Page 38 of Special Agent Jennie

Chapter Twenty-nine

Lance couldn’t believe his eyes when Kane dropped him off at his apartment and he’d found Melena Brunner hiding, scrunched down behind the entranceway’s plants. She scooted out at his appearance and dropped down on the stairs.

“What’re you doing here, Mellie?” He stopped and sat on the step next to her as he’d done many times at the old place.

“Hi, Lance.” Melena’s face turned to him. “I’ve run away. And I need a place to stay for a few days. Can you put me up?”

“No. But I can call your dad and put you on a bus home.”

“Oh God, no.” You don’t understand. I can’t go back. Now that you’re gone, I have no one. I’m all alone, and like, it’s gotten worse. He’s always after me. I can’t stand it anymore, Lance. I’ll kill myself if you make me go back to that disgusting old man.”

Shaken, Lance put his arm around Melena’s shoulder and pulled her to him. “What the hell are you talking about? And why didn’t you tell me this earlier? When I was right there.”

“How? He said he’d kill you too. I used to wait for him to pass out before I’d go upstairs. I – I wanted to kill myself, tried… but like… I-I couldn’t do it. Then I thought to shoot him but…” She shook her head, her rambling slowing down as she choked over her words. “Co-couldn’t do that either.” Tears poured down her face and her body began to shake, the trauma almost more than she seemed able to bear. “Yesterday, I got his gun out of the safe and stood at the doorway, aiming, telling myself I’d be free. I pulled the trigger, but he’d emptied the bullets. That’s when I realized I’d pointed the gun at myself.”

Frantic, Melena wiped her nose and didn’t notice the mess she made on her face. Instead, she hung her head and whispered in an eerie way, “I hate him, Lance. I’ll die if you make me go back there.” She forced her eyes to his… wet with tears and fear. She swallowed but kept talking. “The world sees a powerful FBI guy, Lance. I see a sniveling molester who’s like… getting worse.”

Shocked beyond speech, all Lance could say seemed inadequate. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry, honey.”

As if the words burst out of their own accord, she added, “He’s started choking me. The last time, I thought he wouldn’t stop. I can’t go back. Please… please don’t make me, Lance. If you make me, I promise, this time, I will kill myself. Please believe me.”

Overwhelmed, her sobs so intense that words were obliterated, she fell into his arms.

“Okay. Okay, I get it. Fine. Come. You can stay here tonight, but we need to talk. You have to go to the police and press charges.”

Still wracked with sobs, Melena ground out a moan. “I can’t. Who would take my word? He’s important. I’m like a kid… a nobody.”

“I believe you, sweetheart. Come on. Calm down now. Let’s go up to my place, and we’ll talk. You’ll tell me everything. Okay? We’ll figure things out, right?” She fought to stand, but when her legs gave out, he lifted her, held her like a baby, and slung her backpack over his shoulder.

Lance watched as the tiny girl’s tears seeped through her beautiful Asian dark eyes, her face so like that of her mother’s, the woman whose photo he’d seen repeatedly as Melena’s cellphone’s wallpaper.

Squeezed tight… those eyes appeared fragile as if her talking about everything, the nightmare that loomed could destroy her.

Seemingly losing the strength it took to get to him, her arms hung limply, her head lolled against his chest, and her hysteria waned, crushed by tiredness.

Melena’s straight black hair looked a mess and her breath smelled old and rank. Poor baby. He could tell she needed a shower and some tender care. Then he’d be having to book into a hotel for the next few days until they got this sorted out.

No way could he send her out into the dark, not like this. And no way could he put her in any more jeopardy by staying here with her when her father held such a high position in the Bureau. That pervert could have Lance’s balls in a sling just by his accusations alone.

Not willing to give the guy any ammunition at all, Lance carried Melena up the stairs and settled her into the bathroom with clean towels, a new toothbrush, and a well-washed t-shirt big enough for her to drown in, but useful as a warm nightie.

Once they were ensconced in the living room with mugs of hot chocolate, egg sandwiches he often made for his own supper, and store-bought cookies, he asked her permission to video their discussion.

“Why? You believe me, don’t you?”

“Of course. And I know you’re exhausted, but the quicker we get your statement, the better. I want this all recorded so we’re ready for whatever happens next.”

After she nodded her approval, he said, “Start at the beginning.”

Lance sat, his heart breaking as he listened to her rambling voice, her face telling a story of its own. The forthcoming conversation had to be one of the saddest things he’d ever heard. Seems they had a good life until her mother passed on when Melena had been ten years old. For as long as she could remember, they’d called her father a workaholic, and her mother and Melena had carried on as if they were alone.

Many nights and weekends, Brunner wouldn’t even appear. She’d noticed when he did, her mother always looked sad, but the woman never spoke about Henry in a bad way, always saying he was a decent man, a good provider, and would take care of them.

But after her mother had been killed in a drive-by shooting, where the murderer had never been arrested, her life had become a living hell. At first, when her father would crawl into her bed, she’d thought he’d come to comfort her because of the loss they both shared. But soon, the caresses had changed, and her life of terror had begun.

She’d had no one to confide in. He’d seen to that. And many times, he’d shown her his service weapon and had threatened her with it… to keep her quiet. It had been a life of terrorizing hell… of fear and hate and after five years, she couldn’t spend another second knowing he’d be there again and again.

During those days, shyness and self-loathing had kept her from having any close relationships with girls her own age. Her face filled with sadness when she pointed out to Lance, “How could I let someone get close and not be able to share my secrets with them?”

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