Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
CORRINE
“It’s okay, Corrine. I’m right here.”
No one ever said things like that to me.
My brother and sister just told me what to do.
Their frustration and disappointment always so obvious.
Now, Mina held my hand. I could feel her trying to transfer her strength to me through her touch.
So confident. She was so pretty. She smelled expensive.
I thought about it the other day too. Clean.
With perfectly manicured nails. Her hair didn’t look real.
Sleek and dark. I couldn’t find a single flyaway.
How could some women do that? Like she’d just stepped out of a salon.
Maybe she had. Or maybe she paid somebody to do her hair and makeup for her every morning before she came to court.
I imagined her having one of those deep soaker tubs in a luxury bathroom with tall windows overlooking Lake Michigan.
She wore a tan suit, and it brought out the little gold flecks in her eyes.
She was everything I wanted to be. Rich.
Beautiful. Self-assured. Smart. If one of her parents needed nursing care, I bet she could just write a check.
I was invisible to people like her. Just like I was to the people I served drinks to every night.
I was background noise. Just an extra in the movie of their lives.
Only now, this was my scene. My close-up.
Time to deliver my Oscar-worthy performance.
I wonder if she believed the show I was putting on for her.
“I’m okay,” I said. “I can do this.” Five men. Their fate depending on whether I recognized one of them. It was too late to run now. I had to see this through.
Why was I so nervous? It’s not like he would be here. It would be impossible.
One by one, I watched five men file into the room on the other side of the one-way glass.
It was just like I’d seen in the movies and on TV.
They lined up against a wall with height markers.
They were all a little over six feet tall.
My eyes immediately went to the first man.
He walked all the way to the end then turned and faced the window.
Cold, cruel, beautiful eyes. I knew it wasn’t possible, but I swear it seemed like he could see me through the glass. I was freezing all of a sudden.
Then, the next man turned. Then the next. And two more after that. It felt like the world slowed as I studied their faces. Inside, I screamed.
I’ll make you disappear.
Strong fingers wrapping around my throat. Soft whispers that made my heart flutter with passion at first, then terror.
My little dove.
No. No! This was all wrong. I felt five pairs of eyes staring right through me. They lied. They could all see me. I knew it. They wanted to hurt me. He knew. He would come after me. I was stupid to think I was in control. It would all be about him now. Mina could be the savior. I would be nothing.
I staggered back. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
“Do you recognize any of them?” Detective Dennison pressured me.
“You can take a break,” Mina said.
“No.” I shook my head furiously.
“No, you don’t recognize them? Or no, you don’t want to take a break?” Dennison asked.
“I don’t know them. You said he was one of them. You said you caught him. You lied.”
“It’s okay,” Mina said. It wasn’t though. She didn’t mean it. She was disappointed. She thought she’d already saved the day. Caught the bad guy. She could play the hero. And I would stay stuck in the role everyone put me in. The victim.
Even now, I could see the pity in her eyes. In all of their eyes.
Mina didn’t know. She’d probably never had anyone touch her in anger. Never felt the quiet peace that came over you at the moment you thought you were going to die.
I was a fool to think just being in the same room with Mina would be enough. She’d never be on my side.
“I’m sorry. I can’t be here anymore. I think I’m going to be sick. Is there a restroom?”
“I’ll take you,” Mina said.
“It’s okay,” Detective Dennison said. He said other things, but I headed for the door.
Mina was right on my heels. “Corrine, please slow down. We can talk.”
I whipped around to face her. “Your suspect,” I said. “He was one of those men, wasn’t he?”
She said nothing. She didn’t have to.
“Corrine, it was one lineup. That’s all. It doesn’t mean we won’t stop trying to solve your case.”
I tried to look frustrated, but I wasn’t surprised. All this time I had known she wasn’t going to help me find my happy ending. I was going to have to make it on my own. I’d have to write my own.
Sweat pouring down my neck, I shut the bathroom door. I walked to the sink and ran the cold water, splashing some on my face.
I set my purse on the sink and unzipped it. I pulled out a small plastic baggie. The contents made me feel powerful. It gave me something I could control.
Unzipping the bag, I carefully slipped out a single pair of underwear and held them up to the light. They still held secrets I knew could change my life. I dropped them back into the baggie and held them to my chest.
As I closed my eyes, I saw his face floating in front of me. Handsome. Devastating. Passion and danger. Heaven and hell. A demon disguised as an angel. I had to be brave enough to bring him to me.