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The waterworks started again. Not that I blamed her. I knew how bad a shoulder dislocation hurt and I imagined a hip was worse. Hell, one of my shoulders slipped out of joint while I was hanging in that basement. Luckily, it popped back in when I got myself down.
After he was done, he explained he would wait at the door until the exam was finished. As he opened the door to leave, I could see a couple of people standing at the door. One of them was turned so that his badge shined in the fluorescent lights.
At least they have someone ready to take our statements.
The nurses began explaining the exam to Katie. They explained that it was a long process that would take several hours and that she could pause or stop the exam at any time. They also explained that she could refuse any portions she’d like.
As they examined her, they asked for her consent for each step in the evidence collection. They explained that she was in charge of what happened with the evidence to a certain extent and even offered to remove me from the room several times if Katie wanted. She never really spoke. She just nodded and shook her head to indicate her wishes.
Watching the nurses go through the exam and the evidence collection was the stuff nightmares were made of. Katie was asked about her medical and sexual history. She just looked at me and cried.
I explained, “Katie was a virgin until a little over a month ago. She and I were last together during the early morning of the 26th.”
I smiled sadly at my girl with tears in my eyes. I answered all their questions about our sexual encounter. Date, time, acts she and I both gave and received, and whether I had used a condom. The more questions they asked, the more I felt that the beautiful experiences we shared were tainted by what came after.
How can that seem like so long ago and just yesterday, all at the same time?
As the examination went on, Katie was swabbed from head to toe, asked to pee in a cup, had her blood taken, and made to stand up next to the gurney to be photographed from every angle. Then they pulled out a black light and went over her body again, swabbing her again for the things not seen by the naked eye.
All the while, Katie remained stoic. Only speaking when she absolutely must. She signed all the consent forms and authorized the release of her medical records for the police visit. The only time she broke her stoney face demeanor was when the exam was over, and the nurses provided her with the prophylaxis medications for pregnancy and disease. They explained some of the medications could make her ill, but it was vital for her to complete them and be tested regularly afterward.
Katie looked at me, and her face crumbled. I gathered her in my arms as the nurse stood beside the gurney, holding the medication. She sobbed into my bandaged shoulder, saying sorry over and over.
I pulled back and looked at her. Brushing her hair from her face, I stated, “I love you. This is in no way your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ivy put a cup on the rolling table. “Katie, the medication is here when you need it, along with a bottle of water. The detectives are just outside the room. They would like to speak with you and Jackson. May we show them in?” She kept crying, so I nodded.
Ivy picked up the evidence collection kit and opened the door with the kit and paperwork in her hands. She spoke to the doctor and detectives there and turned the kit over to the police officer waiting to transport it to the evidence room at the station.
“Jackson?” Fiona asked.
While I watched Ivy, Fiona handed Katie a pair of scrubs and held a pair out to me. Fiona stated, “They have asked Ivy and me to photograph you as well. Would that be OK with you?”
I nodded, and the process began. Since I hadn’t been sexually assaulted, the process went much quicker. A quick black light, some photographs, a couple of signatures, and the second evidence bag was handed over to the officer at the door.
Once we were dressed and Katie had taken the medications, the detectives were shown into the room. I wrapped one arm around her and held her hand with the other, nervous as hell. Katie squeezed my hand for dear life when the female detective came in with the same shade of red hair that Michelle or, rather, Nina had.
The male detective introduced himself as Detective Tom Blanchard. Then he pointed at his partner, introducing her as Detective Sheryl Whitt. He asked if he could call us Katie andJackson, and we agreed. Then Detective Whitt stepped closer to the bed. I started trembling, and Katie recoiled into my arms even more.
Noticing our reactions, Detective Blanchard asked, “Is there a problem?”
Katie whimpered, so I explained. “Detective Whitt resembles the woman who was the mastermind behind our abduction and torture.”
Detective Whitt asked, “Would you both be more comfortable if I stepped out?”
Kaite whispered, “Yes.”
I didn’t know if she was aware she said it. Her vacant gaze was fixed on the female detective.
The detective left but sent in Dr. Cole.
Detective Blanchard sat in the chair Dr. Cole first sat in hours ago. He said, “Dr. Cole tells me you both refuse to be separated.” When we both nodded, he offered, “It would be best to interview you separately. Since Katie is uncomfortable with Detective Whitt, I can interview Katie, and Detective Whitt could interview you, Jackson.”
Katie shook her head almost violently against my chest, so I said, “Considering the injuries I sustained during our abduction were inflicted almost entirely by the woman Detective Whitt resembles, that is just not going to work. You can interview us together or not at all.”
Resigned, Detective Blanchard asked, “Can you tell me what happened to you both?”
Over the next hour, we recounted what we could remember of the attack, abduction, and assault. The detective asked question after question. When he started repeating questions, I finally put a stop to the interview. He tried to continue, threatening me with obstruction. I stood up and said, “Enough. We will not answer another question until we’ve had the chance to contact our families. Especially Katie’s father, the Chief of Police in Seattle.”
