Page 117
Story: Black Flag
We were finally happy,together, loving each other the way we should have been all those years—it’snot fair.
Why couldn’t we havethe happy ever after, the fairytale she wanted? Didn’t she deserve at leastthat much?
This just didn’t makesense to me, when would enough be enough?
“Jameson Riley, we needto ask you a few questions. Come with me please.” I looked up to find a stalkyofficer standing in front of me. He was dressed in street clothes but I couldtell by his demeanor, he was a police officer. Or maybe it was the badge heflashed that gave him away?
I sighed heavily as Istood and walked with him to a private room.
We had just arrivedback at the hospital where the police were waiting. I wasn’t surprised.
He led me to a smallconference room, opened the door and motioned for me to enter.
“My name is Officer TimHenley.” He said taking a seat. I sat down across from him. “I’m going to askyou a few questions here.”
I nodded when he placeda tape recorder on the square wooden table angled toward me. The room was smallwith all white walls, I squinted at the brightness the room had on my irritatedeyes.
“Can you tell me whathappened last night?” He asked reaching forward to turn on his tape recorder;clicking his black pen obsessively.
My thoughts wandered tolast night.
It was now two in themorning and I still hadn’t slept or seen Sway. I was still dressed in mydriving suit that was now covered in blood, Darrin’s blood. I was also supposedto be back at the track in less than six hours for the race that was cancelledyesterday. I needed sleep but I knew it wasn’t going to happen. No, that wasn’thappening with these thoughts.
After we had left thebar, Van had left with Darrin. He was still unconscious and at that point Vanwas actually wondering if I had, in fact, killed him. Unfortunately, themotherfucker still had a pulse. Mike was so scared when he woke up missingteeth that he left and told the police he fell. I wasn’t sure we’d ever see himagain.
“I think you know whathappened.” I replied sarcastically. If he thought I was really going to lay itall out, he was out of his mind. I wasn’t admitting to shit. In my mind, I didnothing wrong.
“Riley.” He breathedthrough his nose and reached turning off the tape recorder. “I know whathappened, I’m not an idiot. I know who Van Lambert is as well.” He held up afile. “Van Lambert, age thirty-two, ex-Navy Seal, specialized in SpecialReconnaissance missions for nine years. Phillip Clemons hired him as your bodyguard.” He placed the file down on the table. “I’d like to know what happenedand why Darrin Torres, who is wanted for attempted murder, is now missing.”
I stared at him with ablank expression, my body radiating tension. Like I gave a shit who he knew orwhat he knew.
“Just cooperate with us,”Officer Henley suggested. “I’m sorry for what happened to your fiancée. Pleasekeep in mind though that I also have an investigation to do here.” He shook hishead. “Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that given the chance, Iwouldn’t have reacted the same way if that wasmyfiancée and child.”
I looked away, crossingmy arms over my chest, feeling the pain once again. He had no fucking idea whatI was going through. He had no idea the pain I was feeling right now.
“But Jameson, I have ajob to do here and I would really appreciate some cooperation,” He intonedleaning forward to turn the recorder back on. He reached for the folder infront of him and I caught a glimpse of the photos inside. There was my Sway,bloody, broken, and naked. The photos must have been taken when she firstarrived as part of the investigation but just the sight of them had mehyperventilating.
I looked down at myhands in my lap, trying to control my breathing as tears started to fall.
“Were you there whenEmma Riley found Sway?”
“No.” I said withvirtuously. “I was in my race car. The race was on a red flag when Emma Rileyfound her.”
“So you are a NASCARdriver?”
“What in the hell doesthat have to do with anything? I mean, don’t you have more important questionsto ask besides my career choice?”
“Fair enough,” I thinkhe knew I was in no mood for small talk. “How did you know where to find DarrinTorres?”
“I didn’t,” I musedshrugging indifferently. “I got lucky.”
“Were you at BoarsTavern at approximately 10 PM?” He made a few notes on his white note pad, hiseyes watchful of my every movement. Like any trained detective, he was waitingfor me to give him a clue.
“Yes.”
“And what happenedwhile you were there?”
“Darrin and I had adiscussion.” I smiled wickedly.
Why couldn’t we havethe happy ever after, the fairytale she wanted? Didn’t she deserve at leastthat much?
This just didn’t makesense to me, when would enough be enough?
“Jameson Riley, we needto ask you a few questions. Come with me please.” I looked up to find a stalkyofficer standing in front of me. He was dressed in street clothes but I couldtell by his demeanor, he was a police officer. Or maybe it was the badge heflashed that gave him away?
I sighed heavily as Istood and walked with him to a private room.
We had just arrivedback at the hospital where the police were waiting. I wasn’t surprised.
He led me to a smallconference room, opened the door and motioned for me to enter.
“My name is Officer TimHenley.” He said taking a seat. I sat down across from him. “I’m going to askyou a few questions here.”
I nodded when he placeda tape recorder on the square wooden table angled toward me. The room was smallwith all white walls, I squinted at the brightness the room had on my irritatedeyes.
“Can you tell me whathappened last night?” He asked reaching forward to turn on his tape recorder;clicking his black pen obsessively.
My thoughts wandered tolast night.
It was now two in themorning and I still hadn’t slept or seen Sway. I was still dressed in mydriving suit that was now covered in blood, Darrin’s blood. I was also supposedto be back at the track in less than six hours for the race that was cancelledyesterday. I needed sleep but I knew it wasn’t going to happen. No, that wasn’thappening with these thoughts.
After we had left thebar, Van had left with Darrin. He was still unconscious and at that point Vanwas actually wondering if I had, in fact, killed him. Unfortunately, themotherfucker still had a pulse. Mike was so scared when he woke up missingteeth that he left and told the police he fell. I wasn’t sure we’d ever see himagain.
“I think you know whathappened.” I replied sarcastically. If he thought I was really going to lay itall out, he was out of his mind. I wasn’t admitting to shit. In my mind, I didnothing wrong.
“Riley.” He breathedthrough his nose and reached turning off the tape recorder. “I know whathappened, I’m not an idiot. I know who Van Lambert is as well.” He held up afile. “Van Lambert, age thirty-two, ex-Navy Seal, specialized in SpecialReconnaissance missions for nine years. Phillip Clemons hired him as your bodyguard.” He placed the file down on the table. “I’d like to know what happenedand why Darrin Torres, who is wanted for attempted murder, is now missing.”
I stared at him with ablank expression, my body radiating tension. Like I gave a shit who he knew orwhat he knew.
“Just cooperate with us,”Officer Henley suggested. “I’m sorry for what happened to your fiancée. Pleasekeep in mind though that I also have an investigation to do here.” He shook hishead. “Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that given the chance, Iwouldn’t have reacted the same way if that wasmyfiancée and child.”
I looked away, crossingmy arms over my chest, feeling the pain once again. He had no fucking idea whatI was going through. He had no idea the pain I was feeling right now.
“But Jameson, I have ajob to do here and I would really appreciate some cooperation,” He intonedleaning forward to turn the recorder back on. He reached for the folder infront of him and I caught a glimpse of the photos inside. There was my Sway,bloody, broken, and naked. The photos must have been taken when she firstarrived as part of the investigation but just the sight of them had mehyperventilating.
I looked down at myhands in my lap, trying to control my breathing as tears started to fall.
“Were you there whenEmma Riley found Sway?”
“No.” I said withvirtuously. “I was in my race car. The race was on a red flag when Emma Rileyfound her.”
“So you are a NASCARdriver?”
“What in the hell doesthat have to do with anything? I mean, don’t you have more important questionsto ask besides my career choice?”
“Fair enough,” I thinkhe knew I was in no mood for small talk. “How did you know where to find DarrinTorres?”
“I didn’t,” I musedshrugging indifferently. “I got lucky.”
“Were you at BoarsTavern at approximately 10 PM?” He made a few notes on his white note pad, hiseyes watchful of my every movement. Like any trained detective, he was waitingfor me to give him a clue.
“Yes.”
“And what happenedwhile you were there?”
“Darrin and I had adiscussion.” I smiled wickedly.
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