28. Lexi
CHAPTER 28
Lexi
Friday morning
T ime seems to stand still. Seconds feel like minutes and minutes seem like hours. Standing in this bathroom stall brings me back to when we visited Corleone’s and what Shayna and I did in their bathroom stall. It was exactly like this. The memories seem so distant now yet at the forefront of my mind. Now I’m left wondering if I will ever see her beautiful face again.
Will I be able to tell her how much I love her and explain exactly how long I have felt this way. I remember telling Camden about my feelings for his wife, but I don’t think I’ve ever really told Shayna. And will I ever be able to tell him how I feel about our connection?
A tears begin to streak my face, making my mascara run down my cheeks. I know I look like a mess and if I’m sitting here waiting for nothing, when Jason comes barging in or demanding I come out, I’m screwed.
A loud commotion is heard just outside of the bathroom. It’s not very loud, just enough to cause the women in the bathroom to start chatting louder. Gasps are heard among the people in and outside of the bathroom.
I am shaking uncontrollably now. I don’t know what’s going on and I’m terrified to step out from my safe haven and find out. At least in here I feel somewhat protected from everything. But for how long?
There is scuffling and still the occasional shouts and deep voices heard through all the commotion going on. Since I’m all the way in the back of the restroom area in the very last handicap stall, I don’t see very much that is going on. Everyone has congregated to the front of the bathroom.
“Step this way please. We need everyone out of here,” I hear a deep voice echo through the bathroom, and my head shoots up. “Over here… right this way,” they keep directing. I’m guessing they are getting everyone out of the way for whatever is happening. I consider whether I should exit and make myself known or not.
I see two sets of shoes step in front of the stall door and a tiny knock. “Hey… It’s okay. You can come out now,” hear her say. My heart races and I excel a hard yet relieved breath.
I step cautiously to the door and unlock it. When I pull the door slightly, I see the same girl with a small smile and a police officer standing behind her. I open the door even further when I see the cop there.
“Ma’am, My name is Officer Bailey. I need to ask you a few questions,” he says and all I can do is nod. I step further out of the bathroom stall. “Can I get your name please?”
“Lexi… Lexi Richards,” I reply, trying to sound a little more confident than I feel.
“And who is Jason Webb to you?”
“My ex-boyfriend. I left him a couple of months ago because…” I trail off for a second. My voice is quiet. I am not this timid person. I hate that he has made me resort back to this scared person.
“It’s okay Ms. Richards. You’re safe now,” he says, stepping a little closer, trying to sound comforting.
“Because he would hit me. I was almost admitted to the hospital on a couple of occassions,” I say, looking down.
“Are there any reports made for the domestic violence?” he asks, and all I can do is shake my head. I allowed it to go on too long without reporting anything. Hell, I didn’t even tell my best friend.
“Do you have any documentation of it?”
“I have pictures that I took in my phone,” I say, finally looking up at him. His brow is furrowed but he nods.
“Okay, can I see them please?”
“Um… when he took me from my house, he left my phone so I didn’t have any contact with my girlfriend and her husband,” I reply.
His head tilts inquisitively. “Took you? What exactly do you mean when you say ‘took you’?” he asks.
“He came in to my friends’ house, drugged me and took me. I woke up in a warehouse tied down to a bed,” I reply.
Officer Bailey’s face changes to one of incredulity. I can see it in his eyes, he doesn’t believe me. And for some reason, that sets me off. I lift my shirt showing the dark and shaded bruising along my stomach and ribcage.
“He did this to me too, after he raped me. Not once… but several times,” I grit out. His eyes drop down to my exposed skin and his brow furrows. The girl that helped me steps forward placing her hand on my forearm again.
“I’m so sorry this happened to you. They have him detained and are arresting him right now,” she says trying to comfort me, where she could tell the cop wasn’t.
The officer finally looks up at me as I drop my shirt hiding the evidence of the last few days with Jason. “She’s absolutely correct. He’s going to be taken in to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office where he will be booked on no bond until he sees a judge tomorrow morning. We will need you to accompany us down to the sheriff’s office for questioning so we can get your statement,” he says, with a little more compassion in his voice. I’m guessing he knows that I can’t fake the bruises.
I just nod and he moves a little out of the way to let me and the girl who helped me go first. Before moving I turn to her. “Thank you for helping me. I never got your name,” I say as we begin to walk slowly.
She looks up at me with a smile as she answers, “My name is Heather. And of course, you’re very welcome.”
I nod at her and we both step forward with Officer Bailey on our heels. As we move closer to the exit of the bathroom, I can hear the commotion. I hesitate before we exit and Officer Bailey steps forward blocking the area, directing us to the side of the exit away from where they have Jason up against the wall.
My eyes immediately go downcast as I step out of the bathroom, with Heather’s arm around my back guiding me. She so much younger than me but I can tell she has so much compassion and the want to help. I wish there was something I could do for her.
“Fucking let me go. I didn’t do anything,” I hear Jason yell while two other officers are trying to wrangle him to get him detained. “I’m just waiting on my…” His head turns and his sentence drops as he sees me walking out of the bathroom.
“Lexi,” he shouts. “Lexi, tell them they have the wrong guy,” he yells, his face pinched in anger at the cops, but a bit of hopefulness at seeing me. I stop and turn to face him.
“Come on. You don’t need to do this right now,” Heather says to me trying to guide me away from everything. The cops stop struggling waiting to see what I will say.
I take a step closer feeling a little more confident with them holding him. I feel a little more of my old self coming back. My eyes burn with anger and hate for what he’s done to me. How he treated me, the one person who probably would have done anything for him at one time. My life revolved around him for so long, but betrayal after betrayal can turn you into someone you don’t even want to look at in the mirror. The years with Jason made me someone I didn’t even like.
“Fuck you, Jason. You should have just stayed with Sara and left me alone. You did this to me. You did. I fucking hate you,” I spit the last words out with tears streaming down my face. All the pent up anger from over the last few years being released all at once.
“You bitch,” he seethes and I take a small step back. “You fucking whore.” My eyes widen at the venom in his voice. Even when we’ve fought before, I’ve never heard him this angry. His struggle becomes more vicious and the cops trying to restrain him try to regain a stronger hold on him.
Officer Bailey takes my bicep trying to guide me away again, with a bit more urgency. But my eyes don’t leave the struggling men. Then everything happens so quickly, yet still in slow motion. Jason lifts his foot, stepping hard on the cop’s foot, causing him to release his strong hold on him. He then headbutts the other officer. Blood bursts from his nose. The officer moves to cover his nose, squeezing his eyes shut from what I’m assuming is debilitating pain. Jason reaches down grabbing the gun from the belt on the cop’s side before anyone has even a moment to register what he’s done.
Officer Bailey is still trying to pull me away, but I’m stunned in silence and my feet are rooted to the ground unable to move away from this entire thing.
“I already told you, if I can’t have you, no one can,” he growls as he’s lifting the gun to point at me. My eyes slowly close accepting my fate, as thoughts of Shayna and Cam flit through my head. Our times together as friends and our short time together as a throuple run like a slide show through my memories. I know it's over and I’m just thankful for the time that I had with them.
Screams erupt from everywhere in the open terminal space. I can feel Heather trying to pull me away, but I can’t move. This is all my fault. If I would have just left the first time he pushed me. That time he grabbed and choked me. Or the first time he hit me sending me to the hospital, none of this would be happening. But then I wonder would I have ever had the opportunity to be with Shayna and Cam. And every little moment enjoyed with my best friends was absolutely worth it.
A loud bang is heard echoing in the open space. I flinch waiting for the searing pain. But it never comes. They say that sometimes death can be peaceful, painless even, but I still hear the shot ringing out and the muffled chattering. Is that the shot ringing or is it just my ears? The burning smell of gunpowder is potent in my nostrils and I’m afraid to open my eyes. Not wanting to face what is happening.
When I finally do, I see Jason sprawled out on the floor on his back, the gun near his outstretched hand. Blood pours from underneath him onto the gray tiled airport walkway. There’s a patch of blood spreading across his upper chest from an obvious wound. The more I watch, the wider my eyes open.
Everything that had been in slow motion, speeds up. The two cops that Jason assaulted jump into action. The cop that has blood running down his face, kicks the gun away from Jason as the other squats down next to Jason checking his pulse.
My eyes don’t leave the growing splotch of blood on Jason’s chest. Everything around feels numb. I can’t hear anything except the blood rushing in my ears. I risk a quick glance to the side and see Officer Bailey’s outstretched arm right next to me, still pointing the gun at my ex laying motionless on the floor. Not completely motionless, because I can see the quick rise and falls of his chest.
The officer checking his vitals seems to speak, but I can’t hear anything. The blood rushing in my ears is all that I can comprehend right now. His lips are moving looking over at Officer Bailey, but I don’t hear any words. That incessant ringing is still so loud in my ears. After a few more minutes, I hear a muffled sound and a figure step in front of me.
I hesitantly look around, not at the person now standing in front of me. It seems more cops have arrived and taking control of the scene. Looking at the person next to me, I see Officer Bailey trying to get my attention. He veering me towards a set of connected chairs. The back of my knees hit the plastic and I collapse.
Feeling someone sit next to me, taking my hand, I glance over and see Heather is right next to me with tears in her eyes staring at me. The humming in my ears starts to dissipate to the point I can can somewhat hear Officer Bailey.
“You’re okay now, Lexi. You’re safe. Come on. Focus on me,” I can hear him speak.
My head whips to the side again and see they have Jason’s hands handcuffed in front of him. Not dead. Slowly my eyes make their way back to the comforting officer in front of me. Staring at me, waiting on me to come to my senses.
“Is… is he dead?” is the only think I can ask right now. I didn’t want him dead, just to leave me alone. At one point in my life I did love him, or at least I thought I did.
Officer Bailey looks over, and I follow his line of sight as the paramedics arrive and start working on him. Looking now, his face is pale. Eyes closed and I don’t see any movement. The dark blue eyes of the Officer Bailey make it back to mine at the same time. “He’s still alive but he’s in critical condition. But right now, no, he’s not dead,” he says.
“You shot him,” I say with no inflection in my voice. Just making a blank statement. He nods his head, and with that confession my head drops and tears begin to flow more now. Trying to comprehend what all just happened in such a short span of time. Raising my eyes back up to meet his, I can see the concern and pity in them. There is only one thing I can think to say this man. This man who not more than 10 minutes before probably didn’t believe me.
“Thank you for saving me,” I say to Officer Bailey, feeling the young girl sitting next to me put her arm around my shoulder trying to comfort me. He finally stands looking around at all the confusion with the bystanders, paramedics, cops and airport security. They are loading Jason onto a gurney, leaving a puddle of blood behind.
“I’ll be right back. Stay right here, Lexi. I will still need to get your information and a statement,” he says and then looks at Heather. “Are you okay to stay with her?” he asks her.
“Sure. My flight doesn’t leave for another hour,” she replies. He nods and heads over to talk with the other officers, leaving us two alone. I can feel eyes on me and hear the whispers. I can’t understand what they are saying, but I can tell by the hushed words they are about me.
“Are you going to be okay?” Heather asks me. Turning my head to face her, my eyes are still rimmed in tears. Giving her a soft smile, I nod.
“Yeah… I think I will be now,” I admit softly.
After sitting in this interrogation room for a couple of hours with Officer Bailey and another female officer, we’re finally finishing up. Several cups of stale, luke warm coffee later, and going into great detail about the last five years, I have to admit I feel a little better getting it off my chest.
I didn’t feel like I was being judged about staying, even though I judge myself more than anyone else can do. Both police officers sat and listened, asking questions when necessary to get more information.
Tears still pool in my eyes after having to tell them about him raping me in the warehouse. They gave me a couple of referrals to group therapy places and individual therapists to help me work through everything. I know I’m going to need it so I can move on, but right now, I’m just anxious to get back home.
Looking over his notes, Officer Bailey hums to himself and mumbles a few times. Making a few additional notes. He closes the notepad he was jotting everything down in and looks up at me.
“I think that’s it for now. We have your number if we need anything further,” he says sitting back in the chair.
Nodding, I sink into the hard, uncomfortable chair relaxing a bit knowing I’m done talking about everything for a bit. “Am I able to make a call to have my girlfriend come pick me up?” looking between the two officers, I ask.
They share a look and look back at me. “We’re going to take you home. Your roommates, Shayna and Camden, reported you missing three days ago.”
Roommates. I don’t like the way that sounds. It’s minimizing what we have. But after everything that’s happened now with Jason, are they going to still want that? My heart begins to pound harder at the thought. I really don’t believe for one second that anything that has happened between Jason and I these last couple of days would push them away, but that’s still to be seen.
All I can do is nod. Officer Bailey and Officer Langston, the female officer, stand pushing their chairs in. I follow suit standing as well. I grab the paper cup that had my coffee in it and throw it in the garbage on the way out the door.
Walking down the hall with Officer Bailey walking shoulder to shoulder with me, I look over at him. “What’s going to happen with Jason?” I ask him. I think I’m more worried that he’s going to be set free and come after me again. The next time, he won’t try to take me. He will have only vengeance on his mind and just try to kill me.
Officer Bailey glances over his shoulder at Officer Langston then back down to me. Studying my face for a moment as we approach the glass door for the lobby, he reaches out opening it for me. Walking through and waiting to hear what he has to say, he tries to ignore my question and walk past me. But I don’t move. Noticing I am not directly behind him, he turns around and comes to stand in front of me.
“Why?” he questions me, crossing his arms over his chest and tilting his head to the side.
“Because I need to be sure he’s not getting out anytime soon. I know next time he won’t–”
“There won’t be a next time,” he interrupts me. “He never made it off the operating table.” With those words my face turns pale and my mouth drops open.
“He… he’s dead?” I ask. Officer Bailey’s eyes quickly glance over my shoulder for just a moment then back to meet mine, giving me a nod. I don’t know how to feel about this. Relieved that I don’t need to be scared anymore. Sad for the man that I had spent the last five years with. Angry for cheating me out of watching him spend the rest of his life in prison for raping and trying to murder me in front of all those people at the airport. So I just go with numb right now. I can process these mixed feelings later. I need to get back home to where I belong now.
I drop my gaze to the floor and turn on my heel walking slowly to the main entrance of the sheriff’s department. I can hear the heavy footsteps behind me of the officers trailing close behind me.
Stepping outside of the building, I see the sky turning several shades of pinks, purples and peaches. The sun is starting to set. I guess I didn’t take notice how much time had passed from being in the airport, to being questioned in that small interrogation room.
“The car is over here,” Officer Langston points out, and I follow them down the sidewalk to a cruiser parked at the corner. She opens the back door for me, and I move in and sit down. It’s weird sitting in the back of a cop car not in handcuffs.
I lace my fingers together in my lap leaning my head back. I’m in my own head trying to process everything that has happened in such a short period of time. It’s going to take me a while to wrap my head around it, but I’m just happy to be going home to Shayna and Camden right now.
The car pulls away from the curb and I close my eyes, letting my mind rest until we get there. I know they are going to have questions I’m going to need to answer, so I will need this rest before having to recount the last few days all over again.