by Lexy Timms
“Thank you,” Katherine whispered.
“You say you’ve done this before?”
“Yes.”
“Then I need you to tell me what happened yesterday. If you want to file a restraining order, you can detail the past history of abuse, but for right now, let’s get your side of the story on file,” Bowers said.
“I told the cops everything yesterday. It’s on file,” she insisted, trying not to get angry.
Bowers turned to his computer. “What’s your full name?”
She told him, waiting while he entered it, following up with her birthday. He was nodding his head as he read the screen.
“Well?”
Bowers sighed. “There’s a report, but I’m afraid it doesn’t look good for your boyfriend.”
Katherine stood up. She should have known it would be a waste of time. “Thanks for nothing,” she snapped and started to walk out of the office.
“Hey,” a woman’s voice stopped her.
She turned to see the female officer that had been at the bakery the day before. “Hi.”
“What’s going on?”
Katherine shrugged her shoulder. “Same old shit, different city,” she muttered.
“Look, I know what you’re going through, I can help.”
Katherine was done asking for help. “Thanks, but I think I’ve got about all the help I can take right now.”
The cop stopped her. “Wait, I’m serious. If you’re ready to do something about your husband, we’ll make it happen.”
“How? I’ve called the police. I’ve filed reports and yet he’s still out there walking around.”
The woman smiled at her. “I’m different. I want to get guys like him behind bars.”
“What we want and what we get our two very different things I’ve learned.”
She reached into her front pocket and pulled out a business card. “Take this. The next time your husband shows up, you call me. I’ll make sure he gets locked up.”
Katherine took the card, surprised by the woman’s gesture. “Thank you, but how do you know there will be a next time?”
The cop cocked her head to the side. “You and I both know there will be a next time.”
She nodded her head in agreement. “Thank you. I’ll hold on to this. I truly hope I never need it.”
“I do too, but if you do, you call. In the meantime, you need to file for divorce. It’s a step in the right direction. He doesn’t deserve to have anything on you, even a silly piece of paper. File for divorce. It is going to make it a lot easier to get a restraining order, which you will need,” she advised.
Katherine’s stomach knotted thinking about what that would do. Tim would lose his mind. He would definitely come after her.
“I’ll think about it. Why are you helping me?” she asked, looking the cop straight in the eyes.
She shrugged. “Us women have to stick together.”
Katherine shook her head. “Liar.”
The cop’s smile faded. “I’ve been you.”
Katherine understood and nodded her head. “Thank you. Now, I need to go find out how to get my boyfriend out of jail.”
“Take care of yourself,” she called out as Katherine walked back into the lobby of the police station having no idea what to do next.
Bowers looked as if Ben was being charged with something pretty serious. She wasn’t Ben’s wife or a relative and had no way to get any information. She walked outside the police station, pacing back and forth, trying to figure out what to do next.
“Katherine!” she heard her name and spun around, trying to find the person calling her.
She spotted Rachel coming up the sidewalk and nearly collapsed in relief. “I’ve been calling you!” she shrieked.
“I’m sorry, I was busy trying to get everything rolling. Katherine, this is Meredith Green, Ben’s attorney.”
“Hi,” Katherine said shaking the woman’s hand.
“Hello, I understand we have a bit of a situation on our hands.”
Katherine sighed. “You have no idea.”
She quickly filled her in on everything that had been happening and Ben’s phone call. Meredith was nodding her head, her short blonde hair blowing in the breeze. When Katherine was finished with her story, Meredith looked at her and smiled.
“I’ll have him out shortly. I expect he’ll be hungry and wanting a shower.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. I’ve played this little game a million times. Give me thirty minutes,” she said, and strolled into the police station, her briefcase swinging beside her.
Katherine turned to look at Rachel. “She’s kind of scary, huh?”
Rachel laughed. “Yes, she is, which is why she’s the best.”
“Do you know what’s going on? What are his charges? I was told assault, but they haven’t given him a bail amount. That can’t be good,” she said worriedly.
“We’ll let Meredith handle it. Come on, let’s get you some coffee while we wait,” Rachel said, heading towards a food cart vendor.
“I’m okay, I want to wait for Ben.”
“Katherine, Meredith is good, but she can’t wave a magic wand and get him sprung from jail that fast. Besides, you look like you could use some coffee. I’m sure Ben has been worried sick about you. Don’t let the first time he sees you worry him more,” she said gently.
Katherine nodded her head. She knew her hair was a mess and had pulled it into a ponytail. She hadn’t even bothered with makeup before heading to the police station. She knew she probably had dark circles under her eyes.
“Thank you. Rachel, I know I’ve said it, but I’m sorry this happened to him.”
Rachel gave her a reassuring smile. “This didn’t happen to him. He did this because he chose to. No one told him he had to go all Rambo on the guy. That’s on him.”
Rachel ordered two coffees, handing one to Katherine.
“Did you get his car home?” Katherine asked.
“Yep. Will had a spare key and took it back to Ben’s house, which reminds me, I need to order his car for him. Just a second,” she said, pulling out her phone and speaking to someone.
Together, they waited and paced outside the police station. Katherine kept checking her watch, wondering what was taking so long.
“Do you think something’s wrong?” she asked, her worry making her a little crazy.
The look on Rachel’s face told her she was worried as well. Her stomach twisted in knots. She felt like breaking him out in an old-fashioned jail break.
“There she is!” Rachel practically shouted when Meredith emerged from the police station.
Rachel and Katherine rushed towards her. “What happened? Where is he?” they both asked.
Meredith smiled. “He’ll be out shortly. They were a little stubborn, but I am a lot more stubborn.”
Katherine hugged the woman. “Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome.”
Katherine’s nerves were making her jumpy. Between the nerves and the stout coffee, she couldn’t stand still. She was shifting back and forth, her hands twisting together as she paced.
“Why don’t we go inside and wait,” Meredith suggested when the breeze picked up and the air was suddenly very chilly.
The three women went back inside. Katherine felt a lot better with the two strong women flanking her. Soon, she’d see Ben.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ben
BEN’S CELL MATES LOOKED hungry and cranky. It wasn’t a good combination. He wasn’t sure he was going to be able to fight them off should they attack. He’d chosen not to eat the slop they tried to serve for dinner or breakfast and was feeling a little shaky. His lack of food combined with no sleep left him vulnerable. He had a feeling he’d end up in the infirmary or the morgue if someone didn’t show up soon.
“O’Leary,” a guard called out his name.
Ben moved his head, not bothering to get up. “What?”
“You
’re out of here.”
That got him moving. He stood and walked to the cell, trying his best to play it cool, not wanting to look too excited. The guard opened the cell and led him down a corridor where he was given his personal property back. He didn’t bother checking to see if it was all there. He signed the paper and made his escape to freedom.
When he stepped into the lobby, he saw Rachel immediately. She jumped up and raced towards him, followed by what he assumed was his lawyer, a middle-aged woman wearing a slick black pantsuit, and then Katherine, who hung back.
Meredith Green pulled him into a corner to talk with him, but his eyes kept drifting to Katherine. He could tell she hadn’t slept.
“You’re out for now, but they’re going to be watching you,” Meredith was saying.
“Am I still charged?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. I spoke with the prosecutor’s office and they aren’t going to press charges. They know they’d never get them to stick. It took a little massaging, but it’s done. However, if you go after that guy again, you’re going to be slapped with everything they can throw at you.”
He nodded his head. “I understand, but if he comes after her again, I’m not going to stand back and let him hit her.”
“Call the cops and keep the dispatcher on the phone to document everything.”
“Okay.”
Meredith turned to look back at Katherine. “Give her my card. This one is on me,” she muttered.
“What?”
“She needs to divorce that piece of shit.”
Ben grinned. “I agree. Thanks Meredith.”
“I’ll let you have your reunion. If you need anything, give me a call. I had no idea you were going to eat into that retainer so quickly. You have just been moved to the top of my client list,” she said with a smile.
“Next time, don’t leave me sitting in jail so damn long,” he growled, dead serious.
She shrugged a shoulder. “The wheels of justice are not fast.”
“I’ll pay you double to grease them.”
“Understood. Take care of yourself,” she said, and walked out of the station.
Rachel threw herself at him, hugging him tight. “I hate you.”
“I know.”
“She’s worried sick about you,” she whispered.
“Thank you.”
She hugged him again before stepping back. “Your car’s waiting. Go home. Shower, eat and spend some time with her.”
He chuckled. “My plans exactly.”
“Seriously, shower first, because you stink.”
He laughed. “You should have smelled the other guys.”
“No thanks. Take care. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, turned and waved goodbye to Katherine before walking out.
He stood where he was, looking at Katherine, waiting for her to approach him. She stood staring at him, tears in her eyes.
“Katherine,” he said her name.
She walked to him. He opened his arms and she stepped into them. Her arms going around him and squeezing him tight.
“I’m sorry,” she said, so much emotion in her voice he nearly burst into tears himself.
“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered.
“Please,” she groaned.
He grabbed her hand and together they walked into the cool, fall day that waited for them. He saw the black town car and headed for it. He paused before opening the door and turned to look at her.
“I don’t want to assume anything here, but would you like to go home with me?” he asked.
She smiled. “Yes, please.”
He opened the car door and she climbed right in. He knew he smelled horrible, but she didn’t seem to mind, she snuggled against him anyway. His arm went around her, protecting her always. Neither of them talked as the driver silently drove them out to his place. When they passed through the gates of his home, he had never been so glad to see his sprawling property. He exited the car and extended his hand to help Katherine out.
Together, they walked inside. He headed straight for his kitchen. He needed a drink after the last twenty-four hours.
“Wine?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I’ll have some of that,” she said, nodding to the bottle of scotch he had pulled out.
He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“It’s been a hell of a day.”
He grinned. “I agree.”
He poured them each a glass and handed it to her.
“I’m—”
He cut her off. “Don’t say it. Don’t be sorry. You are the only one in this whole equation who did nothing wrong.”
“But—”
He shook his head. “Don’t. It was my choice.”
She nodded her head. “Okay, but for what it’s worth, I am sorry to have put you in the position to make that decision,” she blurted out before he could stop her.
He took a long drink of the scotch, realizing a little too late he had an empty stomach. “Sweetheart, I would love to argue with you about the blame and all that, but I need to shower and eat something, probably not in that order, but that’s what I’m going to do. Once I’ve done that, we’re going to have a long talk about what we do next. Okay?”
She nodded her head. “Shower. I’ll make something for dinner.”
“Just order in,” he said, reaching for his wallet and pulling out his black credit card and setting it on the counter.
“Babe, I can make you something,” she said.
Hearing her call him babe was worth the twenty-four hours in jail. He walked towards her, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.
“You can cook for me tomorrow. Right now, I’m starving. I want a damn buffet waiting for me when I get out. I don’t care what it is, but I want it ready. I know you’re a damn good cook and you better believe I’m going to take you up on your offer, but for tonight, let’s order in. You’re exhausted. I’m exhausted, and I have no idea if there is even any food in the house.”
She grinned and nodded her head. “Thank goodness. I was really not looking forward to trying to cook a meal in thirty minutes.”
He chuckled, slapped her ass and left her in the kitchen to do the ordering. He hadn’t been joking when he said he wanted a feast. He was already thinking about the food that would be waiting for him after he scrubbed off the stench of the jail.
The moment he stepped into his large shower with all the jets on their highest spray, he knew it had been a worthy investment. He put one palm on the tile wall for support and hung his head, letting the spray scrub him clean. He was so exhausted he didn’t have the energy to lather up. After spending a good fifteen minutes half-sleeping as he stood under the hot spray, he managed to soap up and rinse before washing his hair. When he stepped out of the shower, he pulled on a pair of boxers and sweats, not bothering with a shirt.
When he opened his bedroom door, he was immediately blessed with a combination of smells wafting up from below. He smelled pizza and Chinese. Hell, he could smell something else that smelled an awfully lot like fried chicken. By the time he descended the stairs, he was ravenous. He walked into the empty kitchen and saw the spread on the counter but no sign of Katherine.
“Katherine?” he called out.
He heard the murmur of voices and bolted out of the kitchen, automatically assuming the worst. He raced for the front foyer, prepared to fight for her life once again. He rounded the corner, sliding across the smooth marble tile in his bare feet to find Katherine closing the door, a big brown bag in her hand.
“Thank god,” he mumbled.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
He nodded. “Yes, I thought—” he stopped talking.
She held up the paper bag. “It was your security guy. Food delivery.”
“Okay. Sorry, I guess I’m a little jumpy.”
She giggled as she walked towards him. “Welcome to my reality.”
She said it with a laugh, but it was
then that he truly realized the horror she had been living with for the last two years. He was jumping out of his skin and he’d only been dealing with it for a couple weeks. It was inhumane.
“What do you have in that bag? I smell something fried,” he said with excitement.
“Well, I was hoping to get you one of those burgers from that bar you love, but it would have taken at least an hour, so your security guy, Terrance, told me about another burger joint you like. I’ve got you a cheeseburger and onion rings,” she said, walking into the kitchen.
“Woman, you have no idea how happy you’ve made me,” he said with complete honesty.
“Sit, I’ll dish you up. I’ve got some supreme pizza, Chinese, fried chicken and the burger,” she announced, telling him his nose had been right on the money.
“I’m going to die if I eat all that.”
She smiled. “I’m going to help you eat this. I’m hungry, like seriously hungry. I skipped lunch yesterday and freaking out all last night and today made it impossible to eat anything if I’d wanted to. But now that I have you in front of me, shirtless and sexy as hell, I am starving.”
“Let’s eat!”
They dished up together and carried their plates into the living room. The last thing he wanted to do was sit on a hard chair. His ass was sore from the cold hard bench at the jail, and he needed the creature comforts of his couch.
After they stuffed themselves to the point of misery, they sat on the couch, holding each other without talking. It was time to address the giant elephant in the room.
“Meredith gave me her card to give to you,” he said.
“Oh, does she expect me to end up in jail soon?” she teased.
He cleared his throat. “For a divorce.”
“Oh.”
“Katherine, I don’t want to pressure you into doing anything, but don’t you think it’s time?”
She took a deep breath. “It is. I’ve just always been so afraid of making him mad.”
“I think that line has been crossed.”
“I know. I’ll take her card.”
He was quiet for a minute. “You’re thinking about leaving, aren’t you?” he asked, in a low voice.
