Chapter 3
Megan
Officer Carter sat with me for hours. He was there when lunch was brought and the look on his face at the meal placed in front of me was priceless. He scrunched his nose, “That looks like it tastes like cardboard.” I laughed a little at his disgust. It hurt my chest to laugh.
“You sure you don’t want some?” I offered with a tease. I pushed the tray away from me. I really didn’t want to eat this crap anymore. He wasn’t wrong in his assumption that it tasted like cardboard. Wet, seasonless, colorless as well. It was gross. I’m sure prisoners got fed better than this.
“Do you want McDonald’s or something? I can always order something or go get it for you. You shouldn’t be subjected to that,” he said pointing his glance at the beige tray on the rolling cart. I looked at him and didn’t know what to say or even why he was being this nice to me. It didn’t make sense.
A soft knock came at the door and my spine straightened more. The door opened without me saying a word. “Good afternoon Miss. Monroe. I see Officer Carter has been sitting post with you.” A tall, blonde female came into the room, shooting Officer Carter the dirtiest look she could manage. Rude. Her uniform clearly ironed and pressed, probably sits in a bag in her closet when she isn’t wearing it. “Sheriff wanted me to come and let you know that a detail will be placed on you when you leave the hospital. Mr. Paxley made bail. There will be officers stationed outside the door to the room checking ID’s of those coming in and out. I hope you understand.”
The sound of my heart shattering echoes through me. The reality of that night crashing into me hard. I couldn’t breathe, sharply inhaling the best I can. “Where is he staying?” I asked, my voice barely audible to my own ears. I don’t know how she heard me. My eyes trailed over to look at Officer Carter who was gripping the arms of the chair, making his knuckles pure white.
“He was placed on house arrest at his uncles house,” she replied softly, I guess she knew where my thoughts were going. I could appreciate that. His uncle lived in Pennsylvania, about forty-five minutes away from Philly.
“What judge let him out on bail?” Max said from the other side of me. The woman cut him the darkest glare. I would’ve balked under that stare, but he didn’t. He stared a hole back into her.
“Officer Carter, I know you are on temporary leave until your injury is fully healed, but remember who I am and who you are,” she snapped, he dug his fingers tighter into the arm of the chair and I felt bad for the chair. It didn’t deserve that. Then again, neither did he.
“Well, if you won’t answer him. Maybe you’ll answer me,” I snapped as well. I wanted to know what judge in their damn right mind would allow that fucker out. She looked at me, her irritation still simmering.
“They thought it was best for him to be in the custody of his uncle. He has an ankle monitor; he can’t leave the house.,” she reiterated. I guess she doesn’t realize that he can get out of those things. He was good at escaping things that weren’t supposed to be escaped. He loved escape rooms and things like that. It means a lot to me. I don’t think she realizes how dangerous he can be.
“You don’t know him,” I whispered. She shrugged her arms and looked past me at Max. If looks could kill, I’m pretty sure he would be dead where he sits. Surprisingly, he kept his composure under the gaze. She finally broke the gaze and nodded her head at me.
“If you need anything else. Officer Murdoch is on duty for now. If you need me, here is my number,” she hands me a matte white business card with the gold emblem of the police force on the front with her name, her station, and the address for the police station. Officer Sandra McKane. I don’t like her. Her attitude made my skin scrawl. I couldn’t imagine her being pleasant. I nodded and she took her leave from the room. I let out a small sigh, setting her card on the rolling cart that the tray of discarded food was on. I lost all appetite I had with her disturbing message.
“I’ll stay until the visiting hours end if you’re okay with it. Murdoch is good, but he is lazy and hits on anything with a pulse. I guarantee in about ten minutes he is going to be at the nurses station hitting on one or several of the nurses,” Max said from the chair through gritted teeth.
“Why do I feel like you’re in trouble for being in here,” I noted. He looked over at me and I noticed his fingers have finally let go of the arms of the chair. He seems more relaxed now.
“Oh, I am. I was told to stay far away from you. Mainly because of the trial that’s going to come from this. I was the one who found you. I was the one who got you help. That alone makes me a witness. I told them all to get fucked honestly. I wanted to check in on you because you were in bad shape. I wanted to make sure you’re safe,” he said. I looked around the room. I couldn’t look at him, he saw me at the worst moment of my life. I couldn’t imagine what he saw when he looked at me the first time. “Are you hungry still?”
“No. I honestly just want to go to sleep. Would you be okay if I just go to sleep?” I pulled the blanket up around my neck and rolled away from him. I just want this day to end.
“Don’t stay awake because of me. This is your room, feel free to kick me out whenever,” he shrugged as he got up from the chair. “If you’re okay with it, I’ll stop by until the day they let you out. Then, I’ll be there at your side at the trial. You do not need to be alone,” he says, no arrogance in his voice. He wasn’t bad to look at. I nodded.
“That’s fine.” I say, letting the numbness drift me off to sleep.