Chapter 59 Not Afraid
CAITLYN'S POV
"Because I have been there," Jason said. "After my dad died, I had nightmares for months, I kept seeing him get shot over and over, but eventually it got better. The memories are still there but they do not control me anymore."
"I want that," I said. "I want to not be controlled by what happened to me."
"You will get there," Jason said. "I promise."
Rourke came back into the room. He had coffee and he looked tired.
"How is she?" he asked Jason.
"Good," Jason said. "Doctor says the baby is fine."
"That is good news," Rourke said. He turned to me. "I need to ask you some questions about Corvin and about his organization. Things that will help us build the case."
"Now?" Jason asked. "She just went through hell."
"I know," Rourke said. "But the sooner we get her statement the better. While everything is fresh in her mind."
"It is okay," I said to Jason. "I want to do this. I want to make sure Corvin stays in prison."
Rourke pulled out a recorder and a notepad. "Start from the beginning. When did you first realize Corvin was involved in criminal activity?"
I took a deep breath and started talking. I told him everything, about how Corvin killed my father, the guns and drugs and money laundering, the people he hurt, and the businesses he destroyed. About how he controlled me and threatened me and made my life a nightmare.
Rourke took notes and asked questions. He wanted details about dates and times and names. I answered everything I could remember.
"This is good," Rourke said after an hour. "This is really good. With your testimony and the evidence we already have there is no way Corvin walks."
"What about his lawyers?" I asked. "He has good lawyers."
"Even the best lawyers cannot fight facts," Rourke said. "And we have facts. Lots of them."
"So what happens next?" I asked.
"You rest and recover," Rourke said. "I have finished processing the case. In a few weeks, you will be called to give a deposition. Then eventually you will testify at trial."
"And until then?" I asked.
"Until then you live your life," Rourke said. "You have the baby and stay safe. You try to move forward."
"Easier said than done," I said.
"I know," Rourke said. "But you are strong Caitlyn, stronger than you think. You survived Corvin Hayes, you can survive anything."
Doctor Patel released me from the hospital that afternoon. She gave me instructions to rest and avoid stress and come back if I had any problems. I promised I would even though I knew stress was impossible to avoid right now.
Jason drove me to his place. It was a small apartment above a bar that his crew owned. It was not fancy but clean and safe.
"Sorry it is not much," Jason said as we walked up the stairs.
"It is perfect," I said. And I meant it. After living in Corvin's mansion with all its cameras and guards and locked doors this small apartment felt like freedom.
Inside, there was a living room with a couch and a TV. A tiny kitchen, one bedroom, and bathroom. Everything I needed and nothing I did not.
"You can have the bedroom," Jason said. "I will take the couch."
"We can share the bed," I said. "It is big enough for both of us."
Jason looked surprised. "Are you sure?"
"I am sure," I said. "I do not want to be alone right now."
"Okay," Jason said. "Whatever you need."
I sat on the couch and Jason brought me water. My body felt heavy like I could sleep for days.
"You should eat something," Jason said. "When was the last time you ate?"
I tried to remember. "Yesterday at dinner with Corvin."
"That was over twenty-four hours ago," Jason said. "No wonder you look exhausted. I will make you something."
He went into the kitchen and started cooking. I could hear him moving around, opening cabinets. The sound of a pan on the stove. Normal domestic sounds that made me feel safe.
My phone rang and I jumped. It was a number I did not recognize.
"Hello?" I answered carefully.
"Mrs Hayes?" a woman's voice said.
"Who is this?" I asked.
"My name is Patricia Nolan. I am a reporter with the Tribune. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about your husband's arrest."
"No comment," I said and hung up.
The phone rang again immediately. It was a different number. I did not answer.
Jason came back with a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. "Who was that?"
"Reporters," I said. "They already found my number."
"Give me your phone," Jason said. I handed it to him and he turned it off. "You do not need to talk to anyone right now. Just focus on taking care of yourself."
I ate the eggs slowly. They tasted good, I finally had real food made by someone who cared about me. Not fancy restaurant food or Mrs Chen's cooking that Corvin ordered. Just simple eggs made with love.
"Thank you," I said.
"For what?" Jason asked.
"For everything," I said. "For coming to get me, for bringing me here, for feeding me and not giving up on me."
"I will never give up on you," Jason said. "You and the baby are my family now."
Family. I had not had a real family since my parents died and now here was Jason offering me that. Offering me a future.
"What are we going to do?" I asked. "About money, about living and everything."
"We will figure it out," Jason said. "I have some money saved and the crew takes care of each other. We will be okay."
"But the baby," I said. "Babies are expensive. Diapers and formula and clothes and doctor visits. How are we going to afford all that?"
"One day at a time," Jason said. "We will take it one day at a time."
There was a knock at the door and we both froze. Jason got up and looked through the peephole.
"It is Marcus," he said and opened the door.
Rourke came in carrying a bag. "I brought you some things. Figured you did not have anything since you left in a hurry."
"Thank you," I said. I looked in the bag. There were maternity clothes in my size, shampoo, and soap. A baby book, he had thought of everything.
"How did you know my size?" I asked.
"I asked the doctor," Rourke said. "Figured you would need clothes that fit."
"This is really nice of you," I said.
"It is the least I can do," Rourke said. "After everything you did to help me catch Hayes."
"Is he still in jail?" I asked.
"Yes," Rourke said. "And he will be for a long time. The judge denied bail, said he was a flight risk and a danger to the community."
"Good," I said.
"There is something else," Rourke said. "His lawyers are already filing motions, trying to get the charges reduced. Trying to discredit you as a witness."
"How can they discredit me?" I asked. "Everything I said was true."
"They are going to argue you were coerced," Rourke said. "That you made up stories to escape an unhappy marriage. That you cannot be trusted."
"But that is not true," I said.
"I know it is not true," Rourke said. "And the jury will know it is not true once they hear all the evidence but I wanted to warn you. The trial is going to be ugly, they are going to try to destroy your credibility."
"Let them try," I said. "I am not afraid anymore."