“Clark, listen… whatever you tell me is going to stay between us. Tell me what you know, and I can give you an idea of what we can do about it.”
Deep breaths. You’re doing this for her.
“It’s Emerson, he abused her when she was fifteen. She never told anybody besides me. Not even her dad knows.”
“Christ… that sick bastard,” my dad says, disgust dripping from each word and I know he believes me, so I tell him the rest, everything that I know, hoping to God that I’m not making the biggest mistake of my life by sharing this with him. My father listens intently to every single word. Once I’m done, he leans back in his leather office chair, looking out the window with his gaze trained on some spot in the sky. “I’m going to be honest with you, Clark. This is going to be a tough one in court.”
Fuck. This is exactly what I didn't want to hear. “But you believe me? You have to believe Emerson, she’s not lying. I know it. Remember how she reacted to you when you came home? How scared she was?”
“Yes, I remember, and I know she isn’t. But in a court of law, it doesn’t matter what you know, what matters is what you can prove and from what you’ve told me there is no proof. Don’t get me wrong. You have a case, she can press charges right now and I’ll be happy to represent her, but the reality is that the chances of getting him convicted are slim. Also, Emerson would have to give a detailed statement and I doubt that’s something that she wants to go through.”
And just like that, I’m back to feeling defeated, like a balloon that’s lost all its air.
“So there’s nothing we can do?”
“I didn’t say that. There have been two girls that we know of. I can guarantee you that there are more. Let me do some digging. I’ll have a private investigator look into Rick, if we can find some more recent victims and they all want to come forward, then we have an actual shot.”
Finally some good news. “But for now, you won’t tell anyone about Emerson. She doesn’t know I’m here. She’s scared and she wants to forget about the past, which I get, but I can’t just let this son of a bitch live his life knowing what he did to her, and who knows to how many other women. She deserves this, to find peace, they all do after all he has done.”
For the first time since I can remember my father’s gaze softens, and I see something that resembles love, “I get it. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything to anyone about Emerson, you have my word.”
“Thank you. This means a lot to me.”
“You love her, don’t you?”
“More than I can put into words or even understand. I’d do anything for her.”
He chuckles. “I would say so, you’re in my office right now without me ordering you to be here. She must be something special to you if you’re willing to walk into the lion’s den.” The moment feels lighthearted and I can’t help but smile. I move from my chair and stand stretching my long legs.
“Thanks, Dad,” I mumble and turn to leave but stop at the sound of my name.
“Clark,” he calls, and I twist around to face him.
“Yeah?”
“I know you don’t think I loved your mother, but I did. I loved her very much and losing her hurt me too. I tried to save her, but I couldn’t. I just wanted you to know that.”
Pain lances across my abdomen. It feels like someone kicked me in the stomach. I want to believe him I really do, but I can’t.
I watched my mother die, every single day, and at no point did he ever make an effort to help her. So well, maybe he loved her at one point and time, but he didn’t love her enough for it to really matter. Otherwise she would be here right now.
“If you loved her, then she would still be here. You don’t let people you love down…” I say, walking out of his office, and closing the door softly behind me.
On the way out to my car, I pray that he doesn’t let me down, that he can help me, because one way or another I will end this guy… make it pay for all that he’s done.
Chapter Sixteen
Emerson
Weeks have passed since the night I faced all my demons and came out on the other side stronger. I’ve never been so happy, all smiles, and excited. Clark and I have been spending every free minute we have together, going on dates and having sex like a normal couple. It’s everything I never thought I would have or get to experience. I’m a normal college student, with a boyfriend and a future. An actual future. I’m momentarily pulled from my thoughts when I feel Ava’s eyes burning a hole into me.
“You realize you’re smiling at nothing right?” Ava giggles next to me as we are walking to the coffee shop.
“I can’t help it. I’m just so happy.” I shrug. Nothing could pop my bubble of happiness, not now, not ever.
“I can see that and I’m ecstatic to see you and Clark so happy, and finally together, you both deserve this, and are a great pairing. Though I will say when I first met you, I couldn’t help but think ‘wow she is Clark’s complete opposite.’ It made it hard to believe Clark when he said you guys were dating.”
Now that we’re together I often wonder what I was so afraid of, why I thought Clark would reject me if he ever found out the truth. His actions never led me to believe otherwise, but that was back when I let the fear of everything control me.
“Thank you for saying that and thank you for being such a great friend.”
Two steps later, Ava stops abruptly her hands patting against her jean pockets, also causing me to stop mid-step. “Oh shit, I forgot my phone in the car. I’m gonna run back and get it really quick.”
“You want me to come with you?”
“No, it’s okay. I’m sure everybody is already waiting. Go ahead, and I’ll just meet you at the coffee shop.”
“Oh, okay,” I say when Ava spins around and takes off jogging back to the parking lot.
With a smile still on my lips, I walk around the corner of the building, the coffee shop comes into view, and the thought of seeing Clark in a few minutes has the butterflies in my belly fluttering around like crazy. Going to classes have been torturous, but logically, I know I can’t spend every single minute with him.
“Emmy…” The smile I thought I would never lose falls from my face. The fine hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and, a shiver of fear ripples down my spine, the butterflies in my stomach turning to a ten-pound boulder in an instant. “I was hoping I would run into you. I was terribly disappointed when you disappeared with that Jefferson kid.”
“No…” The word slips past my lips and I know I have to do whatever I can to get away from him. He shouldn’t be here, he shouldn’t be this close to me. Digging deep inside myself, I find the strength to speak just as his meaty hand wraps around my upper arm. “Let me go or I’ll scream.” I glance over to the coffee shop that’s only a few hundred feet away from us. If I can get away, if I can run….
“You’ve grown a backbone, I see,” Rick growls, his hold tightening enough to make me whimper. He leans forward, pinching my chin between two of his fingers, hard enough to leave a bruise. “I can’t wait to get you alone and snap it in two.”