CHAPTER SIX #2
She swallowed. “That night marked a thick black line through my life, separating before and after the assault, childhood and adulthood.” She shook herself, he thought, like maybe she was trying to shake off the emotions that undoubtedly still echoed.
“Anyway, that’s why I agreed when Chase asked me out.
I want to know what he remembers about that night and the people who were there.
Meeting him in public seemed safe. I didn’t expect the memories to hit me so hard. ”
Gage frowned. “Why do you want to know what he remembers?”
“Not only him. I’ve made a spreadsheet and listed every person I remember being there.
I plan to talk with as many of them as I can get a hold of.
” Her brows lowered as she spoke. “Rhonda Lockwood was there that night. She acted weird when I asked her about it. She’d been dating Josh Lockwood, but when Chase and his friend Greg Delano showed up, I recall her and Greg being very friendly. She denied being with him.”
Melanie looked thoughtful. “Then I ran into Chase and he asked me out. I thought I could find out what he remembers about the bootlegger and see if he recalls Greg making out with Rhonda.” She shrugged.
“I doubt what Rhonda was doing that night is all that important, but it’s a piece of the puzzle I’m trying to put together. But Chase wasn’t any help either.”
“Wait a minute. They weren’t help with what? What do you want to know?” The target letter was confidential so he couldn’t tell her Chase was the subject of an FBI investigation, but what she was telling him added another layer of complexity.
“The person who assaulted me was probably at the bootlegger. I know that’s what the detectives were thinking because they got DNA samples from the guys who were there. One of the men on my list could be the assailant.”
“What exactly are you planning, Melanie?” He was getting an idea where she was going with this, and it set off internal alarm bells.
“To figure out who it was. The person who attacked me got away with it. I want him arrested, put on trial, and sent to prison.” She squared her shoulders.
“Because I was a minor, the statute of limitations hasn’t run out.
I want it all over social media. I want it in the newspaper.
I want him publicly humiliated for what he did.
I want everyone to see him for the contemptible human being he is.
” Her voice was fierce. “It haunts me that he was never held accountable and may have gone on to assault others.”
He studied her face in the shadows. “Fuck.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s not the response I expected.”
“Okay, let’s try this. It’s your right to seek justice, and for this asshole to be exposed and held accountable. I want that too. But it could be risky. Putting yourself in danger to expose him? Hell no.”
“I’m not putting myself in danger. I’m simply acquiring information.”
“If the assailant is still around, he’d likely have a lot to lose if you out him. That makes him dangerous.”
“My friend Esme said the same thing, but too bad. He’s been a monster in my nightmares for too long.
I don’t like the power that gives him over me.
The person who assaulted me was weak and used sexual violence to exert dominance and control.
I want to take away his power to scare me.
And when I get new evidence, I’ll ask the sheriff’s department to reopen the case. ”
“Fair enough.” He could admire her grit but still worry about her safety. “But realize that anything could’ve happened to him. He might not live in the area. He might be in jail. He might be dead.”
“True. Or he might be living here in town hiding his depravity behind a socially acceptable facade. I need to know. People need to know. He shouldn’t be free to live in the open while practicing evil in the shadows. I’m going to talk to everyone I can.”
“Bradford was irritated. What did he say?” Now Gage knew why his body language had turned defensive.
Her dimples had disappeared. “He was affronted I’d brought it up, like it’s not something to be mentioned in polite society.
After it happened, I was so ashamed, and I put a lot of pressure on my mom to leave town.
My aunt encouraged us to move to Portland where she lived.
I was all for it at the time, but I’m done with that.
I won’t be ashamed because I was raped. It’s the person who attacked me who should be ashamed.
I’ll ask Chase about it again some other time. He can get over his delicate feelings.”
Gage tipped his head back, looking out to the street as a truck went by with a noisy muffler. The details he knew about Chase Bradford made him want to keep Melanie well away from the bastard.
He wanted to tell Melanie to leave it alone. Not that she had any reason to listen to him. He wanted her safe, but she had a right to justice.
“I’ll look into it for you.”
“As an FBI agent?”
“No. As of today, I no longer work for the FBI. I started my own company, a private investigation and security firm.”
“So, what, I’d be your client?”
“Not a client. My neighbor. I’d be helping out a neighbor. No charge.” What the fuck was he doing? There were so many reasons to keep away from her, and yet here he was getting involved. It was more than her intriguing face sucking him in.
She gave him a skeptical look. “That’s not a good business model, giving away your services for free.”
“I’m not saying I’ll do a full investigation.
Send me your spreadsheet. I’ll do initial background checks on the people listed there.
See what they’ve been up to.” He studied her face.
There might have been a few tears, but she was strong.
“You and I need to talk more so I have a clearer picture of what happened. If that’s more than you want to get into, I can go with what I know. ”
She stared at him with big eyes. “I’m fine. We can talk. I promise not to cry like a baby.”
“Give yourself a break, Mel.”
Her expression turned pensive. “I have a lot of guilt about what happened to Walker and feel like I owe him an apology. I’ve been procrastinating getting together with him and Delaney, but I need to do it.”
“What happened to Walker’s not on you. The sheriff framed him. Grafton’s at fault, not you.”
She shrugged. “I should have tried harder. About Grafton, though? I’ve thought about his involvement. I want to visit him at the prison. He never revealed whose name was originally on the sample, and I want to ask him about it face-to-face.”
“No. No way, Mel.”
The perfectly arched brow over her right eye said what the fuck, pal? as clearly as if she’d spoken the words.
“It may have escaped your notice, but you can’t tell me what to do. To use Keeley’s phrase, you’re not the boss of me.”
“I don’t want to be the boss of you, but you don’t belong anywhere near a state prison. Regardless, Grafton would have to agree to a visit and then the warden would still have to approve it.”
“Then I’ll go through the approval process and hope Grafton agrees.
If it’s possible to email him, I’ll do that.
If not, I’ll write him a letter. Maybe I can persuade him.
He’s the key, Gage. He knows who did it and could have pled to reduced charges if he’d given up the name.
He didn’t do that. He’s protecting someone. ”
“What makes you think he’ll talk to you?”
“He probably won’t, but the first step is asking.”
“I don’t like you going there, but if I can’t stop that, I don’t want you going alone.” He held up his hand as soon as the words left his mouth. “Don’t even say it. Let me rephrase. I’d like to go with you.”
Dimples flashed when she gave the briefest of smiles and he felt like the sun had come out from behind the clouds.
“Okay.”
“Good.” He didn’t want to analyze why he felt so relieved.
“I’m taking Addy to Cider Mill Farm on Sunday. I’ll try to find Delaney and see if I can set up a time we can get together next week when Addy is at school.” She tilted her head. “You said you wanted to know more about what happened. You could join us if you want.”
He didn’t even have to think about it. “I do. Tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”
She nodded. They were back in front of Easy Money. She turned to face him. “Here’s my car.”
She gripped his open coat and leaned forward so he caught her scent that reminded him of fresh rain. Up on tiptoes she brushed a brief kiss to his lips. “I enjoyed the walk.”
His hands tightened on her hips, and he fought the urge to pull her fully against him and make his own move. Not the time, but that little taste wasn’t going to be enough.
He stood at the driver’s door as she slipped behind the wheel and clicked her seatbelt into place.
“I’ll text my email address. Send me that spreadsheet.”
“Yes, sir, Special Agent Landry.”
“Smart-ass,” he muttered.
He moved to the sidewalk, watching as she backed out of the angled parking space. Dimples winked as she grinned at him and waved before driving off.
He rubbed a fist slowly over his chest.
He felt like he’s taken an arrow to the heart.
What the hell was he supposed to do with that?
Shaking his head, he headed inside to settle his bill.