Blank Canvas

Chapter Fourteen: November 11th, 2020:

Liam and I were told to wait in the waiting room near the front entrance of the police station. Erin stated she found Gary's current address, but she had to convince a judge to give her a search warrant. I shifted around on the uncomfortable chair, trying to find a better position. I sighed and gave up as I crossed my arms around my chest, watching the receptionist type away on her keyboard.

Liam held his hand out for me to grab and I interlocked my hand with his. "We are going to find him," he stated, firmly.

"If he is alive," I whispered. I stared down at my lap and he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I heard footsteps getting louder and immediately shifted my gaze. Erin was making her way towards us with her mouth tightened into a thin line.

She took a seat next to me, making eye contact with me. She refused to speak for the longest time until she sighed and rubbed her face with her hands. "The judge refused to give me a search warrant unless we do a police lineup."

I glanced over at Liam as he fell back into his chair, crossing his arms before making eye contact with Erin again. "What does that mean?" I questioned in a low voice.

"You have to identify Gary in a lineup of five people that look like him." Liam spoke up.

"That sounds easy. Why do you guys look like this is the worst news ever?" I looked back and forth between Erin and Liam.

"If you are unable to identify Gary in the lineup, we will not get the search warrant and we will go back to square one." I placed my head into my hands as I thought for a moment. Did I want to risk it? I have no other choice. We have to obtain that search warrant.

"I'll do it."

~~

"What's going on, Clary?" Zoe paused for a moment. "Wait. Let me get your father and put it on speakerphone. I think he would like to hear as well." I waited for a few moments as Liam gave me an unsure look and I held my pointer finger up at him. "Alright, you can talk now, honey."

"The judge refused the search warrant unless I do a police lineup." The response to my statement was silence and I checked to make sure that I was still on the phone with my parents.

"Are you going to do it?" Dominic questioned with a nervous tone.

"Yeah, I have too. I need to get Lucas back and this appears to be the only way."

Zoe cleared her throat. "Alright, honey. I just want to make sure you are completely sure you want to go through with this because once you do it, you cannot go back. But if you do decide to go with it, take your time. Do not immediately pick a man if you are not 100% sure that it is Gary. You know we fully support you with any decision you make."

"Thanks, Mom." Erin walked up to me and I knew it was time. "Alright. I gotta go."

"Okay. We love you, honey." I smiled and hung up.

Erin crouched down to my level. "Are you ready to do this? It's your choice. We don't have to do this."

I shook my head. "I need to do this." I stood up and Liam stood up next to me.

"I'm sorry, Liam. But it can only be her in that room." Erin stated as he glanced over at me.

"I will be okay." I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. He sat back down and I followed Erin into a small room that had a window into the next room. There were six males standing in a row, holding a number in front of them. I looked at each man carefully because they all had similar characteristics. Then, I got to number six and I need immediately that it was him. The piercing green eyes with his thick, black glasses and he had the same scar that went from his hairline through his right temple, stopping before his eyebrow. I kicked him in the face when I escaped and his nose was crooked as a result. It was him. I couldn't control my emotions as I fell to the ground onto my knees and covered my face with hands. My eyes were like a broken dam as tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I felt a hand on my back as it rubbed circles.

"Tell me when you are ready," Erin whispered, sitting on the floor next to me.

"Number six," I whispered back.

"Are you sure?" I leaned against the wall and wiped my eyes.

"I am positive. He has the same scar and his nose is crooked as if it healed when it was broken." I wiped my nose with the sleeve of my shirt and Erin handed me a tissue.

She smiled me as she placed her hand on my knee. "You did great!" She stood up and held her arms out, helping me stand up before wrapping her arms around me. "Lucas is coming home, Clary. I will make sure of it," she whispered into my ear as she rocked us back and forth.