Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
NATHAN
Iknew better and yet I chose to do it anyway.
If I want Thea’s trust and for her to come to me willingly then I need to start considering her feelings, regardless of whether or not I think I’m doing the right thing.
The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her by making her think she has to fit into everyone else’s version of what grief processing should look like.
I only turned and walked away from her when she asked why I didn’t talk to her about it, and the reality of the situation is that I didn’t have an answer for her.
I thought I knew what was best and it bit me in the ass.
But she still willingly follows after me, stopping in the doorway when she sees Claire seated on the living room couch.
“Claire…this is Thea, my…”
“Roommate,” Thea finishes for me, even though she’s a lot more than that to me. A lot more. They stare at each other for a few moments and I feel the pressure rise in the room with the tension.
“Claire has already been shown to her room, but I was hoping that you would be willing to take her shopping to get her whatever she needs?” If I’m trying to prove that Thea isn’t her babysitter, I’m doing a shit job at it.
“Only if you both want to. We can always order things online but that would take a little longer and you didn’t come with much, so… ”
“I think you forget that I don’t have a car.
” Thea turns her attention on me, and I have to admit that I’m surprised she’s even considering it.
Whether that’s because she realized that unless she wants to stay in a hotel, she was stuck being around Claire, or if because she’s trying to be open minded. Either way, I’ll take it.
“You can borrow mine. I’ll be around formulating a plan and doing research so I’m not going to be leaving unless I’m called in for anything.
I’ve already canceled everything for my day job.
” Claire still hasn’t spoken. She’s just watching the interaction between Thea and I with curious eyes.
She’s a bit abrasive along the edges, but I know below the surface there’s a soft part of her just locked away.
If I had to guess, she chooses to act this way because it’s what’s protected her and kept her sane after all this time.
Thea just nods as she glances back at Claire. “You down?”
“Do I really have a choice?” she bristles.
Thea tilts her head, considering her for a long moment before shrugging.
“He said you do, and I don’t really care one way or the other.
But if you want to wear clothes that are two sizes too big for you and look like you belong in an alleyway, be my guest.” I palm my face, holding my breath for Claire to react in some way, but instead there’s a slight twitch of her lips as she stands up, but it’s gone in moments and she’s impassive once more.
“Fine. But I’m not going to pretend like we’re friends and just so we’re clear, you’re not the boss of me, either.” She crosses her arms as she faces off with Thea.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, kid. Keys and card?” Thea turns to me, holding out her hand expectantly. I toss them to her, and she catches them without looking. “Try not to wreck my car.” She just gives me a flat look. “I’d have to care enough to do it on purpose.” Ouch.
Claire watches our exchange once more, her gaze flicking between us before she shakes her head.
“I don’t know why you’re worried about me when you guys clearly have your own shit to work out.
” The comment is directed at me and a part of me wants to tell her to watch her language, but I’m choosing my battles.
Something tells me I’m going to have a hard enough time getting her to break her walls down and listen.
Neither of them looks particularly thrilled, but at least they’re both willing to try. That’s more than I was hoping for when we walked through the front door.
As they head down the walkway, Thea keeps a few steps ahead, her posture tense.
Claire hesitates for a fraction of a second before following.
I’m guessing that’s the part of her that isn’t sure whether to trust someone in fear of being dragged back to where she escaped from.
I’m not entirely sure she will open up to Thea while they’re out, but if she doesn’t do it with us, she’s going to have to do it with a therapist. That wasn’t my rule but it was a part of her stipulations of staying with me if she wanted to help take down her abusers.
The only other piece of information I was able to yield about her time is that she had been there for five years, and knowing what I do about the trafficking world, I can only imagine what she went through.
They drive off and I take a deep breath, praying that this is a good thing and not a product of me trying to make up for my sins.
Cracking my neck, I walk down the hall to my room and grab my laptop before settling at the kitchen island.
I’m not sure what I’m looking for exactly—there isn’t enough information for me to look into the trafficking network yet—so I start small by looking up Harrison Clark. Beloved Mayor of Baltimore.
The articles that I scroll through mainly consist of positive press—because of course they do.
Community programs, charity events, and economic initiatives that paint him as the perfect public servant.
I scroll through photos of him shaking hands with business owners, smiling alongside police officers I have no doubt he has in his back pocket, and cutting ribbons at grand openings.
There are more of him posing with children at the grand opening of a new school and my stomach churns.
I wonder if that’s a frequent target for him and I make sure to tuck that information away for later.
He’s such a fucking cliche. I’m hoping to find some level of information that isn’t carefully curated PR but he’s almost squeaky in the public eye.
Sure there are a few opinion pieces that hint toward aggressive expansion policies that push out low-income communities, but they’re buried beneath all of the optimistic bullshit.
The only other thing I can consider a pessimistic piece is the hint of a scandal that he was having an affair, cheating on his wife, but I don’t doubt that was easily swept under the rug because, again—he’s a fucking cliche.
And I bet she stayed with him, too, because there is power in money and among the upper class of society.
What ever happened to self-respect? Other than that, though?
No corruption charges or any whispers of criminal activity.
I take it upon myself to see if my colleagues have done a background check, shooting off a quick email through our encrypted network.
There’s a few more links I explore when I see one that makes my heart stop.
Twenty-five year old dead on impact after colliding with another vehicle in a freak accident.
I click on it, my pulse picking up because I never bothered to read anything on the accident after that night.
What was the point when I was the one driving?
It was an open and shut case as far I was concerned because I’m the reason my best friend is dead…
or I thought I was. My eyes scan the page, looking everywhere but the image of the crushed vehicle, wrapped around a tree.
My fingers clench around themselves as I read:
A tragic accident on Friday night resulted in the death of local twenty-five year old, Miles Lewis, after two vehicles collided at the corner of Foxglove Trail and Willow Creek Road.
According to investigators, the crash occurred when one vehicle veered into oncoming traffic, causing a collision that caused both vehicles to exit the roadway.
One vehicle struck a tree, which killed Lewis on impact.
The driver of that vehicle, whose name has not been released, was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the second vehicle also sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital after staying for observation for several days.
Councilman Clark, a friend to one of the victims involved in the accident, expressed his condolences in an interview with The Sentinel Times.
“This is a sad day for the community as we mourn the loss of Miles. While I didn’t know him personally, it is always difficult losing such a young soul in any circumstance, especially when they’re just starting their life.
What makes it more tragic is that he was a local, born and raised, here in Baltimore.
I know I’m not the only one mourning this afternoon.
My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.
As we move forward, the city council has made it a goal to review city and county streets in an attempt to make them safer.
But I also urge that we come together and support one another, ensuring something positive comes from this tragedy. Thank you.”
Authorities have determined that the accident was just that—an accident, citing road conditions and unexpected vehicle movement as contributing factors. After a full investigation, no charges were filed against either driver.
Friends and family of Miles have expressed their grief over the loss, remembering him as a devoted son, brother, and friend who had an outgoing personality and was the type to always make people laugh in tough situations.
A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday May 12th at Moreland Memorial Park Cemetery with reception to follow.