Learning to Live, Again

Chapter Eight

Corbin's POV

Addaline sat beside me in the car, scowling. "I don't know what they think we could possibly have to do with Niamh's disapperance. I mean, really? She was your best friend and the mother of your son, and I was busy giving birth when she went missing. How stupid can these cops be?"

My hands were tight around the steering wheel, the knuckles turning white. I didn't say anything, but I couldn't help but feel she was practicing her speech. Why would she do that though? She was innocent, right? My thoughts wondered back to the conversation I heard last night.

"He doesn't know, and you're not going to tell him."

"I can't tell him until after it's done."

What don't I know? After what? My heart hammered in my chest as we pulled up to the police station. I was innocent, but just being asked to come here made me feel like a criminal, and my hands were becoming clammy, the butterflies in my stomach trying to claw their way out of me. My breathing was shallow as we got out of the car, and made out way to the door.

Addaline took my hand on hers. "Act like we're a perfect couple and they can't nail us with anything," she whispered.

I turned to her, about to ask her what she meant, but one of the cops from last night walked up to us. "Mr. and Mrs. Waters," he greeted. He was tall, with salt and pepper hair and a beer gut. His eyes were brown, and he was frowning.

Addaline took the floor. She let go of my hand and stepped up to him, offering him her hand. "Hello, my name is Addaline. You obviously already met my husband, Corbin." The cop seemed put off, but shook her hand anyway. "I was told you needed our help with something?"

The cop looked between the two of us, his brow furrowed. "Not exactly, Mrs. Waters. You see we-"

"Please, call me Addie." She hooked her arm in mine, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Addie," the cop said uncomfortably, "we would like to ask you and your husband a few questions, seperatly if you don't mind."

She nodded. "Of course." Addaline turned to me. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders, leaning in close to my ear. "Remember, perfect couple and happy family." She kissed my cheek, and, in a much louder voice said, "I love you baby!"

When I didn't say it back, she gave me a warning look. With a smile, I waved, "I love you too, darling." Addaline looked please with my response, and she followed the cop into the back room. I sat down in the chairs to the right, my palms sweaty. I could barely breath, I was so nervous. My stomach twisted itself in knots, and I gave myself a sore on the inside of my cheek from chewing on it too much. I stopped when the metallic taste of blood made me cringe. It felt like an eternity that I sat there, my heart missing beats at one time and then making up for them at other times. Time was going so slow, and I wanted to throw up.

The door to the interogation room finally opened, and Addaline came out. She was laughing with the cop, her head thrown back. Shaking her head at something he said, they made their way to me. "Oh Corbin, Kobe here- er, I mean- Mr. Black, is so funny, and just the sweetest man." Addaline was at ease, and I assumed the interview went well.

When the cop turned to me, he stopped smiling. "You ready?"

Addaline laid a hand on his arm. "Try not to be too hard on him, will yea? I still need him to make dinner for us later."

The cop nodded. "I'll do my best not to break him. Please, have a seat." Addaline sat down. "You," he pointed to me, "come with me." I stood up, wiping my hands on my pants, my stomach twisting in knots. I followed him to the room, and when I got in there, the other cop from yesterday was sitting down.

"Mr. Waters, I'm Chiefs Mathers, and this is Mr. Black. We have a few questions for you."

I nodded, rubbing my hands on my pants, trying to wipe the sweat away. "Of course. Fire away."

"Where were you on the night of Niamh's disapperance?"

"I was at Niamh's house watching my son, Heath, and Dean, the little boy she'd adopted."

"Mmhmm, and can anyone verify that?"

I thought about it, and then quickly nodded. "Yea, Caleb Adams."

Mr. Black looked confused. "Caleb? He was with you?"

I nodded. "Yes, he was helping me watch the boys. Niamh thought it'd be a good idea if we both were there. You know, two heads are better than one? Plus, Dean was badly abused before Niamh got him, so he didn't take well to strangers. Caleb is kind of the only man Dean allows around him."

The two cops exchanged a look, and the chubbier of the two, the chief, shook his head. "Alright, that'll be all. Thank you for your time." They stood up, and I did too, dumbfounded. They lead me out of the room and into the the front. Addaline stood up, and made her way to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders. She kissed me.

"Oh, it felt like you were gone forever," she said, just loud enough for the cops to hear her.

I laughed, hoping it sounded real, and rubbed her back. "Everything's fine, hunny. They just wanted to ask me a few questions. We can go, right?" The cops nodded.

"Sorry for bother you two." They gave us a nod.

I kissed her temple. "Let's go home to the girls."

We climbed into the car, and drive away. I let go of her hand, using both to hold the steering-wheel. I can see her frown from the corner of my eyes, but she doesn't say anything.

"Addaline, what are you hiding," I ask.

She looks at me, her face contorted in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

I shook my head, my knuckles white. "You're hiding something, I know it. The way you acted, coaching me like I was a criminal. What are you hiding?"

"I was just trying to keep you out of trouble. You looked like a nervous wreck. You were freaking out." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I did you a favor."

She obviously wasn't budging, and I wasn't in the mood to argue with her, so I dropped the subject. She obviously wasn't going to tell me, so I needed to do my investigation in secret.