Donnie, Bo and Tea made their way to the interrogation room through the back entrance. Beads of sweat ooze to the surface of his skin, despite the cool temperature of the station. Their footsteps reverberated through the unoccupied, rarely used corridor. It was like the long journey that death row inmates take to the gas chamber, the green mile. Only difference is that he was already emotionally dead, as was Tea.
He thought about the first time that he met Tea: the strong, confident attorney, exterior of steel. It was only when he looked deep into her eyes, he saw the same sadness and hopelessness reflected in his own. It was the pain of knowing that greatest love imaginable, and losing it in an instant. Now, they were empty oceans, dead.
It would have been so easy to just pretend that he didn’t get a good look, to lie for his own safety. But, Angela kept popping into his mind. What if she was raped and nobody helped? What if he was never caught? What if he did it again and again? What if? What if?
*****
The interrogation room had a solitary feel to it. Donnie sat on one side of the table, Tea and Bo on the other. It was intimidating. He slouched down in his chair, putting on his “tough guy” mask.
“Okay, Donnie, you’ve got us both here. What do you know?” Bo asked.
“Donnie,” Tea says in a soothing tone, “just tell Bo what you told me. You don’t have to be afraid.”
“Who said I’m scared?”
“Look, we don’t have time to play games here. If this guy has a line into the station, he probably already knows you’re talking,” says Bo, coercing Donnie to talk.
“Like I told Mrs. Manning, I’ve seen the guy before, I just can’t remember where. Why don’t you ask the guard who it was that visited me?”
“We’re trying to locate him now. Do you think that you can describe him to a sketch artist?”
“Yeah. Just his profile though. He didn’t face me.”
“Okay. Tea, I’m going to get Slauson in here to do a sketch. I’m going to have a guard posted outside in just in case. I’ll be right back.” Bo slams the door behind him, his footsteps echo down the hallway.
Tea clenches and unclenches her fists, clenches and unclenches her teeth. Anger and fear and anxiousness and sadness travel through her veins at lightening speed. Her head starts to pound, a migraine. Her eyes close tightly; the palms of her hand roughly massage her temples. She suddenly becomes aware that Donnie is watching her.
“What’s wrong, Donnie?”
“Nothing, I was just watching you. You okay?” He asks, removing his “tough guy” mask.
“I just have a headache, that’s all. You did a very brave thing for me today. Thank you.” She does not meet his gaze, looking just left of him.
“I had to. I kept thinking about Angela and what I would have done if someone had violated her. You know something?”
“What?”
“Back home, I always felt like she was my Angel. Always there for me when I needed her, you know. And then I come here and get into some trouble, and you helped me when everybody else would have thrown me away. You’re like, my Angel here. The way I see it, I’m surrounded by Angels. It’s only right that I would do anything for you guys, just like you’ve done stuff for me.”
“I am far from an Angel…but thank you. That means so much to me,” she chokes.
Bo gives a warning knock before re-entering. “Okay, Slauson’ll be here in an hour or so. We still haven’t found the guard. Tea, why don’t you just go home; get some rest. We’re going to be here awhile.”
“I’m fine, Bo.”
“I’ll stay here with him. He’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, I’ll be alright Mrs. Manning.”
The pain in her head increases, causing a wave of nausea. “Okay,” she struggles, “if you need anything, call me.” She rushes out of the room and into the ladies room. She soaks a paper towel in freezing water, laying it across her sizzling forehead. A thick warm liquid trickles out of her nose, another of her migraine symptoms.
“Oh, damn.” She leans her head back, the muscles in her neck creak with each movement. Breathing is the key. Just take your time. Breathe deeply. Let it in. Release it. Just try to relax.
The nausea passes, but not the headache. Only sleep could help that. The walls of the restroom were starting to close in, the air suffocating.
*****
Penthouse 2
Tea reclined on the couch, her head resting on the arm. A cold cloth lay across on her forehead, her eyes closed.
Ben brought her home and had been afraid to leave her. Something about her behavior worried him, the same something that he had sensed about his sister before she committed suicide. But it wasn’t suicide that he feared; it was her closeness to falling over the edge.
“Ben, why are you trying to save me?” Tea’s eyes are still closed, but the headache has subsided.
“I’m not. I’m just trying to be your friend.”
“But why?”
“You remind me of somebody I once knew.”
“Who?” She asks innocently.
“My sister.” He sighs heavily, the wounds still fresh. “I was supposed to protect her, and I failed.”
“How?”
“I wasn’t there for me when she needed someone the most.” His pager vibrates on his hip, displaying the number to the hospital. He had been waiting for some test results, and they were supposed to call when the results were in.
“You have to go?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. If Bo calls, or if you need anything, anything at all, call me.”
*****
With night vision goggles, the rapist hides in the darkness, watching as Ben leaves. He returns the cell phone to his pocket and when Ben is out of sight, he enters the building.
The guard that had seen him earlier that night would not be found. He made sure of it. It was only a matter of time though before Bo figured out what he had done. It was also only a matter of time before Tea knew his identity too. A matter of minutes.
*****
Llanview Police Department
Interrogation Room
“Donnie, does this look like the guy you saw?” Bo asks hopefully. They had already spent so much time on the sketch that the trail was getting colder.
“Yeah. Yeah that’s him.”
“Any idea where you’ve seen him?”
“Commish,” Slauson interrupts, “can I talk to you for a minute?”
Bo and Slauson confer in the corner; their conversation animated. Bo’s face morphs from serious to disbelief to anger. He struggles to keep his voice even as his arms flail. After a few minutes of intense conversation, Slauson leaves on a mission for Bo.
Moments pass before Slauson returns with a picture. Bo sighs, takes the picture, shakes his head and gives it to Donnie.
“Is this the man that you saw?”
Donnie’s eyes narrow as he studies the face. “It’s him,” he says with absolute confidence.
“Are you positive?”
“It’s the eyes. Yeah, I’m sure. It’s him.”
*****
Penthouse 2
The fire in the fireplace crackled; the only noise besides Tea’s ragged breathing. She dozed on the couch, halfway between sleep and awake. Pillows were strewn carelessly across the room, the result of recurring nightmares.
Ben had given her a sleeping pill before he left, promising to visit first thing in the morning. Reluctantly, she allowed the pill to slide down her throat. Disoriented, she lay reclined on the couch, staring into the blurry fire eventually falling asleep.
Someone banged on the door incessantly, awakening her exhausted mind and body. Numb, she staggers in an almost drunken state, drowsy and high from the medication.
“Who is it?”
“Tea? It’s John. Are you alright?”
“Yes.”
“Can I come in?”
*****
Llanview Police Department
Bo tore through the station in search of Sykes. It was still hard to believe that he was the rapist. When he really stopped to think about it, Sykes was always a little strange. Quiet. The wheels were always turning like he was planning something. To a casual observer, he was just another nice guy, slightly insecure, but harmless.
There was something off, something unnatural about the way he lusted after Tea. Even when Todd was around, Sykes was very bold in his advances toward Tea, undressing her with his eyes. But nobody paid attention, chalking it up to a minor crush. No one had a clue that it was a dangerous obsession.
Bo cursed himself at not noticing the danger signals that every criminal emits. Sure, Sykes watched Tea with the eyes of an eagle; he was heartbroken after their breakup. Yes, it took awhile for it to sink in that they were over; he gave her a hard time every now and then. Damnit! I should have seen it coming.
Sykes was nowhere to be found. He would not answer his cell phone, nor return any of his pages. Officers scoured to city, quietly, for the detective. No luck. They wanted to keep things as quiet as possible, just in case there was some sort of mistake. In his heart, Bo knew that no mistake had been made.
He opens the door to his office, in a trance. He was under my nose the whole time; laughing at me. Angrily, he yanks his jacket off of the back of his chair, and slams the door on his way out.
*****
Penthouse 2
Sykes closes the door behind him, locking it. With a confident swagger, he follows Tea into the living room. A matter of minutes.
“Bo sent me to stay with you for awhile.”
“Oh.” She allows her body to relax on the bottom step. She yawns, vision becoming blurry.
“Yeah, so how are you doing Counselor?” He steps closer toward her, tripping on the edge of the couch.
“Careful,” she says, glancing at his foot.
He had on a black pair of Rockports and he was slough foot.
“Yeah,” he chuckles. “Were you sleeping?”
“Uh, a little.” No, it couldn’t be.
“I’m sorry. Bo just wanted me to make sure you were alright. God, what time is it anyway?” He deliberately presses the light button on the side of his watch.
He had on a Timex Indiglo watch on his left hand. It had a black leather band.
Two and two come together, the haze lifting from her foggy mind. Oh God. Think Delgado. Think. Gotta get the gun. Gotta get the gun. Oh, shit, stay calm.
“I’m really tired, John. Do you mind, um, leaving?” She forces her voice to remain calm.
“I don’t think I can do that, Counselor. I was given a direct order to guard you.”
“As you can see, I’m fine. I would prefer it if you left. I can call Bo myself if you would like,” she says, picking up the phone. There is no dial tone…oh shit. Work, goddamnit!
“Is there a problem?” You’re scared aren’t you baby? Good….fear is a turn on.
“No.” Gotta get to the gun. Gotta get my cell phone. Both were in Todd’s desk drawer, meaning she would have to pass Sykes to retrieve it.
He plops down on the couch, resting his feet on the table. He locks his fingers behind his head, his back turned to Tea. “It’s been awhile since we’ve had the chance to talk.”
She tip toes over to the desk, opens the drawer, but it is empty. She starts to panic, nearly to the point of hyperventilation.
“Looking for this Counselor?” he asks, showing her the gun that was hidden in his pocket.
“No, I was looking for-“
“This?” He show her the cell phone that was in his other pocket.
“Where’d you get that?” she asks, her voice remaining calm and even.
“Oh, you left it lying around. You know, Counselor, you should keep better track of your things. Speaking of keeping track of your things, have you seen your husband lately?”
A cold shiver travels down her spine; her hands shake. “No.”
“Interesting.” Long pause, “ You know, that I know, that you know who I am.”
Oh, God, please help me. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do. I’m not ready to die. Don’t let him do this to me again. Oh, God. Help! She prayed.
“We could have been so good together. But you just couldn’t let that criminal go, could you?”
Shoulders back, chin out. F*ck you! Her body straightens with fury; her icy stare burns through him.
“The difference between him and me, is that he’ll never have you the way that I had you. He’s not man enough,” he taunts.
“The difference between him and you, is that he had something that you will never have; my heart.” Where is this coming from?
“I see you have that Delgado fire that I’ve always admired,” he rises to his full height, trying to intimidate her. “That’s why we’re so good together, we both have that fire.”
“Whatever. You are pathetic do you know that? That’s why we’re not together. You’re a pathetic loser, who has to take it.”
“Well, you seem to attract us losers; us rapists. There is just something about you Tea.” He approaches her; she steps backward, toward the window.
*****
Penthouse 1
A steady stream of blood poured from Todd’s head onto the carpet. He groaned, slowly regaining consciousness. Tea. Gotta get to Tea.
He rolls onto his stomach, searching for his legs. The room spun around, he saw double. Ignoring the pain, he staggered to the door, trying to decipher what was real, and what was a cruel trick of the eyes.
*****
Penthouse 2
Sykes stood menacingly over Tea, when Todd burst through the door. Before Sykes could react, Todd pushed him against the window, forcing the gun from his hands. They struggled.
Tea stood in the background, in shock. It did not immediately register that the gun had landed at her feet. Her life flashed before her eyes, every time she had been victimized, every time that she had been hurt. Things people had said to her, mean things, nasty things, abusive things.
You’re nothing.
Sellout.
Nobody cares about you.
Your mother left because of you.
I don’t love you. I could never love you.
“Tea, get the gun!” Todd yelled, still fighting with Sykes.
Some other force, something beyond her, moved her hand toward the gun, picked it up, cocked it. “Don’t move!” Her voice says.
Both men stop, arms up. “Tea,” Todd says, easing to her, “give me the gun.”
“Stay back.”
“Delgado, it’s me. It’s okay.”
“I said stay away.”
“Go ahead, Counselor, pull the trigger.” Sykes pauses. “You can’t do it, can you? You’re too weak.”
“Shut the f*ck up! Both of you, just shut the f*ck up!” Her hand trembles, her eyes play tricks on her, Todd’s face becoming Sykes’ and vice versa. She is confused. Breathe. Breathe. She tries to calm herself; regain her composure. Sweat pours for her face; her finger settling on the trigger.
“It’s over. Let it go. Just let it go,” Todd says, wrapping his arms around her.
She goes weak in his arms. All of the pain, emotions, hurt that she had been holding inside bubble to the surface and release with a blood-curling wail. And she cries. From the depths of her soul; she cries. And wraps her in his warmth, fighting past his own physical and emotional pain, to be her strength; to love her.
To Be Continued..
