I Hope You Dance

Chapter 18

"Mags." My eyes fluttered open at the sound of Rooster's voice, his arms wrapped around me. "Did I pass out?" He nodded. "Yeah, but no one blames you. That's a hell of a statement to hear." I groaned. "How long was I out?" He shrugged. "Forty-five seconds." Phoenix rushed over, a glass of water in her hand. "Here." I took it from her as she walked to the door. "Yell if you need me." Rooster nodded as he helped me back into the chair. "I'm sorry to dump this on you, but we do have to question you." I nodded, sipping on the water. "Do we need to go anywhere?" They both shook their heads no. 

"No, we can do it here." I nodded as they pulled out a recorder, pressing record. "So, what do you remember from the night before she went missing? That was the night there was an altercation in your front yard? Between Mr. Wilder and Mr. Bradshaw?" We nodded. "Okay, explain to us what happened in detail." So we did, I recounted everything up until I passed out, then Rooster explained everything he remembered. "And the next morning?" I furrowed my brows since it was a little fuzzy. "Um, I woke up. Aaron said he was going to go on a run before we went down to the station. I went down there while Aaron was out and got Rooster out. When I came home he had just gotten out of the shower, and we started arguing." They nodded, writing something down. "And what happened in this argument?" My cheeks heated up at the memory, getting flustered about having to repeat it in front of strangers and Rooster. 

"Caila. This is going to help us rule you out as a suspect and possibly catch Mr. Wilder if he did it." I nodded, clearing my throat. "He was angry that I posted Rooster's bail. I came home and we stood in the living room arguing about it. He was angry about me seeing Rooster and I yelled at him that he stepped out on the marriage first." They nodded. "What then?" I pursed my lips. "He uh, he smacked me. Threw me into the table behind our couch." Rooster's grip tightening on my shoulder's. It didn't hurt, it was more comforting. "Did you ever see those clothes he left in, after that?" I furrowed my brows, thinking back on it I never did. "No, I never did and they were some of his favorite workout clothes." They nodded.

"What happened in the weeks following?" I thought back on it. "He-he was actually nice. Like he was when we first started dating, he even got me Dahlia." Hawthorne furrowed his brows. "Dahlia?" I heard her claws clicking on the floor. "My dog." I said as I pet her. "When did he get her for you?" I thought on it with a sigh. "Um, about a month after the fight with Rooster." They looked to each other, nodding. "Has anyone else ever gone missing around you?" I shook my head. "No." They nodded and cut the recording. "Thank you, Mrs. Wilder." They stood and I did as well. 

"You think Aaron did it?" I asked and they stopped. "We aren't supposed to say but... you and him were our only suspects and we just ruled you out." I nodded, leading them out the door. "Thank you, guys." They nodded and left, me closing the door behind them. As it clicked I rested my head on it, inhaling deeply to keep the tears at bay. "So what happened?" Hangman asked. "They think Aaron killed Melissa." I heard a few gasps. "The same Melissa he would sleep with while you were deployed?" Phoenix asked and I nodded. "And while I was home." I said turning to face them. "I hated her, but I never wanted her dead. I just wish she would've found someone else to fuck!" I huffed, really trying to keep the tears at bay.

But as Rooster walked over, wrapping his arms around me I broke. "I was married to a fucking murderer." I cried into his chest. He rubbed my back, calming me down. "You have got to stop having us over." Hangman said, making me laugh. "I mean, as devastating as that is. They found her body, I'm no longer a suspect and Aaron could be doing a very long time in prison." They cheered to the last bit. "Now, let's finish this amazing food because I could swear I smell a certain cake in the oven." Hangman said, grinning at me. "You mean my mamaw's Hershey bar cake?" He nodded. "Damn you and your nose Seresin."

~~~

Another week had passed and I was going stir crazy at home. I have been working out to kill some time, but I realized not enough as I looked down at the scale. "Oh hell no." The bold 181 staring back at me. When I went on leave I was 172, which was pushing it for me, but I knew it was all the muscle I built up after my accident. I couldn't gain my weight back, I had to keep it off. "Dahlia!" I called, grabbing her leash. "Wanna go for a run?" She jumped up, excited at my question. I got her hooked up and walked out to the beach, pushing myself to my limit to get my run in.