Page 34 of Fight for Me

“Am I in trouble?” I inquire slowly.

“Miss, we would just like to talk to you about a case you’ve been a part of. We would rather not do it on the street, but really it is up to you. You could follow us, then after all is done you’ll be on your way,” the one called Walken says matter-of-factly.

“All right,” I agree reluctantly. “Lead the way.”

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I SIT IN ONE OF THE investigation rooms, getting impatient when the door opens and in walks the younger officer from before.

“Sorry we’ve kept you waiting, Miss Wallace. Now that Detective Barnett is here, we can start.”

Said detective walks in with some files under his armpit and a coffee cup in his other hand. His forehead wrinkles in a frown as he sits opposite of me and peruses me quickly.

Do I have something on my face? I fight the need to swipe at my mouth and concentrate back on the man. He looks a little familiar, but I can’t quite put my finger on where I saw him before. But I feel like I know those eyes. Bizarre.

The man seems to shake himself quickly of whatever got him unsettled and clears his throat before slapping the folder on the table, “Thank you for coming in. I’m Detective Barnett, and you already know Officer Rusoe. I have to say it wasn’t easy to find you, Miss... can I call you Jennifer?”

“I guess...” I mutter and then look at my watch. “Look, like I told the police before, whatever Ricky allegedly did before he went to jail, I had no part in it whatsoever...”

“If you’re talking about your boyfriend Enrique Rodriguez, he’s not the reason you are here today,” the detective answers and shifts in his seat.

“Ex-boyfriend,” I correct automatically. “And he’s not? Then what’s this about?” I ask, but already have a feeling where this is going. Shit. I knew this wouldn’t be the end of it. What the hell was I thinking? That my father will just let it go?

“When was the last time you saw your mother, Marissa Wallace?” he asks in an even tone, but his eyes seem sad.

“I...” I scratch my head nervously and lick my lips. “I haven’t seen my mother in three years. The last time we spoke was the day I ran away from my house,” I admit and blink up at both men, wondering where this is headed.

The detective flips the case file open and nods, “Yes, we have it all in here. Runaway, accused of assaulting both of your parents and of stealing family savings from your father’s office. But that’s not what happened, is it?”

I shake my head vehemently and pin the man with a serious expression. “I thought that Bell Ridge police had already established that I was the one being assaulted. When I contacted them like two years ago, they told me the case was long closed...” When the man continues to stare at me, I continue forcefully, “I was forced to leave my own home because I was scared for my life, and everything I’ve done back then was to save myself. I honestly don’t think I would be alive right now if I didn’t leave.”

Again the detective nods as if my words are confirming what he already knew or predicted for me to say, then in a matter of few words he destroys my world when he says solemnly, “It hurts me to say this, Jennifer, but we found your mother’s body last week. We suspect she might have been dead for over two years.”

The man continues to speak, but all I hear are bits and pieces, his mouth is moving at a normal pace, but the words seem to flow to me in weird slow motion. I make out the words “strangled” and “basement” before I blink rapidly, forcing my mind to cooperate.

“... the investigation. Of course, considering everything that happened in the past, David Wallace is our main suspect for the moment. We hoped that maybe you’ll be willing to share some light on your parents' relationship, it could help us understand his motives better...”

“Wait,” I cut in shakily, making Detective Barnett look up at me in question. “I don’t understand how she could be dead for two years, and it’s just now that you found her. Was no one concerned when she disappeared? I mean... like the neighbors or something?”

The detective shares a confused look with the police officer, who’s been taking notes of everything that was being said until now, and it’s the younger man who answers me with a frown. “When the sheriff’s actions came to light after the fire at the warehouse in Bell Ridge, he took your mother with him and fled. The Madison Police Department took over the investigation with the support of the FBI, since it involved gun and drug trafficking, and we’ve been searching for your father ever since.”

I squint at the man, completely stupefied, and look to Detective Barnett for confirmation.

“Recently, we got a lead on his whereabouts, and went to check it,” the younger man continues. “We didn’t find David Wallace in there, but it was clear that it was his hiding place for some time. It wasn’t until we got to the basement that we discovered the decomposed body of a woman, we couldn’t recognize her...”

“Officer, that’s enough,” Barnett grouses, when I start to pant, feeling the blood draining from my face. “Could you wait outside? I’d like to question Jennifer privately.”

“Yeah. Sure. I’m sorry for your loss, Miss Wallace,” the police officer says regretfully and exits the room.

I breathe through my mouth to calm myself down, but then cover it when a wail tries to escape me.

“I’m so sorry about that. Rusoe is still a rookie, and gets excited about the job, which can come off as insensitive... Would you like me to bring you something to drink?” the older guy asks quietly.

It takes me a second to pull myself together, and I shake my head before I straighten in my seat. I want to get it over with and go back home.

Now that it’s just us in the room, the man sitting across from me gets rid of his professional detective mask as he sighs heavily and drags a hand across his tired face.

Once again I notice how familiar his sad eyes look, and I have to ask, “Do I know you from somewhere? I feel like we’ve met before.”

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