. He gained so much momentum that I thought he would roll forever." She laughed. It was a cold heartless laugh and suddenly I was happy that she was leaving but scared for the guys.

"I went over and kicked him to make sure he was alive. I accidentally kicked him in the eye. I picked up a coffee pot. You know the one your Mom gave you for Christmas. I love that one. anyway, I picked up the coffeepot and hit him one more time. I could have hit him more but I stopped. I ran out and brought you here. The police found him and immediately ruled him out as a suspect." When she was done with her confession, she looked back over at me.

"Did they rule you out as a suspect?"

"I think so, they asked me some questions but stopped."

"I have to go now Nick. Be good and I'll see you when I get back." I had an idea..

"When you see Brian, hug him for me. Make him some cabbage!" I said and laughed.

"Cabbage?"

"Yeah he really likes cornbeef and cabbage" She gave me a werid look and laughed.

"You're a strange one Nick Topper" I looked over at her,

"What did you call me?" She seemed nervous

"I said you're a strange one Nick Carter." She then gave me a kiss and walked up the steps.

I learned two very important things from Trish today. I took out Julia and wrote down the word Topper. That had to mean something. Even though I didn't find out about their relationship, I did find out that she hates him. She hates him enough to want to kill him. I hope she mentions cabbage to Brian and I hope he remembers, he has to remember!

I went over to the VCR, put in my tape, and began to work out....

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