Is This True?

Chapter 10

What did she mean I wouldn't get away with it?

Why was she even in this unstable state? She was fine earlier and why on earth was she blaming me for things that I didn't even cause for her or her family? And the most disturbing thought of all was: how did she know my name? 

My full name? 

And I didn't even tell her let alone know her. Or do I and, I just don't remember? Or maybe even worse, she knows me but I don't know her.

The warmth of the pair of arms holding me back disappears as soon as I stepped out of the room, my legs taking me to an unknown destination. However, it seemed as if I were walking toward a small coffee station; but I didn't even drink coffee that often. Perhaps I needed a change of scenery and different scents besides the stale, cold one in the interrogation room. I swear I could still smell and feel Andrea's hot breath as if she were standing right in front of my face again.

"Hey!"

I hear a voice but don't bother to turn around as my hand fiddles with a plastic coffee cup.

"Hey, you okay?"

I turn around seeing Agent Davis in front of me. I only assumed he was the one who pulled me away from Andrea in the first place.

"I--I don't know. I don't think I've ever been grabbed like that before, let alone being yelled threats at you so no, I don't think I'm okay." My sarcasm hung loosely in the air, hurt and annoyance flashing across Davis's face.

"Well, sorry I asked."

Realizing what I had done, I quickly urged him back before he could turn to leave. "No, no, I'm the one who should be sorry. You're just trying to be nice, and I completely snapped at you. I'm just overly concerned about what Andrea said." I looked down for a second to see I was still holding the coffee lid.
"What she said--makes me feel like she knows me, especially when she said I ruined her life and her family's. I don't even know her!"

"But she knows your name." He pointed out, watching me struggle to now open a container of creamer.

"Exactly! And that's what scares me--well, I'm not necessarily scared but again overly concerned, you know? It's not every day someone comes up to you and calls you by your full name. I've never seen her in my life let alone anyone in her family. I mean, I have known a few Andrea's in my life, but just the name gives me the creeps. Bad history with the name, I suppose."

"You know, there is such a thing as breathing." Davis reminded me once I realize I hadn't breathed once. "And--it looks like if you keep stirring with your spoon, you're bound to form a hole bigger than Mars."

I looked down at my cup and noticed I was stirring so hard, that my spoon was also about to bend in half.

"You know what I would do?"

"What would you do?"

"I'd sit this one out, you know? Who knows what else she may know about you besides your name. And, it may be just a small threat; but you never know. It's not smart to take chances like that."

"So, you're suggesting I quit on this case just because she knows my name?"

"I wouldn't say 'quit', but more like letting this one slide. Again, she may know more than you think and, it's not smart to take chances on one's safety, especially after the way she grabbed you."

I sighed, setting my cup aside.

"Just let go of this one, okay? I'm sure there will be another case less threatening that isn't somehow connected to you. Sometimes, the cases we are involved in cloud our judgments."

"Yeah, I understand. Thanks for watching out for me. I'm sure Mr. Woods will hand me another case soon."

Davis just smiled and nodded his head, "I'm sure he will."

Turning back to my coffee, Davis began to ask me a question. "So, you said you have a bad history with the name Andrea?"

"Yeah, I did. She--uh--I--well, my friends and I met this one girl while on summer vacation an eternity ago. Her name was Andrea, obviously, but--long story short, she was an interesting character. She had bad parents, was lonely, misunderstood, and--loved knives."

"Crazy?"

"Kind of--"

"So, what if that's her?"

"She--uhh--she committed suicide."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know."

I shook my head, "It's all right really. She--"

"Jenn!"

I leaned over to the side to see Denise rushing toward me. "I heard what happened. You okay?"

"Yeah--" I rub my arms to keep the chill down, "--I'm good."

"Well good, because I'm here to fetch you."

"Fetch me to where?"

"I'm taking you home." She noticed my bewildered look before she elaborated. "Mr. Woods told me to take you home just in case you were threatened. He's giving you today and tomorrow off."

"Why what for?"

"Precautions."

"Just because Andrea knows my name? I'm not completely afraid and helpless, you know?"

"Jenn."

Her firm voice told me otherwise to keep my mouth closed completely. These people here just didn't go with the motions; they cared so much about each other and they cared enough for me. Chances weren't taken nor risky precautions either.

What she said wasn't a suggestion but an order.

I was going home.