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“Gardai Siochana, ma’am, are you alone?” One of them moves into the bathroom as two more circles the room.
“Where is Daniel?” I ask. How could he leave me like this?
One of the Gardai approaches me and removes the blindfold completely. I wish they had left it on with the level of embarrassment that consumes me.
The Gardai is looking down at me, his gaze tracking my body that thank God, is covered with Daniel’s white shirt. He narrows his gaze on the blood-splattered sleeves.
“Are you hurt, ma’am?” he asks, kneeling down to have a closer inspection.
“Could you untie me?” I can barely get the words out from the embarrassment, and the door has been left open so that anyone could look in. He immediately gets to work removing the ties from my arm and legs. I pull my legs closed and clutch the shirt tightly to my chest. One of the other Gardai, this one with a funny -looking mustache, hands me a robe. I take it with one hand, and with a lot of maneuvering, I manage to get it on and closed without dropping the white shirt.
“What is going on?” I ask when I think of all the commotion in the hallway.
“You were reported missing twenty-four hours ago. Your uncle claims that Daniel O’Reagan kidnapped you.”
Shock roars through my body. “Kidnapping?” I ask.
The Gardai bends at the knees and places his hands on his thighs, and with a sympathetic look, he speaks low. “Did he rape you?”
What a fucking question. It’s like a slap in the face. Daniel raping someone would never happen.
“We need to clear out the rooms now.” A voice from the hall has the Gardai helping me to my feet.
“I need to get dressed.”
He shakes his head. A pair of slippers appear at my feet, and I look at the young Gardai with the mustache. I can’t process what’s happening as I’m led from the room. I’m surrounded by Gardai. It’s like they are trying to block me from all the curious gazes.
I’m escorted out of the building. Alarms blare from somewhere inside the building. I stop walking, and so does the circle of Gardai. “I need to find Daniel.”
They look at each other. “We need to get you off the premises.”
The shock and embarrassment are lifting, and I fold my arms across my chest. “I wasn’t kidnapped. I want to know what’s going on and why do I have to leave with you?” My heart thumps. I’ve always respected the law enforcement, but I can’t just walk away without knowing what I’m walking into.
“There is a bomb threat on this building, and everyone is being evacuated.”
“Oh, my God.” I glance back at the hotel, and sure enough, now that I calm down, I see so many people pouring out of the venue. That’s what all the commotion was outside the room. But, where the hell did Daniel go? Why did he leave me?
“Please, ma’am.” The Gardai holds open the back door, and I climb into it. The minute the door closes, the sound grows distant.
The car dips as the Gardai gets in, and the engine comes to life. As I look back at the hotel, I hope there isn’t a bomb, and if there is, that everyone gets out safely. I’m sure Daniel left with his high-profile family. I’m seething as I’m driven to the Gardai station. I feel exhausted.
“I don’t know why I’m here. I already told you; no one kidnapped me. I have no idea why I was reported missing. I would appreciate it if you could take me home.”
The Gardai turns off the engine. “We just have a few questions. It won’t take long.”
I could fight them, but they are just doing their job. I can’t believe my uncle landed me into this.
I’m brought into a small interrogation room, and I’m left alone. I fight tears as humiliation has my throat and nose burning. I hope one day I can laugh at being caught by three Gardai strapped to a bed, but something tells me I won’t because Daniel left me. He didn’t even have the decency to return and untie me.
The door opens, and I’m surprised when a female officer enters. It’s not often you see a woman in this profession.
She sits down, and she doesn’t have the warmth I’m expecting. “I have a few questions, and then you will be transported to the hospital.”
“Hospital?” I ask. This made no sense.
“You need to have an internal check.” She says it like it’s nothing.
“No one is touching me.” I fold my arms tighter over my chest.
