Page 80 of Death, Interrupted

“We need to file an official report for the accident, and for the assault on Ms. Ellis. Please provide your driver’s license and vehicle registration.”

I unzipped my jacket, pulled out both items, and handed them across without hesitation. The officer standing nearest the room cleared her throat and nodded toward the door. “What was all that screaming about in there just now?” she asked.

“My girlfriend’s in there,” I said. “She was assaulted by her ex-boyfriend.” Saying it out loud forced the memory back into focus, and it hurt. I could still see what had happened, and the image wouldn’t leave me. I couldn’t do anything. Couldn’t help her. All I could do was lay there and watch.

She looked down at my hands, then back at me, and I saw the judgement in her stare. The dried blood on my skin made it seem like it was me who hurt her, but I didn’t have time to argue.

“Why would she scream ‘you’re the monster’ then?” she asked, blunt and straightforward.

My body tightened. I didn’t explain how I’d held her face in my hands on the ride to the hospital, how I’d tried to keep her conscious. The woman had already made the jump from question to accusation in herhead, and I didn’t see any reason to force her to backtrack. So I stayed quiet.

“We already had the bike moved off the road,” the other officer said. “It’s not in good shape.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass about the bike,” I muttered.

Sorry, April.

The officer sighed and set his pen down as if he was bored at the job he chose to do. “We’ll take care of vehicle stuff later. Can you tell us exactly what happened tonight?”

I told them every single moment. From the drive out, the camping, the rain starting on the way back, Joey’s car passing us too close, my careful driving while he started to harass us, and then the impact that sent us skidding off the road. I described how I was unable to move, and then how he got out and attacked Sumner. I left out nothing.

They asked follow-ups. Times, locations, which direction we were headed, if I knew that Joey was on that same road at the same time, whether we’d had contact with him before.

“And you said you couldn’t move,” the woman said, her eyes squinting in an almost challenging way. “You seem pretty fine to me, standing here on both feet.”

I was getting angry but I kept calm. I had to, otherwise that officer would only make it harder for me. She wanted to turn me into the villain, but I wouldn’t let her.

“We’ve actually done a checkup on him.” A nurseappeared next to me. I had noticed her listening in on our conversation, and I could see the annoyance in her eyes every time that female officer spoke to me like I was the bad guy. “He was temporarily paralyzed from the impact. Luckily, he hasn’t suffered from any permanent damage.”

Both officers nodded, although the suspicious one still wasn’t convinced.

“I’ve noted everything. We’d like to speak to Ms. Ellis now,” the officer said to the nurse.

“Can that wait? Ms. Ellis is still very drowsy and weak. It might be better if you come by in the morning.”

“Of course.” The officers didn’t put up a fight, and they left without giving me another reason to hate cops more than I already did.

I let out a heavy breath when they were out of sight and turned toward the nurse. “Thank you. I was about to riot.”

She nodded and gave me a tight smile. “I’d still like for you to get that checkup. Just to make sure your body didn’t suffer any damage.”

I felt fine, but I knew it was for the better. “Okay, sure.”

“And, don’t worry,” she said, her smile softer now. “She’ll get better. She’s very strong.”

“Yeah, she is.” I looked toward the door and tried to peek through the window, but I couldn’t see her. “She’s my Supergirl.”

Chapter 28

Sumner

Strangely, nothing hurt.

I was dizzy and sleepy. Otherwise I was numb.

The hits had left me hollow more than sore and talking to the officers felt automatic. I answered their questions, but the words felt distant. My focus kept slipping, and every time my head swam I had to press my palms to my knees and force myself back to reality.

When one officer asked me if I wanted to press charges against Joey, I was ready to give him a sarcastic answer. Of course, I wanted to presscharges against the man who assaulted me for years and almost killed me the night before.