The Neighbor

Chapter 24

Elodie's POV

"We want to thank everyone involved in supporting us through this difficult time. We can with confidence now say that around 6:45pm tonight, Arden Smith was taken into custody after admitting to the following; the murder of Florence Waters, the rape of Elodie Jones, assault with a knife, and assault in the first degree. He has been furthermore charged with the attempted murder of Wyatt Brown, resisting arrest, assault in the first degree with a deadly weapon, first degree of kidnapping, assault of a police officer. Folks, this list goes on and on. We want to thank the Washington State SWAT team, Seattle police department, and all the special investigators involved. We have taken a deadly man off the streets tonight, and now it is in the jury's hands to make sure Arden Smith serves life in prison without parole. Thank you, there will be no further comments." 

I watched the 14 cameras all focus on Malcom as the reporters all started bombarding him with questions as he left the podium. He put his hand around my back and ushered me away from the crowd. I had already given my statement before Malcom had stepped up to give his. The camera flashes were something I was still not used to as we walked back into the hotel. Malcom was a badass. He was so good at public speaking, holding an audience's attention, it was spectacular to watch. Wyatt was still at the hospital getting checked out and they wanted to keep him overnight. Standard procedure according to Malcom. 

The doors shut as we all crammed into the elevator and it ascended up to our floor. I walked back into the hotel room as the door shut behind us. Malcom locked the door and looked at me. A smile spread across my face as I turned around shaking my head in disbelief. 

"You were amazing Malcom! That was so exhilarating! They way you commanded the crowd, those reporters? It was unreal!" 

Malcom smirked at me laughing.

"You think so?" 

I nodded, taking a few steps towards him.

"You made it look so easy, I, I just can't believe you did it!" 

Excitement filled my words. I wanted to jump out of my skin. He was gone. Put away. 

"We, Elodie." 

Malcom took another step towards me flashing his perfect white teeth at me and that damn smile.

"We did it!"

A smile spread across his face as he held my arms gently shaking them. I could hear the excitement in his voice too.

"This has been the most rewarding case I've ever been on, god, I wanna celebrate!"

Malcom was getting giddy and I couldn't help but feel it too. All this work, finally paying off.

"So let's celebrate, we did it!" 

I opened my arms up hugging Malcom as he wrapped his arms around my waist. 

"We did it!" 

His voice was so full of happiness, he seemed less stressed, as if he could breathe. I felt it too. The air felt lighter, cleaner, as if the weight of the world wasn't on our shoulders.

"Oh my god, this feeling! I just, I wanna-" 

Malcom paused as he let go of the hug and bent down lifting me off the ground as his arms held the back of my thighs spinning me in a circle. 

"WE DID IT! WE FUCKING DID IT!" 

He shouted the words out as a giggle escaped from my lips. I put my hands on his shoulders as my head fell backwards in laughter. He spun me around a few more times as laughter filled the once serious room.