Page 40 of Real Shadows
“And this is your house?” he asked as both he and Officer Brentwood scribbled on their miniature notepads.
“Yes,” I answered.
“And the victim is your wife?”
His question felt like a weight in the pit of my stomach. I was going to have to answer truthfully and that answer was going to close off all kinds of access to Fallon that I’d have as her husband. “No,” I replied honestly. “She’s my girlfriend, but we live together.” I prayed these were the type of people who understood that a legal piece of paper didn’t place an exact value on love.
“Her name?”
“Fallon Reese.”
“And the man in your home?” He didn’t say deceased, so I wondered if it were possible that Thomas could still be alive.
“Uhm, I just know his name is Thomas.” I shook my head. “I don’t know his last name, only that he and Fallon grew up in foster care together.”
Officer Brentwood finally spoke up. “Can you tell us what happened here, Mr. Raynes?”
I ran my hands through my hair and let out a deep breath. They were going to get more details out of Fallon later, so I gave them quick, condensed version of what had happened.
When I was finished, Officer Nelson said, “We’ll need you to come down to the station for further questioning.”
“What happened in there?” I finally asked.
Officer Brentwood glanced over at Officer Nelson and let him take over again. “If Ms. Reese wants to share the details with you, she may. However, all I can tell you at this time is that we had to use deadly force to resolve the issue at hand.” His head jerked towards the back of the ambulance, and I turned to see one of the paramedics giving him a head nod.
I stood there feeling like a fool as Officer Nelson walked over to speak to the paramedic. Officer Brentwood didn’t offer any to fill the silence and soon Officer Nelson was walking back towards us. “They’re taking her to the hospital for a full checkup. More for her emotional and mental state,” he said. “And, well, as much as I hate to do this to you, you’re not her husband. We’ll need you to come down to the station to give your full statement, and then, you can meet her at the hospital.”
I wanted to argue.
I wanted to rant and rave, knowing I’d get arrested. But as I looked around, I finally noticed how the neighbors had gathered around and how a couple of the other officers were taping off my house. I also noticed some phone were out and, as much as it pained me, I refused to turn Fallon’s ordeal into a social media circus. I imagine the paramedics felt the same way because they didn’t even give me a chance to talk to her and tell her I’d see her later. I heard the back of the ambulance doors slam shut and watched as one of the paramedics walked around the side and got into the driver’s seat.
I looked over at Officer Nelson and asked, “Can I take my truck or…”
“Do you have your keys with you?”
He had to know I didn’t with the way I was half-dressed. “No.”
“Then you have to come with us, Mr. Raynes.”
That’s what I was afraid of.
Well…one of the many things I was afraid of.
Chapter 25
Fallon~
It was dark outside when I finally opened my eyes. The blinds on the window were opened and the night’s only light was the moon shining bright.
I glanced around in search of a clock and found one directly in front of the bed. It read 7:13 pm. I’d been asleep for hours. Or, more to the point, I’ve been passed out for hours.
After the initial inspection of my body and any possible injuries, it was clear that it was my mental and emotional state that were damaged, not my physical well-being. However, even after it was confirmed that I hadn’t suffered any physical harm, I had to sit covered in Thomas’s blood while they took pictures as evidence. After countless photos, they allowed me to shower before a counselor appeared in my hospital room.
All the people, tests, questions…through it all, I had just wanted Xander.
I still had to talk to the police in detail about what happened because the hospital counselor had made it clear I was in no state to speak with them. I had been in shock and probably still was.
When Thomas had cocked his gun, I was certain it had meant my death. I knew, without a doubt, that he truly intended to kill me. I had been acceptant of my death. What I hadn’t expected was for one of the police officers to take his distraction as an opening to shoot him in the head. Logically, I knew why it had to be a kill shot, but seeing Thomas shot in the head is something that will haunt me forever. I was damaged beyond what is repairable, but knowing that, I still knew I had to try.
