“It’s a pleasure, Thea, though I wish it were under better circumstances.” I shake Lauren’s offered hand as she drags a chair over to where Cynthia and I are sitting.
“I told Kol, I only wanted to recite this once.” I stare between them, and I already realize that won’t be the case. It’ll be multiple times. “I’m not strong enough to go through it repeatedly.”
Cynthia nods her head, and I can see her mind working a mile a minute. “How about this? You give us the basics, now, but I’m going to ask you the questions I feel are most important in helping me represent you the best I can. When it’s time to you make your full formal statement, we’ll be there, as well. Sound fair?”
“Yes.” Cynthia brings out her digital recorder as Lauren takes out a notepad.
After recounting the official information into the device, Cynthia lays it on the table in front of us before she asks her first question. “Can you tell me the name of your attacker?”
I swallow roughly because saying his name always hurts. “Richard Dane.”
“And who is he to you?”
“My step-father.” The questions continue like that for over an hour. They ask about my age when he first started showing interest. When he touched me the first time? About the night he violated me. If my mother knew.
The one thing they don’t question, however, probably holds the most important answer. “I had a rape kit done.” I blurt out when Lauren is about to ask another question.
“You did? When? Where?” Cynthia’s excitement grows, and I can see why she’s an attorney now.
“Both times. The first time I was fifteen and had refused to name him, but they did the kit at Joplin Urgent Care. He has no idea I was even there. The bleeding…it wouldn’t stop.” I shake just thinking about it. Remembering the excruciating pain again.
“And when you reported him, was it the urgent care or the hospital?” Lauren’s gaze is glossed over as she asks.
“I went to the hospital that time. I thought, maybe, I’d made a mistake at the time. But now, I don’t. Because doesn’t it show a pattern?” My mind and body are exhausted, and I want to sleep for days, but I’m beginning to see the hope Cynthia and Lauren have been trying to encourage in me.
“For now, that little tidbit stays between us. I will not allow you to answer questions about the first rape. Only the second, since that was the one you reported.” Cynthia reaches down into her briefcase before pulling some papers out and handing them to me. “These are medical record requests. As soon as I’m done here, I’m going to get access to that first kit and keep it out of everyone’s hands. We have an evidence vault at my firm for instances such as this.”
“Thea,” Lauren’s voice is soft as she draws my attention. “I know you’re tired, honey, but now it’s time to talk to the detectives. Now is when we make it official. Are you ready?”
My throat tightens, and my mouth goes dry. I’m not even close to reliving my biggest nightmare.
Kol
* * *
“I pushed away. I begged for him to stop.” Thea’s tears are like the darkest rivers as she relays what happened to her. What that fucker did to her. How he forced himself on her unwilling body.
“Take a breath, man. They’re handling her with care,” Noah encourages from beside me. I wasn’t allowed in the interview room, and Thea didn’t want me listening in. She knew I’d flip my shit, but I couldn’t skip out on hearing her story, so I hide behind the two-way mirror.
“I’d like to fucking kill him,” I growl out. My grip on the table in front of me is so tight my hands ache.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” Captain Pearson mutters from behind us.
“When you went to the hospital what happened?” Titan asks her.
“I was bruised. He smacked me a couple of times when I fought back, and a nurse took pity on me. When I told her what happened, she immediately called another nurse and doctor to perform a rape kit. As far as I know, that’s when Joplin P.D. was called.”
“Did they take you seriously?” Fucking hell. I know these are standard questions, but it kills me to have them make her doubt herself again.
“I think so? I mean, I went through all of this. But once I said Richard’s name, it was like they were hesitant to continue with the interview. They appeared reluctant to call my home.” Her pale face contorts with the horror from that night.
“Fuck.” I drop my head to my chest and count my breaths, trying to calm down. I fucking hate everything about how her original case was handled. Listening further only incites my rage.
“Captain?” The desk sergeant comes through the door to our room.
“What?” Pearson snaps, every bit as angered as me.
“Alexandra and Richard Dane are here, and they’re demanding to see Miss Matthews.” My head pops up, and Noah has to hold me back from charging out.