center of the room with Jordan and Danny hovering behind me, as he sat down across from me.
“Sorry about having to use this room, I don’t have an office of my own and I thought privacy would be the best thing.”
“Not a problem.” I answered.
He cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “I’m sure you have questions.”
“Yes, I do. First of all, what happened?” I asked, already dreading his answer.
“Her death has been ruled a suicide; she parked her car on the railroad tracks and waited. By the time the conductor saw her, it was too late.”
The train’s whistle; when my mother called me, I heard it in the background. She had spent the last moments of her life telling me how much she hated me. I stared at him as numbness spread across my body as Jordan rested his hand on my shoulder, trying to comfort me.
“She killed herself?” I managed to ask.
He nodded. “I’m so sorry for your loss. I know it must be hard to wrap your mind around something like this.”
I only nodded, unable to find my voice.
“We would have contacted you sooner, but unfortunately she was driving a car that belongs to someone who is currently sitting in our county jail. We found her phone in what was left of the car. It was dead, but we managed to put the pieces together rather quickly after we had your name. She had a warrant out for her and your name was attached to it.”
“I want to see her.” I said suddenly.
“I uh, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“Why not?” I asked. “She’s my mother, I have every right.”
I needed to see her, to make sure it was her. I already knew in my heart that it was, but I wanted that last validation.
“Chloe, I have to agree with Officer Rogers. Her car was hit by a train; nothing good can come from that.” Danny said from behind me.
I winced, knowing he was right as I looked up at Officer Rogers. “Is that the reason?”
He nodded. “I’m sorry Chloe, but I really don’t think it’s wise to put you through that.”
Jordan gripped my shoulder tighter. “Just let it go Chloe, she’s put you through enough hell already, no reason to hurt yourself more.”
All I could picture was my mother’s lifeless body, mangled beyond recognition. The way she died seemed to suit her life; tragic and swift. I just wished she would have tried to turn her life around before it was too late.
“You’re right. I don’t think I could handle seeing that. Where do we need to go from here?”
“What do you mean?” Officer Rogers asked.
“I need to bury her, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” I said.
“Oh, she’s been sent to the county hospital. Just get in touch with them and the funeral home.”
“Chloe, I’ll handle everything for you so don’t stress.” Danny said from behind me.
“Thank you.”
“No thanks needed,” he glanced up at Officer Rogers, “Is there anything else we needed to go over or can I take her home?”
“We’re finished here; you’re free to go.”
I thanked him one last time, for what I’m not sure, and walked out of the room and back down the hall to the front doors. Jordan came up behind me and wrapped his arm around me as we walked to the car. After the incident earlier, I knew I should push him away, but I couldn’t. I had grown to depend on him as a permanent fixture in my life over the last few weeks and I wasn’t ready to let that go.
Danny ushered me into my room and started calling the hospital and funeral home to make arrangements for my mother as soon as we made it back to his house. We had decided on the way home that, due to the situation, cremation was the best option. The mere thought chilled me to the bone and I was glad that Danny was handling everything for me.
I picked up my phone up and dialed Drake’s number. My luck was shit of course, and it went straight to voicemail. I left a message asking him to call me. There was no way I was going to explain everything to him over a voicemail.
I tried Amber next, and she picked up on the first ring.
“Hello?” She answered cheerfully.
I froze, unsure of how to tell her what had happened.
“Chloe? Are you there?”
“Yeah,” I croaked out. I cleared my throat before continuing, “Yeah, I’m here.”
She was on high alert.