“And if she was, it wouldn’t make no difference if Shane was trying to rape her,” Bill said firmly.
Shane managed to open one swollen eye and slurred, “She fuckin’ begged me. ”
Jenni shouted something about Shane being a puto and tried kicking him. Juan dragged her a little further away from Shane.
“Let’s get them down into the holding cell,” Bill said to Curtis.
“We’re not going to get anything settled like this. ”
Curtis nodded and motioned for Roger and a few other men to help him. Philip and Shane were then half-dragged, half-carried into the elevator and disappeared from view.
“What are you going to do with them?” Jenni asked angrily.
“Nothing yet. Need to get the story down and process it. Then we’ll decide,” Bill answered.
“Throw them over the wall,” someone shouted from the back of the crowd.
There were murmurs of agreement.
“I think the clones would enjoy playing with them,” Calhoun said from somewhere in the crowd. “Obviously, those two men have no protection against the alien overlords and are controlled by evil forces. ”
Bill walked up to Katie and Travis and said softly, “Katie, want to sit down with me and give a short statement. ”
She nodded and pulled Nerit’s sweater tighter around her shoulders.
“Yeah. I would. ” She seemed to be gathering her strength and her jaw was set determinedly.
Bill motioned to those standing around. “Go back into the party now. Clear this area out. There’s been enough drama. ”
People began to slowly walk away, talking to each other in hushed voices. Juan had pulled Jenni aside and was talking to her softly in Spanish, obviously trying to calm her down. Nerit stood stoically next to Travis and Katie.
r /> At last, Bill guided Katie into the elevator, Travis right beside her.
Nerit, Juan, and Jenni followed along with Peggy. They all rode down in silence to the lobby, where Bill sat Katie down in one of the comfortable chairs and very gently questioned her on all that had happened.
When the statement was finished, Bill pulled Travis aside and whispered, “I’m going to get the Mayor down here and we’ll need to have a meeting about this. ”
Travis nodded, his jaw set grimly.
“I need you to be calm though,” Bill added.
Travis sighed then said, “I know. But she’s…she’s…my everything…”
“I know. But still, we need to decide what is best for all of us. ”
Travis rubbed his brow then nodded again. “Okay. I’ll be back down in an hour. I want to get her settled. ”
“Okay, then we’ll meet at midnight in the hotel manager’s office. ”
“I’ll be there, Bill. ” Travis moved toward Katie. It hurt him to see her looking so traumatized. He could see how hard she was trying to not give into her emotions. He felt proud of her for that.
How this was all going to end was beyond him, but it felt as if they were quickly descending into chaos.
4. The Casting of Lots
Katie could hear Juan and Jenni talking swiftly in Spanish in her bedroom as she gently eased her way out of her once sexy purple dress, that was now only tatters, as she stood in the bathroom. Jenni was still in full-blown “Shane must die” mode and Juan was trying to get her calmed down.
“Let me help. ” He sat on the counter watching her with the saddest eyes.