Melody (THE LOGAN FAMILY) (17 page)

“Have a good day today, Melody.” He smirked.

She ran out the office.

C
heyenne Wilson turned from her bedroom window. The bruises on her face had already begun to heal. Brianna knew that would be the least of Cheyenne’s worries. After all, she may never be able to heal the wounds she held inside.

Brianna rushed to help Cheyenne as she stumbled from the window. Brianna hated seeing a young woman so distraught. The minute Brianna walked into the house Cheyenne studied her as if Brianna had the power to make her pain go away. It hurt Brianna like hell that she couldn’t give any comforting news to the broken woman. The police were stuck.

The rapist still ran around free, while his victims crumbled beyond control. Brianna sighed. Cheyenne wasn’t the only one who needed positive reassurance.

“So.” Cheyenne moved her fluffy hair from her face. She had a vibrant smile that even her traumatic state couldn’t hide. She sat on the bed. “Detective Morris, I just want to thank you for all you’re doing. On behalf of me and all the ladies.”

“I’m just doing my job.” She smiled. She wanted so much to let Cheyenne know that she too had been attacked. Brianna didn’t have the heart. She couldn’t kill Cheyenne’s hope by having her develop doubt toward the police when she needed them the most.

“I still want to thank you. I was surprised when you said you were coming by this morning. I was hoping it meant you had some good news.” Cheyenne looked at the carpet. “Can’t say I’m not disappointed, you know? I feel so stupid.”

“You don’t have anything to feel stupid for, Cheyenne. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I was…so…so trusting.” She wiped her eyes. “I’m not a fool, Detective Morris. Yet I acted like one the other night. Why? Why in the hell did I get in the car with him? I knew better! I knew better!” She cried. Brianna held her. “I’m just so mad and…confused. I’ve never felt like this before.” She shook. “I’ve been scared, but nothing like this.”

Brianna rocked her. “I think you’re doing very well, Cheyenne. You’re a strong woman and you’ll get through this. Remember that number I gave you?”

Cheyenne sniffed against Brianna’s chest. “For that rape center?”

“It’s the best in the city. I want you to contact them whenever you need to.”

She moved away. “I’m not ready for that, Detective Morris. I can’t even understand what happened yet. How can I talk to others about it?”

“They can help you understand, Cheyenne. That’s what they’re there for.”

“Detective Morris, have you…” Cheyenne swallowed. “Have you ever been raped?”

Brianna exhaled. “No.” Yet she’d almost been. That had been hard enough. Sometimes she wondered if she thrust herself into Cheyenne’s case to forget what happened to
her
. She’d been determined not to be a victim. It hadn’t been easy. She was already one whether she liked it or not. She hadn’t been raped, but judging by the newfound fear she felt, she might as well had been.

Brianna had been so scared of being alone in her home. Even having a gun hadn’t given her comfort. Brianna could easily say she hadn’t been in Cheyenne’s shoes. But did that mean she could escape fate? If the predator came after her again…could she escape? She could easily be in Cheyenne’s shoes. Could she deal with such fear when she stood on the opposite side of it? She prayed she wouldn’t ever find out.

“Detective, are you okay? I hope I didn’t upset you.”

“Uh no.” Brianna stood. “Uh, I almost forgot. The reason I came is because my partner wants to speak to you. He’s downstairs.”

“Oh.” Cheyenne glanced at her bedroom door. “Uh…” She held her shirt. “I don’t know if I am…”

“I know you’re afraid of being with a man right now, but he’s here to help you. Cheyenne, you have to cooperate with us as best you can. We need to get this guy off the streets before he has a chance to hurt anyone else.”

She sighed. “I don’t know if you can catch him. He seems invincible.”

“No one is invincible, and we won’t stop until we get him.” Brianna nodded.

“You can believe that.”

“I’ll talk to your partner, but only if you’re in the room, too.”

Brianna smiled. “Then let’s go.” Steven paced around Cheyenne’s little white living room. Brianna walked in first. Cheyenne huddled in back. She kept her head to the floor. She hadn’t taken a glimpse of Steven yet. Brianna walked toward him.

“Is she doing okay?” he whispered.

“As good as to be expected. I think she’s holding up well considering what she’s been through. She’s talking, which is more than I can say for the other victims.”

He nodded. “We just need to go over some things.”

“Cheyenne?” Brianna gently grabbed her arm. “This is my partner, Detective Steven Kemp.” Steven held out his hand with a smile. “He just wants to ask you some questions.”

Cheyenne’s mouth dropped as if it weighed a thousand pounds.

“Hello, Miss Wilson. I hope you’re doing okay.” Steven put his hand in his pocket when she didn’t take it. “I know this is a hard time for you so we won’t be long. I just wanted to go over some things…”

“What the…” Cheyenne looked at Brianna. She shook unlike anything they’d ever seen before. She screamed uncontrollably. She ran across the room. “Monster! Monster, this monster right in front of me!” She gripped her head. “Oh, no, no, no, no!” she cried hysterically. “No!”

“Cheyenne!” Brianna ran to her. “Cheyenne, what’s the matter?”

“What’s the matter?” Her eyes filled with tears. “You’re asking me what the matter is?” She charged Steven. “Get out! Get out of my house!” She hit him repeatedly. He used his arms to shield his face. “Get out! Get out! Get the hell out of my house!”

“Hey!” Steven tried to move away. She continued to hit him any place she could.

“Cheyenne!” Brianna grabbed her by the waist. She had so much strength she nearly threw Brianna off. “Cheyenne, wait! Cheyenne, please! What’s wrong?”

“Get out! Get out of my house!” She ran to the kitchen. She came back with a butcher knife and charged Steven. “Get out right now, you bastard! You son of a bitch!” she wailed. “How dare you come into my home? Get out! Get out!”

Brianna ran to the front door. She gestured for the uniformed cop they’d brought along. He ran inside and charged Cheyenne until she waved the knife his way.

“Put the knife down, Cheyenne!” Brianna begged.

“Miss Wilson, are you okay?” Steven exhaled.

“How dare you?” Her eyes danced with fury. “How dare you come into my home after what you did?”

“What…what are you talking about?” Steven hollered.

“You know what!” She waved the knife toward him. “Goddamn, I’ll kill you, you motherfucker! You sick, disgusting perverted motherfucker!” She ran toward him. Steven found himself blocked against the wall.

“Stop, please!” He held his arms up. Brianna and the uniformed cop held Cheyenne back. Yet the knife had easy access to Steven. “Miss Wilson, I’m a cop who just wants to help you! I know you’ve been through a lot but I am here to help!”

“Put the knife down, Cheyenne!” Brianna shouted.

“No chance.” She wiped tears as she glared at Steven. “You come into my home? And the cops brought you here! Get out of my house, you motherfucker, or I’ll kill you!” She leapt on top of him. The uniformed cop pulled her off before she could cut Steven. “Get out! Get out of my house! Get out!”

“Go, Steven!” Brianna pointed to the door. He followed the order, though he didn’t know the hell why. Brianna followed him outside.

“Bree?” He waved his arms. “I…I don’t know what that was! My God, she wanted to kill me. What the fuck is going on?”

“Just let me see. I’ll be right back. Rape victims can get very distraught, Steven.”

He looked at the door. “She wasn’t distraught; she wanted to
kill
me, Bree! Jesus Christ.” He held his head. Brianna went back inside. Cheyenne huffed and puffed. The cop stood over her.

“Cheyenne, what happened?”

“I want you out of my house, Detective Morris! I don’t want to see you ever again!” Cheyenne ran to the stairs.

“Cheyenne, what’s the deal?” Brianna begged. “I think you need some help. I know you’re hurting right now, but that doesn’t excuse you attacking my partner. Please talk to me so I can help you!”

Cheyenne turned around on the stairs. “I don’t need your help, Detective Morris. Not as long as you’re with trash like that!”

“You have a problem with my partner?”

“Oh, I have a
big
problem with your partner!” Cheyenne shrieked. “I could have killed him dead right in front of you! I didn’t give a damn! He deserves to die! I’ll kill him if he comes near me again!”

“
Why
?” Brianna yelled desperately. “Just tell me what’s going on!”

“Okay, I will.” Cheyenne came down the stairs.

Steven jerked when Brianna came outside. He noticed a red car speeding down the street. Other than that the neighborhood appeared unusually empty. The uniformed cop walked out. He looked at Steven, then headed for the car. Brianna shut Cheyenne’s door. She avoided his gaze.

“What was that about?” Steven pointed to the uniformed cop. “What’s going on, Bree?”

“Steven…”

“So did she say why she charged me in there?” He wiped his forehead. “Look, I understand she’s distraught but she was out of line, Brianna. If I didn’t feel sorry for her, I would have arrested her.”

“She’s very upset, Steven.”

He scoffed. “Yeah, I kind of figured that out, Bree. I want to know why.” She looked away. “Brianna, what in the hell is going on? Talk to me.” He took her hand. She looked at him. “Talk to me, baby.”

“I don’t know how to say this, Steven.” She ran her hands through her hair. “I’m too shocked to absorb it myself.”

“Just tell me.” He moved back.

“Steven, Cheyenne Wilson said that you…that you were…” She groaned.

“I
what
, Bree?” He crossed his arms.

“She said that
you
were the man that raped her.”

He lightly chuckled. “What?” He blinked wildly.

“Cheyenne Wilson said you raped her. That’s why she went so crazy.” Brianna shrugged. He leaned against the house. “Steven, why would she say that? It makes no sense and it’s absurd. Why would she say that about you?” She stared at him.

He rubbed his mouth. “I wish I knew, Bree.” He stared in complete shock.

“Kemp, I’m telling you, don’t let this bother you so much.” Captain Jersey shuffled through the morning reports. “Don’t take it personal.”

“Captain, how can I not?” He leaned over her desk. Brianna watched silently in the corner of the office. “I mean, what in the hell makes Cheyenne Wilson think I raped her? I’m gonna go back over there and talk to her.”

“No, you’re not.” Jersey took off her glasses. “Let me explain something to you, okay? She’s in a very confusing state right now. She’s vulnerable mentally, Steven. She came down those stairs and saw you, a man who looks like the man that raped her.” Jersey waved her hands. “She started swinging a knife at you and I don’t blame her. I mean, I can only imagine what I’d do if I saw a man who I thought had raped me in my home and beat me with a flashlight. I would have been swinging a knife too and probably some furniture.”

Brianna grinned.

“I understand that, Captain. But it doesn’t make me feel any better about it. I went there trying to help this girl and she treats me like I’m some kind of monster. I know what rape victims go through, but this didn’t seem excusable. I was scared, Captain.”

“She was, too, Steven,” Brianna whispered.

He sighed. “Why do I feel like the bad guy here when I was the one who was attacked?”

Jersey leaned back in her chair. “Kemp, put yourself in Cheyenne’s shoes. She’s the victim, not you. And you gotta admit…” Jersey studied a sketch of the rapist. “You do look a lot like the rapist. I mean, we can’t deny that.”

“Captain, I didn’t rape her.”

She laughed. “Kemp, please! Of course you didn’t, and I don’t need you to explain any of this to me! I wouldn’t believe that in a second! Cheyenne will come to her senses and realize she overreacted. Don’t give it another thought.”

He gestured toward the door. “I think I should go and explain things to her.”

Jersey waved a finger. “Stay away from her and that’s an order. In fact, I want you both to give Cheyenne some room. If she’s waving knives at people, it’s definitely not the time to be questioning her. Follow up on the other victims and try to come up with more leads.”

Steven sighed. “It’s not that easy, Captain.” He left the office.

Jersey looked at Brianna. “Since when is being a cop supposed to be
easy
?”

“He did
what
?” Aileen turned from Sarah’s stove that night. Melody dipped up two giant bowls of buttered popcorn. She gestured for Aileen to follow her to the den. She invited Aileen over to talk about Keith. Since Sarah worked late tonight, there couldn’t have been a better time. Melody took the remote as he cradled the bowl of popcorn in her lap. She almost laughed at Aileen’s shocked expression. Aileen ate two kernels before repeating the question. “Keith did
what
?”