I saw what you did

Chapter twelve

Jack came down the stairs still in his pajamas and hair ruffled, his eyes tired from sleep. "What are you doing up already mom? It's only 5:30" he asks through a yawn. The kitchen smells of bacon, eggs, and home fries making my belly rumble. "I couldn't sleep so I figured I'd make us a nice hot breakfast, are you hungry?" He flashes me a small smile "Sure" he says sitting down at the table. Placing our plates in front of us we eat in silence, "Mom, do you think dad is coming back?" Jack asks catching me off guard I nearly choke on the food in my mouth. "I'm not sure buddy.. they haven't found any trace of him yet." "Is it bad that I don't care if he does?" He asks shyly. I stare at him, his eyes look sad and full on guilt. I grab his hand. "Why do you feel that way?" He pulls his hand away "Well it's not going to be any different if he does come back he is still gonna be a drunk and he is gone all the time anyways." I stare mouth agape I had no idea he knew of his dad's alcoholism I have always tried to protect him from it and lie about his whereabouts. "How did you know?" I ask quietly. "I've seen how he has changed mom, I'm not dumb, I can smell the alcohol on him when he comes home and how you pull away when he comes near you. Ive saw the bruises on your arm one time when you rolled your sleeve up to cook dinner and you thought I weren't paying attention." I sit there in shock, absolutely dumbfounded at the words coming out of my now 13 year old's mouth. Jack starts to pace the small dining room. "I don't care if he comes back mom, we have been fine these last few weeks without him." I would be lying if I said I wasn't relieved to hear this, but I don't tell Jack this. "He is your dad buddy no matter what and he loves you. You have always been the light of his life." "I am fine without him." He says stocking off to his room leaving my staring at my half empty plate.

When I make it to work Frank calls me into his office and shuts the door. Joyce the head of HR is sitting in a chair across the desk and motions for me to sit down. Frank takes a seat in his chair and speaks first "Karissa there has been a complaint filed against you for harassment. Do you know anything about this?" I stare at Frank in disbelief trying to process the words "What are you talking about?" Frank passes a letter across the desk for me to read:
I would like to formally write my complaint of harassment. Karissa Jenson has been sexually inappropriate towards me and I have respectfully declined her advances causing her to have a scene slamming her office door and making vulgar hand gestures at me from her car. I feel unsafe in my work environment causing me mental distress. Thank you for your time, Carl Jones.
I reread the statement "Frank you know this is not true this is complete bullshit he came into my office yesterday and made advances towards me! He slammed my door I didn't do anything!" "I know you are going through a hard time right now but we have the proof we have you on camera flipping the middle finger." Joyce is the one who says this, turning Frank's computer around they play the video that shows me getting into my car and flipping the bird. I watch the video in disbelief. "I'm sorry to have to do to you but we are placing you on an unpaid suspension until further notice." I am in total shock. "You're kidding me right? I've work here for 12 years and you are gonna believe what that creep says over me? Fuck you Frank." I say in huff slamming his office door behind me. Marsha is standing outside of her office and beckons for me to come in "What's wrong?" I plop down in the chair across from her with my head in my hands "They fucking fired me Marsha because that creep Carl said I sexually harassed him!" I look up and wipe the tears away. "I can't believe this what am I gonna do? I don't have Mark's income as back up anymore. Thankfully we have enough in our savings that should last us long enough for me to get a new job. I just can't believe Frank believes Carl's bullshit lies." I am now sobbing. Marsha rushes to me and pulls me into a big hug. "You will make it through this, I'm so sorry Karissa." She embraces me for a long time before finally pulling away. "Do you have any boxes? I have to pack my office." She hands me an extra she has with a sad smile and a comforting pat on the shoulder. It doesn't take me long to pack up my small office I never really kept much here. I make it to my SUV and there Carl is standing in his window with an evil smile across his face.

I'm just driving past the local supermarket, the road is blurry I can hardly see through my tears. I look up and see the flashing lights in my rear view mirror. "Just absolutely fantastic." I pull over in the turn around up ahead, wipe away my tears, and roll down my window and wait. I can see the officer in the rear view mirror, he is tall and muscular but his face hasn't come into view yet. Leaning down in I look up and it's Art. The last person I want to see right now, with my puffy eyes and red face. "Can I help you officer?" I say in a small voice. "Karissa? What's wrong?" He isn't looking at me he is looking at the box of things in my passenger seat. Another tear rolls down my cheek "Nothing Art, was I speeding? I'd like to get home." He wipes my tear away. "No you crossed over the yellow line, I thought it was someone drunk. Tell me what's wrong" I begin to sob again he opens the door and kneels next to me. "I got fired from my job today" each word comes out in gasps. He touches my leg causing a surge of electricity to go through my body. "Let me follow you home so I know you make it safely and we can talk more than." "Are you allowed to do that? Aren't you on duty and I'm your missing persons case wife?" He gives me a small smile "I was never one to follow all the rules."

We are seated on my couch in the living room, with a warm cup of coffee in front of each of us. Art takes a small sip. He is sitting so close to me I can smell his woodsy aftershave. "So tell me what happened?" I take a deep breath and explain the situation with Carl at the tavern and the last 2 days. He becomes tense. "They believe the lies he is telling them?" "I mean apparently they fired me for it so I don't know what else to say." He sighs "What do you want to do? Do you want me to get involved? Run a background check?" I shake my head quickly "No, No please don't you will just make it worse. I can find a new job. I have enough money in my savings to keep us stable for awhile." He pursed his lips seeming unsatisfied with that answer. He grabs my hand looking over at me with his sharp piercing eyes making my heart skip a beat. I don't pull away. "Karissa tell me the truth, off the record." I look at him in shock "What do you mean? I just did?" I stutter out. "Not about this Carl creep, about Mark. I know you lied when you said he was a good husband. I went through his record and spoke with his boss. I know the cops were called awhile back for a possible domestic at this address once and his boss said he has gone to work smelling of bourbon." I never realized that was in record, I never pressed charges. I remeber the day so clearly it was the first time Mark ever hit me.

It was a Friday night, Jack was spending the weekend at a friends house and Mark just got home from a doctors appointment, a follow up for the accident a month and a half prior. He was so different already his mood was dark, he wasn't his happy go lucky self anymore. He was always easily agitated. I surprised him with a candle lit dinner trying to brighten his mood but he was late getting home he stopped at the bar, dinner was cold causing him to fly off the handle and slap me across the face. I ran to the phone and dialed 911 I tried to hang up but it was too late, the dispatcher could hear Mark yelling in the background. An officer was dispatched but I sent them away telling them it was a mistake.

Art caresses my face pulling me out of the memory. I stand up and start pacing the room. I watch my feet as I speak "So yes these things are true Mark and I haven't been in love for a long time. For the last year he has been a completely different person than the man I married. He has been violent drunk. Only ever to me I would never let him touch Jack." Art stands in front of me stopping my pacing "Why didn't you tell us this in the interview?" I throw my hands up in defeat "Isn't it obvious? My abusive husband goes missing that's a little suspicious on my part don't you think?" "Is there a reason for us to be suspicious? Do you have anything to do with his disappearance?" He says with a raised eyebrow. I want to vomit, I can feel the bile rise in my throat, is he on to me? Is this a trick question? He is standing in front of me so close I can see the grey starting to come through his dark hair. "No" I lie feeling the sweat run down my back. We stare at each other for a long time. Art breaks the silence first "I know it's wrong Karissa and I am breaking the rules but there is something about you.. I haven't had an update on Mark's case in weeks but I still call anyways because I want to hear your voice." My heart twist and I can hear it beating in my ears, I am stunned to my spot. Art puts his large hand on the side of my face and pulls me in for a soft sweet kiss causing me to melt in his arms.