Chapter Eight
Where do you think you’re going?” Drew asked as he entered the room. Bethany was putting on her running shoes, fully dressed.
She relaxed as she saw him. “I’m leaving the hospital. I’m going home.”
“No, you’re not,” Drew crossed his arms. “Bethany, your apartment was bugged. Whoever is threatening your life has access to your apartment despite the security systems in the building.”
“I’m going home to pick up some clothing and necessities,” Bethany stood, eyeing him uncertainly. “I was wondering if you would escort me? I’m not sure where I should stay either. I don’t feel safe.”
“You can stay with friends,” Drew suggested. Normally he’d say with family, but Ted Searson wasn’t a good choice. “We’ve brought your dad and David Ramesly in for questioning based on Dr. Urshman’s statement. Miguel is going to need to take a statement from you as well.”
Drew neglected to mention that he was officially suspended so he couldn’t take any statements. He didn’t feel like sharing that bit of information.
“I really don’t remember anything,” Bethany shrugged as she stared at her shoe. She wasn’t sure how she felt about Drew arresting her father. “I went to my weekly appointment with Dr. Urshman. We were trying a new therapy with a simple sedative. When I took it…”
“What happened when you took the drug?” Drew gently pressed.
“I felt the old feelings of tiredness return,” Bethany hugged herself. “I think my father came over. He said he was worried about me. He told me Dr. Urshman had prescribed a new regime of medications for me. He said that they were very concerned over my mental health.”
“What is it?” Drew asked softly when Bethany paused. He carefully put a hand on her shoulder. He didn’t want to startle her.
Bethany swallowed. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “He said that they were worried I might harm myself and if I didn’t take my medications on time I would be committed to a psychiatric ward in the hospital and I’d never be able to come out.
“He told me to be a good girl,” a tear made its way down her cheek. “Why would he do that? Why would he threaten to commit me?”
Drew came forward and wiped away the tear. He couldn’t help the action. He felt drawn like a magnet to her. “He’s afraid. He knows that you know something that could potentially hurt him.”
Bethany frowned, her memory teasing her. She concentrated hard, a ball of dread forming in her stomach. Bethany could barely say the words. “It was him.”
Stop drowning her, you’ll kill her!
What else can we do Ted? She’s going to tell everyone about what she saw here.
I can keep her quiet. She won’t say a word. I’ll make certain of it.
Can you be sure?
Give her to me…
“What do you mean?” Drew was concerned by the odd tone of her voice.
She looked at Drew with tears in her eyes as the memories clicked together in her mind. “It was him. My father and David Ramesly on the boat. They were both there with the bricks of white drugs. It was David Ramesly that kept putting my head under water in the bathtub. It was my father who signed me up for psychiatrists and drugs to numb my memories.”
“How do you know?” Drew asked. If it were true, that would be motive for why Ted Searson had tried to kill her or have her committed. She was getting closer to retaining her memories, making Ted Searson and David Ramesly afraid.
“I remember,” Bethany hugged herself, looking at him with stricken eyes. “I remember everything.”
That meant that they could potentially prosecute on the case. They certainly could press for attempted murder charges. Drew also knew that both men were rich and well connected. They would probably make bail.
Even if they didn’t, Bethany’s life was still in danger. “I’m going to take you to the police station. I want to get your full statement. After that, we’ll get some of your items from your apartment if the forensics team is done looking at everything. If not, you’ll just have to borrow or purchase some things.”
“Where can I stay?” Bethany whispered. “I’m not really safe, am I?”
She was friends with the Ramesly’s. However, she was accusing their father of some pretty heavy stuff, so Drew didn’t know how they would handle that. David Ramesly was a force to be reckoned with and Drew didn’t know just how far the old man would go. She would endanger anyone she was with.
“You’ll stay with me,” he found himself saying. He mentally winced. Close proximity to Bethany wasn’t going to help him get past her once she was out of his life. And she would leave. As soon as the case was closed, and she was safe again, she’d be on her way, never looking back at an illegitimate cop who wasn’t worthy of her.
Plus, this was entirely against protocol. Green would have his head for giving Bethany Searson special treatment if he ever found out.
