minute.
“He pulled a gun on me and made me get into my car. He hid in the backseat and made me drive. We changed vehicles at a gas station and he drove us out of town. He said he was taking me to where my husband was.”
I chew on the side of my mouth. No one knows about the next part I am about to tell them. I pause and put my head down, ashamed and humiliated as he asks me to continue.
“Trent turned into a totally different person on that trip. I didn’t know we were headed to Mississippi at first. I was angry, constantly asking questions. I wanted to know if my husband was all right. Trent kept telling me he needed something from me. He… he said Turner refused to sign his name so they could get the twenty million dollars of his inheritance, and they wanted me to convince him he had to.”
I pause and take a sip of water. I place my hand on my brother’s leg for support and grip Turner’s hand tightly.
“He then started telling me he loved me, and that we could take the money and run away together. I told him no, I would never leave my husband for him. I loved Turner, not him. He didn’t want to hear that. The next thing I knew, he pulled over in a vacant parking area and...”
I look over to my brother, tears in my eyes. I can’t look at Turner, not for this. I need Zack. I need his eyes to tell me I am strong enough to say this. He nods, giving me the strength and support I need, but I don’t look away. I can’t.
“He raped me.”
Zack immediately springs up from the couch, pacing back and forth. He stops and glares at every single one of the agents.
“And that’s the kind of man you all are willing to plea bargain with? This is bullshit. When he confessed, he never mentioned he… fuck! I can’t even say it.”
“Look, Zack. We agreed to let you be here for support only for your sister. Don’t step out of line and make us regret it. Now sit your ass back down.”
While all of this is happening in front of me, I glance at Turner out of the corner of my eye. His face is pale, his stature stoic, jaw clenched. The worst pain I have ever seen is etched across his face.
“Fuck that shit!” Zack moves fast, standing face to face with the agent. “Did you just hear what my sister said he did to her? I don’t give a shit if that animal is dying! In fact, I wish he would have died. No, death is too good for him. That’s my sister!”
“Will you calm down? I know she’s your sister. You know how this works, detective. I am telling you one last time, sit your ass down and let me do my goddamn job!”
“Zack, please,” I beg. “Let me get this over with. I… I need you. Please.”
I begin to cry. I can’t seem to stop. I feel a strong arm come around my shoulder, pulling me in tight to his chest. Consoling, sweet words of assurance are spoken into my ear. It’s not the person I was hoping for. I didn’t even notice he had gotten up. However, these arms I am familiar with. They are arms that have held me tight many times. My dad.
I cry until I feel like I have nothing left. Defeated, deflated, and so full of guilt and shame.
“Does she have to finish today? I think my daughter has had enough,” my dad says while keeping me tucked tightly to his side.
“That’s up to her. Would you like to stop, Mrs. Calloway?”
“No. I want to get this over with,” I sniff.
Dad hands me a box of Kleenex. I try to pull myself together. Zack doesn’t sit down, though. He stands in the corner, eyes fixed on a spot on the wall.
The hard part is over and I carry on with the rest of the story, telling them as much as I can remember. When they are all packed up and gone, I turn to my dad, who still has his arms around me, afraid to let me go.
“Where’s Turner?”
“He’s with Journey.”
“Oh.”
Sitting up straight, I look over to my brother, who is now sitting in a chair. Silence fills the room.
“Sweetheart, I think it’s time you call Dr. Jollup.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Turner
I failed her. I promised to love and