Thristy

Chapter Seven

My heart kept dropping as I grabbed my keys and told my assistance that I would be working from home for the rest of the week. She looked at me, “Ok, Ms. Winters, If there is anything you need. You know I am only a phone call away.” I nodded as I turned on my phone as I realized that for the past hour my phone was being blown up by Abby, Rick, Melissa and Jack. I also noticed that I had missed a call from my security company. I went to check my voicemail when I saw Jack running into the lobby as I made my way down there, “Baby Girl, Are you Okay?”

He ran to me and took me into his arms. I shook my head, “Of course I am. What is going on? I turned on my phone and there were messages after messages. I was about to take a look at them.” I slid the letter into my back pocket not wanting Jack to know about it just yet. He sighed as he pulled away keeping his hands on my arm, “There was a break in at your house. The police found small traces of blood.” He took a deep breath, “When the police couldn’t get a hold of you, they called Abby. She called everyone so I figured that I would check here since this was the last place, I knew you were going to be.” He kissed my forehead as I realized that I had lost track of time, “I am okay. Jack, I don’t know if I could go back there now.”

Jack placed his hand on my back to guide me out of the building, “I will text Abby that I found you. We will take my car. I have to take you to the police station, so they know that you are okay. I will have Abby pack a bag for you. I have you stay with me at the loft” I froze to the ground as the thought of being at the loft knowing that Billy knew that we hung out at the club a lot. Jack looked at me, “Baby Girl?” I shook my head, “Do you think your sister would mind if we stayed there. We only need one room.” He lifted his eyebrow, “What is wrong with my loft?” I placed my hands on his arms as I turned towards him, “I just think having a full club of people below us will be too much for me right now.” He bowed his head, “That is understandable. I will text her when we get to the police station.”

We arrived at the station as we sat in the lobby for a few moments before an officer walked up to us, “Thank you for coming in. I am Detective Cruz; I am the lead detective on the case.” He shook my hand and Jack’s then led us down the hall, “Why don’t we go to my office.” Jack and I followed him as he opened the office door then held out his hand for us to sit in the chairs. Once we were seated, he shut the door, “First thing, Jack it is nice to see you again. Sorry I didn’t make it to the welcome back party.” He turned to me, “Ms. Winters, I hate meeting people like this, but I do have to know how you know Jack how involved with Ms. Winters?” He sat down at his desk as Jack smiled at him, “Ms. Winters is my girlfriend.” I smiled at him as my heart fluttered as he labeled us but also was feeling it was all moving too quickly. He smiled as he placed his hand into mine.

The detective shook his head, “Ms. Winters the reason why we wanted to speak to you to make sure that you are okay due to the nature that we found your place.” He sighed, “We can’t go into specifics just yet. Ms. Winters, Is there anyone that would want to hurt you?” I reached into my back pocket as I pulled it up. I lifted my head up then handed him the letter, “When I got to my office late this morning, there was a delivery guy with a dozen roses and that letter.” I felt Jack staring at me as I kept forward looking at the detective as he read the letter.

He placed the letter down on the desk, “Jack buddy, can you grab Ms. Winters some coffee as I have a conversation with her.” Jack snapped his head to the detective, “Is everything ok, Joel?” Detective smiled at him, “Yes, I just got to go over some basic questions and I think it will help if Ms. Winters have some coffee.” Jack looked back at me, “Baby Girl, do you want coffee?” I looked at him trying not to tear up, “Yes, Jack that would be nice. Thank you.” I forced a smile at him knowing that I am going to have everything out once he leaves. I am going to have to relive the whole thing in my head.

Jack nodded his head, “Ok Baby Girl. I will be right back.” He got from his seat, “I will go to your favorite place, too. Only right up the street. That should give you and Detective enough time to talk.” Detective smiled at him, “That will be perfect, Jack.” Jack leaned down to place a soft kiss on my forehead as I squeezed my eyes closed trying not to cry. The detective walked him to the door, “Don’t worry, Jack. You know she is in good hands.” He shook Jack’s hand, “It was good to see you.” Jack nodded his head, “You too, Man. Just find out who did this.”

Detective closed the door as soon as Jake left and returned to his desk. He leaned back in his chair with the letter in his hand as he read it over again. He leaned forward as he placed the letter down, “I am going to guess. Billy is an ex-boyfriend.” I nodded my head, “Yes, I ended this over ten years ago.” He sighed, “You changed your name once you got into Boston.” I nodded, “That is correct, Sir.” He got up from his desk and sat next to me, “Does Jack know what happened?” I shook my head, “No, there are only a very few people that know the truth. Those are the people that had me run from Chicago and helped me get settled in Boston.” I sighed, “Jack’s sister knows a few details of my childhood and my relationship with Billy.” I shook my head, “Jack only knows about the scars, but I never told him how they got there.”

He leaned back into the chair as he raised his eyebrow, “Scars?” He took a deep breath, “Let’s start from the beginning. Tell me how Rose became Monica and how you got to Boston.” I went through each horrified event from my childhood to the two years of hell I went through with Billy. How abusive it got and how quickly it happened. I told about the night that left a huge scar on my back and how I came to Boston.

When Jack arrived, I was sobbing in the chair. Jack knocked on the door when the detective went to open it, “Okay, Ms. Winters, I think that is enough for today. Do you have a place that you can stay until we get to the bottom of this?” Jack nodded his head as he handed the cup of coffee, “She will be staying with me at my sister’s house.” Jack shook the detective’s hand as he walked us out of the office. He looked at Jack, “Can we have a few words?” Jack nodded, “Of course, Joel.”

I watched Jack as the detective stood behind the wall that led to his office. I could see Jack tense up then looked over to me with one of his eyebrows raised. I looked at him scared that the Detective was telling everything. After a couple of minutes, they shook hands and Jack walked back to me. “Are you ready to go?” I looked up at him and smiled.

Jack drove to his sister’s house not saying a word. He didn’t talk; however, he held my hand the whole time. Once in a while he would bring my hand to his face onto his chin as I felt the tiny hairs from his gold tee then placed his lips on my knuckles. Any time that I tried to pull away he would give my hand a squeeze to keep my hands into his. I looked at him, “Thank you, Jack for this.” He sighed, “For what Baby Girl?” I looked out the window, “For all of this. Not trying to use me for my money or success for your own. You have been so kind to me. No one or I should say no man has ever treated me the way you do.” He smiled as he nodded when I looked back at him. He pulled into his sister’s driveway when I started to tear up again and break down. He turned himself to me, “Baby girl, it is ok. I will keep you safe.”