Page 23 of Cedar Edge
Thea
Dr. Everheart doesn’t comment on my fidgeting or the way my eyes seem to keep shifting nervously to the door and back to him, instead he hums along to some unknown tune while he takes my vitals. When he’s finished he offers up a soft smile, the kindness in his eyes practically making me cry all over again.
“I took some blood tests when I was here before, you are clean of any STI’s. ” My body seems to relax as he says words that I had no idea I needed to hear.
“I had the IUD before Royce took me… is it still good?” I had never been more thankful for the small device in me, despite the pain getting it placed, when Royce fucked me bare for the first time. I had no intention of creating a child with that man.
Dr. Everheart looks thoughtful for a moment before nodding. “Depending on when you had it inserted, yes it should still be good.”
Another sigh of relief, “It was right before he took me.”
“Then yes, you should be good but just in case I’ll order up another and whenever you're ready we can make sure to swap it over. I have a female nurse at my clinic in town who is more than capable of doing the procedure if you’d feel more comfortable.” I nod my thanks before Reed continues forward. “Thea, we need to talk. The drugs…”
I cut him off rapidly. “I don’t do drugs.” I laugh nervously. “It’s just… sometimes I would take them.”
He nods as if he understands exactly what I’m saying. “I hear you. And my son found you halfway to the grave only for you to have a seizure from withdrawals a few hours later…” He steps back from me, crossing his arms across his broad chest.
“I never did them like that.” He doesn’t look like he fully believes me and for some reason that makes me want to cry. Disappointing the doctor shouldn’t matter but suddenly, with the prospect of starting a life here again, I don’t want him to hate me. “I wasn't I! I fucking wish I was if I’m being honest.” I practically shout. He jerks back in a bit of shock at my words and the volume of my voice. “You’ve seen my body, Dr. Everheart. You know what he did. Wouldn’t you rather be high to deal with that?” I’m not sure where the strength in my voice comes from, or how I keep it steady.
Reed looks at me with so much sympathy I could vomit. “Thea, I believe you. But I also know what I saw. So if you weren’t taking them regularly, he was giving them to you without your knowledge.”
The words seem to register in my mind but denial still sits heavy on my tongue. Like flipping through a book I rapid fire my life with Royce, thinking back to the times I was not only pliablebut the desperation for the drugs that would fill my veins every so often.
“Oh my god.” I breathe out the horror, my hand raising to my mouth as it sinks in. All the times I would wake up groggy and confused, all the times I complied to his requests with no resistance. He had been drugging me into compliance. Sedating me just enough that I never had the energy to contemplate escape again.
The night Ihadfinally escaped I had thrown up my dinner and the accompanying water. It had been by accident really, my stomach had felt off all day but with Royce I never knew when my next meal would be. So I had forced myself to stuff my stomach beyond comfort, until I had vomited it all back up. That night I felt more alert and… “it was in my food. He drugged me in my food, how did I never put two and two together.” I feel stupid, for never suspecting anything.
“Thea?” I snap my gaze up to the Dr. once more, his body now closer to mine. “Someone who does the things they did to you, they would be very good at hiding what they wanted to hide.”
His words are affirmations I didn’t know I needed and they seem to send the spiral of shame rolling down a hill, no longer threatening to crush me. “So you’ve seen…. You’ve seen it all?”
Reed’s eyes go cold, his mouth set in a grim line as he gives a curt nod before glancing to wear my arm has automatically curled around my center as if the brand is visible through my clothing. “Did you have a doctor look at that after he…” he stumbles on his words before regaining footing. “After he hurt you?”
I shake my head slowly, my hair falling in a curtain in front of my face. “No, Mast– I mean Royce, didn’t want anyone else seeing me.” I feel proud of myself for catching the title he forcedme to use but the low growl from Reed tells me I didn’t catch it quick enough.
“Is there anything else that I should know?” He asks.
My mind flashes to all the harm Royce caused and part of me wants to ask him where he wants me to begin because there was never a moment with Royce that he wasn’t harming me. But instead I shake my head no and let Reed finish his exam before quietly shuffling from the room.
Law
From the depth of the porch I watch Reed and Tarin climb into his truck and head down the driveway. Part of me feels guilty for hiding out here for so long, but hearing what she went through from Reed? Fuck. It was like hit after hit to my gut. And the moment I could I fled to the porch, demanding the fresh mountain air fix the feeling of drowning that was rising.
Taking a long, deep inhale, I read the text displayed on my screen over and over hoping it’ll change the words that I’m seeing but each time I do the pit in my stomach grows.
Unknown: This is a big player. You’ll find my report attached.
I hit the attachment that pops up next, my stomach bottoming out even further.
Royce Ripkins III. Previously lived in Cedar Edge until he moved around age 19. He has no known college degrees but started up Seattle Star Link which is currently the largest tech company in the city and approaching the largest on the West Coast. Royce had none of his own capital to build his company. The Ripkins had gone bankrupt months prior to him starting his business.
To the general public the company supplies general internet security as well as internet. However, upon closer examination the company works in surveillance as well. He is a known associate with various criminal organizations and his tech has been confiscated in multiple FBI raids. Royce, however, always seems to avoid jail time or legal issues. He seems to have made himself important to both the feds and his criminal counterparts making him generally untouchable.
He hosts parties that most of the criminal underworld attends. According to my contact who has attended these parties Royce is a hot head who enjoys making others hurt. He seems to take pride in tormenting the workers he brings in for his guests. This seemed to stop about a year ago when he brought in his own female. She was seen at the parties regularly, at first, until one evening when she was caught in a compromising position with one of his guests. My contact said the female was not seen at the parties again.
Unknown: I would be careful, he has already been looking into all of you.
Dragging my hand through my hair I curse as I pace the back deck over and over. His connections complicate things, particularly with the feds, their attention is something we don’t want or need right now. The phone dings again, glancing down I see my deputy's name pop up, confirming all my people are in position. If anyone comes into this town we’ll know immediately.
