A Sibling's Love

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

January 20, 2014

Laura woke to the sound of Jake’s voice. It was very hushed and harsh. Laura, who was still half-asleep, couldn’t quit pick up on what they were arguing about, but she knew that it was something important.

          “No,” Jake hissed quietly so that he wouldn’t disturb Laura, “she’s still asleep, anyway.”

          “I’m awake,” Laura announced, “what’s going on?”

          “Damn it,” Jake garbled under his breath.

          “Hello Miss Ling,” a woman, who was dressed like an official, spoke, “I’m Janet Oaks, and this is my friend Colby McDuffie. We came to speak to you.”

          Laura automatically knew that they were cops. She knew what they wanted, “Let them through Jake. The sooner we get this ordeal behind us the sooner we can get on with our lives.”

          “Laura-“Jake tried to protest.

          “The choice is ultimately hers Mr. Sullivan,” Colby said gruffly, “Miss Ling is a healthy adult that can consent or decline our offer to talk to her.”

          “I will let you know when I think you are pushing her too far,” Jake growled.

          “I’ll be fine Jake,” Laura reassured herself more than she had Jake.

          “I’ll be back shortly,” Jake turned towards Laura and crossed to her side to squeeze her hand, “I can leave and get your mother to sit with you-“

          “No,” Laura sighed, “it would break her. She doesn’t need to know the details. “

          “Are you sure you want to be here alone?” Jake asked.

          “Where are you going?” Laura inquired calmly, but on the inside she began to panic.

          “I doubt that you would want me to be in here,” Jake spoke, “because, well, I’m a guy.”

          “We don’t want you going too far away,” Janet sternly spoke, “We are going to need to get a statement from you as well.”

          “Could you please stay?” Laura begged Jake then turned to the police hopefully, “Could he please stay?”

          He didn’t want to hear what had fully happened. It was bad enough that he had seen... god it hurt to think of how he had seen Laura. It damaged him to see what he had caused, but it would kill him to hear all of it from Laura. However, how could he say no to Laura especially since he caused all this trouble? Usually it was so hard to read her mysterious eyes, but he could tell that she was pleading for him to stay.

          “I’ll stay,” Jake pulled the chair closer to Laura’s bed.

          “Good,” Janet nodded as she pulled out a recorder and Colby grabbed a pen and piece of paper, “We can take your statement right after hers. We will kill two birds with one stone.”

          Jake braced himself as Mr. McDuffie began to question Laura, “Did you know the man that attempted to rape you?”

          “Yes,” Laura answered with a steady voice, “he, Daniel, was my ex-boyfriend. I had broken up with him the morning before the incident.”

          “How long had you and your attacker dated?” Colby asked as he nodded.

          “Two years,” Laura answered.