Twisted Choice

Mr.Handsome

James stares at me now, shock is evident on his face. Neither of us have spoken for what seems like forever. Its probably only been a few minutes, James is slumped back in his chair, looking like he has been winded, I suppose what I had to say could of come as quite a shock to him. I know I asked Mia to help me, but the more I think about it the further away from all this I want to keep her, especially as she is the one who is supporting the kids. They need her more than I do and I need them all safe. James is a stranger, but one I feel I can trust. He's saved my life, ensured my safety, come back when I've asked and stood up for me against George. James has done more for me in the past week than George did in the whole 10 years we were together. Maybe I am asking too much now, but as the saying goes if you don't ask you don't get. He knows the town, the alley, the club, maybe even some of the regulars. He can point out who seems the type and who doesn't, I just hope he agrees and I don't have to do this alone.

'Okay, but I have some ground rules' He finally says.

'Whats that?' Yess I have a partner in crime, he's going to help me take down this bastard once and for all.

'We do this 100% together, no running off and doing your own thing because things aren't moving fast enough. You cannot involve anyone else or even tell them what you're doing, the less amount of people that know the better. We absolutely have to do things my way, and when I say its time to stop, we have to stop. Do you agree to my conditions?' I'm not sure I like these rules, I don't want to stop, I dont want to be dictated to on how we do things, and I don't want to be stopped following a lead just because I'm on my own.

'Is there room for compromise?' I ask more braisen now, I don't want to lose control of this plan.

'Depends what aren't you happy with?' he's answers back to his professional business man persona, no room for emotion in business.

'I don't want to miss out on following a lead, just because you're not around or you're working, that will drive me insane and make me want to go off on my own. I'm fine not involving anyone else, I want to keep my loved ones as far away from this as possible. What I'm not fine with is you dictating how we do things, if I have an idea, I'm going to want to voice it at the very least if not follow through with it. And finally I don't think i'm ever going to stop untill I have got to the bottom of this mess, can you understand that?' I'm riled up and ready to go now. I want this scumbag caught and dealt with.

'Okay how about, we do it entirely your way, with input from me of course. However you have one week, I will book it off work and devote 100% of my time into your cause, if nothing comes of it in a week, no leads, no suspects we close the book on this mad plan and leave the detective work up to the police?'

'I can't promise to let it rest after the week but if this is my best shot of finding him then I'll do whatever it takes.' I agree, even if I do hate the idea of dropping it. A week is plenty of time for me to at least get a lead.

'Are you going to be able to get off work and out of all your responsibilities for a week? I know you have kids.' How does he know that?

'Yeah I will tell my sister I need more healing time before the kids see me, how did you know I had kids?' I ask frowning at him now, but he just raises his hand gesturing to a photo my sister must of brought over. It's of me and the kids laughing in the garden, It's one of my favourite pictures, I can't believe I didn't notice it was there. However the room is still littered with so many get well soon cards and gifts, I can't believe I can still see my own feet, nevermind a picture on the side.

'I didn't even know I had that' I state honestly, holding the picture in my hand wishing more than anything that I could just go back home, hold my beautiful children and pretend this never happened. But the pain is a constant reminder that it did happen, and it happened to me, even if my brain refuses to remember, my body does. My stomach threatens to hurl, every time I think about what that man could of done to me that I will never know about. I know he rapped me but I want to know why, why me? Why stab me if I was out of it on drugs? Why leave me to bleed out in a dark alley alone? These questions can only be answered by him. So I have to find him no matter what.

'You okay?' James asks reaching to wipe the tear as it rolls down my face, but I just back, I don't want to be touched, not ever again.

'Sorry, I was just...' He trails off, not knowing what to say.

'Its not your fault, I just can't bare to be touched right now.' Thats not quite true, I can't bare to be touched by men, but that's not his fault or his genders fault, so I'll stick with my half truth to save his feelings.

'I didn't think, I just hate to see such a beautiful women cry.' Is he actually complementing me right now? I roll my eyes internally, not wanting to offend such a kind hearted man when he's only trying to be sweet, but my god how cringy.

'You don't like compliments?' He asks, as if he just read my mind.

'Is it that obvious?' I question trying to hide the smile that is threatening to spread across my face.

'Well your nose scrunched up and your lips pursed a little.' he chuckles now, its a throaty chuckle, sexy. I openly roll my eyes now, a half smile breaking through my fasade, how can this man read me so easily?

'That's better, if you're going to pull faces you may as well do them clearly.' He's still chuckling at me, I don't know if I should be offended or amused.

'Oh really, well how about this face.' I giggle, sticking my tongue out and wiggling at him, with my eyebrows raised. I must look ridiculous, but in this moment I don't care. It has been so long since I've had such a lighthearted conversation outside of my immediate family. Not even George could relax me like this, he was always too uptight and needed to be in control.

'Mines better' He says squeezing his eyes shut, showing his teeth and tilting his head to the wit his thumbs in his ears. He looked ridiculous, and hilarious. I can't help myself i'm laughing, HARD.

'That face suits you, James. Glad to see you've come back and are cheering our patient up.' Jessica says entering the room unnoticed, catching James in all his hilarious embarrassment, his hand fly down by his sides, his face returning to its seriousness, with a hidden smile threatening to show itself.

'Oh Jessica I'm so sorry, I didnt mean to over stay my welcome.' James is standing now, shows me a quick wink and heads for the door.

'You don't have to leave on my account' She says, stil laughing at him under her professional gaze.

'I'm just going to grab some coffee I'll be back after you've worked your magic.' He replies as he slips around the corner of the door, giving us both a little wave as he disapears out of sight.