Page 46 of Gunner

Me:Hey, Corbin. Can you come to the hospital to take Aspen’s statement?

Corbin:I’m off today but I can ask the sheriff.

Me:Please. Things didn’t go well with Deputy Reed.

Corbin:I’m on my way. Let me get changed.

Me:Civilian clothes might be better.

Corbin:You got it.

“Ok, Corbin is on his way. Though, it might still be hard to give your statement. Once you see him, you’ll be too busy swooning to talk.”

Aspen smiled, and my heart lifted.

I was confident Aspen would recover from this. It would take time. It always did, but I would help her get there.

Corbin arrived twenty-five minutes later and as I expected, being in his civilian clothes helped Aspen relax enough to give her statement. Corbin had a way about him. He wasn’t soft. In fact, in high school, I had once seen the definitely not soft side of him when a girl was being harassed by some jocks in the hallway.

He was suspended from school for two weeks and we lost the state finals because two of our starting players were in the hospital. I knew he would go easy with Aspen, given what she’d been through.

“Ok, Miss Winters. I have everything I need. I want to assure you we are doing everything we can to make sure this guy doesn’t get away with this.”

“Thank you,” she replied so softly I wasn’t sure Corbin heard her.

“Aspen, I am going to walk Corbin out. I will be right outside the door, ok?”

She nodded her approval, but the fear in her eyes told me she wasn’t sure I would come back. I gripped her hand tightly before assuring her, “I’ll be right back.”

Corbin preceded me out the door.

Normally, he would have held it open for me, but he knew Aspen needed me to be the last one in the room with her.

Once we were in the hall, I threw my arms around his waist.

“Thank you for doing this.”

“What the fuck happened?” he growled.

“I don’t know exactly, but the moment he walked in the room, she shut down. She wouldn’t even look at me. Her eyes were on her lap, and she almost broke my hand with her death grip.”

“Does she think he—”

“No, she said she doesn’t believe he had anything to do with it, but there was something when he walked in. Something about Deputy Reed reminded her of her attacker. Whether it was his appearance, or...” I looked at Corbin. “Maybe his demeanor.”

“I’ll talk to the sheriff.”

“No, I don’t want to get him in trouble if he didn’t do anything. Though, he might need a refresher in how to talk to those affected by sexual assault.”

“I’ll keep an eye on him.” He gave me a hug and added, “Call me if you need anything.”

“Thank you.”

Corbin walked away, and I turned back to the door. With a deep breath, I released the heavy conversation I’d just had and returned to the professional that Aspen needed, then went back into the room.

Chapter Thirteen

Gunner

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