Take A Walk (A Hunter Hayes Fanfiction, Book 5 of The Hardships Saga)

Chapter Twenty

❝charge (pronounced tʃɑːdʒ or chahrjd), verb
formally accuse (someone) of something, especially an offence under law.❞

Police sirens wailed as Elle was arrested and taken into custody, still in shock. Hunter had called Ryan, and she had immediately booked a flight to get to California as soon as possible. Drew had gotten tickets as well, and the two flew together, then drove to the police station where Hunter was sitting on the stairs, looking shell shocked and empty. He looked up, and Ryan knelt down in front of him. "Hunt?"

He was shaking so hard that he couldn't stand, and Drew looked up at the station. "Where is she?"

"In custody. The apartment is barred off, they need to investigate what happened. She was just... sitting on the floor... and she was holding the knife."

"It can't have been her," said Ryan softly. "You know that."

"I- I do, but-" He sighed, covering his face with his hands. "I don't know. They questioned me for three hours in there. Three! I had to keep... describing the body. How I found Elle."

"And they let you go?"

"They knew I was innocent, I've had an alibi from the beginning. The cab driver, we need to find him so that we can have him testify that I was innocent. But Elle isn't talking. She's just... sitting there."

Drew closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair and making it into a messy quiff. "Oh, Ellie," he whispered. "Why is it always you?"

"We won't be allowed to see her, not yet. We need to get her a lawyer. We'll be allowed to see her... maybe tomorrow? Oh gosh, I don't even think she's had anything to eat."

Ryan's expression changed into the expression Hunter fondly called her 'mom face', and she walked up the stairs, disappearing into the station. Hunter, still trembling, stood up and followed her, and Drew took a deep breath, doing the same.

The room was silent, and not much was being said to one another. Ryan took Hunter's hand, rubbing warmth into it and trying to make him smile a little. He didn't look okay. No, he looked broken. He looked hopeless and alone. She wanted to change that as soon as possible. "She's back," she breathed. "And we know it's not her. She'll get acquitted, I'm sure of it."

He nodded stiffly, before a police officer said, "We're taking her to remand, you can go there now and see her."

Ryan and Hunter stood, Drew instantly asking, "Will she be allowed to talk to us?"

"Yes. She'll need a lawyer, and a good one. She'll likely be up against Philip Toole, a prosecuting attorney. Top of the district. She's been charged with first-degree murder."

"So we find a lawyer who'll help her plead her case as not guilty?" asked Drew.

"Exactly."

"Let's go, I'll call an Uber," said Drew tensely. "Is- is there anything we can do? Like, to prove her not guilty?"

"No. But we can find her a lawyer."

The Uber arrived quickly, and the car ride was silent while the driver played some Muse. They left at the remand centre, and Hunter breathed, "Ry, what's remand?"

"It's where the accused go until they're proven innocent or guilty. Usually, depending on the case, people don't go there, but if it's a severe crime like murder, they're sent there."

"She's... with a bunch of criminals?"

"No. No, Hunt, she'll be fine. She's strong," replied Ryan softly.

They walked into the room, where on the other side of the glass was-

"Elle!" gasped Drew, running to the glass and sitting down in the chair. "Elle, it's- Elle, are you okay?"