In Plain Sight [mxb]

prologue

"Are you ready to talk to me?" Raines asked. My shoulder twitched in what was a weak attempt at a shrug. My body wanted to shut down. I was tired. In the six hours I'd spent at the police station, I had been sitting on the same metal chair which dug painfully into my back. But I was the one who was too stubborn to move even though I was tired.

So very tired.

"The more you cooperate, the better I'll be able to help you," His tone was soothing and sincere. Nothing like I'd expected. Then again due to the harsh realities I'd gone through in the hands of law enforcement during the past few days, I couldn't wasn't ready to trust another man in uniform. Never again.

"Your parents are outside and would like to see you," He tried as a tactic.

"I don't want to see anyone," I threw out coldly. Raines flinched but hide it well. His lips pressed into a grimmer line "Adrian, all we want to do is understand you and how this whole thing began."

"I tried to explain it before. No one listened to me," I replied. My voice didn't sound like mine. Once I'd been compared to a rat mouse because of how small my voice was. Now it felt like I had no voice, it had been ripped away from me by those who refused to listen.

He leaned forward "I'm ready to listen. I want to understand. Make me understand."

I tilted my head to side mockingly "You're a detective aren't you? Do your job and detect. Gather all the clues and bring together a case." Raines didn't react to my words. Instead he faced me unflinchingly. His gaze made me squirm. I wanted to scream.

The feel of eyes on my being brought back so many memories I didn't want to relive.

"I know he hurt you Ridge, if you help me then I promise that he'll never see the light of day again," Detective Raines promised. That was the final streak. The dam within me finally broke and I burst into tears right at the table.

"It's too late. He's taken away everything from me. He's taken everything from me," I sobbed.