Then, Clark had dropped the bombshell. “You do what you want, but it won’t be my child. It won’t have Parrish blood.”
From that point, Brook now realized, life had changed around their house. They made love, but not as frequently. The goodbye kisses that used to promise things to come had now become obligatory, little more than a duty. She now knew that while she had still loved Clark, she hadn’t really been in love with him for a long time.
Then there were the last five months. What would Clark’s reaction be to her sudden return home? Would he understand how she had suffered? Clark never had been strong on empathy. How would he respond when he heard about the rapes? Would he see her as dirty, damaged goods, unworthy of his attentions? And, more to the point, how could she hide the fact from Clark that she had been with Lance, had lain, willingly, with another man? Brook ran scenarios through her head as the bus traveled on.
As the trip neared an end, she fingered the beautiful bracelet that wrapped her wrist in a symbol of Lance’s love. She felt so alone right now.
Brook was astounded by the range of emotions that poured over her; sadness over leaving Lance, happiness to be returning home to her family, and confusion over her feelings for Clark. By the time she stepped off the bus in Denver, her mood was so low, she found it a struggle to even breathe. Climbing down from the bus, she straightened her posture and wove through the crowd of other travelers, seeking a telephone.
Just as she spotted a pay phone, she changed her mind. She couldn’t call Clark out of the blue; it wouldn’t be fair to him. And, she was very confused about his part in her abduction. She would go home and wait for him. Watch his reaction. Gauge it. Plus, it would give her another small space of time to put away her feelings for Lance and organize her thoughts. She was nervous at the prospect of facing her husband instead of looking forward to the reunion like she ought to be doing. Her heart wasn’t in it, but she resolved to see it through.
She stepped outside and was startled by the unexpected warmth of the day. It was still cold in Haylieville. She had forgotten the weather would be much different at this altitude. Brook removed her jacket and draped it over her arm. Moving briskly to the curb, she waved at a cab and got inside. She hesitated before giving her address.
“The nearest police station,” she said on impulse. The cabbie nodded and pulled into the traffic.
Chapter 50
Brook walked into the police station with no idea the kind of stir she was about to cause. Approaching the glass window, she asked to speak to a detective.
“Your name, please?” The officer’s voice was tinny though the speaker. He was bent over a sheet of paper.
“Brooklyn Parrish.”
At the sound of Brook’s name, the officer’s head shot up and he dropped his paper. Peering intently through the glass, he stared, unable to hide his surprise.
“Just a second,” he said, and picked up the phone.
In a flurry of activity, a side door opened and several people hurried toward Brook. A tall woman in a dark suit extended her hand as the others, some in uniform, stood back.
“I’m Detective Randi Conroy,” she said. “You’re Brooklyn Parrish?”
“Yes, I am.” Brook found the detective’s handshake comforting somehow, warmer than she expected. Strong, confident. Brook felt immediately at ease with her.
“Come with me, please, Mrs. Parrish.” She led Brook through the door into the inner sanctum, down a hallway, and into a conference room. The detective nodded at the other people who waited by the door. “Get Marco down here. Bring me the Parrish file. And shut the door.”
Once they were alone in the room, the detective simply stared at Brook for a long time.
“Well,” she said, her face impassive. “I guess the first question is where have you been?”
“It’s a long story, Detective,” Brook began.
“I bet it is. And I can’t wait to hear it,” Detective Conroy said. “You have no idea how happy it makes me when a missing person turns up alive and well. But, on the other hand, I'm going to need some answers. How about something to drink? Coke okay?” At Brook’s nod, she picked up the phone and asked someone to bring a couple of drinks.
“Okay, I’m all ears.” The door opened and a woman brought in two cans of soda and set them on the table, staring at Brook with unabashed curiosity. From under her arm, she pulled a file which she placed into Randi’s outstretched hand. Still ogling Brook, she backed out of the conference room and closed the door behind her.
Randi handed Brook a can of cola and took one herself. The phone on the table rang and Randi picked it up, listened for a moment, and then hung up.
“My partner, Marco, is on his way in. It’ll be a little while. You’re going to get tired of telling your story before it’s all said and done. But, this first time through, just give me the basics, okay?”
Brook pulled out her drawings and spread them on the table.
“These people abducted me and held me captive.”
As Brook told her tale, Randi picked up the sketches and looked them over. She raised her eyebrows when she reached the one of Gina but made no comment.
Brook wanted to protect Lance. When she reached his part of the story, she skirted around the identity of her rescuer. She would only say she was kept safe until the weather permitted her return. Randi looked skeptical but didn’t push the issue at this point.
“You know, your husband was frantic when you disappeared. He was convinced early on that you had met with foul play. I wasn’t so sure. At least not until this young woman,” Randi tapped the sketch of Gina, “showed up on an ATM camera trying to use your credit card.”
“She did? Did you catch her?” Brook exclaimed.
“No, but we’re still looking.” She paused a moment, gathering her thoughts. “Your husband had no idea where you’d gone so he wasn’t much help at all. In fact, he was so upset we thought we might have to hospitalize him.”
He didn’t know where I’d gone? Brook felt a cold knowledge settle on her. “What did he say exactly? I mean, when he contacted you?”
“He said you had probably gone shopping but he had no idea where. We didn’t even know where to start looking. I’m telling you, the man was a basket case.” Randi didn’t seem to notice Brook’s rigid posture or frozen expression. The phone rang, and Randi took the call. When she hung up, she turned her gaze to Brook once again.
“Now, I’m sorry to make you start all over, but we need to record this. Let me get things set up and bring Marco up to speed. I promise we’ll try not to keep you too long.” Randi left Brook alone in the room. Inside, Brook’s mind was flipping switches and making connections, veering from disbelief to rage and back to disbelief again. Finally, shock descended and held her in its numbing grasp.
Randi returned with a slender young detective in tow, his dark hair neatly parted and combed, and his tanned face wearing a serious expression.
“This is Marco,” Randi said. “My partner. Marco, meet Brook Parrish.” They shook hands and Brook saw compassion in his brown eyes. Marco removed his suit jacket and draped it over the back of the chair. As he sat, he loosened his tie.
Another officer entered with a video camera and set it up on a tripod while Marco explained the process to Brook.
“Mrs. Parrish, we want to videotape your statement for the record and get as much information from you as possible so we don’t have to drag you through this too many times. I know it’s difficult, but try to relax and just answer the questions as best you can.” Brook nodded.
Somehow she made it through the next few hours. As Randi walked her to the door she gave Brook a sympathetic smile. “I know you’ve been through a horrible ordeal, and I assure you I will do everything in my power to track these monsters down. What you need to do is go home and put to rest your family’s worries. Let them know you’re safe now. We’ll be in contact.” Randi turned back into the station with a purposeful step as Brook stepped outside.