Chapter Seven

Sage opened the door and slid out the car landing on her feet. The police station was in front of her a big building made of concrete and blocks. This wasn’t her first time seeing it, but it was her first time going inside.

She had flashbacks to officers coming to the apartment she shared with Jim to see what all the noise was about. How many times had she looked an officer in the face and lied? ‘I’m fine I just fell.’

They weren’t stupid, but her life depended on pretending. Some days she wondered what would have happened if she had just taken the help and used it to get as far away from Jim as possible. Probably this same thing. She’d be back here about to confront the monster in her life.

“If you need help call me, no hesitations.” Xander’s voice was rough with affection.

He was going to wait for them by the Jeep. She turned knowing she should let them have this moment, but she needed to be part of it, to see what was happening between them.

She was expecting to see them shaking hands or as twins to see them do the brother hug. Instead, their right hand was on the other's chest. It couldn’t be on their hearts because it was a little too far to the right and several inches lower than it should be. Palms pressed firmly fingers spread. It looked like she could see their hearts beating against their chests showing her the movement between their spread fingers.

Sage turned her head and shook it. That was impossible.

It’s about time that you start grasping on to reality and stop living in the dream world you created. Caden and Xander are not human, and they’re not your enemy. The alien voice inside her head spat the words out as if tired of putting up with her denial.

Here’s another word of wisdom for you. When you walk into this station, you better know where you stand if you want to walk out of there alive. It’s time for the games to stop. All your denials had better come to an end before you vouch for the person trying to kill you. You are no longer a child Sage grow the hell up!

“Sage?” Caden was in front of her looking worried.

“Sorry, I was having one of those conversations with myself that define the rest of your life. You ever have one of those?” Please say yes, tell me I’m not losing my freaking mind.

“I think it may be mandatory, no matter what species you are.”

Thanks, remind me you’re an alien, but that’s a conversation for later. She stood a little taller, proud that she said and thought the word alien without turning into a puddle and melting onto the ground.

“Are you ready?”

She nodded, “I am let’s go.”

Squaring her shoulders, she walked beside him across the lot and up the steps. There was a desk when you first walked into the station, and that’s where they stopped.

“Hi, we’re here to see Detective Baker. I’m Sage Stewart; we have an eleven o’clock appointment with him.”

“Have a seat, I will let him know you’re here.”

They turned around and sat on the chairs not too far from the desk. She concentrated on taking deep breaths. All she needed to do was let the detective know she was fine, and then she would be able to leave with Caden.

“Ms. Stewart, Detective Baker will see you now.” A different officer was standing by her side.

She got up with Caden standing too.

“Just Ms. Stewart.”

“I’d like him to be with me.”

“I’m sorry, but there is a possibility that he is your abductor. The detective only wishes to see you.”

“Will her past boyfriend be in there?” Caden asked the officer.

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“Then I’m not at liberty to allow her to place her life in danger. I understand why the detective doesn’t want me in the room. I believe that is wise and Jim should be kept out of the room for the same reason.” Caden took her hand, and they sat back down.

The officer went over to the desk and used the phone. He turned around to make his call before hanging up.

“Detective Baker agrees that is wise. When he brings Jim in, you will also be allowed to come in.”

Sage stood, “Thank you.” She followed the officer through the station until they came to an office with Detective Bakers name on the door. He escorted her in before he left.

“Ms. Stewart, it's a pleasure to meet you.” He stood up to greet her.

“Please detective, call me Sage. It is also a pleasure to meet you.”

“Have a seat.” He motioned toward the chairs in front of his desk sitting after she sat.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show up.”

“I’ve been sick with a bacterial virus. Safire chose to wait until I was on the mend before she told me about what was happening and your desire to see me.”

“She does seem to have her own way of doing things. I received a complaint from your finance that you were missing. He felt that maybe Safire, the woman who lived on your floor in the apartment building was somehow involved in it.”

She held up her hand and wiggled her fingers. “No ring and no ring impression. Jim and I have never been engaged to get married. In fact, at this point, we are nothing to each other. I took the first opportunity I could and ran from him far and fast.”

“Why would you feel the need to have to run?”

She stood up and turned around. “So, I would never have to experience this again.” She pulled up her shirt enough to show several burn marks as well as whip marks.

“Are you saying that he did that to you?”

“Yes.” She pulled down her shirt and retook her seat.

“Why didn’t you come here?”

“What would you have done detective? It is my word against his. From what I’ve noticed the world is more inclined to listen to the being with balls. That leaves me high and dry.” She shook her head and clenched her fist.

“Ms. Stewart that is not the way I operate.”

“Detective Baker you are in the minority.” He shook his head in agreement.

“Do you wish to press charges?”

“I want to be left alone.”

“For the record, Mr. Butler says you were abducted. How do you answer that.?”

“I left him of my own free will, and I am choosing to stay away from him with that same will.”

“He has asked for a meeting with you. Are you agreeable to that?”

“Yes, but I ask that Caden is in the room.”

“I will have them brought in.”

She sat waiting. Her fingers were drumming on the arm of the chair. The thought of seeing Jim again was enough to make her want to throw up. It was the only way to be free of him, but facing her past wasn’t making her happy.

The door opened, and Caden walked in. He stopped in front of her and went down on his heels. “How are you?”

“I’m fine, Detective Baker and I spoke, I told him I have no plans to leave with Jim or ever be with him again.”

“Alright, then we will find a place for you, or you are welcome to come back with me.”

She smiled at him as he stood and walked to stand behind her. She turned around to find him standing with his legs spread and his arms over his chest. He looked like an enforcer the kind that would keep her safe. When she turned back around, she was breathing easier.

Jim walked in, and she pushed her body against the back of the chair without realizing it. Her eyes were glued on his hands. They were so big they reminded her of sledge hammers. How many times had he hit her?

“Sage, sweetheart, where were you? I was so worried.” He walked straight towards her.

“Mr. Butler, remember no touching.” The detective stood and placed his hand on his weapon.

“Are you threatening me?”

“No, I’m reminding you that we talk with our mouths and not our hands.”

“Are you ready to go home?”

“No, that is no longer my home, and we are not in a relationship. I thought my leaving you would have clued you into that.”

“Think carefully about what you’re saying. Once you think about it, you will remember your place is with me.”

“No, I’m never coming back.”

He pulled back his arm and swung at her before the detective could reach for his gun. Caden caught his fist and twisted until he was on the floor.

“Give me a reason not to break your arm. Try to convince me that you were not going to hurt Sage.”

“I love her; I would never hurt her.”

“Liar. You hit me and beat me. You made my life miserable by threatening me. I hate you!”

The words rang throughout the room like a bell. It echoed off the wall as the venom in her voice acted like a poison keeping everyone still.

She shook herself all she wanted to do was leave. “Caden, let him go. Please, I just want to leave.”

He looked at her before he dropped his hand and moved back. He moved to touch Sage, but the smile on Jim’s face stopped him. There was a tingling on his hand from where he came into contact with Jim. It wasn’t doing anything to him, but he would bet it would affect Sage. Biowarfare, he dealt with this in the past.

“Detective Baker may I use your sanitizer?”

“Of course.”

He used the hand that hadn’t touched Jim to pump it out before he began to clean his hands.

“What are you doing? Are you so prissy that you have to clean your hands after a fight?”

“Sage, pump more into my hands but don’t touch me.” He used it four times before he felt like he could touch something without passing the contagion.

“Detective I can’t prove it, but I believe he placed something on his hands that is contagious. I suggest not shaking hands with him. Whatever it is I believe it was meant for Sage.”

“He’s crazy, don’t listen to him. What happened to the no touching rule? I want to press charges.”

“I’ll leave him to you detective.” He turned and left the office with Sage following him.

“Do you really think there was something on his hands?”

“Yes, I could feel it on mine. Whatever it was didn’t work on me.”

“Excuse me, could you direct me to the nearest men’s room?” The officer told him where to go.

He pounded on the door when no one shouted out he opened it and waited for Sage to walk in first.

“I’m not going in there.”

“Move your cute ass, I’m not leaving you in the hall.” He walked over to the sink while she looked around the bathroom looking for something to jump out the corners and scare her.

“It’s not as bad as I thought it would be in here.”

“What did you think it would be like?”

“I watch too much television. I guess I pictured words and dirty things on the walls with urine stains on the floor.”

“No wonder you didn’t want to come. Are all female bathrooms pristine?”

She shuddered, “I’m not going there. Better?” She watched as he dried his hands.

“Yes, whatever was on my hands is now gone.”

“Well, then.” She reached out and took his hand.