1.
She
was going to testify.
She
had seen her landlord Simon Edwards knock on her neighbour Vanessa's
door, enter, she had heard the screams, the sounds of hitting, and
she had called the police. The scumbag was going to jail, and she was
going to be the one who put him there.
Nola
looked at herself in the mirror, straightened her jacket, smoothed
her hair she had wrangled in a tight bun and took a deep breath. She
was not used to speaking in public, being much more at ease in her
lab, but it was time to be brave and face her fears.
The
knock on her door made her jump. She frowned and looked in the
peephole. A delivery man was standing in the corridor holding a
parcel. She opened. The man pointed a gun at her.
« You're
coming with me quietly. »
Nola
stood motionless, in shock, unable to detach her gaze from the
barrel. The man grabbed her arm and pulled her down the corridor, the
stairs, through the side door to the alley and pushed her in a van
that was waiting, motor running. The man sat in the passenger seat
and pointed the gun at her once more. She curled on the floor and
realized the acrid fear smell was coming from her.
After
a little drive, the van stopped, the side door opened and the same
man dragged her out. She fell hard on her knees but that didn't stop
him. She cried out in pain and the man had a nasty smile. He trew her
in a chair and put handcuffs on her wrists and ankles.
Once
the men were gone and she found herself alone, Nola looked around
her. She supposed she was in a warehouse of some kind, very big, but
very dark. Her fear started to reced and her mind started to clear.
She couldn't see much, the windows were so small and dirty hardly any
light was coming inside, but she had one sense that was like no
other. So she closed her eyes and took a deep breath through her
nose.
The
colors emerged in her mind. She smelled the dust and mold and saw
grey. The scent of the river nearby was a brownish green. The
warehouse itself was wood and steel and she saw their brown and dark
grey. She took another breath and smelled her kidnapper on her. She
had seen his face, and she thought that was a bad sign. His scent was
dark brown, like aged wood, but with a rotten core. It was the first
time she had encountered such a smell, but she figured out people
willing to do anything for money would not smell like peaches and
roses. Now even blind she could recognize him.
She
also figured out why she was here instead of the courtroom. Mr
Edwards didn't want to go to jail and figured out taking her out of
the equation was the best way to achieve his goal. She was still
alive, which was a good sign, so he was going to keep her from
testifying. But now that her fear was gone, she thought she would
still testify once free. And he had to know that. She had no family
he could put pressure on, so he would either kill her or scare her
into shutting up. She smelled her fear again.
*****
« In
other news, Doctor Nola Hendrickx, who was going to testify in court
today against building owner Simon Edwards on his alleged assault on
Vanessa Redgrave, is missing. Police is pursuing several leads but
has no comment at this time. »
Oliver
Queen stopped in mid pushup to look at the screen. The photo of a
pretty redhead showed up in place of the anchor. He jumped up and
went to Felicity who was in front of the computers.
« Already
on it. Doctor Nola Hendrickx, PHD in chemistry and botany, head Nose
for Valerio Rossi, perfumes division. »
« We
were in high school together. »
« Like
the reporter said, she's the main witness in an assault and attempted
rape case. When she didn't show up this morning, the DA got a 24
hours continuance. So if you find her before tomorrow morning, she
can still testify and help put the bag guy behing bars. »
« Look
at his financials. If he owns one building, he may own others. »
« Way
ahead of you... He owns several companies... One of them owns
different warehouses in the Port District. »
« Looks
like the perfect place to stash someone for a few days. »
« I'll
call Dig. »
« No
need, I'll be fine on my own. »
Oliver
put on a t-shirt and his green jacket, seized his bow and quiver and
left.
*****
The
man came back and Nola was afraid once more. He turned the lights on
and she saw a few more feet around her.
« Mister
Edwards sends his regards. »
« Tell
him he can go to Hell. »
Nola
tried to show a brave face, but she was intensely aware of the smell
of fear emanating from her. The man crouched in front of her and took
his gun out.
« I'm
really sorry you say that. You see, I have a problem with killing.
Don't like it much. Try to avoid it usually. So, will you be a good
girl and stay away from all this mess ? »
« No. »
Nola
shivered. The man pointed his gun to her foot and shot.
Nola
shrieked. The pain was worse than anything she had ever felt in her
entire life. Even when she had broken her arm when she was six. It
resounded in her leg and up her torso. Her foot throbbed and she
wondered if she had anything left below her ankle. She got vaguely
aware the man was talking again.
« On
the other hand, I have no problem with wounds and pain. Wounds heal
and you forget about pain. So, will you be a good girl or do I have
to shoot your knee as well ? »
Nola
had a sudden memory of her aunt Kelly, the midwife, telling one of
her patient to push through the pain and concentrate on something
else, like sounds or smells. She closed her eyes and focused on the
smells. The black of burnt powder from the gun, the dark red coppery
of her wound, the rotten brown from her torturer. She opened her lids
and looked directly in his eyes. The man put his gun on her knee. But
before anything else could happen, the gun jumped out of the man's
hand, and she saw the shadow of something before all the lights went
out. A deep voice echoed in the building.
« Dirk
Lancaster, you have failed this city. »
Gunshots
exploded in Nola's ears, so she overbalanced her chair and fell on
the side. Her foot erupted with pain and she bit her lip to muffle
the sound of her cry. By the time she was able to breathe normally
again, there were no more sounds. The rotten brown smell had taken a sick
green color, and Nola guessed that the late Mr. Lancaster wouldn't
hurt anyone anymore.
A
shadow approached her, smelling of rainforest, green, wild and
dangerous. He opened the handcuffs.
« You're
safe. »
When
he took her in his arms, she turned her head and sniffed deeply the
crisp and fresh scent, so unlike anyone she had ever met. He carried
her out and she heard the sirens of an ambulance and saw its lights.
He sat her down on the ground.
« You'll
be fine now. »
He
was gone before she could say « Thank you ».
*****
In
the hospital, the doctors were not very optimistic about the state of
her foot. Shattered bones, broken tendons. She would walk again, yes,
but it would take a long time, a lot of surgery, and she would
probably never run again. Which was fine with Nola since he hated to
run. They bandaged her foot tightly and she entered the courtroom in
a wheelchair.
She
knew she would never be afraid again.
*****
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