Dean had been arrested. Parker had tried to call Elliott and Jen on the way to the station but couldn’t get an answer. I sat in a quiet room in the police station wrapped in the blanket from Parker's truck. One of the female officers had gotten me a hot cup of tea, but it had done little to warm me up. I had already spoken to the sergeant, and I was now waiting for Parker to finish up with him.
I sat there, my hands wrapped around the paper cup, trying to gather and hold any heat I could. I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes. The door creaked open, causing me to jump. Parker walked in and took a seat across from me. He placed his hands on my thighs.
"Are you going to be okay?"
I looked down at the floor to hide my face from him. It was easier to lie to him that way. I shook my head yes and took another sip of the hot tea.
"Harrison." The sergeant poked his head in the door. "You can take Tatum home now. If we need anything else, we'll call."
I looked to Parker. I was too terrified of being alone in my house after all of this. He held out his hand to me, and I reached out to grasp it. I stood up as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into him, walking me slowly out of the room.
"He can't get out, can he?" Panic arose in my chest.
"Well, not right now. He’ll need to see a judge before bail can be set. No worries. We will be notified if the time comes that he is released," Parker spoke in a hushed voice.
“But if he gets out, he will find me, Parker. He will come for me.”
He pulled me into him tighter and urged me forward with his hand on the small of my back. "Let's not worry about that right now, Tatum. We are going to get home and get some rest."
“Parker, I don’t want to go home.”
“Baby, you’re coming home with me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
"Harrison, if she needs help with this, you let us know. I have explained to her there is counseling that we can arrange for her."
Parker nodded and guided me out the station door. We were walking down the front steps when we heard our names being called and turned to see Elliott and Jen rushing over.
Elliott grabbed me and wrapped his arms around me. "My God, Tatum, are you okay?"
I nodded, hugging him back. I could feel that familiar burn in my eyes but refused to give in to the tears.
As soon as Elliott let me go, Jen stepped in to hug me. "I should have come back with you. This wouldn't have happened."
"No, it could have been worse. It’s okay. I'm fine. It's late, guys. I just want to get some sleep." I didn't want them to make a big deal over this.
"Well, I'm going to come home with you. I don't want you to be alone," Jen finished, looking to Elliott.
"The house is still under evidence review," Parker reminded her.
"You can come back to my place, stay with Jen and I. Parker, you as well if you want,” Elliott said, nodding at Jen.
Shaking my head, I looked to all of them. "Guys, it's all right. You both go back to whatever you were doing. I’m okay. Parker can take me home. It’s all good. No need to make a fuss over me," I insisted.
They all looked at me, almost analyzing me to make sure I was telling them the truth. It was suffocating as their eyes penetrated my very being. I opened Parker's truck door and climbed up, pulling the door shut behind me, and closed my eyes.
When Parker didn't immediately get in the truck, I opened my eyes and watched as they congregated on the sidewalk. Every once in a while, Jen and Elliott would glance over their shoulders to look at me. They could talk about me all they wanted. I would be fine.
"What the hell happened?" Elliott questioned.
How was I going to explain to him what had gone down? He would be pissed to know I left her outside and took off. It wasn't like me, but I couldn't help it. I was hurt and needed to distance myself. Looking at both him and Jen, I swallowed hard.
"You're going to be pissed with me, Elliott. It probably wouldn't have happened if I wasn't being an ass."
"What are you talking about, Parker?"
"We left the beach; things kind of got a little hot between us. She suddenly wanted to leave. So we packed up, I dropped her off, and I left before she was inside."
Elliott glared at me. I could feel the heat coming from his eyes. He had trusted me with his sister, and I had disappointed him and her. I wasn't proud of myself.
"Anyways, I got to my driveway, and something in my gut told me to go back. I tried to shake it but couldn't. I ran in the house and grabbed my gun and two sets of cuffs from my bag before going back. When I pulled into the driveway, I saw the light on in the kitchen. I watched as her bedroom light then went on, and I sat debating what I was going to say to her when she opened the door.
“I got out of the truck and walked up and knocked on the door. I thought it strange that she didn't answer, so I called her name and still nothing. I thought I may be scaring her, so I told her it was me and still nothing. When I went to leave, I heard what sounded like a call for help.
“I called nine-one-one, and then I went around to the back of the house and found the back slider to the living room open. When I stepped in, that's when I heard him talking to her. I'm not going to tell you all the details because I'm sure you can read all that in the police report, but it wasn't pretty."
Elliott finally unclenched his fists and started to relax.
"I'm sorry that I didn't go in with her, Elliott."
Jen rubbed Elliott’s back and wiped the tears from her eyes.
He stood, taking me in. "The main thing is you got to her before anything worse happened, and for that I am thankful. I just hope she's going to be okay." He peaked around to look at Tatum.
I turned and looked over my shoulder at her. She sat wrapped in the blanket with her head back and her eyes closed. I silently prayed for that too.
"Do me a favor, Parker?"
"Anything."
"Can you take her to your place?"
"You've got it. You guys get home and get some rest. We can meet up tomorrow. Once again, Elliott, I am sorry."
Elliott wrapped his arm around Jen’s waist and led her to his truck. "It’s okay, Parker. Call if you need anything!" he shouted over his shoulder.
"You know it." I walked around and climbed up into the truck and pulled away from the curb.