Page 38 of All Inn Thyme
“Can you get me a copy of that flash drive?”
“Yes. Evan has it for safekeeping.”
“Good. That will help a lot. Okay, so I hired an investigator from out of state to go in and see what they could dig up on Bradley. And Mellie, it’s really bad. Did you know he’s been using and dealing cocaine and heroin?”
I sigh, partly out of relief to be done with that life and partly out of anger. “No, but that makes a lot of sense now with the way he acted and the way he always had more money than I thought we should have had on a cop’s salary.”
“I have enough from our investigators to bury him alone, but we want to bring everything we can to this. No stone left unturned. Got it?”
“Yes, I just know that when we do this, he’ll figure out where we are and he’ll come after us. We’ll never be safe, and that’s why we had to go no-contact when we left.”
“That was probably the best decision then. The most dangerous part of an abusive relationship is the leaving. I almost always recommend my clients wait to file until after they leave.”
I nod. “I tried to leave on several occasions, but it would escalate every time, and I knew that the next time I tried to leave, we might not make it.” I look down at my hands, and the fear of remembering those experiences almost paralyzes me.
“We’re going to be very strategic about this and make sure that doesn’t happen,” Preston reassures me.
“But what if he gets away with this?”
“I doubt he will with all the evidence. This is what I do, Mel. I’m damn good at it, too.”
“Thank you for being willing to do this. I know it’s a shit show.”
It’s exhausting and I wish we could just be free from him and know he’d never find us.
It’s amazing to me how all these new friends of ours are so willing to help us and keep us safe, yet the one person who should have protected us, almost killed us.
* * *
After talking with Preston, I feel energized at the possibility of finally having closure, finally getting my life back.
Kase races inside, done with playing with Nova. “Can I go play in my room?” He loves having a place of his own.
“Sure, honey,” I tell him. I glance back outside. Ty is standing by himself by the firepit. He runs his hand over his beard and my stomach dips, even that small mannerism making me thinking things I shouldn’t.
Ty comes in just as Preston slides his notebook back into his bag and reaches for his coat.
“Ty,” Preston says, nodding his head as he heads toward the door.
“Preston,” Ty responds, sticking his hands in his pockets.
“Thank you again,” I tell Preston as I walk him out. After talking to him, I feel hopeful that we can figure this out so I don’t have to keep living in fear.
“You’re sure you’re good with that guy?”
I glance back at the cabin—the lights on, the green and white gingham curtains in the kitchen still drawn, the four Adirondack chairs out front around the firepit. It feels good here. He feels good. “Yeah, he’s solid.”
“You going to tell him about your situation?”
“Probably not. This is all temporary until the garden shed is fixed.”
“He doesn’t look at you like it’s temporary.” He chuckles.
“What do you mean?”
“That guy is so into you.” Preston nods to the house.
“I’m not sure what to do with that yet.”
