| General Fiction posted August 19, 2024 | Chapters: |
...9 10 -11- 12... 
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A confident Johan closes in on Hilda
A chapter in the book Spirited Justice
Spirited Justice Chap 11
by Begin Again
| Background "Beauty, Brawn, or Brains" was a global platform showcasing women's diverse talents, yet murders, accidents, and deceit haunted the pageant worldwide. Was there a common link or merely coincidence? |
Johan stood outside Hilda's bedroom door — shirtless. His wet shirt hung from a hook in the bathroom. He was ready to put his plan into action.
"Hilda?"
The sound of her name sent a shiver down her spine as she leaned against the kitchen counter. Her hands trembled as she tried to steady her breathing. Trying to think, she moved to the kitchen table, gathered the breakfast dishes, and put them in the sink.
"Hilda? Where'd you go?"
Hilda's heart raced, her mind replaying the image of Johan shirtless in the bathroom. The sight of his muscular physique had taken her breath away.
She hesitated, gripping the counter's edge as she battled with herself. Her instincts told her to stay, to avoid the situation. But a deeper, more curious part of her — the part that was undeniably drawn to Johan — urged her to answer.
She bit her lip, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks as she thought of him waiting in the hallway for her. She knew she shouldn't go, but the pull was too strong.
Finally, with a shaky breath, she answered, "Coming, Johan." Her legs felt like they would give way, but she forced herself to move slowly to the hallway.
As she turned the corner, she could see him standing between the bathroom and her bedroom door. Her heart fluttered rapidly against her chest as their eyes met. He smiled, and a small, nervous smile flickered across her lips.
Johan's eyes roamed over her, and he stepped closer, bridging the distance between them. Hilda swallowed hard, her body responding to his nearness in ways she couldn't control.
"I was wondering — could I borrow a shirt from your brother? Mine's soaked, and I don't think it will dry any time soon."
Caught off guard by his request, Hilda stammered, "Umm, my brother's not here right now."
Johan tilted his head and stepped closer — his voice was warm and coaxing. "I'm sure he won't mind if I borrow one unless you prefer me to walk around shirtless until mine dries."
Hilda felt cornered. She finally nodded, unable to think of a reason to refuse. "I — I have some fresh laundry in my room. Maybe there is something —"
Without a moment's hesitation, Johan pushed the door open wider. Hilda stepped into her bedroom and headed straight for the laundry basket. She fumbled through the folded clothes, trying to steady her nerves by keeping her back to Johan. She felt her face flush as she sensed him behind her.
Johan's eyes wandered around the room, stopping on the stunning dress. He walked across the room, gently lifting it from the hanger. The fabric felt delicate in his hands. He turned to Hilda with a sly grin.
"This is beautiful, Hilda. Is it what you're going to wear when you make your big presentation?"
Hilda froze, unable to breathe, as he approached her with the dress. He held it up in front of her, his fingers grazing her shoulders. She shivered at the contact, feeling trapped yet strangely drawn to him.
Breathless, she whispered, "It's just — for the one night."
Johan leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear, whispering, "You'll look stunning." His voice was almost hypnotic. "Please, won't you try it on for me? I can't wait to see how perfect it is."
Hilda's mind spun, knowing she shouldn't, but his presence was overpowering. Against her better judgment, she nodded. Her voice was barely audible. "Okay, but just for a moment."
Johan's smile widened as he stepped back, watching her closely. Hilda took the dress from his hands. "You'll have to wait in the hallway while I get changed."
Johan smiled and stepped back to the doorway, leaving it slightly ajar. He peered through the opening, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Hilda took a deep breath and began to undress, her back turned to the door. Her nerves were screaming as she quickly removed her shirt and slacks.
As he watched her undress, Johan asked, "Are you decent yet?"
Timid like a mouse, Hilda answered, "Not yet."
But Johan decided not to wait. With a sly grin, he quietly pushed the door open wide and stepped inside, quickly closing the space between him and Hilda.
She gasped and spun around, trying to cover herself.
In a low, teasing voice, he asks, "Need a little help?"
She tried to back away, but he was too close — his intentions clear.
"Hilda?"
The sound of her name sent a shiver down her spine as she leaned against the kitchen counter. Her hands trembled as she tried to steady her breathing. Trying to think, she moved to the kitchen table, gathered the breakfast dishes, and put them in the sink.
"Hilda? Where'd you go?"
Hilda's heart raced, her mind replaying the image of Johan shirtless in the bathroom. The sight of his muscular physique had taken her breath away.
She hesitated, gripping the counter's edge as she battled with herself. Her instincts told her to stay, to avoid the situation. But a deeper, more curious part of her — the part that was undeniably drawn to Johan — urged her to answer.
She bit her lip, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks as she thought of him waiting in the hallway for her. She knew she shouldn't go, but the pull was too strong.
Finally, with a shaky breath, she answered, "Coming, Johan." Her legs felt like they would give way, but she forced herself to move slowly to the hallway.
As she turned the corner, she could see him standing between the bathroom and her bedroom door. Her heart fluttered rapidly against her chest as their eyes met. He smiled, and a small, nervous smile flickered across her lips.
Johan's eyes roamed over her, and he stepped closer, bridging the distance between them. Hilda swallowed hard, her body responding to his nearness in ways she couldn't control.
"I was wondering — could I borrow a shirt from your brother? Mine's soaked, and I don't think it will dry any time soon."
Caught off guard by his request, Hilda stammered, "Umm, my brother's not here right now."
Johan tilted his head and stepped closer — his voice was warm and coaxing. "I'm sure he won't mind if I borrow one unless you prefer me to walk around shirtless until mine dries."
Hilda felt cornered. She finally nodded, unable to think of a reason to refuse. "I — I have some fresh laundry in my room. Maybe there is something —"
Without a moment's hesitation, Johan pushed the door open wider. Hilda stepped into her bedroom and headed straight for the laundry basket. She fumbled through the folded clothes, trying to steady her nerves by keeping her back to Johan. She felt her face flush as she sensed him behind her.
Johan's eyes wandered around the room, stopping on the stunning dress. He walked across the room, gently lifting it from the hanger. The fabric felt delicate in his hands. He turned to Hilda with a sly grin.
"This is beautiful, Hilda. Is it what you're going to wear when you make your big presentation?"
Hilda froze, unable to breathe, as he approached her with the dress. He held it up in front of her, his fingers grazing her shoulders. She shivered at the contact, feeling trapped yet strangely drawn to him.
Breathless, she whispered, "It's just — for the one night."
Johan leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear, whispering, "You'll look stunning." His voice was almost hypnotic. "Please, won't you try it on for me? I can't wait to see how perfect it is."
Hilda's mind spun, knowing she shouldn't, but his presence was overpowering. Against her better judgment, she nodded. Her voice was barely audible. "Okay, but just for a moment."
Johan's smile widened as he stepped back, watching her closely. Hilda took the dress from his hands. "You'll have to wait in the hallway while I get changed."
Johan smiled and stepped back to the doorway, leaving it slightly ajar. He peered through the opening, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Hilda took a deep breath and began to undress, her back turned to the door. Her nerves were screaming as she quickly removed her shirt and slacks.
As he watched her undress, Johan asked, "Are you decent yet?"
Timid like a mouse, Hilda answered, "Not yet."
But Johan decided not to wait. With a sly grin, he quietly pushed the door open wide and stepped inside, quickly closing the space between him and Hilda.
She gasped and spun around, trying to cover herself.
In a low, teasing voice, he asks, "Need a little help?"
She tried to back away, but he was too close — his intentions clear.
*****
The cruiser sped down the city streets, its lights flashing as Donatelli navigated through the traffic. Eleanor occupied the front passenger seat while Danni hung out in the back.
Eleanor's voice quivered with urgency as she voiced her concern for the third time. "Matthew, we need to hurry. The girl's in danger."
Matthew gritted his teeth, then snarled, "You aren't one hundred percent positive that this guy means her harm."
Eleanor huffed, "Who stages a scaffolding diversion to get a girl out of the building unless he's got something planned?"
"There is no proof that connects the two things. We can't be jumping to conclusions."
Danni finally piped in. "I hate to admit it, Eleanor, but he's got a point. Maybe the guy just wanted some time with Hilda and chose that moment to slip away with her."
"I trust my instincts and Sophia's, too. I know Hilda's in danger."
The detective swerved around a car, tossing his passengers from side to side. "It's not like I can teleport, and I've got laws to follow, and the traffic's a nightmare. You'd think people couldn't see the lights flashing."
"Eleanor and I could have been there and back twice by now."
"Yeah, yeah! I get it! But unfortunately, I can't just float through traffic. Mortals have to deal with it the old-fashioned way, whether you like it or not."
Danni sighed, "Come on, Donatelli, my grandmother drives faster than you. Surely, you've got some shortcuts up your sleeve."
"If only! But in the meantime, I'll do my best to get us there in one piece. You two might not care, but I don't have plans for dying today."
*****
The detective pulled the cruiser to the curb in front of Hilda's apartment. He glanced in the rearview mirror, rolling his eyes but smiling despite himself. "Your chariot has arrived. Now, which building is it, Danni?"
Danni looked at the note on which she'd scribbled the address. "Building C." She allowed her form to fade as they climbed out of the vehicle. "This sucks! I should be able to be just like you, Eleanor."
"I know." Eleanor nodded but still focused on the matters at hand. She pointed toward a tall high-rise with a large cement C on the front. "Come on. It's the building over there. I hope we aren't too late."
The trio hurried down the walkway toward Building C and the front doors. Donatelli grabbed the door handle and frowned. "They've got a locked entrance. Now, how do we get in? Anyone see an intercom so we can call the apartment?"
Eleanor shook her head. "I don't see anything except this pad where you punch in a code."
Matthew grumbled, "Great! Now what?"
Eleanor looked around and saw a man approaching them. She put on her most distressed look and wailed, "I'm sorry, Matthew. I just moved in and forgot the code."
Hearing her, the gentleman smiled. "It happens all the time. I can open the door with my code." He punched it in and opened the door, offering Eleanor a warm smile. "I'm in Suite 412 if you ever need help again."
He held the door open as Eleanor and Donatelli passed through, and Danni's translucent form floated by. Eleanor oozed with gratitude as she smiled and said, "Thank you so much. You're a lifesaver. I'll remember 412, for sure."
The man smiled and nodded at Donatelli before greeting a friend in the lobby.
Danni giggled at Eleanor. "Still strutting your stuff!"
Eleanor laughed. "If you've got it, why not flaunt it?"
Donatelli scowled. "Both of you are something else." A smile crept across his face as they moved toward the elevator. Eleanor waved to the man as the door closed.
*****
The trio exited the elevator on the sixth floor. The sign for Suite 624 pointed to their left.
"Looks like she's at the end of the hallway." Donatelli headed that way with the girls close behind.
He knocked on the door and waited. No one answered. His frustration mounted as he knocked again.
"We've got to find out if they are here." Eleanor moaned.
"No one answered, and I can't break in without a warrant."
Still not visible, Danni's voice echoed with determination, "I'm going in."
"You're not listening. We can't without a warrant," Donatelli snarled.
Eleanor stepped forward. "You need a warrant, but I don't."
"And she's not going without me," Danni added.
Without hesitation, Eleanor and Danni passed through the door, their forms becoming translucent before solidifying inside the apartment.
The two women found themselves standing in Hilda's living room. A few breakfast dishes were untouched on the table, and more were sitting on the kitchen counter.
Danni whispered, "Someone's been here."
Eleanor nodded. "And I think they still are." She pointed toward the closed doors in the hallway. "I'll unlock the front door for Matthew."
While she unlocked the door, Danni quietly eased her way down the hallway. The muffled sounds had grown louder, more desperate.
Eleanor rejoined Danni and nodded her head. They both faded into their translucent bodies and passed through the wall into the bedroom, materializing, one on each side of the bed.
Johan held Hilda down, a pillow pressed against her mouth. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the two women.
He stammered, "What the — Who are you?"
Danni answered in her best Clint Eastwood drawl, "Your worst nightmare."
Far too cocky, Johan laughed. "What's an old lady and a skinny toothpick gonna do, huh? You want some of this?"
He let go of Hilda and jumped off the bed, moving toward the door as if to escape.
Calmly, Eleanor bent over, and with a flick of her wrist, the throw rug beneath Johan's feet slid from under him. He stumbled, his arms flailing as he tried to regain his balance.
"Guess the old lady is faster than you think."
Danni's anger flared as he stumbled, and she raised one of the bedside lamps above her head, ready to strike. But Eleanor's foot tripped Johan before she could throw it, sending him crashing to the floor.
Donatelli rushed into the room with his gun drawn. "Freeze!" He looked at the girls, muttering, "I'll take it from here."
Johan mumbled, "You needed two women."
Donatelli pulled him to his feet and cuffed him as he grinned. "You don't know the half of it!"
Danni lowered the lamp and faded, her form translucent before disappearing entirely. She felt satisfied that she had participated in the action but sad that her role was over.
Eleanor hurried to Hilda's side. Her concern was evident as she knelt beside the shaken woman. "It's okay, Hilda. You're safe now."
Trembling, Hilda clutched Eleanor's arm tightly, her voice shaking and filled with fear. "How did you — no one knew."
"Sophia told me that you'd gone with Johan. She was worried."
Tears welled in Hilda's eyes as the reality of what almost happened sunk in. "I trusted him. He was going to —"
Eleanor wrapped her arms around Hilda, holding her close, offering her warmth and a moment of protection. "Don't think about it right now. Just be happy that we found you in time."
Hilda nodded and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. She glanced around the room, confused. "Weren't there — two of you?"
Eleanor smiled, understanding Hilda's confusion. "Oh, sweetheart, sometimes when we are scared, our minds play tricks. It was just me, here with you, until Detective Donatelli arrived. The stress and everything that happened made things a little fuzzy."
Hilda frowned as she tried to reconcile what she thought she saw with what Eleanor said. "Maybe — but I thought —"
"Don't worry about it, dear. You've been through a lot, but now you are safe, and that's all that matters."
Hilda nodded. "Thank heavens for Sophia."
"Yes, she's a very good friend."
"Johan was supposedly a friend of my parents. He knew about my research and my presentation. I didn't expect him to —"
Alarms went off in Eleanor's mind. "Your research and presentation? Is that what you're doing for the pageant?"
Hilda nodded. "I'm supposed to keep it quiet, but Johan knew."
"Did he ask about it?"
"He even asked if I kept it in a safe spot."
"You didn't tell him, did you?" Eleanor quickly added one plus one in her mind and came up with a possible connection to the pageant. Hilda leaned into Eleanor's embrace, finding comfort and letting go of her unsettling thoughts while Eleanor added to her own.
The cruiser sped down the city streets, its lights flashing as Donatelli navigated through the traffic. Eleanor occupied the front passenger seat while Danni hung out in the back.
Eleanor's voice quivered with urgency as she voiced her concern for the third time. "Matthew, we need to hurry. The girl's in danger."
Matthew gritted his teeth, then snarled, "You aren't one hundred percent positive that this guy means her harm."
Eleanor huffed, "Who stages a scaffolding diversion to get a girl out of the building unless he's got something planned?"
"There is no proof that connects the two things. We can't be jumping to conclusions."
Danni finally piped in. "I hate to admit it, Eleanor, but he's got a point. Maybe the guy just wanted some time with Hilda and chose that moment to slip away with her."
"I trust my instincts and Sophia's, too. I know Hilda's in danger."
The detective swerved around a car, tossing his passengers from side to side. "It's not like I can teleport, and I've got laws to follow, and the traffic's a nightmare. You'd think people couldn't see the lights flashing."
"Eleanor and I could have been there and back twice by now."
"Yeah, yeah! I get it! But unfortunately, I can't just float through traffic. Mortals have to deal with it the old-fashioned way, whether you like it or not."
Danni sighed, "Come on, Donatelli, my grandmother drives faster than you. Surely, you've got some shortcuts up your sleeve."
"If only! But in the meantime, I'll do my best to get us there in one piece. You two might not care, but I don't have plans for dying today."
*****
The detective pulled the cruiser to the curb in front of Hilda's apartment. He glanced in the rearview mirror, rolling his eyes but smiling despite himself. "Your chariot has arrived. Now, which building is it, Danni?"
Danni looked at the note on which she'd scribbled the address. "Building C." She allowed her form to fade as they climbed out of the vehicle. "This sucks! I should be able to be just like you, Eleanor."
"I know." Eleanor nodded but still focused on the matters at hand. She pointed toward a tall high-rise with a large cement C on the front. "Come on. It's the building over there. I hope we aren't too late."
The trio hurried down the walkway toward Building C and the front doors. Donatelli grabbed the door handle and frowned. "They've got a locked entrance. Now, how do we get in? Anyone see an intercom so we can call the apartment?"
Eleanor shook her head. "I don't see anything except this pad where you punch in a code."
Matthew grumbled, "Great! Now what?"
Eleanor looked around and saw a man approaching them. She put on her most distressed look and wailed, "I'm sorry, Matthew. I just moved in and forgot the code."
Hearing her, the gentleman smiled. "It happens all the time. I can open the door with my code." He punched it in and opened the door, offering Eleanor a warm smile. "I'm in Suite 412 if you ever need help again."
He held the door open as Eleanor and Donatelli passed through, and Danni's translucent form floated by. Eleanor oozed with gratitude as she smiled and said, "Thank you so much. You're a lifesaver. I'll remember 412, for sure."
The man smiled and nodded at Donatelli before greeting a friend in the lobby.
Danni giggled at Eleanor. "Still strutting your stuff!"
Eleanor laughed. "If you've got it, why not flaunt it?"
Donatelli scowled. "Both of you are something else." A smile crept across his face as they moved toward the elevator. Eleanor waved to the man as the door closed.
*****
The trio exited the elevator on the sixth floor. The sign for Suite 624 pointed to their left.
"Looks like she's at the end of the hallway." Donatelli headed that way with the girls close behind.
He knocked on the door and waited. No one answered. His frustration mounted as he knocked again.
"We've got to find out if they are here." Eleanor moaned.
"No one answered, and I can't break in without a warrant."
Still not visible, Danni's voice echoed with determination, "I'm going in."
"You're not listening. We can't without a warrant," Donatelli snarled.
Eleanor stepped forward. "You need a warrant, but I don't."
"And she's not going without me," Danni added.
Without hesitation, Eleanor and Danni passed through the door, their forms becoming translucent before solidifying inside the apartment.
The two women found themselves standing in Hilda's living room. A few breakfast dishes were untouched on the table, and more were sitting on the kitchen counter.
Danni whispered, "Someone's been here."
Eleanor nodded. "And I think they still are." She pointed toward the closed doors in the hallway. "I'll unlock the front door for Matthew."
While she unlocked the door, Danni quietly eased her way down the hallway. The muffled sounds had grown louder, more desperate.
Eleanor rejoined Danni and nodded her head. They both faded into their translucent bodies and passed through the wall into the bedroom, materializing, one on each side of the bed.
Johan held Hilda down, a pillow pressed against her mouth. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the two women.
He stammered, "What the — Who are you?"
Danni answered in her best Clint Eastwood drawl, "Your worst nightmare."
Far too cocky, Johan laughed. "What's an old lady and a skinny toothpick gonna do, huh? You want some of this?"
He let go of Hilda and jumped off the bed, moving toward the door as if to escape.
Calmly, Eleanor bent over, and with a flick of her wrist, the throw rug beneath Johan's feet slid from under him. He stumbled, his arms flailing as he tried to regain his balance.
"Guess the old lady is faster than you think."
Danni's anger flared as he stumbled, and she raised one of the bedside lamps above her head, ready to strike. But Eleanor's foot tripped Johan before she could throw it, sending him crashing to the floor.
Donatelli rushed into the room with his gun drawn. "Freeze!" He looked at the girls, muttering, "I'll take it from here."
Johan mumbled, "You needed two women."
Donatelli pulled him to his feet and cuffed him as he grinned. "You don't know the half of it!"
Danni lowered the lamp and faded, her form translucent before disappearing entirely. She felt satisfied that she had participated in the action but sad that her role was over.
Eleanor hurried to Hilda's side. Her concern was evident as she knelt beside the shaken woman. "It's okay, Hilda. You're safe now."
Trembling, Hilda clutched Eleanor's arm tightly, her voice shaking and filled with fear. "How did you — no one knew."
"Sophia told me that you'd gone with Johan. She was worried."
Tears welled in Hilda's eyes as the reality of what almost happened sunk in. "I trusted him. He was going to —"
Eleanor wrapped her arms around Hilda, holding her close, offering her warmth and a moment of protection. "Don't think about it right now. Just be happy that we found you in time."
Hilda nodded and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. She glanced around the room, confused. "Weren't there — two of you?"
Eleanor smiled, understanding Hilda's confusion. "Oh, sweetheart, sometimes when we are scared, our minds play tricks. It was just me, here with you, until Detective Donatelli arrived. The stress and everything that happened made things a little fuzzy."
Hilda frowned as she tried to reconcile what she thought she saw with what Eleanor said. "Maybe — but I thought —"
"Don't worry about it, dear. You've been through a lot, but now you are safe, and that's all that matters."
Hilda nodded. "Thank heavens for Sophia."
"Yes, she's a very good friend."
"Johan was supposedly a friend of my parents. He knew about my research and my presentation. I didn't expect him to —"
Alarms went off in Eleanor's mind. "Your research and presentation? Is that what you're doing for the pageant?"
Hilda nodded. "I'm supposed to keep it quiet, but Johan knew."
"Did he ask about it?"
"He even asked if I kept it in a safe spot."
"You didn't tell him, did you?" Eleanor quickly added one plus one in her mind and came up with a possible connection to the pageant. Hilda leaned into Eleanor's embrace, finding comfort and letting go of her unsettling thoughts while Eleanor added to her own.
 Recognized |
Dr. Rosa Galotti -- Morgue Medical Examiner
Danielle "Danni" Delahanty -- Ghost Detective
Eleanor Bennett -- Beloved Ghost Advisor
Dylan - Eleanor's nephew and art curator
Matthew Donatelli -- Detective
Jenna Bradford -- Journalist and Pageant Consultant
Emily - Jenna's faithful assistant
Naomi Henderson -- Lawyer/ex-lover of Donatelli -
Arthur Bennett - deceased lawyer, friend, and enemy of Naomi
Lila - a pageant contestant who was murdered for her research
Sophia - :Lila's sister (blind)
Max - Sophia's best friend and guide dog
Hilda - a pageant contestant and medical researcher
Klaus - Hilda's older brother and protector
Johan - a supposed friend of Hilda's family with a connection to Jose
Angelo Carter - a private investigator with a dark side
Carlos Hernandez - a Mexican landowner with power
Jose Hernandez - Carlos's son - a reckless playboy
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Danielle "Danni" Delahanty -- Ghost Detective
Eleanor Bennett -- Beloved Ghost Advisor
Dylan - Eleanor's nephew and art curator
Matthew Donatelli -- Detective
Jenna Bradford -- Journalist and Pageant Consultant
Emily - Jenna's faithful assistant
Naomi Henderson -- Lawyer/ex-lover of Donatelli -
Arthur Bennett - deceased lawyer, friend, and enemy of Naomi
Lila - a pageant contestant who was murdered for her research
Sophia - :Lila's sister (blind)
Max - Sophia's best friend and guide dog
Hilda - a pageant contestant and medical researcher
Klaus - Hilda's older brother and protector
Johan - a supposed friend of Hilda's family with a connection to Jose
Angelo Carter - a private investigator with a dark side
Carlos Hernandez - a Mexican landowner with power
Jose Hernandez - Carlos's son - a reckless playboy
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