The Happytime Murders 5

Identification

"Amber honey you know ya don't have to do this right? I don't wanna force you to look at your rapists" Phil said to Amber sighing as they sat in the car outside the police station in the parking lot.

"Oh I know daddy but the thing is if I want the chance to see them go to jail and be as far away from me as possible I'm gonna have to face my fears I did it with Campbell I can do it again and with you and Auntie Connie being with me will help me." Amber replied taking a deep breath.

"Alright well if you wanna back out I wouldn't blame ya and you can if you like you just let us know if you're uncomfortable or need to take a break at any time. All I want is for you to feel safe." Phil said with his hand patting hers

"I will I promise" Amber said looking him in the eye squeezing his hand back.

"Okay let's go inside into the interrogation room where me,Connie and Fred will be. The lieutenant is gonna line up the guys in another room and through the one way mirror you can determine whether or not it's those men" Phil said as they got out of the car.

"Okay" Amber said as she followed Phil through the front doors as they made their way to a room where Connie was already sitting helping to back up Ambers claims being she was with her before this all went down that night.

"Hey baby.." Connie said standing up to go and give Amber a big hug. "You're ready for this? How are ya feeling right now" She asked as she and Phil helped her sit down between the two of them.

"As ready as I'm ever gonna be honestly. I'm so nervous I just hope it won't be so bad.." Amber said trying to keep herself held together her legs and arms beginning to shake no matter how hard she tried to sit still. Connie noticed and extended a hand for her hold onto as Amber seized it interlocking her fingers between Connie's as she was trying to get herself together before Fred Esq came in. Connie could really feel Ambers anxiety really starting to kick in more as her knee jittered

"We're gonna be right here the whole time Amber. Your dad and I will be by your side and won't leave you at all. I'm gonna sit here and you just hold my hand as tight as you need to. I won't let go" Connie reassured.

"Yeah that's right. Let us know if you need to leave at any time and remember this. If you do see the men who did this know that they can't hurt you in any way anymore and any feelings that come up that remind of
You that night that it's not real you're safe and that we will protect you and will continue to do so during the trial too" Phil added as he put an arm around her to rub her back also trying to calm her and make her as comfortable as possible. Amber nodded as she rested her other hand against Phil's leg as he took her other hand.

About five minutes later Fred came in locking the door behind him and sitting down in front of the three of them.

"Hello there Miss Phillips how are you feeling?" Fred asked her in concern seeing the look in her eyes.

"To be completely honest I'm terrified like I know nothing will happen it's just my PTSD attacks when they happen and if I get triggered seeing these men it'll get really scary for me cuz I can't breathe..and feel like I'm dying" Amber stammered a bit.

"Aw don't you worry sweetie your nerves are totally justified I know this has to got to be a hard thing to and I gotta say I really admire your strength and bravery being willing to do this. There is nothing to be scared of" Fred said patting her knee as he then got up over the intercom to let Lt Banning know he could bring the five men in that were there that they knew of being at the night club at the time.

"Okay now Amber theyre all we want you to do is when we switch on the lights where the suspects will be standing and all you have to do is tell us looking at each man very carefully either 'yes' as in this is a man involved or 'no' he was never involved" Fred said

"Okay seems easy enough..I'm ready" Amber responded as she gave Phil and Connie's hands each a squeeze as she now knew the guys were likely now between the wall and glass in front of her. She closed her eyes as she took some deep breaths as Connie placed her other hand on Ambers shoulder on her side.

"Okay Lt show us the suspects" Fred said over the intercom the lights turned on and Amber opened her eyes slowly as she slowly began to scan each guy one by one so far so good she was doing perfectly fine the first two she didn't even recognize and said that it wasn't them but as soon as she peered closer to the end where a Mexican guy with a shaved head stood it clicked in her head along with the two other men.
Before she could say anything she began to feel her body just go numb the way it did that night and the images flashed back in her head where the man with the shaved head was doing unspeakable sick acts to her body. Amber tried to say it was them but she couldn't seem to get a word in as she felt tears just blurring her vision and all she could let out were sobs and moans.

"Amber..Amber??..hey hey come back to us try to snap out of it sweetie I know it's hard...what you're seeing is not actually happening.." Fred said gently.

As soon as Amber could move again she got up racing out of the room and collapsed on a bench outside in the hall trying to catch her breath struggling to control her crying and unable to get the images she had out of her head.
Phil raced out after her as he shushed her telling her repeatedly that she's okay. He sat her up getting her to take his hands as he tried to calm her down again.

"Amber...look at me dear look at me.." Phil said as he cradled her head with one hand so she could see his face and continued to hold her other hand

"Listen to me and focus on my voice and touch and remember you're not there you're here with me..you're okay take some deep breaths" he continued in a soothing manner using his thumb to run her palm as Amber did so able to bring it down but still was shaken up and just clung into her father throwing her arms around his neck still crying.

"Fuck oh man I'm so sorry...I tried to keep it together but I..I just couldn't-" Amber said still in a shaky cries.

"Shhhhhhh"Phil shushed her as he began to rock her to soothe her more as when he rocked her in his arms it always seemed to do the trick. "Sweetheart you're sorry for having PTSD?..Don't apologize over something you cannot control it's alright I promise Fred understands and it's likely pretty clear to him that it was the last three guys"

"Okay." sniffled Amber "Daddy-" she has began to say as Phil shushed her gently again as she felt him now starting to rub her back and stroke her curly hair through his fingers.

"Well worry about other things later for now just let me hold you..and get you calmed down some more.." Phil said as he gently shifted her head to his shoulder. Connie then made her way out racing over to see if Amber was okay.

"How is she?"

"She's getting there Edwards.. she always will be okay right Amber?" Phil said as Amber nodded

"I'm fine auntie Connie thanks" Amber snuggles wiping her eyes. "Did you tell Fred that those were the men on the end?" She asked

"Mhmm Course I explained everything to Fred and he is going to have a trial set up for you. Do you need anything? Want some water?" Connie asked as she offered her a water bottle that was sitting on the table.

"Not right now bit I will later but right now I could really a hug from you.." Amber said getting choked up again as Phil took the bottled water from Connie.

"Oh babe of course you can get a big hug from me whatever my girl needs right now..no matter know you can always get a hug from me I don't care what mood I'm in. If it's what you need I'm here for it" Connie said as she wrapped her arms around Amber and pulled her close as Amber let slip a few
More waterworks crying into Connie's chest.

"That's really sweet to hear that from you Auntie Connie you both just know just what to say and do" Amber said with a forced smile as she hugged Phil as well.

"Well always do anything to help No matter what it is. You know either one of we'd take a bullet just for you. Now all we have to worry about is doing our best to give you justice and closure from this. Let's now get through this trial" Phil said an arm around Connie and his daughter.