“I had my head of security do a little investigating. I asked him weeks ago, but then we got a little preoccupied with finding out who was behind the robbery and trying to set-up Townsend Real Estate. That’s a mistake I won’t make twice. Business comes second to ensuring your safety.”
“You were ensuring my safety. The robbery at the condo—”
“Shouldn’t have happened in the first place.” His face twisted in anger.
I reached across the kitchen island, covering his hand with mine. “Don’t blame yourself.”
“I do blame myself. I own Townsend Real Estate. I should’ve been more cautious.” He shook his head. “But that’s been fixed now. Now, we need to discuss you.” His tone brokered no argument.
I yanked at one of my curly ringlets and bit the inside of my cheek. An ugly pit began to form in my stomach, mixed with shame, guilt, anger, and frustration.
“I-I’m not really sure where to begin.” Isn’t that what everyone says when the truth is they just really don’t want to say the thing that needs to be said?
“Start with his name.” His voice was hard
“Why his name?”
“So I know exactly who the fuck I need to hurt.”
“Josh, you can’t—”
He held up his hand. “Don’t even try to convince me otherwise. What’s. His. Name?”
His tone gave no wiggle room for hesitation.
Inhaling deeply, I prepared myself to say the name of the man I’d worked long and hard to forget. “Michael Stephens.”
“Go on.” He leaned in farther.
I closed my eyes and just started talking without another thought. “I met him one night while I was out with a few friends from med school. I’d just completed my residency and was out celebrating. He was at the club we’d gone to. We danced and he was a little touchy feely, but I didn’t think much of it at first. He asked what I did and I told him. Next thing I knew, we were laughing and having a good time. He told me he was a cop, showed me his badge and everything, so I felt safe. The rest of the night is mostly a blur but I remember his hands...” I trailed off, feeling disgusted. The memory of being on my back, him over top of me, and feeling powerless to move or push him off still haunted me. But I held back from saying that out loud to Joshua.
I shook my head, trying to shake off the memory.
“The next morning I woke up and knew something was wrong. I was at his place. My mouth was dry, I was dizzy and my stomach hurt. I knew I hadn’t drank that much. I’d barely had a half a beer. I was disgusted when I stood up from an unfamiliar bed and found him staring at me from across the room. My clothes were … disheveled and awkwardly thrown back on me. The look in his eye was cold and vacant, almost. Like he had no soul.” I shivered. “I asked him what happened the night before and all he said was ‘You wanted it.’ I picked up my purse and attempted to leave, but he grabbed me by my arm and reminded me that he was a cop and no one would believe a cop was capable of such a crime. I broke free and left, catching an Uber home. I knew I’d been drugged … and worse.”
I paused, looking up at Joshua. My mouth dropped open at what I saw. His eyes were the color of coal. His jaw was rigid. He wasn’t pissed. He was livid. The steam was practically rolling off of him. I hesitated in continuing but his silent stare urged me to continue.
“I went to the nearest health clinic. I had a blood sample taken as well as a, um … a rape kit.”
I inhaled and forced myself to finish the rest of the story to get it over with.
“It came back positive for spermicide, meaning he’d used a condom. I felt disgusted with myself for allowing it to happen. I’m a doctor. I should’ve been smarter than that. Those are all of the things I told myself. But I was pissed at him. Something deep inside of me told me it wasn’t all my fault. I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. So, I went to the police station to file a report. As soon as I said his name, the officer that was taking my statement lost interest. He said he’d get back to me but the next day, an officer showed up at my door, threatening me. He was Michael’s partner. He made it very clear that I wasn’t to press charges and I was to drop the whole thing. I refused and my life became a living hell. I’d come home to messages slipped under my door. Phone calls all day and night. One night after a late night shift, I was driving home and was pulled over by a patrol car. It was Michael Stephens. He claimed some bogus reason for pulling me over, made me get out of my car …” I paused.
I couldn’t choke out the rest.
“He forced himself on you again.” It wasn’t a question.
I lifted my head to see that Josh had opened the envelope and read through it.
“Th-that’s in there?” I hadn’t reported the second assault. I hadn’t told anyone.
Joshua shook his head, staring down at the papers in front of him. “He did it to someone else.”
I covered my mouth.
“Another woman came forward a few months ago. Said the same thing happened to her.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
