Chapter 1 #2
The man continues, "He invited this. He knew what he did to you was wrong."
I lift my eyes slowly, fixing them on his face. My voice stays even despite the burn in my chest. "I want my attorney."
His smile tightens. "Already?"
"Yes."
He leans back, irritation flickering. "You sure you want to play it that way?"
"I want my attorney."
A beat passes. He closes the file with a soft snap. "Fine. You have one, or do you want one assigned to you?"
I wrack my mind, but no one seems safe. "Assign me one."
He rises. "Have it your way. Sit tight."
The guard returns me to the cell without a word. The door slams shut, vibrations rattling my bones. I pace again, four steps forward, four back, because stopping makes the room shrink.
Minutes crawl, and time loses shape. The eyeliner woman keeps glancing at me, her curiosity sharpening. "You look like you bit someone important."
I glare at her.
A different guard appears and calls out, "Blue Ivanov."
My stomach drops. I step forward, and he leads me into the same room. I enter, and relief hits me.
Demi sits across from the man who previously questioned me, her posture tight, eyes bright with worry.
"Thank God you're here!" I blurt out.
"Don't say anything else," Aunt Kora's voice commands.
I spin.
She stands in the corner, her arms crossed, eyes full of concern. But then she pins them on the man sitting across from Demi, like she's a killer attack dog. "You can go now."
He gets up.
"And uncuff my client."
He glances at her, then obeys.
I rub my wrists.
"Make sure the cameras and microphones are off," she orders.
He says nothing, leaves, and shuts the door.
"Why is she here?" I demand, gazing at Demi.
Demi's mouth tightens. "I brought her."
"You weren't supposed to."
"You called me from jail. You need an attorney."
"I told you not to tell my parents."
"I didn't. And if Aunt Kora's your attorney, she has to keep things confidential."
Aunt Kora steps in front of me. "Blue, are you okay?"
My insides turn to mush. Fresh tears fall.
She tugs me into her and holds me tight. "It's okay."
"It's not," I insist, my voice breaking.
"Take some deep breaths," she advises.
After several moments, I calm enough to retreat and sit, stressing, "I don't want my parents to know. I won't let this become a family disaster."
Aunt Kora studies me for a long moment. "You're putting me in a difficult position."
"I'm invoking my attorney-client privilege," I say firmly.
She sighs. "This is going to be hard to keep from getting back to them, Blue. The entire squad knows the Ivanovs."
"So make them shut up," Demi says.
Aunt Kora shakes her head. "It's not that easy."
Demi's eyes flash. "It can be. You can threaten them."
Aunt Kora lifts a brow. "Threatening officers inside their own station won't help Blue. And it's best if you sit there and stop talking."
Demi rolls her eyes. "Fine."
Aunt Kora opens her purse and pulls out a small notebook and pen. "Blue, look at me."
I drag my gaze up.
Her eyes are steady, sharp, and annoyingly warm at the edges. "I need you to be honest with me. Understand?"
My throat crackles. "They're saying I assaulted an officer."
Aunt Kora's pen scratches once. "Yes. They booked you for it."
"They're lying," Demi spits.
Aunt Kora shoots her a dirty look.
Demi holds her hands in the air, wincing, "Sorry."
A quick rap that carries authority hits the door.
Aunt Kora turns her head without shifting her posture. "We're in a private consultation."
The doorknob rattles anyway. A voice filters through. "Two minutes."
Aunt Kora's jaw tightens a fraction. "We'll be done when we're done."
Demi's gaze flicks to me. "Did they hurt you?"
I swallow hard. "They grabbed me."
Aunt Kora's pen moves again. "Who grabbed you?"
"The officer I hit," I say, and my voice shakes on the last word. "And he did it again when he pulled me out of the car by my cuffed wrists."
Demi's mouth drops open, fury sparking. "He did what?"
Aunt Kora turns toward her and warns, "Next outburst and you'll wait in the car."
She closes her mouth.
Aunt Kora asks, "Blue, did he say anything while he did it?"
"He told me to turn my body toward him. Feet out first."
Aunt Kora nods once. "Good. Keep going."
My mind flashes, sharp and ugly. His grip. The threat in his voice. The humiliation of obeying because pain demanded it.
"He squeezed harder when I tried to shrug away. He told me I wasn't in a position to give orders."
Aunt Kora writes, then asks, "What about before they arrested you. What happened?"
My insides tremble harder. I glance at Demi.
She shakes her head.
Aunt Kora's eyes turn to slits. She assesses us, then demands, "What aren't you telling me?"
The question lands heavily. The room tightens. Demi's knee bobs under the table. I drag in a breath that scrapes on the way down and announce, "They arrested him."
Aunt Kora's pen freezes. "Who?"
"Red... Dr. Mercer."
Her mouth opens, then closes. "They arrested him?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"I don't know. They put him in cuffs before I even got inside."
Aunt Kora leans back slowly. "Why were you there?"
"I brought him cookies."
Silence slams into the room.
She cautiously repeats, "Cookies?"
My butterflies kick up. I lift my chin. "We're together."
Her eyes sharpen. "Together, how?"
"We've been seeing each other."
Aunt Kora flinches, then lowers her voice. "The man I referred you to?"
"Yes."
Her pen drops to the table. "No."
"We're in love," I say, the words ripping out of me.
"He manipulated you?" she says through gritted teeth.
"No! He didn't manipulate me. We chose each other."
She swallows hard and softens her tone. "Blue, I'm sure you're confused, but protecting him—"
"I'm not confused, and I'm telling the truth. We're in love. I chose him. It took him a bit to realize it, but he loves me, too," I say louder.
Aunt Kora snaps, "He's your therapist!"
"So?"
"He violated ethics. And now you're sitting in custody because of it."
"They treated him like a criminal."
She fires back, "He is one now."
"So make it go away!"
"I can't!"
My hands shake harder. I lean closer. "You sent me to him. You know he's a good man or you wouldn't have told my mom about him."
Her jaw locks. "I referred you to a licensed professional."
"And he was good to me. He didn't prey on me. I preyed on him if anyone is to blame."
"That doesn't absolve him. It incriminates him," she coldly asserts.
My hands shake. I beg, "Then help us."
Aunt Kora puts her hand over mine. "I will help you, Blue."
"Help him, too."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"It's a direct conflict."
"Aunt Kora, you can't let him suffer. I love him! He's mine! I need him out. Now!" I shriek.
"Calm down, Blue."
I shove my chair back and slam my hands on the table. "You have to help him! This is my fault!"
"Yeah. Fix it!" Demi demands.
Aunt Kora snaps her head toward her. "I'm fixing Blue's case. And I've warned you."
The door knocks again, harder. "Counsel, you need to wrap it up."
Aunt Kora calls back, "Five more minutes." She points. "Please sit."
Tears well again.
"Sit, Blue. Please."
I lower myself onto the chair.
Aunt Kora leans toward me, lowering her voice.
"Listen carefully. I know you're upset and scared.
I'm going to do everything I can to get you out of here.
But that man in the wrinkled suit was fishing.
He wanted you emotional. He wanted you to talk about Dr. Mercer.
He wanted you to blame him or defend him. "
My stomach twists. I press my lips together.
Aunt Kora's eyes sharpen. "Did you tell him anything about your relationship with Dr. Mercer?"
"No," I say quickly.
She nods. "Good. From this moment on, you say nothing to anyone. Not officers. Not staff. Not detainees. Not even Demi if she asks you something in the hallway."
Demi's eyes widen. "Seriously?"
Aunt Kora doesn't soften. "Seriously. You want me to help Blue or not?"
Demi sits back, crossing her arms. "Fine."
Aunt Kora returns to me. "I'll request the arrest report, the body camera footage, and hallway cameras. I'll push to get the charges dropped."
My breath catches. "Today?"
Aunt Kora nods. "As soon as possible. But I'm pretty sure I could have you out of here in the next fifteen minutes if you really want."
"How?"
"I would need to call Maksim."
"No!"
"Blue—"
"I don't want my parents to know! He'll tell them!"
"So you'd rather stay in jail?" she asks.
My insides shake harder.
She softly adds, "Your parents will eventually find out. You can't keep this from them forever."
A shorter knock comes, followed by the click of the lock. The door opens a few inches, and an officer peers in. His eyes slide over us, then stick on me. "Time's up."
Aunt Kora stands, posture tall. "My client is staying silent. If anyone tries to question her again, you notify me."
He hesitates, then nods like he's swallowing irritation.
Aunt Kora steps to the door and turns back, her gaze pinning me. "Blue."
I stand automatically. "Yeah?"
"Are you sure you don't want me to make the phone call?" Hope fills her expression.
My throat turns dry. I shake my head. "No."
Her face falls. "Please reconsider."
Demi's face crumples for a split second, then she forces it straight. "Hang in there. Love you!" She leans in to hug me.
I murmur in her ear, "Help Red. Please."
"Time to go," the officer says again with more force.
Demi releases me and nods. "I got you."
My eyes well up again. "Thanks."
Aunt Kora touches my shoulder, brief and grounding. "I'll do everything I can to get you out soon."
"Thanks."
The officer gestures. "Let's go."
My stomach drops as the door closes behind me, the sound sealing me away from the only two people in this building who have my back.
The hallway is colder than before. The guard's hand lands between my shoulder blades again, guiding me with practiced pressure.
We pass the booking area. I turn my head, searching for a glimpse of Red, for the shape of him, for any sign this is real and not a nightmare stitched together from fluorescent lights and fear.
He's nowhere.
"Keep moving," the guard orders, and another door buzzes, opening into the holding corridor.
I step into the cell, and the smeared-eyeliner woman sits in the corner like she never moved, her gaze snapping to me with hungry curiosity. "Well? You get rescued?"
I don't answer. I sit on the metal bench again, hands clasped tight, and stare at the scratches on the wall, wondering where Red is and how we're getting out of this mess.