Broken Heartbeat

Chapter 10

(Matt's POV)

As soon as Jasmine's hospital room door closes behind me tears fill my eyes, and my feet carry me to the parking lot in a trance. Before I realise it, I'm clambering into my pick-up and the second I close the door I don't hold back my tears any longer. I cry in earnest for the first time since Ruby was abducted over four years ago.

Everything that I've learned about Jasmine rushes through my mind and I let out a cry of pain. The scream that leaves my mouth is filled with nothing but pure pain and heartbreak. I don't care who can see me or who hears me. Jasmine has been put through so much torture and she doesn't deserve any of it. The angelic woman that I fell in love with has been destroyed by a monster and I genuinely don't know how or if she will recover.

Visions fill my mind of Jasmine being attacked, terrorised and worst of all r@ped. I hear her cry out in fear and call for help. The silhouette of a man appears behind Jasmine and his sadistic laugh fills my ears before I let out a roar of fury.

That bastard! How dare he touch a hair on her head. How dare he subject her to his cruelty.

I furiously wipe away the tears from my eyes and jam the key into the ignition. I slam my foot on the accelerator and race out of the parking lot. I merge into the busy street without even glancing in my wing mirror. I hear the sound of horns blasting behind me, but I don't care. Finding this Greg guy is the only thing that registers in my brain and in order to do that I need to get to the station as quickly as possible.

After running three red lights and narrowly avoiding colliding with a truck, I pull into the station my anger still boiling and spitting within me.

I fling myself out of my pick-up and march towards the door of the station.

"Matt! Wait!" I ignore Ryan as I continue on my warpath.

I don't even make it five steps into the station when I hear the Chief barking my name from across the floor.

"Matthew, in here. Now."

I know better than to ignore my Dad, especially on the job so I don't hesitate to comply and follow him into his office.

"Sit."

I do as he says and take a seat in one of the two chairs opposite his desk. "How is Jasmine doing?"

It doesn't surprise me that Dad knows about Jasmine. However the mere mention of her name extinguishes the fiery rage within me.

"She's not good," I tell him honestly. "She's black and blue and terrified of everything."

"Shit!" Dad curses. He reaches up and loosens the tie from around his neck. I watch as he runs a hand over the stubble on his face and realise that this is difficult for him too. Not only is Jasmine his daughter's best friend but Jasmine's father is also his best friend.

"We need to find him. He needs to be stopped. We need to- Why are you shaking your head?"

"Not we, Matt. You're not working this case."

"Like hell I'm not!" I stand up and push my chair behind me, my anger returning full blast. How could he say I'm not working this case? I need to be on this case. I need to get my hands around that son of a bitch's neck.

"Walsh! Don't you dare speak to me like that." Gone was my father and in front of me stood a pissed off Chief of Police. "Your privileges have been revoked for this case, as have Ryan's. Neither of you are to work this case. You are Jasmine's friends not the detectives hunting down her abuser."

"Bu-"

"Do I make myself clear?" I heard the warning in his voice and knew I was not to object.

"Yes, Sir." I turn on my heel and storm out of the station. Jaxon and Ryan instantly rush to meet me.