Broken

Chapter 7

The detective slowly opened my door as Mitch rushed over to the vehicle.
"Oh my God, Amelia," he feigned concern. "I'm so glad you're okay."
He pulled me into his embrace before the officers could do anything.
I cried out and tried pulling away, but he held on tightly.
"AMELIA!" I heard Taylor yell and saw him try to run over to me but an officer held him back.
"I was so worried," he said and buried his face into my hair and through gritted teeth he whispered, "You think you're clever do you you little bitch? You're in so much fucking trouble."
He returned his voice to normal before saying "Are you ready to come home?"
"Sir," the detective said, pulling Mitch off of me. "We'll need to speak with your daughter, down at the station."
"Oh, there's no need officer," Mitch said.
"Detective Jenkins," the detective replied. "And it is necessary. I know you just want to get your daughter home and I promise we'll make it go as quickly as possible so you can."
"Oh, of course Detective," Mitch said, smiling courteously.
"I'll drive you two down to the station," Jenkins said, content Mitch was cooperating with him.
Mitch put his arm around me and pulled me to him in a fatherly way. I glanced back at Taylor as we walked toward Jenkins car.
"Tell them," he mouthed, his eyes pleading with me. I looked away quickly before I started crying again.
"Say goodbye to your little boyfriend," Mitch hissed so only I could hear.
I didn't say anything the entire way to the station. Mitch fawned over me like a concerned parent, asking questions like what was I thinking and had I had enough to eat. But in between the worrisome parent act he would whisper to me about keeping my mouth shut or else.
When we got to the station they finally separated Mitch from me. They put me in an interrogation room and Jenkins came in with a female detective who introduced herself as Detective Franklin.
"How did he find me?" I asked when they sat down.
"You were on the news, Missy," Jenkins said. "Someone saw your picture in the entertainment section of the local newspaper with the Hanson boy at a restaurant and called in a tip."
Dammit, I thought. I knew it was a bad idea to get involved with someone famous. I knew I should've forced him to stay away from me. But I just couldn't. There was something about his eyes, so soft and sincere. That's when the image of his eyes pleading with me to tell them the truth about what happened to me flashed into my memory. Maybe I should, I thought.
"Miss Lincoln?" Detective Franklin's voice brought me out of my thoughts and I glanced over at her. "Do you understand what kind of trouble you're in? Your father -"
"Step father," I corrected.
"Your stepfather," she retracted. "May decide to press charges against you -"
"He won't," I said nonchalantly.
"Don't be too sure," Jenkins said.
"I am sure," I scoffed. "He wouldn't want to lose his play thing."
"Excuse me?" Franklin asked.
"Just forget it," I said shaking my head. "I wish he would press charges. Anything would be better than going back there."
"Why did you steal your step fathers money and run away?" Franklin asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," I said. "Can I just go home now?"
"I thought you didn't want to go home?" Jenkins asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I don't," I said bitterly. "But you're going to send me anyways so might as well get it over with."
"Why don't you just tell us your side?" Franklin said. "Your stepfather told us about your mothers passing and how devastating it's been to your family."
"I'm sure he did," I scoffed.
"It must have been hard growing up with an alcoholic mother," she continued. "Your step father said you two used to be close but after she passed you blamed him for her death."
I shook my head at the lies she was repeating.
"I bet he failed to mention how 'close' we actually were?" I asked. "And how much 'closer' we got after my mother died?"
She stared at me blankly, "What do you mean?"
I took a deep breath and told them everything that had happened.
"Is there any record of this abuse at all?" Jenkins asked. I could tell he didn't believe me.
"Record?" I asked, confused. "Well I doubt he wrote about it in his diary, so I guess not."
"Did you go to the hospital when you had the miscarriage?" Franklin asked. I couldn't tell what she was thinking.
I shook my head, "He wouldn't allow it. He said it would raise suspicion. 'How would it look if a pastors 14 year old step daughter had had a miscarriage?'"
They asked a bunch of questions before leaving the room.
I didn't know what was going to happen. I was terrified. I closed my eyes and saw Taylor's face and smiled. No matter what happened now at least I had the memories he gave me. No one could take that away from me.
Franklin came back in a while later with a soda and a sandwich.
"I hope it's okay?" she offered setting it on the table in front of me.
"Thank you," I said. "What's going to happen?"
"We're investigating your claims now," she said. "Right now it's your word against his and he's denying everything. Are you sure there wasn't anyone you told?"
"Just Taylor," I said, softly. "But that was after the fact. I didn't trust anyone and I didn't think anyone would believe me."
She nodded, "We've spoken to Mister Hanson. He's given us his statement and Jenkins is still questioning him now."
"Taylor's here?" I asked hopefully.
She nodded.
"Would I be able to see him?" I asked.
"I don't know," she said. "It's really against regulation."
"Oh," I said my voice dripping with disappointment. "Okay."
"But I'll see what I can do," she said and walked out of the room.
I picked at the sandwich for a while, but I could barely eat anything.
The door opened again and Franklin came back in the room.
"You've got 10 minutes," she said, and that's when I saw Taylor standing behind her.
He rushed over to me and hugged me. I held onto him tightly as Franklin left the room and closed the door.
"You know they're only letting us see each other to see if your story changes any," he whispered. "They're watching us."
"I don't care," I said softly. "I'm just glad I get to see you before whatever is going to happen, happens."
"Me too," he said, pulling back so he could face me. "I'm glad you told them."
"I had to after seeing your face back at the motel," I said. "You gave me that courage to do it, even if they don't believe me."
"They have to believe you," he said. "They can't send you back there."
"They might," I said softly. "If there's no evidence of what happened and I doubt they'll find anything. He isn't a careless person."
"That's stupid," he said. "If they're smart they'll know you're not lying. If they make you go back there, I'll-"
I smiled and cut him off, "You'll what? It isn't their fault Tay."
I stroked his cheek gently.
"I know," he said, taking my hand in his and kissing it gently. "But you can't go back there."
"I'll be okay," I said, even though I wasn't sure. I had really done it now. Mitch wouldn't take my accusations lightly. But I didn't want Taylor to worry.
"Amelia, I'm going to miss you," he started.
"Not nearly as much as I'm going to miss you," I said. "You're the only person who's ever been there for me. And I don't know what the rules are or whatever but... I - I love you. No matter what happens no one can take that away from me."
"I love you too," he said quickly and kissed me gently.
There was a knock on the door and it opened.
"Times up," Franklin said coming into the room.
"Can't we have a few more minutes?" Taylor asked.
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Hanson," she said. "Your parents are wanting to take you home."
He nodded sadly and kissed me again, "I'm going to do everything I can to help you."
"Thank you Tay," I said. "For everything. There isn't enough time to tell you what you mean to me so just know that no matter what happens I love you."
He pressed his forehead to mine just as he did in the motel and whispered, "I love you too."
He squeezed me tightly in a hug until Franklin grabbed his arm and pulled him away from me.
I held back tears as he was pulled out of the room, but as soon as the door closed behind him I broke down.