I patted her back and ignored the urge to wrap her in my arms and not let go.
“Nobody should be abused. Especially at home. Home should be a safe haven.” She sobbed. “It breaks my heart, Asher. She’s only ten!”
“I know. Trust me, I know.” Rosie’s face as she told me was something I’d never be able to forget.
She pulled back and wiped her face with her sleeve. “I’m so sorry. I know this isn’t very professional.”
I stood up to give her space. “We don’t really have a professional relationship to maintain anyway.”
She nodded. “You’re right. Thank you for telling me and being there.”
“Lunch is almost over but we have to meet with Mr. Higgins and Officer Richards at the end of the day. Higgins wanted me to tell you privately because he knows as well as I do how much you care for those kids.”
Her brows bumped together in a scowl and her fists were balled up to where her knuckles were white. “What do I do with Rosie today? Should I keep her in the homeroom or let her switch classes with her classmates?”
“Higgins said to keep her normal schedule. Her parents are meeting with him and Richards after we’ve officially reported this,” I said.
She swallowed, squeezed her eyes shut and rose to her feet. “Of course. I’ll see you after school.”
I grabbed her arm and she turned to me. “I’m here if you need to talk about this.”
She smiled and I heard her whisper, “I’m here for you too,” on her way out.
I sat in the gray-walled office beside Faith on the other side of Principal Higgins’ who was seated at his black-stained desk. His salt-n-pepper hair was slicked back and his tie was crooked. Officer Richards stood beside him in full uniform. He was bald with gray eyes. He commanded a room when he was present.
My leg was bouncing and Faith kept playing with the ends of her hair. The one thing that made the office bearable was the bay window located behind Higgins’ desk. The view wasn’t much, but there was a weeping willow tree that was on display.
“She’s definitely become more reserved the past few days.” Faith rubbed her eyes. “I noticed her withdrawing from her friends and being less helpful around the classroom. She used to love volunteering around the classroom. She loved helping.”
Our resource officer jotted down everything she said with a blank face. He seemed cold and disassociated from the case as he asked questions. He was the same way when I told him the story of her uncle.
“Thank you both, you’ve been very helpful.” Richards closed his notebook and gave us a reassuring smile. The only expression I’d seen him give so far.
“What happens next?” I asked.
He maintained eye contact with me. “I’m working with the Violet Ridge Police Department on this. My job is to collect the witness statements and provide them to the investigator at the department. I’ll be working with him. You both have given a lot of good information. Mr. Wells, thank you for reporting this immediately. You’ve done your job. We may need you to testify in court at a later date, but I will keep you both in the loop.”
Faith expelled her breath in a whoosh. “Thank you, Officer Richards. Rosie is a great girl. Please, take care of her.”
He nodded. “I’ll do everything I can, Ms. Reed.”
We left the school in a state of shock. It was incorrigible to think something so awful was actually happening. We barely spoke three words the whole drive to her house. When I pulled into her driveway, Preston was standing on their doorstep with his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed at my truck.
I glanced at her, her back was stiff and she looked down at her feet.
“Do you want me to take you to Eve’s or Mag’s? Or I can come in with you?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I’ll have to talk to him. He’s my fiance, after all.”
Hearing that word, fiance, made my heart drop. I gave her a tight nod. “If you need me, call. I can be here in a few minutes,” I said.
“Yeah, I will. I’m sure it’ll be fine.” She opened the truck door. “Go home, Asher.” She hopped out and walked down the drive toward him.
He shouted something and grabbed her hand, dragging her into the house, slamming the door. I slammed my fist on the dash.
Why the fuck did she stay with him? Why did she let him treat her like that? Why won’t she let me help her?
I peeled out of the driveway and parked down the street so I could see her house. If he hurt her, I’d call the police. Surely, a domestic charge wouldn’t be good for a lawyer. I pulled out my phone and texted Luca to let him know what I’d just seen.
He called me back immediately. “What the hell is happening? Do I need to come to her house?”
I swallowed. “No. I’m parked down the street watching her house.”
“That fucker touched her?”
“Fucking grabbed her before pulling her into the house.”
“Surely, that’s enough to call the cops for?” he asked.
“I wish, dude. But what proof do I have? Besides, I have no idea what the hell is going on.”
Almost ten minutes later, the front door burst open and Preston stormed outside. He jumped in his car and took off out of the driveway. The man looked feral.
“Shit, he just got in his car and left. I’m going in. I’ll text you later.” I hung up.
As soon as his car was out of sight, I pulled back into her drive and got out.
The front door was still open so I walked in. A vase full of flowers was smashed to bits on the wood floor by the door. A few photo frames were on the ground, not all were broken. I found Faith curled up on the
