Chapter 6
Deceptive Illusion
Gale Fears
“What exactly can you tell us about Joe?” the officer asked.
Hillary was sitting with me, giving her statement against the man who was threatening her. I had personally arranged a meeting to ensure that the police took some action.
“I was so stupid,” she whispered. “I was eighteen when I first met him. I was barely out of school and living on my own for the first time. I was living in a small dingy apartment, working as a waitress at a local café, and earning the bare minimum. He was a customer at the café, and I thought he was so good looking. Tall, handsome, and well dressed. He always smiled at me and tipped me well. So, when he asked me out one day,I was ecstatic. He seemed like the perfect guy. He was kind and funny, he surprised me with gifts and spoiled me as if I were a princess. I honestly thought I was the luckiest girl in the world. That fate was kind to me. And I fell in love. I fell completely head over heels. He asked me to move in and I did. He asked me to stop working because he made a good living, and I did. He said I didn’t need any friends because I had him, so I stopped talking to them all. Life seemed perfect until I moved in with him, and then it all came crashing down.”
I already had an idea of where this story was going, but I remained silent, letting her talk at her own pace.
“I ignored all the red flags. He would never tell me what his job was, but I ignored it. He was so possessive that if I ever so much as looked at another man, he wouldn’t talk to me for days, but I ignored it. He expected me to be at his every beck and call. And once I moved in, it all got worse. He became abusive. I got used to the regular beatings and thrashings that I received. Every time he abused me, he’d tie me up to the bed and lock me in the room. And every time I would cry and tell myself that this was the last time. That I won’t take it anymore. And every time he would come back, tears in his eyes and begging me for forgiveness. He was my first love, so I forgave him. I kept thinking he would change. I was so stupid,” she whispered.
Silence followed this, and the video camera was the only sound that could be heard as the police recorded her statement. When she resumed her story, her voice grew heavy with emotion.
“It got so bad that he would lock me in for days with no end in sight. I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere. I wasn't even allowed to talk to my parents. It didn’t take me long to find out that he was a criminal. That’s how he made all his money. He belonged to a gang and even had police officers on his paycheck. The only way I managed to get in touch with Erica was at the hospital after he broke my arm a second time. She took one look at me and she knew what was going on. I couldn’t talk to her because he always accompanied me everywhere. He never let me out of his sight. We met in the ladies’ bathroom, and I remember breaking down and telling her everything. She asked me to meet her there next week. I had to pretend to be sick so Joe would take me to the hospital again and we met in the bathroom once again. She handed me a note and a screwdriver. That was all she had time for before Joe started banging on the door telling me to come out. She helped me escape. One night, when he was drunk and passed out, I used the screwdriver she had given me to get the lock open and got out of there. He woke earlier than I anticipated, and he chased me all through the town. I just managed to get away. I went to my parents and Erica helped me hide. She helped me find an apartment, change my phone number, and supported me through university. I’d actually thought it was all over.” she said. “Why did I think he would ever let me go? I will never be free of him. Never. It’s too late.”
She burst into tears, and Commissioner Jim, Daniel’s uncle, sighed.
“And this man is currently threatening you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I have all the evidence if you need it,” Hillary said. Tears were falling down her cheeks, but at the same time, she was so brave and strong that my heart melted for her.
“We will ensure that there is police detail outside your parent's house,” Jim said. “And we will ensure that you are protected as well. We will track down this Joe, and while we don’t have a lot of reasons to convict him, I think I can figure out something.”
“Thank you, Commissioner,” she said.
“I believe you will do everything in your power to help her,” I said. “This man has contacts in the police. It won’t be easy.”
“I am well aware,” Jim said. “Don’t worry. I will ensure that this stays between a trusted few. He won’t find out about this. I will get my best man on the case; don’t you worry about it.”
Inodded and shook Jim’s hand, determined to personally check up with him in a few days. After all, I knew how such things were done. But I also knew that I could fully trust Jim in this matter.
As we walked out of the station, Hillary turned around and looked at me with a soft expression on her face.
“I know that without your help I couldn’t have done this,” she said. “Not one of those people would have agreed to listen to me if you hadn’t been with me. I am grateful to you for what you did.”
I walked towards her, stopping when I was only an inch away. I could smell her intoxicating scent, and something in me stirred. I knew I should stay away from her, but I couldn’t. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t resist the attraction that I felt for her. I couldn’t resist the desire to just take her. I wanted to press my lips against her soft ones, kissing her again and again. I wanted to feel those curves pressing against me. My body was throbbing with desire for her. And I couldn’t fight it.
I reached out and cupped her cheeks, raising her face so her eyes gazed into mine.
“I made a promise to protect you,” I said to her. “It’s a promise I intend to keep. No one is going to hurt you, Hillary. Not on my watch.”
She glared at me, with the most beautiful eyes ever, tears fell and the next thing I knew, I was tasting her lips again.
“Thank you,” she whispered, and I felt my heart hurt like never before.
