Orphan (A Jack Gilinsky Fanfic)

9. Closure

KATHRYN'S POV

I turn around and immediately feel my stomach drop. I see a bulky police officer in full uniform staring at me with his hands on his hips. “Excuse me, miss. Do you happen to know where I can find Kathryn Sawyer?”

I open my mouth as if I'm going to speak, but nothing comes out. I feel debilitated, paralyzed. What could the police possibly want with me?

I hear the door to the driver's seat open and I snap my head around nervously. Jack steps out of the car and slams the door shut, raising a questioning eyebrow at the sight before him.

"Miss?" The officer redirects my attention to him with a stern look. Accentuating every syllable, he repeats himself slowly, "Do you know where I can locate Kathryn Sawyer?"

I feel Jack brush my arm as he wanders next to me. I gulp and fidget with my fingers apprehensively, considering my options. After a moment, I look up at the officer and answer shakily, "I-I'm Kathryn Sawyer, sir."

"What's the problem, officer?" Jack speaks up as his hand gently finds it's way to the small of my back.

The officer ignores him, staring straight at me with a softened expression. He clears his throat and removes the hat off his head, placing it flat against his chest. He stares at me for a moment, "I thought I recognized you from the pictures. Your profile had this building listed as your employment." He gestures behind him, indicating the bar. He holds his hand out, "I'm Officer Kane." 

I eye his hand and disregard it, furrowing my eyebrows at him and spitting out impatiently, "What profile? What's going on?"

"I understand your parents went missing over six months ago." He looks at me and I nod my head grudgingly in confirmation. I bite my lip as the officer continues, "There haven't been any leads regarding their whereabouts." He pauses as I feel my nostrils flare in rage. This isn't anything I want to be reminded of. I stare back at the officer with my arms crossed tightly against my chest. He looks at me seriously, "Until today."

My mouth gapes open slightly and I stand up straighter, "W-what?"

"Earlier today, a few of our dogs stumbled upon a wreckage under the highway in the river. A car was found completely totaled and submerged under the river's surface." I feel my throat tense up as I let my arms drop to my sides. "The paint job faded away almost entirely, meaning it had to be under water for quite some time."

The officer pauses to survey my face before continuing agonizingly slow, "The people in the vehicle were still strapped into their seats when we lifted it from the river." I feel my eyes swell up in tears as Jack grasps onto my hand for support.

"We later identified the bodies as Michael and Cindy Sawyer." The officer pauses and looks at me with sorrowful eyes, "Your parents are dead, Ms. Sawyer. I am so deeply sorry for your loss."

I feel my heart shatter as his words dig into my skull. The tears roll down my face like bullets as I squeeze Jack's hand with all my might. My parents are dead. Not only did they desert Jamie and me, they left this Earth without so much as a goodbye.

I let go of Jack's hand and crouch onto the concrete ground, relying on my feet to maintain my balance. I begin to sob uncontrollably with my face in my hands. I feel Jack's arms wrap around me and pull me close. 

Officer Kane shuffles awkwardly. I look up at him through tear-filled eyes as he continues, "The details of the incident are still being handled. We're currently in the process of examining the car and other additional items found at the scene. We're hoping to find some answers as to why they were even on the highway at the time." He pauses. "If you could provide me with the address of the location you presently reside in, I'll be able to forward you all this information as it's unraveled."