ROSE ON THE LAKE 18+

🌹CHAPTER FOURTEEN🌹

I have you to guide me through my troubles and fears
I'll always be here for you through your struggles and tears
I love you more than my words could ever show
You mean everything to me; I just want you to know

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As promised, Celine went along with Rush to the police station and sought out detective Harper. At the entrance, they were ushered into the waiting room by an intern who later went in search of the detective.

"Good morning, Mr. Garwood" Harper greeted, extending his hand which Rush shook without any hesitation.

"I prefer to be referred to by my mother's maiden name, Declan. Or you can just call me Rush." He responded.

"Then Rush it is. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"This is Celine" he gestured to the young lady behind him, beckoning for her to come closer. "One of our recently employed staff. She's here to make a statement."

An all too serious look overtook Harper's face as he glanced from man to woman and back. Finally he signed, "come with me"

He took them into the homicide department, and to an open office partitioned so each detective had his section and table to work with. He directed them into an office he shared with his partners.
As the lead detectives, they were not expected to be seen with ordinary officers in uniform.
He offered them seats and refreshments, the later to which Rush respectfully declined. Celine on the other hand, asked to be served a cup of ice tea.

"So, what is this about?" Harper asked.

Turning to Celine, Rush spoke in dulcet tones.

"Don't be scared, just tell the detective everything that happened."
She nodded, dropped the cup and cleared her throat.

"Last night, Mr Garwood_Dillan, called me to his room. I was scared at first. I'd heard tales of servants being mistreated by him so I got skittish. But when I got there, he asked me to tell him about myself, which I did.

My grandma used to be the old cook in the mansion and I grew up there, untill several years ago when she died. After her death, I was alone and on my own till the cook, Mr. Linguini who happens to be my uncle, asked to bring me back to the mansion. I'd been living in the servants quarters untill the house keeper offered me work. Apparently some servants had ran away and she needed extra hands. So I accepted. I was only employed several days ago.

I told all these to the Master, and he asked more personal questions. He said he'd found out about my- my feelings for Mr. Rush and that he had a job for me."

Harper's eyes wandered to Rush, and then back to her, encouraging her to go on.

She licked her parched lips and took a sip of her beverage.

"He said he'd pay me a lofty sum if I got Mr. Rush to have sex with me, and be rough with me in the process. In other to receive the money, I needed to show him bruises on my hands, neck and other intimate parts made by Mr. Rush."

"So what happened next?"

"I approached Mr. Rush and attracted his attention. He invited me to join him in his room_"

Harper shifted uneasily in his seat.

"But Mr. Rush was a gentleman. When he discovered I was a virgin, he refused to do anything untoward with me and insisted to know why I wanted it so bad. I told him the truth and he brought me here."

Signalling for them to wait, Harper disappeared and returned with another detective in tow. Rush recognized him as Detective Martin. He took Celine to make her statement.