Page 38 of The Doctor

Dom nodded and I squeezed his shoulder.

Agent Lamb took a breath. “I know this is scary and you don’t want to be here. But I need you to speak up, okay? There is a camera in that corner and the State’s Attorney, Samantha Lang, is on the other side of that mirror.” He pointed to the shadowed glass window in the wall behind her.

“Yes, it's okay.” He looked at me and then back at Agent Lamb. “Can Bex stay with me?”

The agent smiled. “I don’t think anything could make her move from where she is.”

He had that right. I wasn’t going anywhere. Still, there was no denying the warmth that flowed through me knowing Dom wanted me to stay. I sat in the chair next to him and took his hand. Our lawyer sat on his other side. I wanted him to know he would not be alone as Agent Lamb asked him all the questions he had already answered weeks ago. Dom had nothing new to add.

Then agent Lamb leaned forward. “You said you heard your mom scream. Is that right?”

“Yes.” Dom nodded. “And I’ve heard my mom scream before because she's not a fan of mice.”

Woman after my own heart. I couldn’t stand mice or spiders. I didn’t comment though, not wanting to compromise the integrity of the interview.

Agent Lamb seemed to understand what Dom was saying. “Was this scream any different?”

“I think when my mother shrieks over a mouse… sorry, shrieked, over a mouse, it was more from shock or surprise.” Dom shuddered and I could only imagine what his memories were doing to him. “But she sounded so scared.”

It was most likely the idea her children were a few feet away from the danger in her living room.

“Did you hear anything else?”

“The men were talking but I couldn’t understand what they were saying.”

“Were they talking to your stepfather?”

Dom narrowed his eyes and seemed to be deep in thought. “I heard him talk. But I’m not sure if he was talking to the men, or trying to calm my mother down. That was after I heard a shot.”

“So, you don’t know who was shot first?”

“No, Sir.” Dom’s eyes widened as if remembering something new. “But there were more than two shots.”

Lamb brushed his chin. “How far apart were the shots?”

“I don’t know, Sir.” He seemed to be trying to think real hard. “I have no idea how much time passed. I don’t even know if there was a few minutes, or a few seconds, between shots.”

On and on the questioning went. Dom remembered a little more than when he was originally questioned. The nine-one-one call from the neighbor was part of the evidence since they were the ones who made the call after hearing the first shot. That neighbor likely saved my son’s life because if it weren’t for the sirens, they would’ve searched the house and found Dom.

Once Agent Lamb was done, he nodded at Lilly. She had worked for the FBI at one point, as a field agent and a Behavioral Analyst. Knowing her training and experience was probably why Agent Lamb was at ease at allowing Lilly to do Dom’s cognitive interview.

I needed to step in though. “Can we take a break for a few moments, please? I’ll take him outside for some fresh air.”

They agreed as long as a police officer accompanied us. Not that I would veto that. Keeping Dom safe was my only priority. And if that meant we all walked around with armed guards until it was all over, then that was what we would do.

I bought us each a drink from the vending machine and gestured for him to walk ahead of me as Jessica, a friend and a cop, led us through to the entrance of the police station.

Once outside, I could see the color returning to Dom’s face. He was stressed and overwhelmed and I hated that he still had more waiting for him. Probably the hardest part of this terrible day.

I put my hand on his shoulder. He didn’t pull away from me. He didn’t do it earlier, either. The kid was getting used to me. Ormaybe I was his only option. “I’m sorry you have to go through this all again.”

“It's okay.” He looked up into my eyes. “I just want them to catch the people—”

A loudbangcracked the air. Without thought I shoved Dom to the ground. “Get down, stay down.” Some more followed.

I was at a police station, and for obvious reasons I was not armed. I stayed down with Dom, covering his body with mine. Jess, however, was moving between the cars. Other police officers came rushing out along with Lilly and Agent Lamb. Tires screeched and an engine roared. Loud voices surrounded me as I heard everyone trying to figure out what had happened.

It took several seconds for me to release Dominic and stand. I had faced enemy fire. I had been in war zones and had even narrowly escaped being blown to smithereens. And yet, I was sure none of that could compare to the fear I felt the moment I heard that first gunshot.

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