Chapter 21
Camden
Blade and Colton are both with us as we head for the police station. I’m sitting in the back seat of Blade’s SUV with Simone. She’s wringing her hands. I know she’s nervous.
Colton has been trying to calm Simone the entire drive, which I really appreciate.
I’m sure that’s why Blade asked him to join us.
Not because Blade isn’t just as amazing with Littles.
He’s a Daddy Dom himself. He doesn’t currently have a Little of his own, but he’s always kind and patient with Little girls.
What Colton brings to the table is his knowledge of police stations and investigations. After all, he was a police officer before he left the force to work for Black Blade Protection.
Colton is turned to face Simone as best he can. “Do you have any questions, Little one?”
“You’re sure he won’t see me?” she asks in a shaky voice.
I hate that my sassy, bold girl, who is more likely to skip down the hall wreaking havoc, has been brought to her knees by the fucker who dared to attack her. It pisses me off.
“He will not see you, Simone. I promise.”
She nods. “Will it be like on TV when the people look through one-way glass and some guys line up along a wall?”
“Yes, it will be just like that. He won’t be able to hear or see you. You’ll be able to take your time identifying him.”
“What if I can’t?” she asks in a soft voice.
“That’s okay, Little one. It happens. Sometimes, survivors are so traumatized that they don’t recall enough features to identify their attacker. Remember, this is just an added layer of proof. The police already have DNA evidence.”
“Okay.”
When we arrive, Simone is shaking. I hold her hand as we follow Blade and Colton into the station. It’s busy. There are dozens of officers and civilians bustling around inside. It’s also loud, and Simone grabs my arm with her free hand, holding on to me tightly.
Colton heads for the reception area and speaks to a man in uniform. They shake hands. Several other officers approach Colton. It hasn’t been long since he last worked here. A lot of people know him.
Finally, someone leads us down a hallway. People are hurrying up and down the corridor, but a woman is sitting on a chair outside the room where we stop. A female officer is squatting in front of her, talking to her.
I know instinctively this is the woman who was attacked last night.
She looks up when we stop. She’s been crying, and it jerks on my heartstrings. She’s beaten and bruised like Simone was ten days ago. Her right arm is also in a brace.
She looks toward Simone first and then glances at me. Her swollen eyes widen, and her breath hitches. “Professor Arnalt?”
It takes me a second to recognize her, but finally I do. “June?” Shit. I hate this happened to another woman I know. My heart seizes. It’s been several years, but June was in a few of my classes at the university.
She nods. More tears fall.
Simone steps forward, sits in the chair next to June, and reaches for her uninjured hand. “I’m so sorry,” she says. “I think we were attacked by the same man. It happened to me ten days ago.”
June swallows.
The female officer holds out a tissue before rising and stepping to one side.
June pulls her hand from Simone’s to take the tissue and dab at her cheeks. “Are you here to identify him, too?” she asks in a shaky voice.
“Yes. Did you already go in?” Simone asks.
June shakes her head. “I was trying to build up the courage. I’m…scared to see him.”
Simone nods. “I’m scared, too. There are like a million things going through my head. What if he comes after me later for this? What if I ID the wrong guy? What if he sees me?”
June gives a wan smile. One of her lips is split. He must have gotten a punch to her mouth. “Yeah. That’s what’s going through my head.”
“But we don’t want this to happen to anyone else,” Simone adds.
She sounds so level-headed and strong. Brave.
She’s sitting tall. Her voice is not wavering.
The Little girl who was freaking out in the car is gone now that we’re about to enter the room where she will identify her attacker.
The same man who attacked June last night.
Maybe Simone is moved by June’s injuries and it has given her strength. No matter what, she’s present and willing.
It shakes my foundation that I know June. It would be easier if she were a nameless, faceless victim we had not run into. But she’s a real person. A woman who took my classes and did well in school. I don’t know what she does now, but she didn’t deserve what happened to her. No woman does.
Simone is talking softly, and June is nodding at whatever she says. She sits taller and takes deep breaths.
“I’ll go first,” Simone declares, standing.
Someone stops Colton in the hall, and he moves down the corridor with them, talking.
The officer who was with June was called away while Simone spoke with her.
Blade looks at me. “I’ll wait here with June.” There’s no one else at the moment. She needs someone. Whether she’s Little or not is irrelevant. Blade is the perfect person to sit with someone who has been hurt. He can do so without letting his emotions get involved.
Blade takes Simone’s seat. He’s a big guy. Six-three. Even sitting doesn’t make him look any smaller.
June looks nervous. I wonder how she got here and if she came straight from the hospital. Why isn’t anyone else with her?
A door opens next to us, and another officer leans out. He glances around before meeting Simone’s gaze. “Simone Lighton.”
“Yes.”
The man steps back. “Come on in.”
I enter the room with her, my hands on her shoulders. I’ve never been through anything like this, so I’m little help as far as what to expect. But it looks pretty straightforward.
The officer introduces himself and explains the process exactly as Colton did in the car. He’s very kind and ends by saying, “Take your time. There’s no rush.”
I continue to stand behind Simone in the center of the one-way glass.
She’s trembling as five men are brought in.
They take their places along the white wall.
Height markings are on the wall behind them.
I’m shocked by how similar they look. In addition, it didn’t occur to me until now that Simone’s assailant not only had his face gouged by her but also by June last night.
So, four of these men are wearing makeup to make it look like they also have scratch marks.
I say nothing. I don’t want to interrupt Simone. She’s breathing heavily, and she sets her palms on the windowsill.
“No rush, ma’am,” the officer repeats.
Simone’s gaze moves back and forth slowly. She’s taking this very seriously. I would expect nothing less. She can be sassy and jovial when the situation allows, but she can also be stern when necessary. She was always serious about her schoolwork and tests.
“So much pressure,” she murmurs. “What if I’m wrong?”
“It’s best that you only identify someone if you’re sure. If you’re not, don’t say anything,” the officer tells her.
The men are all wearing jeans, dirty white T-shirts, and tennis shoes. They all have short-cropped brown hair and day-old beards. I don’t honestly know how the hell anyone could pick one of them out of a lineup.
After several minutes, Simone’s breathing pauses.
I hold her shoulders tighter, saying nothing.
She turns her head to look at the officer and exhales. “It’s number two.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.” She looks back through the glass. “He’s the right size and build, but also, he’s the only one with a unibrow. I remember staring at it when he got in my face.”
Wow. I’m impressed and so fucking proud of my girl.
The officer moves toward the door to let us out.
Blade is still sitting with June in the hallway. I’m not surprised. He would never leave a woman unattended, especially one in distress.
Colton is leaning against the wall across from us. He shoves off it when we exit.
June looks at Simone. “Was it hard?”
Colton holds out a hand. “You two should talk another time. We don’t want June to be influenced by anything Simone says.”
June nods. “Right. Of course.”
Simone smiles at June. “I’m so sorry you got hurt. Feel free to get in touch with me if you need to talk.” She looks at me. “Can you give her my number?”
Blade stands and helps June to her feet. “I’ll make sure she has it. I’m going to stay with June and make sure she gets home safely.”
I nod. Again, not surprised. There’s no way for me to judge Blade’s intentions. He could be feeling something tender and Daddy-like for June. Or it’s also possible he’s just being kind.
Colton turns to me. “I’ve got an officer waiting to drive you home and drop me off. He’s meeting us out front.”
“Thank you.” I take Simone’s hand in mine and follow Colton toward the front of the station.
She leans into me. She’s probably exhausted.
She tips her head back. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”
“June? Blade will make sure of it.”
“It’s weird that you know her.”
“She was in a few of my classes. It’s been several years.”
“I wonder why she’s alone. That makes me sad.”
“You would have been if Jameson hadn’t called me to come get you.” This doesn’t make it better.
Simone sighs as we stop at the front door. “I’m glad Blade can help her. That’s very kind of him.”
“He’s a good guy.”
Simone wraps her arm around mine and holds on tightly. “She has a broken arm…”
I turn toward her and tip her chin back. “Blade will help her, Little one. I promise. He’s not going to drop her off somewhere unsafe. I’m sure he has already asked her enough questions to figure out why no one is here with her.”
“Okay.” She licks her lips. “Maybe we could wait for them?”
I kiss her gently. My girl has a heart of gold. I hate that she’s having to worry about another woman while dealing with her own recovery, but I’m not surprised she’s concerned. That’s how Simone is. “Okay, baby. We’ll wait.”
Colton turns to us, smiling. “My Little girl would do the same thing.”
We step outside. We can wait, but it’s loud in the precinct.