Stay

Chapter 17

I'm sitting in an office watching over the tape of Nathaniel being interrogated. I keep a close eye on his body language and how he moves after he's been asked a question. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. I watch the tape over and over for a few hours until Aralia informs me that there's a new suspect in interrogation room two.

"I'll be there in five. Just let me grab my things." I reply. I grab the tape and shove it in my jacket. I place my jacket in my office and grab the questions that I've written for someone else other than the ex. I take a deep breath and walk into the room. There he is, staring up at me.

"I don't know what's going on." Peyton claims. I nod my head. I nervously sit down in the chair across from him. Luckily, he's not hand cuffed or tied down. He looks just as handsome as he did when I left his apartment this morning. He has a bit of s run on his face because he's hasn't shaven in a few days, and his ripped jeans are revealing his knees. He has on a tight blue tee shirt which looks amazing on him.

"I don't either. I was just informed that I need to interrogate someone and that someone just so happens to be you." I explain to him. He nods his head showing that he understands.

"I think it's just so we can get some answers about your sister, who her friends were, her hobbies." I attempt to make him feel better. He grabs one of my hands and cups it in his. I don't move my hand and I proceeded with the questions. As he answers each question, I write down what he says and double checks with a few things making sure the information he's given me is correct.

"Thanks Peyton. Where's Carson, if I may ask?" I bring up my son. He waves his hands as if I shouldn't worry.

"He's with Aralia in the break room. We are going hunting for houses today." Peyton stands up and walks up to me. He's close enough for me to be able to feel him breathing. I look up to meet his eyes, and he cups my cheek in his hand. He pulls me into a small miss then backs away. I can't help myself but to smile. He knows how to make a girls knees go weak.

"Thanks." I say. Peyton exits the room and I sit down, waiting for the next person to enter. It's a woman, who's about 25, average height and weight and brunette.

She sits down in the chair that Peyton was in and glares at me. I don't let her intimidate me because she's trying to prove how strong and powerful she is, but she's the weakest person I've ever met.

"My name is Dakota." I introduce myself to her. She rolls her eyes at me, but I ignore it.

"I'm Serina." She snarls. I good my hands in front of myself and look her in her eyes. Her makeup is perfect, almost too perfect, but that doesn't mean anything. I open her file to see everything about her. Her social life, childhood, schools, everything.

"So, you've known Jess?" I ask her. I can tell by her facial expression that she's known Jess for quite some time.

"She was my best friend." Serina claims. Well, that's the start.

"Okay. Tell me about her." I demand in a polite way.

"She was head over heals for this one tall guy in high school. I think they got hitched, but I'm not sure. He creeped me out ya know." She's leaning back in her chair with her arms folded, but it's not to scare me. It's just part of her personality I'm assuming.

"Can I have the name of this guy?" I ask of her. I pull out a pen and I'm prepared to write down the first name that pops out of her mouth.

"Nick, Nate, Jake." something around those names. Nathaniel pops into mind again, just because I know Jess is his wife. Death kills a person, not a relationship.

"I think we are finished here." I thank her then I leave the room. I set the notes on my desk and catch none the other Nathaniel sitting in one of my chairs. I throw on my coat and pull my hair out from under the jacket.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in a jail holding cell." I state. Nate stands up and starts examining everything.

"Well, I got bailed out by a friend." He says. I want to meet this friend and find out exactly how they knew where he was and why.

"You aren't authorized to be in my office." I inform him. He ignores me, as he usually does. He picks up all the pictures that I had taken down, and hangs them all up again, in their correct places.

"I miss you. You also failed to tell me that I don't have custody over my son anymore?" I can tell by the time of his voice that he's starting to become angry towards me. He takes a few steps closer to me, but I take a few back.

He grabs me by my arm and slams the door shut. He throws me down on the floor and tells me to get up, so I do.

"The court should've told you." I defend myself. He smiles and shakes his head no. I want to run or scream, but I don't. I'm stronger than that.

He slams me against the wall with his hand on my throat. He's applying pressure, intending that he's not afraid to choke me. I try to remove his hand, but he just pushes harder against me. I can't breathe, and my brain is begging for oxygen. Eventually, he lets go of his grip and I fall to my knees on the floor. I'm coughing a little, but not too much.

"I'm going to get him back, bitch." He spat at me. I look up and see that he's gone. I can feel the tears running down my face. All I want to do is cry. All I want to do is cry and run. I need to leave.