The Neighbor

Chapter 21

Elodie's POV

We sat in the hotel as Wyatt paced around the room. My attorneys sat at a table on their laptops typing as Jane sat next to me holding my hand. Tears had been stained on my face from crying. Gary and the other security guard were stationed by windows looking outside for any potential threats. I heard a knock at the door and watched as Gary stepped in front of me, his hand on his pistol.

"Miss. Jones?" 

I sighed in relief. Malcom. He was the head attorney on our legal team. Gary nodded as the other security guard opened the door. Malcom walked in and ushered for his assistant to follow him in. She had three big bags of what smelt like food, and two trays of drinks. The door shut and Gary walked over helping her. 

"Miss. Jones I am so sorry. How he managed to get into the funeral, I-" 

"Malcom please, call me Elodie. We talked about this." 

Malcom sighed as his assistant set down the bags. He walked over and handed me a smoothie. 

"Mango pineapple smoothie, tons of vitamins. It'll be good for the baby. I got a few lunch options too. Figured it'd be best to bring snacks as we are going to be here for a minute figuring this out." 

I smiled and took a sip of the smoothie, the cold iciness soothing my swollen throat. It had become so dry from crying. 

"Malcom, if I may," 

Wyatt looked at him as Malcom nodded sitting down at the table ushering his hand out as if to tell Wyatt the floor was his to speak.

"How the, FUCK did he get pass the POLICE?" 

Wyatt threw his water bottle against the wall as it exploded. I flinched as Malcom took a deep breath shaking his head. I watched him run his hand through the top of his golden blonde hair. His eyes were a light blue, different from Florence's. He had a bit of facial stubble on his chiseled jawline and a small set of lips. I watched as he wetted his lips before letting his hand fall. 

"You both have to understand, Jolene is a mastermind. She knows anybody and everybody. Odds are she had done a favor in the past for that police officer and he owed her. That is why it is so important for us to keep you away from the public till the court date. I'm sorry, I know this arrangement isn't ideal. I can arrange for a different type-" 

"You've been more accommodating for us than anyone else here has, don't apologize. The added security on this floor is exactly what Elodie needs. I just hate that he ruined the day."

Her day. Florence's day. Keep us away, he had said, but more like locked up. It felt as if my cell had just been moved, becoming bigger. I wanted to be able to walk down the street without someone trying to take my photo or me fearing that Arden would find me. 

"Can't we sue the police for bribery?" 

I looked at Malcom who laughed at Wyatt.

"If we were to sue everyone that owed Jolene Smith a favor, we'd be dead before we even brushed the surface. Unfortunately the funeral was open to the public, and our jurisdiction only goes so far. He's able to go out in public, and somehow the news is keeping his face concealed no matter how hard we push. Any published photo of him is immediately wiped from the internet. She has fucking power, we can't forget that. Dropping his name today was a powerhouse move, Elodie. They can't erase his name from the news, and with all the people there, I'm sure his name will be all over the internet within a matter of hours." 

Wyatt paced as the lawyers opened their food up. Jane held my hand as I looked around. Malcom ushered for Wyatt to sit and eat so he did. I stared at the food in front of me as my stomach churned. I don't know how much longer I could remain locked up in this hotel. I felt like I was being suffocated slowly. The small shreds of happiness I had were slowly shriveling up.