Regrets

Chapter 24 - I'll Be Good

Song: I'll Be Good - Jaymes Young

"Mr Jenson. I know this must be a very difficult time, but we have some questions for you", the policeman that had entered the room just now stated. Thomas of course had no way of knowing whether it was a policeman, but the male voice that spoke with such authority and feigned sympathy about a questioning that was without doubt about to take place couldn't be anything but police in the boy's mind.

"Yes, of course. Please ask away", his step-father's tone was nervous, as if he had something to do with Thomas' injuries. Truth be told, that would shock Thomas a lot; Mr Jenson had never been physical on him before. But it wouldn't be too much of a surprise, everyone had to snap at one point after all, and counting in all the shit Thomas had pulled recently, he was almost prone to say he could understand if he'd get beaten for that. Not that he wouldn't defy it or fight back, but he would understand why.

"According to our reports, your son disappeared from your home fifty-eight days ago, but you only reported it a month ago. Why didn't you mention your son's disappearance to the police for a whole month prior?", the question was hard hitting, a hidden accusation. Thomas felt some sort of satisfaction, one might even call it malicious joy, at the man's words. But he also knew his step-father would be able to easily get out of this with some smooth-talking.

"I know, officer. If I had known about his disappearance sooner, I would've reported it right away. I was out of country for two weeks and when I returned and he wasn't home, I assumed he was with a friend. He often does that when I'm not home. I should've gotten the police involved sooner, I know", Mr Jenson sounded desperate and guilty. There it was, the acting. What a great scheme. Thomas wanted to scoff, but he felt too scared to let anyone know he was listening in. The boy himself was the only one who knew that he never hung out with friends, hell, he wasn't even sure he had any with how little social interaction he got.

"I see", the presumed officer didn't sound all too convinced but he didn't push any further either, "I have just a few more questions", a short break, like he was expecting a reaction from someone in the room, but Thomas couldn't hear anything.
"Does Thomas have any enemies? Any connections to gangs maybe?"

"Not as far as I know, officer", Thomas' step-father answered with a defeated tone. Thomas could barely stop himself from grimacing. This man didn't even know his step-sons middle name, why would he know anything about his personal life?

"Does Thomas have any friends that seemed suspicious to you before? Do any of his friends have a criminal background?"
Oh, so now it was Thomas' fault, and not the fault of his asshole step-father. Or rather, Thomas' friends', which he didn't even have in the first place.

"He never brought friends home before. Tommy and I, we have a difficult relationship. He hates me a lot for being the reason his mother left his dad. I never got him to open up to me", Mr Jenson admitted heavy-heartedly, placing his hand on Thomas' head and softly, almost gently patting his step-son's hair. All Thomas could hear, though, was the hidden spitefulness in the man's voice. Something, which no one but Thomas would notice. His jaw tightened at the feeling of this liar's hand running through his hair. It was so very different from the feel of Marcus' hand.

What was he even doing, thinking about that man, that didn't even offer him food, that got himself arrested? And more importantly, why was he even in custody?

There it was again, that lingering doubt. Marcus couldn't be a good person if he was in prison, right? But something within Thomas didn't want to believe Marcus was a bad guy.

"We'll leave now, the department will call you when we have more information on the biker, and we will continue investigating Thomas' disappearance. Kids don't stay away from home for two months without reason, and it doesn't look like he would have returned soon if not for this accident", the policeman stated, and Thomas dearly wanted to yell "stay" right in that moment. But maybe not having to talk right now was better anyway.

The door closed softly and now it was just the two of them once again. The silence laid thickly over them, like a blanket. It was suffocating.

"Tommy, I know you're awake"

The silence broke. And along with it, Thomas' train of thought derailed.

"You don't have to talk to me, but I know you're awake. Ever since I saw you when I came in with the doctor, I knew. I can only imagine what you're thinking. I would bet you're unbelievable angry at me. But I meant everything I said. You didn't have to run away. We could have talked things out. The press will paint me black with guilt now", a heavy sigh left his step-father's mouth, and this time, Thomas couldn't help but scoff. Well, the cat was out of the bag anyway now. There was no use crying over spilt milk.

"That's all you ever care about; your image. You only listen to the media, like you're their fucking lapdog", Thomas seethed, keeping his voice from cracking by keeping it low.

"Mhm, maybe so. But it puts food on the table, and you have a lot of nice things, isn't that so, Tommy?", Mr Jenson sighed, feeling his step-son's hair between his fingers. Thomas didn't move.

"It's Thomas"

"What?"

"My name. It's Thomas"

"Ah, I don't understand you. Tommy is a nice nickname, isn't it? And you never had issues with it before your mother... before she...", Mr Jenson didn't finish his sentence. And Thomas knew why. His mother was the only thing that bound them together, even in her death.

"That's the point. I don't want to hear that nickname anymore"