Fifteen #2
Jack nods curtly. “I’m sorry you haven’t felt safe with us. I will make sure that changes, Oren.”
Oren smiles. It’s brave rather than happy. I’m not sure he entirely believes the claim, but he’s willing to share my trust in these men.
“Load up,” I call to my crew milling about.
We climb into several vehicles, though I’m happy to see that the eight big hockey players split up between three cars, and somehow coax Crowley to ride with them, too. We make up a parade of seven vehicles as we head to Oren’s childhood home.
There aren’t any sirens because we don’t want to call attention to this any more than there already has been. Oren shrinks in his seat when he sees the pickup truck in the driveway. “What if he won’t let us in?” Oren asks as we pull up outside the house.
It’s Tuesday, so his father shouldn’t be home. I can only suspect that someone tipped him off.
We didn’t pick a weekday for any reason other than it worked within my hockey schedule and we wanted to get this taken care of as soon as possible. To cut Oren’s ties with his family as quickly as we could.
The front door opens as a herd of people get out of their cars and descend on the house. Crowley already has his camera on his shoulder, aimed at the door. I recognize Jessup Prosser right away, and this man is not happy.
“What can I do for you, officer?” Jessup asks, his attention on the police officer. He’s in his uniform, which only further solidifies the idea that someone told him we were coming.
“We’re here to collect Oren’s personal belongings,” Jack says. “Is there going to be a problem, Mr. Prosser?”
Jessup looks at all the faces, his gaze landing on his son. Oren remains still, but he’s not shrinking in on himself this time. He looks at his father with a hard, determined expression.
“I think this is a little extreme to collect clothes,” Jessup says.
“Oren has expressed concerns for his safety, and we take those concerns seriously, Mr. Prosser,” Jack says.
“I understand that you have three more sons, two of which he also feels very unsafe around. While I’m sure that most of the gentlemen who have accompanied Oren today are to help him pack and get out as quickly as possible, the police department representatives are here to make sure that he doesn’t meet any hostility. ”
A beat passes. The veins in Jessup’s neck strain.
From where we’re standing at the end of the driveway, I can feel his anger.
I’m not sure if I’m surprised or disappointed when Jessup moves back into the house, leaving the door open.
Fact of the matter is, he doesn’t have to let us enter his home.
I’m convinced that the camera is what’s made his decision since he’s glanced at it several times.
“Ready?” I ask, pressing a kiss to Oren’s temple.
He takes a breath and gives a determined nod. Jack waits for us to approach but leads the way inside. My players are in a line behind me.
Only because I’ve studied online pictures of his brothers, I recognize Dane and Frankie right away. Dane looks horrified, impressed, and angry all at the same time. He refuses to look at Oren, but his gaze touches on everyone else.
Frankie tries to keep himself angry and hostile, but it’s clear that he’s shocked to see the hockey players. I hear him mumble excitedly under his breath when he spots Colby and then Lamar.
Oren’s bedroom is a disaster. My hackles immediately rise when I see the broken furniture. Daven’s frown deepens.
“I did this,” Oren says quickly. “When he locked me in. Partly to cover up the fact that I was opening the window.”
Attention turns to the window, and we find what can only be proof that Jessup intended to lock him up in here again. There are bars secured to the outside of his window.
“But the door is new,” Oren says quietly, calling attention to the fact that around the doorframe is new plaster. The door itself is a very thick piece of solid wood. The kind that would be very difficult to break through.
There’s also a deadbolt built in, with the lock on the outside.
Daven pulls his phone out and takes pictures.
The room isn’t large, but it’s made a lot smaller when eight hockey players file inside with boxes, Oren, and Daven. I stand in the hall where I can see inside the room and into the living room where Jack stands vigil, his arms crossed over his chest, watching Jessup, Dane, and Frankie.
That leaves Crowley outside with Mars.
I hear Oren’s quiet laugh and peek back into the room. I’m not surprised that Colby has Lamar wrapped in bubble wrap. Shaking my head, I turn back.
While my boys are making quick work of Oren’s room, it’s not quick enough. There’s another officer that steps into the house. One I don’t know.
“Hey, Lieutenant,” he says, smiling. I can feel the dirty vibes off him from where I’m standing. “Was there a call I missed?”
“No,” Jack says.
“Ah,” the officer says. He looks around the room, his eyes meeting mine briefly before he looks at Jessup. “How you doing, Prosser?” he asks, gripping his upper arm in greeting.
Jessup sighs. “There’s been a misunderstanding, as you can see.”
“I see that. Lieutenant, I can finish here if you?—”
“No, Tom. I didn’t call for your assistance so you can return to your duties. I have this under control,” Jack says.
“Mr. Prosser is a very good man. An upstanding citizen. I’ve worked closely with him at the prison numerous times over the years.
So I can personally attest to his character,” Tom says.
“We’ve also talked about the trouble he’s gone through over the years with his son.
” He shakes his head. “Poor kid needs some help.”
Jack stares at Tom for a minute. “Thank you for your volunteered statement. You and I will be having a conversation when I’m done here. And I’ll be speaking to the prison as well. Oren does need help and you’re right, he has for years. He’s finally getting it.”
Tom’s gaze flashes to Jessup’s for a minute before he puts on a big smile. “Sure, Lieutenant. I can stop by the precinct in a couple hours.”
Jack nods. “Do that.”
Tom looks between everyone in the room, gives Jessup an apologetic glance, and reluctantly leaves. As he walks out, I see Jessup gripping his phone tightly at his side, furious. I was right, Tom didn’t just show up. Jessup thought he could call in some help.
Unfortunately for him, that help likely did the complete opposite of what he’d hoped for.