Chapter Twenty-Two
Charlie’s POV
A few days after I surrendered the drug packages to the police, I’ve been nothing but worried and anxious about the fingerprints they could possibly retrieve from it
My classes are in a few hours but I still have plenty of time to go to the police station, so when I found out that Louise called Aunt Cath, i went with her. I just really need to know if they got the fingerprints
“They only got Jasmine’s fingerprints” Louise said
“But they can still connect these drugs to James right? She is his sister after all” Aunt Catherine asked
“Yes and we’ve already brought in Jasmine for an interrogation a day ago but she got a lawyer with her so we couldn’t get the answers we were hoping for”
“Damn it!” I reacted then sighed heavily “but what about the search warrant?”
“We’re still working on that one” Louise answered
“What do you mean you’re still working on it?” Aunt Catherine asked with concern
Louise looked at us and sighed, “The judge won’t sign it until we find a solid connection between James and the drugs, it seems that a positive hair test isn’t enough and since Jasmine already lawyered up, we’re having a difficult time to establish a connection”
I looked at Aunt Catherine with a sad, defeated expression, “So, is this it? We’ve lost?”
“No, we’re not going down without a fight” Louise interjected “This investigation is still ongoing and we’re looking for a loop hole to show the judge so he can give us a search warrant, so, as far as I’m concerned, it’s still not over”
I stared at Louise and thought, we certainly found the right person for this, she won’t back down even if the odds are against us
“Thank you” Aunt Catherine spoke "Can you inform if there's progress in the case"
Louise nodded then we left the police station
Aunt Catherine insisted that she drive me to school, so I hopped into the car and we left. during the car ride, Aunt Catherine tried to hide her deep concern by acting like it's not big deal and staying positive
"We'll catch James, i know we will. Louise is a great officer, she knows how to handle this" she spoke but it sounds like she's telling that too herself
I just nodded and gave a small smile. Aunt Cath dropped me off at the school's main entrance. I waved goodbye and thanked her for the ride and then she left
As I slowly walked towards the gate, I can’t help but think about this investigation and how slowly we’re losing, James planned it well, he knew how to keep evidence against him from showing up. I hate this!
“If only we have that video” I said to myself
That video he showed me on his cell phone, If I have that then James will definitely get caught, no doubt or questions about it
I stopped walking and looked at the entrance, “I’m going to get that video”
I turned around and ran as fast as I can away to avoid being seen by my classmates and teachers. The last thing I want is for my mom to find out I skipped school to go beat the crap out of James
I was running towards the nearest bus station when my eyes caught a busted bicycle by a dumpster with broken pieces of chain on the ground next to it
I picked up one of the pieces and wrapped it around my right knuckles
“I don’t have brass knuckles but these will do” I then hid my hand inside my pocket and rode a bus to Elise’s university where James’s apartment is near
I turned off my phone during the bus ride just to make sure no one calls me during my meet-up with James. The bus ride was quick due to lack of traffic so when I got off, I quickly went to James’s apartment
Not caring what would happen, I gripped the bicycle chain on my right hand and with my left, knocked on James’s door
I breathe heavily as I waited for the door to open, I heard footsteps and the door finally opened and James stood, looking carefree as ever
When I saw his face, my right hand instinctively rushed towards his head, punching his face as hard as I could. One punch led to the other and then another and then some more
I lost control and before I knew it, James was lying on the ground, with me on top of him, pummeling him endlessly as he covered his face with his arms
I came to my senses when I felt something wet on my hand, it was James’s blood, I made him bleed. I breathe heavily and stared at him as he continued to cover his face, my eyes wandered and found his cell phone on the floor, next to us. It must have fell from his pocket while he was lying down
Without a second thought, I quickly took James’s phone and hid in my pocket.
I was about to stand when I felt instant pain on my left temple, it caused me to stumble on the ground. James had punched me
He slowly stood and looked down on me then with a swift move of his fist, he landed his second punch on my face, causing the skin on my cheek to pop and bleed
I was still lying on the ground, when James grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled me up
“You bitch! You’re gonna pay for this!” James spoke through gritted teeth
I glared at him and spit on his face, James scoffed and raised his fist, ready to punch me again but Jasmine suddenly intervened
“No James! Stop!” Jasmine shouted as she entered the house and saw me at James’s hands
Jasmine made him let go and back away, she then turned to me and asked “Are you alright?”
I looked at her but didn’t answer, I then glared at James, and in that moment, pure rage just filled me
“You fucking bastard!!” I shouted at him “Do you know how much Elise is suffering because of what you did?!?!”
James scoffed, “Yeah, so?”
“So?!? Elise is pregnant with your fucking baby, you fucking asshole!!!”
The room fell silent for a while, as I clenched my fist, trying not to bursts out in rage
James looked at me with sudden distress, “…s-she’s pregnant..?”
Jasmine, confused, turned to James and when the realization came to her, Jasmine looked shocked and in disbelief
“Oh my god!! James, what did you do?!” Jasmine exclaimed
“Don’t you pretend like you didn’t know this Jasmine, you gave him the drugs!! You were in on this! I can’t even process why you would agree to this!!” I screamed aas i pointed at her “James drugged Elise and raped her and you helped him!!”
Jasmine looked bewildered, it’s like she’s been hearing this for the first time, she then slowly looked at her brother, ”y-you told me you were just going to blackmail her with pictures of you two together in bed..” she spoke then she slowly walked towards her brother “that’s why I helped you with the drugs, y-you promised me you wouldn’t touch Elise...” and Jasmine started to cry “you had me lie to the police about drug possession when the truth is, I was there for a rape investigation. y-you actually raped her…”
James stared at her crying sister, “I’m sorry…” he spoke and tried to hug her but Jasmine pushed him away, “get away from me!” she screamed
My anger slowly subsided as I saw the close sibling relationship between James and Jasmine slowly crumbled down
I left the house in the middle of their confrontation. I got what I needed, why would I stay?
I was about to ride the bus when I saw Jasmine running towards me
“Charlie! Wait!” she yelled
I got off and waited for her, when she got to me the first thing she said was “I’m sorry, I’m very sorry, I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have helped him if I knew what h-“
“Damage is done, no matter how sorry you are” I interjected “just make sure he doesn’t go near Elise ever again”
And without hearing Jasmine’s reply, I rode the bus and left
I sat at the back where there were less people. I took out James’s phone and hesitantly searched for the video, hoping James hadn’t deleted it yet
The video was still there, along with some of the photos, I smiled and tear up at the same time…finally
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Elise’s POV
Mom just got back from the grocery store. After we brought in the paper bags. Mom sat me down and told me that she went to the police station and she told me the conversation she had with Louise. It really looks like the fight is almost over and we’re losing
I felt depressed and decided to go out for a short walk, just to clear my mind a bit. When i got out of the house, I saw Charlie’s friend, Spencer, sitting at the front porch of Charlie’s house, why is she here? I’m pretty sure classes are still going on at their school
Out of curiosity, I decided to go and talk to her and the more I got closer, the more I saw how anxious she is
“Hey!” I greeted
Spencer quickly stood, “Hey, I’m sorry for sounding rude but do you know Charlie’s mom’s cell phone number?”
“Um, yes, can I know why you’re asking for it?”
Spencer looked at me worriedly, “Charlie left school in a rush earlier, I was entering the building when I saw her suddenly running off”
I looked at Spencer questioningly
Spencer continued, “So I decided to follow her, I saw her pick-up a piece of bicycle chain and wrapped it around her hand then she went and rode a bus”
“A bus to where?” I asked
“I don’t know, I tried calling her but her phone was off” she answered “Charlie looked so determined and the way she held that bicycle chain, she held it like a brass knuckle. I thought she’s gonna go catch up with our class a little later but when she never showed, I got worried, I just had this gut feeling that something was wrong so I quickly went here to talk to Charlie’s mom but no one’s home”
Like a brass knuckle? Then she rode a bus….
Then the realization hit me, “Charlie’s going to go after James!”
“What?” Spencer reacted “She’s going after Jasmine’s brother? Why?”
“It’s a long story..” I replied, I have to get Louise’s help
I turned to Spencer, “Um, Spencer, thank you for telling me this, but I really need to go help Charlie, is it okay if you leave now?”
“Of course, can you inform me about Charlie after you talk to her?”
I nodded and then went back to the house, I quickly told my mom what Spencer told me, and with that, she called Aunt Gwen and said to meet up at the police station
A few minutes later
“Are you sure Charlie went to James?” Louise asked
“Yes, Charlie’s friend told me that she saw Charlie rode a bus and that she has a piece of bicycle chain which she could have used as a brass knuckle” I answered worriedly
“Please, you have to send officers to James’s apartment, if Charlie really is there, who knows what that man would have done to her” Aunt Gwen told Louise
Louise nodded and was about to call for back up when the door to her office slowly opened
We all turned and saw a Charlie enter, she’s had a bruise on her temple and a bloody cheek, her hand was also stained with blood
“I have it” Charlie spoke “I have the video”