Road To Recovery (A "Living With The Choices We Make" Sequel) ✔️

28 - Nasty Little Chats

This chapter is dedicated to _Toy_Chick_ who just appeared out of nowhere this week and managed to put a smile on my face. Thanks for your reads and comments XD

28 - Nasty Little Chats

Charlotte's POV

My eyes watch a tiny bird in the window pick at a few crumbs when a knock on the door announces a visitor. My heartbeat accelerates in the hope that it is Tivon, but an unknown man and women enter. He is wearing a cheap, polyester style suit which bulks under his arm pit, suggesting he is carrying a gun; her outfit, on the other hand, is a tailored linen skirt suit which looks very expensive. They are an odd couple alright.

He is the first to speak. "Mrs. Parks?"

I clear my throat, eyeing them with a small frown. "Yes." I bet they are cops and my suspicion is confirmed by his next words.

"I'm Detective Amerle and this is my colleague, Detective Tate. Would it be alright if we talked to you for a moment?"

My smile is feeble at best. "What's this about?"

He pulls up a chair and parks himself without an invitation – so much for getting rid of them quickly. "My department is investigating the robbery in your home. It'll only take a few minutes."

My eyes dart to her – she is still standing with no inclination to sit down, a faked smile plastered on her lips.

"Well, truthfully, I don't remember anything, so not sure how I can be of help," I say. "And I think my husband would prefer to be present."

They exchange a look. "It's required that we take a witness statement from the victim. Like I said, it'll only be a few questions."

I shrug, the soreness spreading along my back. "Sure. Fire away."

"So, your husband said he found you in the garden shed. Is this where you were attacked?"

I nod. "Yes." That's not even a lie, after all, it was the place where Ryan beat the crap out of me.

"And why did you go inside the shed?"

I squint at him, not sure how this could be of any relevance. "I wanted to get the clippers to cut the rose bushes."

He writes something in a little book while she continues to lean against the wall, her eyes burning into my temple.

"Was the shed locked?" he asks next.

"No. It's usually unlocked."

More scribbling into his book. "Aren't you afraid of burglars?"

I twitch under the glare of the woman and glance at her before focusing back on Detective Amerle. "No. There isn't anything valuable in the shed that would be worth anybody's efforts."

"No lawnmower or expensive garden equipment?"

"Nope, nothing. We have a high school kid who cuts the grass with his dad's mower and Ryan's tool box is in the storage closet. There's nothing in there other than some mulch and a few smaller garden tools."

This time, he takes his time to write everything down in detail and I fidget around in the bed, the women's stare making my skin prickle.

"Do you remember what time it was when you went to the shed?"

I pucker my lips, trying to remember. "Not sure. I was fixing dinner, so maybe around five."

He quirks his eyebrows. "You were going to cut the rose bushes in between dinner preparation?"