I couldn’t come up with a reason to be anything less than truthful. “My fiancé’s brother.”
“You gave him your phone?”
“It’s a bit complicated,” I said with a scoff. “You see, I didn’t know until yesterday that my fiancé has a twin.”
“How would you not know that?”
“That answer too is complicated. The point is that my fiancé’s twin brother led me to believe he was my fiancé. He asked for my phone, and I gave it to him.”
“Did you ask for it back?”
“No, I left my parents’ home before I had the opportunity.”
Patrol Officer Howard looked around the large living room. “Did you leave your parents’ home of your own free will?”
“Yes.”
“Did Mr. Sherman force you to leave?”
“Isn’t that the same question?”
“Ms. McGrath, we want to understand what prompted the text messages.”
“I don’t know what prompted the text messages,” I replied. “I didn’t send them.” As the patrol officer entered information on her tablet, I went on, “Van, Mr. Sherman, and I both wanted to leave my parents’ home. It was mutual. You can speak to Mr. and Mrs. Thalmer. They work for my parents and have since I was young. We spoke with Rosemary before we left. She can tell you my state of mind.”
“If I spoke to her, what would she say?”
I sighed. “She’d say I left the house willingly. She’d tell you that Mr. Sherman is a good man who promised her he’d…”
“He’d what?”
A smile came to my lips. “He promised to love me, care for me, and encourage me to fly.”
“Sometimes,” she said, “people say one thing and do another. Has Mr. Sherman hurt you?”
“No.”
“Has he struck you?”
The last thing I was going to do was to get into a conversation about bedroom antics. Besides, I didn’t think she meant a foreplay spanking. “No, Mr. Sherman has never frightened or harmed me.” I lifted my left hand, showing her my ring. “Our engagement is still on. This entire situation is a farce perpetrated by Phillip Thomas, Mr. Sherman’s brother. He had my phone and probably still does. Check with the cell provider regarding the text messages. They would have come from Chicago, not Ashland.”
Officer Howard stood and handed me a business card. “Here’s the number of an agency in Ashland. Anyone you speak to there can help you. Don’t be afraid of Mr. Sherman’s influence. You are our concern.”
Standing, I looked at the card and back to Officer Howard. “I know you’re doing your job. I think you’re very good at it. I promise you, I’m safe. I’m here because I want to be here. I never sent text messages to my parents claiming otherwise.”
“I advise you to have the phone disabled.”
I nodded. “As soon as I can.”
She offered me her hand. “I apologize for bothering you.”
As she spoke, we both turned to the hallway, hearing Van’s and Officer Stewart’s voices. From their expressions, I gathered his talk went as well as mine, or at least as well as I thought it had.
“Ms. McGrath,” Officer Stewart said, “I also apologize for this inconvenience.”
I walked to Van’s side. “I assure you, I’m where I want to be. There is no place I’d rather be.”
He nodded. “We will let you know if we hear of any other concerns.”