Page 21 of Finding Forgiveness
“Connor!” my dad interjects.
“Sorry, Dad.”
“I’m pretty sure your sister came down to tell you about our engagement the day I proposed, but you were too busy screwing—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” Jacinta shrieks, cutting Mason off.
“On that note,” my father chimes in, starting the car. “Are we going back to the house?”
My attention moves to my sister. “Have you had any contact with Cassie since she left the hospital?”
“No, I tried to call her, but it went straight to voicemail. Her phone is either off or I’ve been blocked.”
I pull out my phone and call her number. I get the same response. I turn my attention back to my father. “Can you drop me at the police station?”
“Is there a reason for that?” he asks.
“I’m going to request a welfare check on Cassie, and if that fails, I’ll apply for an Intervention Order.”
“Good idea, Son,” my father says.
“What’s that?” Jacinta asks.
“It’s our last defence if Cass refuses to come willingly.”
“You can’t force her to come with us if she doesn’t want to, Con.”
“She doesn’t have a choice. I’m not leaving her there with that woman,” I state.
Despite my sister’s protests, I managed to get her to go back to the house with Mason and Dad. I knew I could be here for hours, and if I’m going to make this happen, I have to tell them everything I heard at the hospital. Jacinta is upset enough; hearing that won’t help. If this doesn’t go as planned, it’s only going to traumatise and make her worry more.
I have zero jurisdiction down here in Victoria, but I’m connected to the police force, so I’m hoping that goes in my favour. My gut tells me Cassandra isn’t safe under her mother’s roof. Would she physically hurt her daughter? I have no clue. Will she hinder her recovery? Absolutely. She may have been released from the hospital under her mother’s care, but she is an adult and cannot be kept in that house against her will.
When I entered the police station, I introduced myself to the officer at the front desk and asked him if I could speak to one of his superiors. If I had any chance of pulling this off, I needed to go straight to the top.
Thankfully, I only have to wait ten minutes before a senior sergeant takes me out back, to one of the interview rooms.
Once I’m seated, I tell him my concerns, starting with the phone call back at my apartment the day I found her crying. I don’t go any further than the phone conversation I overheard. He doesn’t need to know the rest. My point in bringing this up stems back to what Amanda Lewis had said to Cassandra at the hospital.
During the call I heard Cass scream,“You ruined my life six years ago … I’ll never forgive you for that. Now you’re trying to destroy it completely.”
It coincided with her mother’s words.“You had the audacity to accuse me of ruining your life.”
It had to have been her on the other end of that call.
Of course, I told the sergeant all the other vile things Doctor Lewis had said to her daughter, and he agreed that a welfare check was viable.
I’m now seated in the back of a patrol car en route to the Lewis mansion. They tried to discourage me from tagging along, but not only did I need to see Cassie was okay with my own eyes, I feel like she’s more likely to speak up if she has an ally there.
When we pull into the driveway, I’ll admit I’m feeling uneasy. It’s been years since I’ve been here. I avoided driving down this street after Cassie dumped me.
The three of us—the two officers and myself—exit the vehicle. I decide to hang back near the car for now, because I know her mother won’t be impressed when she sees me here. I honestly don’t care what she thinks, but I’m not going to do anything that will make things worse for Cassie.
I nervously rub my hands together when one of the officers knocks on the front door. I’m not sure how this is going to play out, but I pray in our favour. This isn’t my last resort if things go pear-shaped, but I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.
It takes a few minutes for Cassie’s mother to answer the door. I’m not surprised to see a deceptively over-the-top smile on her face when she does. That immediately turns into a scowl when the officer tells her why they are here.
I shove my hands into my pockets and blow out a long breath; I knew she wouldn’t take this well.
