Page 21 of Bump in the Night
Elliot
Now, I have to warn you – this is the worst hot chocolate in the world,” I say as I put the warm cup in Pumpkin’s hands. We’re in her father’s office down at thestation.
She smiles up at me as she blows on the rim of the cup. I sit down next to her. John’s already sitting on the other side of her, and the three of us are facing herfather.
Her father puts his hands flat on his desk before bringing a fist to his mouth to clear his throat. Pumpkin is his world. I imagine that the emotional turmoil he’s been through tonight can only be compared to what he experienced when his wife was taken from the world, all too soon. John and I have been running on adrenaline all night. First, when we walked into the Rileys’ home, then when we… Well, you know whathappened
“We were able to recover the security footage on the backend,” Pumpkins’s dad says, turning the screen of his phone toward as. “As you can see, there were five of them. They methodically disabled the cameras and then went inside, knocked some stuffaround.”
“I never did like the furniture Cynthia picked out,” Pumpkinsgrumbles.
Her dad flashes her asmirk.
“This was just a red herring, though,” he continues. “One of them was camped out all evening in a car across the street. When he spotted Pumpkin climbing out of her window, they followed the three of you to theparty.”
“It was all because they wanted to put pressure on us to drop our investigation,” Ireply.
“Yes,” he says, folding his hands on the desk, “but there’s something else. Because of your actions tonight, we were able to make arrests that we hadn’t before. Our evidence is now stronger than ever. We have you both as eyewitnesses to what happened tonight – and the people who took Pumpkin tonight were key players. So key, in fact, that our DA has decided to go forward with charges and is working on deals with their attorneys right now. They’re going to flip on some of their higher-ups – and you lead us straight tothem.
Behind us, Pumpkin’s stepmom bursts into theroom.
“Oh, darling,” she wails, her arms flying around Pumpkin’s shoulders. “I was so worried about you! Worriedsick!”
I tighten the grip on the armrests of my chair. This woman has the concerned mother role down. I don’t know how sincere it is, and it’s not my place to ask. That’s between her and Pumpkin’sdad.
My eyes turn and meet the Captain’s steelygaze.
“Cynthia,” he says, rising in his seat, “I think you should go. We’ll talk when I gethome.”
“Oh, of course,” she huffs, rushing around the Captain’s big desk and throwing herself at him. “I know I’m not really part of the family, exactly. I know Pumpkin will never fully let mein.”
My fists clench. I have half a mind to tell this woman that Pumpkin’s heart is bigger than the ocean, and just as deep and clear. Any failing to let this woman in is onherpart – because as loving as Pumpkin is, she’s not naïve, and she doesn’t accept anything but total trust, total devotion, and totallove.
After the door is closed behind Cynthia, the Captain sits back down and his gaze finds first mine, and thenJohn’s.
“I want you to take her home with you after she goes back to our place to pick up a few personal items,” he says. “I have some things I need to take care of at my house, and I don’t want Pumpkin there while I attend to these…matters. If that’s alright with you,Pumpkin.”
“Um, yes, of course,” she replies with asmile.
“And I want to express my deepest gratitude,” he says, standing to shake our hands. Pumpkin throws herself into her father’s arms and I see the relief painted all over his face. He puts his hands on Pumpkin’s shoulders and holds her away from him as though he’s checking her for any scratches orscars.
EMTs on the scene had already checked out Pumpkin, John, and me – and there weren’t any injuries except for a few bruises on Pumpkin’s arms. John had to force me to get checked out. I didn’t want to take my eyes offPumpkin.
So, I hadn’t. I’d insisted that we sit together in the back of the ambulance – with my coat around her shoulders while a couple of EMTs took our vitals and confirmed we were okay to gohome.
And home is where we’reheaded.
We gather Pumpkin up and sweep our jackets over her shoulders. She bundles them against her cheeks and rubs the collars over her sweet skin, like she’s a kitten who’s just drank some warm milk and is ready for a sweetnap.
“Let’s get her home,” John says, putting his lips to her hairline. She beams up at him and then throws her arms around both of us – and this time, we settle into theembrace.
This time, she really isours.
