Page 29 of Beautifully Used
“Hello?”
“Gabrielle Demeres?” It was a man’s voice. My back stiffened. The police had said they’d be in touch about testifying against Jeff.
“Yes?”
“You called about a room for rent. Are you still looking?”
My shoulders relaxed as if someone had removed the weight of a fifty-pound bag of potatoes from them. “Oh. Yes.”
“The room you called about last week just became available again. The other person didn’t work out. So, if you want, you can come by and take a look.”
“Yes. Yes, I’d like that.”
“Can you come by in about an hour?” I glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall above the window. It was four. Brodie had said he’d be home around five. I didn’t have a car, so I’d need to wait.
“Um … can we make that about an hour and a half?”
“That’ll be fine.”
“Can I get the address?”
He rattled off the house number and street as I jotted them down. I hoped Brodie knew where this was, and I hoped he came home in time. The prospect of getting my own place was exciting. A room in a house where other people lived, but still my own room. I fished in the freezer for the chicken and placed it in a pot with hot tap water to speed up the defrosting. Satisfied with the way it sat covered in the water, I took off for my room to change into some jeans and a tank top. My shorts vibrated before the music from my cell phone sang out again. I reached in my pocket and pulled out my phone. I grimaced at yet another unfamiliar number. “Hello?” My voice sounded too shaky.
“Gabrielle Demeres, please.” It was a female voice, but very austere sounding.
“Yes.”
“Hi, Gabrielle. This is the county police department. We wanted to let you know that the case you have against Jeffrey Adams has been dismissed. There will be no need for you to come in to testify.”
“What?”
I listened to her repeat the sentence, but my mind escaped to a place a million miles away. “How … how is that possible?”
“I’m sorry. He had a witness come forward … a Miss Kate Bradley. She said that she was with the two of you the entire time and that you were all out there having some fun. She said she left when you told her you wanted to be alone with Mr. Adams, and that you intended to … let’s see, her exact words were, ‘fuck him silly.’”
“That can’t be. There was no one there but us. There wasn’t anyone else there when the cops came. They saw. How do you explain the bruises on my face? The cut lip? They saw what he had done to me!” My voice raised an octave on that last sentence and I had to calm myself before I started shouting at the woman on the phone. Before I flat out called her a liar.
“That’s all I know, ma’am. Would you like the number of the district attorney’s office?”
“No. I have it. Thank you.”
I went to my room and picked up the card that the cop had given me from the top of the dresser. I decided to wait until Brodie came home before calling. I was too upset to even get the number entered into the phone correctly.
* * *
“They’d never believe you Gabby girl. You know that,” Thomas whispered in my ear.
* * *
I shook my head. This couldn’t be possible.
“Gabrielle?” I looked up to see Brodie standing in the doorway. “What’s wrong? Why didn’t you answer me? I’ve been calling you for about five minutes. I saw the chicken in the sink. It’s all defrosted. I put it in the fridge for now until we’re ready to cook it.” I didn’t say anything. My lips wouldn’t work. I could only stare at him. “Gabrielle? What’s wrong?” Brodie stepped into the room and came up to stand in front of me. He took the card from my fingers. “What happened?”
“They… she… um, a lady called from the police. She said Jeff has been released.”
“What?”
“They dismissed all the charges.”
