Hidden Temptations

Chapter Seventeen

Addie’s POV

I hear more footsteps running up the stairs.

“Officer Matthews.” This voice is deep, I refrain from looking up.

“Sarge, I just, she was in danger.” Ian doesnt let go of me.

“Let’s get her a blanket.” It must be Ian’s boss. He sounds pissed. A blanket gets laid over my back and shoulders, Ian wraps it around me and picks me up. He takes me down the stairs and into a squad car.

“Adeline! What’s going on? Is she okay?” My mother runs out of the house in her night robe, slippers and her hair in curlers. Ian shuts the car door, I don’t think he wants me to hear what he is about to tell my mom. He starts to talk but all I hear is muffled noises.

“Mrs. Marten.”

“Please, call me Kim.”

“Alright Kim. He came back, his name is Peter Warren, does that sound familiar to you?”

“Oh my, yes! He used to work for my husband. I only saw him once a year at their company parties.” I can see my mother covering her mouth, what is he telling her.

“Can I take Addie home?” She touches the police car.

“We have to take her down to the station, but she will need some clothes, we did find her only in her underwear” I have to hold back my tears, seeing Addie laying there on the ground. Naked, how I left her only 3 hours ago. Kim starts to cry, the fear of her daughter being r***d by this man makes her break down. It pains me inside too. “Please meet us down there.”

“Kimmy!” Sarah runs outside in tears, and runs into my mother’s arms. She yelled loud enough for me to hear. “I’m sorry, I thought the doors were locked!”

“Honey, it’s okay, she’s still here. Come down to the station with me, she will want you there.” They both leave and head towards my house. The police car door opens.

“Addie, we're going down to the station, we have to take pictures of your injury on your chest, and get your statement.” Ian puts his hand on my shoulder, I lay my cheek on his hand. I can see the tears forming in his eyes, “I shouldn’t have left you. I’m sorry.”

“Officer Matthews, you’re coming with me.” He looks up, his Sargent is waving him over.

“I have to go, I will see you at the station, I love you.” He whispers and closes the door. What did he just say? Did he just tell me he loved me? Was it an accident? Do I feel the same way?

Ian’s POV

Why did I say that? Is it true? Was it for me or for her to feel better? I think it is true. After everything she’s been through I add that to her plate, what was I thinking?! Do I feel that way? Does she feel that way?

Addie’s POV

We pull up to the station, Officer Turner opens my door and I wrap myself tight with the blanket I had. I don’t want anyone to see my body, my burns, and my bruised breast. That man has done so much to my body already, I don’t need anyone shaming me even more. Another car pulls up, it looks like Ian and his Sargent. They both get out, Ian looks at me, but continues inside with his boss. He must be in a lot of trouble.

Officer Turner touches my back, it makes me flinch.

“I’m sorry miss, didn’t mean to scare you. We must go inside now, your mom should be on her way with your clothes.” We walk inside, I can’t look anyone in the eye, I feel so gross, I can still feel that man's hand on my breast. We get to the interrogation room. I sit down. Even through the blanket it is cold and unwelcoming. The door opens.

“Adeline, here’s some clothes, let’s get you changed.” My mother puts a bag on the table.

*knock knock*

“Excuse me, we have to take pictures of your injuries.” It’s Ian, I’m so happy to see him, but it’s awkward. Is it because of what he said? Is it because my mom is here?

“Can we get a female to do it please?” My mother turns to him with her arms crossed.

“Of course.” He walks away, and two minutes later a woman walks in with a camera.

“Hi Addie, I’m Lannie. You ready?” I nod and stand up. Lannie points to the plain white brick wall, I walk over and drop the blanket. I stand there, exposed only in my underwear. She snaps pictures of my face, no bruises or cuts. Then my chest, my left breast, you can see the bruises where his hand grabbed me. Then my thighs, the irritation from his thumb shows on my right thigh, it’s more red and swollen. After a few more pictures of my arms, back and body, she picks up the bag of clothes off the table and hands it to me.

“We are all done here. You can get dressed.” Lannie leaves, and I get dressed. It feels nice that I’m not naked and exposed anymore.

I sit back down on the chair, and my mother sits next to me. Ian walks in with a tall, African American man. He looks mean, and has a straight rugged face.

“Hi Adeline, I’m Sargent Thomas. We’re just going to ask you a few questions.” He sits down and places a notepad on the table. Ian stands behind him, he doesn’t look me in the eye. What changed. “Can you tell me how you know Peter Warren?”

“I don’t, who is that?” I sit up straight.

“That is the man who kidnapped you and impersonated a doctor and called himself Dr. Jones.” That’s it, I finally have his name. Peter Warren.

“Yeah I don’t know him personally.”

“Okay, what about you Mrs. Marten.”

My mom looks down, what does she know? “He used to work under my husband at his contracting company.” Wait, my mother knows him? For how long?

“Okay. Adeline, what happened when he entered the house?”

“I don’t know how he got in. He woke me up by putting his hand over my mouth.” I swallowed.

I told them the whole story, about struggling, pushing him against the dresser and him hurting me. My mom seems relieved, she probably had the worst thought running through her mind. Which I don’t blame her for, I did too until Sarah knocked on the door.

“Thank you, I know that was hard. Can you stay here for a few more moments?” Sargent Thomas stands up and leaves. Ian is still standing there with his head hung.

“Mom, can you give me a minute?” I touch her hand, she nods, stands up and leaves. “Ian.”

“Ms. Marten, please call me Officer Matthews.” He looks at me. There’s nothing in his eyes but distance.

“Oh, sorry. My apologies.” I look away from him and hang my head, I start to cry. What have I done? He doesn’t love me. He only said it to make me feel better, he must regret saying it.

Ian’s POV

I want to tell her how I feel, that it’s not her fault I’m acting like this. I just want to tell her that I need to be professional right now, I can’t show my love for this girl while I’m here. Oh no, she’s crying and I can’t comfort her right now. I’m being so cold, I’m ruining everything. If she could know I am thinking about her, about the way I left her, how rude it was of me. I could have been there and tonight would’ve never happened. Addie, I am so sorry. Addie, I meant what I said. I do think in fact that I love you.

Addie’s POV

How can he just stand there? We almost had s*x? I almost let him take my virginity! Does he know I’m a virgin? Probably not, but I can’t sit here anymore. I get up out of the chair, and head towards the door. I look at Ian, he is looking up at the corner of the room. I grab the door handle. Please stop me.

I felt his hand on mine. “Addie.”

“Ian, don't.”

“I have to be this way, you can’t leave.”

“I don’t care, I need to get out of here.” I looked at him, he backed up, I gave him the look. I don’t want to be messed with right now, I’ve been through a lot tonight. “Goodbye Ian.” I leave the room, as I walk down the hall and grab Sarah’s hand, and take her outside.

“Addie what’s going on?” I’m pulling her as fast as I can out of the doors of the station. I stop as soon as we are outside. I look at her, I can’t hold it back anymore. I burst into tears. Sarah grabs me and pulls me in for a hug. “Addie, tell me.”

“Ian, I almost slept with him earlier tonight, we got so close, but then he had to leave for work. And before coming to the station he told me he loved me! Like why would he say that!? Now he’s being so cold and distant! Did I do something wrong? He is all I’ve been thinking about. My feelings for him came on so fast. What do I do?” She lets go of me and grabs my arms.

“He said what?! Wow. Addie. You know throughout high school everyone thought he was the player teacher. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, it’s pure.” She wipes my tears. “You have had a rough few weeks. Let’s go home.” We go back inside, no sight of Ian. We grab my mom and we leave.