Page 49 of The Beginning
“Are you going to be okay?” Heather asks me. Turning my head to face her, my eyes are still rimmed in tears. Giving her a soft smile, I nod.
“Yeah… I think I will be now,” I admit softly.
After sitting in this interrogation room for a couple of hours with Officer Bailey and another female officer, we’re finally finishing up. Several cups of stale, luke warm coffee later, and going into great detail about the last five years, I have to admit I feel a little better getting it off my chest.
I didn’t feel like I was being judged about staying, even though I judge myself more than anyone else can do. Both police officers sat and listened, asking questions when necessary to get more information.
Tears still pool in my eyes after having to tell them about him raping me in the warehouse. They gave me a couple of referrals to group therapy places and individual therapists to help me work through everything. I know I’m going to need it so I can move on, but right now, I’m just anxious to get back home.
Looking over his notes, Officer Bailey hums to himself and mumbles a few times. Making a few additional notes. He closes the notepad he was jotting everything down in and looks up at me.
“I think that’s it for now. We have your number if we need anything further,” he says sitting back in the chair.
Nodding, I sink into the hard, uncomfortable chair relaxing a bit knowing I’m done talking about everything for a bit. “Am I able to make a call to have my girlfriend come pick me up?” looking between the two officers, I ask.
They share a look and look back at me. “We’re going to take you home. Your roommates, Shayna and Camden, reported you missing three days ago.”
Roommates. I don’t like the way that sounds. It’s minimizing what we have. But after everything that’s happened now with Jason, are they going to still want that? My heart begins to pound harder at the thought. I really don’t believe for one second that anything that has happened between Jason and I these last couple of days would push them away, but that’s still to be seen.
All I can do is nod. Officer Bailey and Officer Langston, the female officer, stand pushing their chairs in. I follow suit standing as well. I grab the paper cup that had my coffee in it and throw it in the garbage on the way out the door.
Walking down the hall with Officer Bailey walking shoulder to shoulder with me, I look over at him. “What’s going to happen with Jason?” I ask him. I think I’m more worried that he’s going to be set free and come after me again. The next time, he won’t try to take me. He will have only vengeance on his mind and just try to kill me.
Officer Bailey glances over his shoulder at Officer Langston then back down to me. Studying my face for a moment as we approach the glass door for the lobby, he reaches out opening it for me. Walking through and waiting to hear what he has to say, he tries to ignore my question and walk past me. But I don’t move. Noticing I am not directly behind him, he turns around and comes to stand in front of me.
“Why?” he questions me, crossing his arms over his chest and tilting his head to the side.
“Because I need to be sure he’s not getting out anytime soon. I know next time he won’t–”
“There won’t be a next time,” he interrupts me. “He never made it off the operating table.” With those words my face turns pale and my mouth drops open.
“He… he’s dead?” I ask. Officer Bailey’s eyes quickly glance over my shoulder for just a moment then back to meet mine, giving me a nod. I don’t know how to feel about this. Relieved that I don’t need to be scared anymore. Sad for the man that I had spent the last five years with. Angry for cheating me out of watching him spend the rest of his life in prison for raping and trying to murder me in front of all those people at the airport. So I just go with numb right now. I can process these mixed feelings later. I need to get back home to where I belong now.
I drop my gaze to the floor and turn on my heel walking slowly to the main entrance of the sheriff’s department. I can hear the heavy footsteps behind me of the officers trailing close behind me.
Stepping outside of the building, I see the sky turning several shades of pinks, purples and peaches. The sun is starting to set. I guess I didn’t take notice how much time had passed from being in the airport, to being questioned in that small interrogation room.
“The car is over here,” Officer Langston points out, and I follow them down the sidewalk to a cruiser parked at the corner. She opens the back door for me, and I move in and sit down. It’s weird sitting in the back of a cop car not in handcuffs.
I lace my fingers together in my lap leaning my head back. I’m in my own head trying to process everything that has happened in such a short period of time. It’s going to take me a while to wrap my head around it, but I’m just happy to be going home to Shayna and Camden right now.
The car pulls away from the curb and I close my eyes, letting my mind rest until we get there. I know they are going to havequestions I’m going to need to answer, so I will need this rest before having to recount the last few days all over again.
CHAPTER 29
Camden
Friday evening
Sitting in the livingroom with Darian next to me playing Call of Duty, and I’m staring at the large screen but not seeing anything. My mind running scenarios of what is happening with our Lexi. Worrying is she okay. Is she hurt or is she trying to get back to us.
I can hear Shayna in the kitchen. When she’s upset she has a tendency to clean or cook and right now she’s doing both. I’m not going to stop her. It helps keep her mind occupied. I can tell she blames herself for Jason coming in here and taking her. No matter how much I try to convince her she’s wrong, nothing but Lexi coming home will help with that.
Darian is usually in his room playing but he’s worried about Lexi, too. The only one in the house that is somewhat oblivious is Landon, but he’s only 7 so we’ve decided not to tell him much. We told Darian because he’s become accustomed to seeing Lexi around she would take him to school and hang out with them occasionally. They have grown very close. I notice how much Darian relies on Lexi for support and guidance.
The house is growing darker and darker from the sun dropping. We don’t keep lights on unless necessary in the house,so once the sun begins to set we can tell by how dark it’s getting. Glancing over at the window at the front of the house, there is a soft glow from the sun setting, giving the illusion of comfortability and solace where in this house there isn’t any.
Reluctantly, I stand from the couch. I can see from my periphery Darian glance up at me. I feel his stare. Looking back down at him once I’m standing to my full height, I give him a small smile. Reaching over I give his shoulder a little squeeze. “Keep playing. I’m just going to check on your mother,” I say, and he gives a little nod but turns back to the game on the screen.
