“Thank you,” I tell him softly.
“You’re welcome.”
“Now, Jane, I need you to tell me everything,” Winman says as his buddy, with the help of Tank, drags Evan out of my home.
So I do. I tell him all about my relationship with Evan from the very beginning and up until the moment I left. Then I jump into the events that happened today. By the time I’m done speaking, my voice is hoarse, and I’m thankful for the water Smoke brought me.
Winman shakes his head. “Do you have any evidence of the abuse? Was there anyone back home who knew?” He raises his hand to cut off any backlash before it starts. “I’m not saying I don’t believe her, because I do. I’m only asking because it would help strengthen the case.”
“There was a lady, Denise. She’s the one who told me what to say to a trucker when you need help,” I tell him. “She took pictures a few times when I went to her for medical help. Evan never let me go to the hospital, but she works at the free clinic.”
“Out of curiosity, what was the saying?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I’m sorry, I won’t tell you. I won’t jeopardize other people’s safety.”
“Understood,” Winman says.
Mac clears his throat. “We got the events that happened today on recording. All of it.”
Winman’s eyes narrow. “Was this premeditated?”
“Not at all. Jane wanted to come home, but I had some things to do. I didn’t want her to feel like she was alone, so I left Tank with her and gave her the recording device, should anything happen. Evan approached her at the police station,yourpolice station, and harmed her. She wanted some way to record what he had done,” Mac lies.
Winman frowns. “Well, all right then. Let me hear it.”
Mac looks at me. “Do you want to listen to this?”
“No,” I tell him.
“I’ll take her outside.” Tank offers.
The detective nods to me.
No one says anything as I get up. Tank and I head to the front porch. We wait in silence. His steady presence reminds me that I’m safe. For the first time in years, truly safe.
A few minutes later, Winman, Smoke, and Mac walk outside.
“I’ll talk to you soon,” Winman says before walking off.
Mac walks over to me and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest.
“It’s over,” he murmurs.
“Promise?”
“I promise. Now come on. Let’s go get you cleaned up.”
He takes me by the hand and pulls me toward his place. I look over my shoulder and wave at his brothers as they get onto their bikes.
Mac leads me into his bedroom and then into his bathroom. I watch as he turns on the shower before turning toward me. With gentle hands, he removes my clothes and puts my hair up in a bun. I wait for him to get naked before we get into the shower.
Nothing about it is sexual. He just helps me wash the past off my skin.
When we get out, he dries me off before dressing me in one of his shirts and a pair of sweats that are too big and hang off my hips.
“Do you want to take a nap?” he asks as he slips on his shirt.
“No, I think I’m too anxious to sleep. Are the kids still safe?”
