My hand flies to my mouth, stifling a gasp. The night of his promotion ceremony… that wasthenight.
Now she has a name, Tashandra Rolly.
I press myself against the wall, my whole-body trembling. I can hear Patrick's voice, but it sounds distant, underwater.
"That's a lie," he says, his voice desperate. "She came onto me; I turned her down. I never forced her."
"The complaint says otherwise, son," Colter says, his voice grim. "Says you cornered her in the hallway outside the bathrooms. That you wouldn't take no for an answer."
I sink to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest.
We were finally in a good place again, and now this.
No, no, no.
Chapter Fifteen
Patrick
“Dad, I swear to you,” I say, voice desperate, “I never-”
“I know,” Dad cuts in.
He puts a hand on my shoulder, firm and steady.
“I know what kind of a man I raised.”
The breath leaves my lungs all at once. Relief hits me so hard I sway. I didn’t realize until right now how terrified I was that even he might wonder.
I drag a shaky hand through my hair. “What do I do?”
“Nothing,” he says bluntly.
“What do you meannothing?”
Dad slips his hands into his jacket pocket, his cop stance coming out without him realizing.
“You don’t contact the woman. You don’t try to ‘fix’ it. You don’t confront her, her friends, nobody. If anyone asks you about that night, you ask for your representative. And then you tell the truth. Exactly the truth. Understood?”
I nod slowly. “How’d you even find out?”
A humorless grunt escapes him. “I still have friends on the force. Some shit hits the desk and it doesn’t stay quiet for long.”
I close my eyes, jaw clenched.
“As for what youcando?” he continues. “Keep your mouth shut until you’re asked. You’ve got thirteen years on the force and one hell of a record. They’ll listen.”
I hope to God he’s right.
Dad hesitates then, looking me over like he’s checking for wounds he can’t see.
“How are things with Lorelie?”
A breath rushes out of me. “Good,” I say, voice cracking. “They were finally good.”
He nods firmly. “Tell her. Don’t keep it a secret. It’ll be better if she hears it from you.”
“Dad…” My voice breaks completely. I turn away, pressing my fingers to my eyes. “She gave me another chance. We were finally getting somewhere. And now-” My throat closes. “I can’t believe what I’m being accused of.”
