“Bullshit, Peter. He did things with you and Chompers without me several times throughout the school year. Even before graduation,” Lana called Peter out again.
“Bullshit! The entire time he was hanging out with us, without you around, he’d been on the phone with you, either talking or texting. Ashe almost had him talked into staying after graduation, then your ass came along, and he was suddenly gung-ho for the fucking Army again. Not giving a shit about who or what he left behind.”
“Asheneverhad me convinced to do shit. I stopped telling her ass about my plans in life. Ashe was never going to be my one. She was only my then. You could have stood up to her, and you used to. Now, you blame everyone else for your wrongdoings. Don’t put your shit on me,” Jayson warned Peter.
Lana continued to study Peter as he talked about the past, still avoiding the question they had asked him more than once.
“Peter, do you know what I did in the Army and what I do for our task force now?” Lana leaned forward in her seat, her arms crossed on the table as she studied Peter.
“Why the fuck would I care? You’re just like him. You walked away from this place faster than you fucking got here.”
“How old was the girl you had sex with, Peter?” Lana pushed forward, ignoring his tirade.
“What makes you fucking think that’s what she has on me? Huh? What?” Peter deflected, smacking the table.
“Because this is the third time we have asked you, and this is the third time you’ve started talking about the past and how Jayson left you behind. The only way someone can control you is if they have something on you. That something usually is money, drugs, a lie, or sexually compromising positions,” Sgt. Bueller told him.
“Your eyes are clear. Your teeth are intact. Nothing I’ve seen so far from the financials shows drug usage or financial problems. So, that leaves sex. How old was the girl…”
Lana never got to finish her question because Peter jumped up to lunge at her. Jayson and Rocky tackled Peter to the ground and cuffed him.
“Peter, last chance before we have you charged with an attempted assault of a L.E.O. and accessory to sexual assault,” Sgt. Bueller informed the still struggling man.
“I am law enforcement, you stupid bitch,” Peter screamed, struggling against Jayson and Rocky.
“As of right now, Deputy James, you’re on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. Depending on how you handle the rest of this inquiry will depend on if it’s paid or unpaid. Refuse, then it’s unpaid and you’re terminated with charges filed against you for the charges Sgt. Bueller just informed you of,” Lt. Brown warned Peter.
Lana watched Peter’s whole body deflate at the words spoken. He was a broken man.
How had things gotten this far? Peter used to be a good guy. Someone she’d considered dependable.
“Talk to me, Peter. Not the cop me. Look at me and talk tome.” Lana softened her voice.
Lana continued her visual of Peter. When she really looked at him, she started to see the things she’d been missing until now.
His dark brown hair was thinning, lighter than it normally looked. His brown eyes were dull and exhausted looking.
She saw the worry lines around his mouth, forehead, and eyes. Peter wasn’t a bad-looking guy, he just wasn’t someone that women would look twice at like they would Jayson or his brother.
In high school, Peter used to work out a lot and was hot with his physique. Now, he was leaner, not as much muscle as back in the day.
“I was struggling. I wanted to join the military with you guys. Travel the world, anywhere outside of this fucking place. But I got turned down in MEPs. There was something in my medical file I had never known about, health issue wise. My mother nor my grandmother had ever told me about it. I couldn’t talk to you two because you two were gone faster than a damn bee chasing honey.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Lana saw the defeat and shame rising in his face. She was wondering what the hell really happened.
She turned to study Jayson as Peter talked about what had changed after they had left. She saw his hands clenching and unclenching in his lap.
She knew she’d forgotten everyone back here, except for Jayson, in her mad dash to get to basic. All she thought about was getting through it so that they could get back to each other’s arms sooner rather than later.
Now, she wondered what really went through Jayson’s mind when he left for basic. Did he truly forget everything here and only focus on his career and her like she did?
“I wound up at Rusty’s one night after a shift at the plant. I really fucking hated it there. I had applied for the PD and got turned down that day. Still hadn’t heard from the Sheriff’s department yet.”
“Stop stalling and get to the fucking point,” Jayson growled out, his patience wearing thin.
