“I’m glad you came. I don’t want you to think about anything but you. We will talk some more tomorrow or the next day. Come with me.” Troy stood and opened the door. “Right now, I want all your physical needs met.”
Trask stood waiting. “Russ is available.”
After walking Kim and Brody to Russ’s office, Troy stopped at the desk in the medical inpatient area. A nurse practitioner entering information on a computer stopped to read Troy’s ID, then stood. “Mr. Bremen, I’m Julio Garcia. Pleasure to meet you.”
“Same here. This is First Deputy Trask Winslow. We’d like to speak to James Richmond. Is he stable enough to talk?”
“Yes. We moved him to the medical side last night. His surgery went well,” Julio said.
“Thanks. If you can hold back any visitors, I’d appreciate it.”Troy kept his hands in his pockets, digging his fingernails into his thighs, creating an endorphin rush to keep him awake.
“I don’t think that will be a problem. We asked his father to leave after James got really upset. Maybe he’ll tell you what happened.”Julio pursed his lips together.
“Thanks for the update.” Troy and Trask walked down the corridor.
Troy knocked and opened the sliding glass door. “Hi, James, do you remember Trask? He’s going to join us this afternoon. How are you feeling?” Troy asked.
“Better, thanks to you.” James looked at his hands. “The surgery wasn’t too bad. And tomorrow, the orthopedist is going to repair my shoulders. I tore a couple of ligaments.”
“Julio told me you had a rough time with your dad?” Troy asked.
“He doesn’t understand. He thinks things were consensual. He thinks I liked it.” James closed his eyes. “Dad called it morning-after remorse.”
“Trask and I, and everyone here, know the truth.” Troy sighed. “Are you up to talking some more with us?” He and Trask sat.
James closed his eyes and dropped his chin to his chest. “Yes…I mean no, but I need to, don’t I?”
“Look at me, James. You don’t, but that won’t get you closure, and what you tell us may help us catch the people who did this.” Troy stayed silent for a minute. “How’s the food?”
The young man looked up at him, surprised at the question. “Um, really good.” He managed to smile.
Troy caught Trask’s eyes. The first deputy seemed a bit in awe, but at the same time, worried.
“Good to hear. Anywhere you want to start—tell us what happened,” Troy asked.
Troy didn’t ask to record the interview; the room was under video surveillance. He leaned back in his chair to patiently wait. He heard Tim Holland’s voice in his head about integrating the personal and professional pieces of himself. If he did that now, he’d curl into a ball. He didn’t with Gwen. He didn’t want to face what happened to her.
“We were packing up our equipment and double-checking the buildings after an exercise at Twentynine Palms. As I stepped inside one of the buildings, someone grabbed me from behind and ripped my helmet and goggles off. As I fought, I felt something stick me. The man behind me held a knife to my throat. ‘You now belong to us. You will do as you’re told.’I was forced forward against a table. Things got fuzzy. The only man who spoke shoved a roll of gauze in my mouth, then the other cut my uniform off. The talker stood in the corner and watched at first.” His breathing increased.
Troy felt his pain to his bones. “James, they can’t hurt you. You’re safe. Look around the room.”
James nodded. “The first man, it was almost gentle. His touch was soft, like I touch my girlfriend. I almost ripped my shoulders apart trying to get free. He took his time. The second man was different but not mean. They were enjoying themselves. Vomit came up in my mouth. The guy on top of me ripped the gauze free as I puked. The second man injected me again. All I saw was swirling colors. I don’t understand. Why did they pick me?” He dropped his head to his chest.
“Take some nice, easy breaths. None of this is your fault,” Troy coached. “Did they say anything about how you were picked?”
James cocked his head. “They said, ‘There’s no place in the Marines for a guy like you. Do it again, and we will be back.’”
“Any idea what that means?” Trask asked.
“No. That’s why I didn’t think to tell you until you asked,” James said.
“What happened next?” Trask asked.
“They left me. I woke up in the dirt by where they took me. By dawn, I’d worked my ropes free. I started to walk. The police made EMS take me to the hospital. I don’t remember much after that.” James’s sad eyes locked with Troy’s. “When am I going to stop being scared?”
Troy heard Trask clear his throat. “When it stops for me, I’ll let you know. You did really well. Do you need anything?” He rubbed his forearms.
“Make my parents stop treating me like I’m sick and crazy,” he whispered.
