Chapter 18

The next afternoon Rebecca was taking pictures of a room when her phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at it. She answered it. "Hello?"

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"I'm taking pictures of a room Shelly staged for me," she said. "I didn't think I would hear from you today."

"The DA just called me. They want you to be there first thing in the morning to give your statement," Larry said.

"Oh, ok."

"I have arranged from my jet to take you down there tonight. I won't be able to go with you but I want Duane to go with you. Is that all right with you?"

"Yes, it's fine," Rebecca said.

"I'm sorry, babe. I want to be with you but I can't leave during this."

"I understand. I'll be fine," Rebecca said. "What time do I how to leave?"

"Duane will come and get you around six."

"Ok, the sooner the better. I guess."

"I wish I could be with you."

"I know. I guess I should go pack."

"Call me when you get settled in the hotel. Brian will meet you there."

"I will."

"I love you."

"I love you, too. Bye." Rebecca said then hung up. She finished taking the pictures of the room, then walked out.

Duane rang the doorbell around six. Rebecca walked over and opened the door. He followed her inside. Rebecca walked over to her bags and checked them. "I think I am ready."

"I'll take you bags for you."

"Thanks Duane," Rebecca said. Duane picked up her bags. They walked out.

Rebecca and Duane settled in on the plane as it taxied down the runway. "So, Duane, what's your story? How did you meet Larry?"

"I don't really have a story. I worked at the hotel when Mr. Newman bought it."

"So, he didn't take you out of any situation and give you a job?"

"No, I wasn't in any situation."

"That's good. Are you married?"

"Not anymore. I got divorced a long time ago, before I met Mr. Newman."

"Do you have any children?"

"No. I don't want any either." Duane said. "What about you? Do you want children someday?"

"I think so."

"Mr. Newman told me you're getting your memory back."

"Yes. I get bits and pieces. I remember parts of my college years."

"That's good."

"I suppose," Rebecca said. "There's still a lot I don't remember. I know that the pictures were mine that was found, but I don't remember taking them. I remember running and getting beat up, but I don't remember how I got there. I remember pieces of the story but not everything."

"You will remember. I have faith in you."

"Larry says the same thing," Rebecca said.

The plane landed and they taxied to the side. Brian was waiting for them when they got off the plane. They walked to the waiting car. Duane put the bags in the trunk and sat in the front seat with Brian.

Rebecca sat in the back. Brian pulled out. "I got you a room close to the station," he said. "Then you don't have the long drive in the morning."

"Will it be safe?" Duane asked.

"Yes. There will be two officers on the place and Detective Sharp is under surveillance."

"All right."

"Has he not been brought in yet?"

"No. They want your statement first."

"Does he know he's under investigation?" Duane asked.

"No. The only ones that know about this is us, the DA and his chief. My guys are keeping watch on him. They didn't feel the need to watch him so I called in my guys."

"Thanks Brian," Rebecca said.

"No problem." Brian said.

"Are they doing anything?" Duane asked.

"They launched an internal affairs investigation, but it's being kept quiet. I know this is a sensitive case, but I wish they would bring it out already."

"Hopefully tomorrow it will be brought to light," Rebecca said. "I want this over with so I can move on with my life. I don't want to be scared anymore. I don't want to be looking over my shoulder."

"I know." Brian said. "The DA wanted to wait, but I pushed for it to be tomorrow."

"I appreciate that. Even though Larry can't be here."

"I'm sorry." Brian said. "The thought of a dirty cop out on the streets is very unnerving."

"Yes, it is." Duane said.

Brian drove to the hotel. They went in through the back door and up to the room. Rebecca took her bags to the bedroom. She sat down and called Larry. She left a message that they made it there. She laid down on the bed and closed her eyes. After a little while, she got up and went into the other room. Duane was sitting on a chair watching television. Rebecca walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water.

"If you're hungry. I can call downstairs." Duane said.

"No I'm not hungry. You can get something if you want."

"I ate before we left."

"I'm going back to the bedroom. I'll see you in the morning."

"All right. Good night."

Rebecca walked back to the bedroom. She got out her laptop and sat down at the desk. She started working on it.

Rebecca woke up around 4 AM screaming. Duane ran in and shook her awake. "It's all right. You're safe," he said.

"It was just a nightmare," Rebecca said. "Sorry I woke you."

"There's no reason to apologize."

"Yes there is. I'm a wreck."

"No. You went through a traumatizing event. It's understandable. Do you want a drink?"

"A bottle of water would be good."

"All right. I'll be right back." Duane said then walked out of the room.

Rebecca turned on the light and sat up on the bed. She turned on the television and flipped through the channels. Duane come back into the room and handed her a bottle of water. Rebecca took it and took a drink. "Thanks, Duane."

"Do you need anything else?"

"No. Go back to sleep. I'll be fine."

"Call me if you need anything." Duane said then walked out.

Rebecca got up and sat down at desk with her laptop. She started typing.

Rebecca walked out of the bedroom when she heard voices. Duane and Brian were talking. She walked over to the coffee pot and poured a cup. "Morning guys."

"Morning." Brian said. "I brought breakfast. Do you want anything?"

"No, thank you."

"You should eat."

"No thanks. There's something about talking about what happened makes me nauseous. I don't think I could keep anything down."

"All right." Bran said. "Have you talked to Larry this morning?"

"Yes. He called me on the way to the office."

"Good." Brian said. "He was upset that he missed your call last night."

"His work is important though."

"Yes, it is." Brian said. "I'll be taking you down to the station, then when you are done, I will take you to the airport. So bring your bags with you."

"All right."

"I will stay here to continue the investigation." Brian said. "Unless they take it over and don't let me help."

"Hopefully he will end up in prison where he belong." Duane said.

"What time do have to be there?"

"We don't have to be the until nine."

"All right. I'm going to take a shower and get dressed."

"All right."

Rebecca walked back to the bedroom.

Rebecca gave her statement and walked into a line-up room. The DA assured her nobody could see her. Duane stood next to her as an officer led six men into the room, each one holding a number in front of them. Rebecca looked at the one holding the number three. All of a sudden, she started shaking. Duane caught her arms and sat her in a chair. A few moments went by then Rebecca raised her head and looked at the DA. "He's number three. I remember everything. I know where the rest of the documentation is that I gathered."

"Are you completely positive?" The DA asked. Rebecca nodded. "I will send an officer to collect it."

"No offense, but I would rather have someone else get it."

"That's not a problem, Miss Chandler." The DA said. She pressed a button. "Officer, escort number three to interrogation. The rest are excused."

"Duane, ask Brian to come in here," Rebecca said. Duane went to the door. Rebecca picked up a pen and paper from the table. She wrote something down. Brian came in the room. "Go here and be careful."

"Sure. I'll be back as soon as I can." Brian said.

"You said you remember more?" The DA asked. "Are you ready to put it in your testimony?"

"Yes, but can I have a few moments?"

"Of course. Would you like something to drink?"

"Water will be fine."

"I'll get you some." Duane said. He walked out of the room.

"How strong of a case do you think we have?"

"Right now, not that strong." The DA said. "The pictures and videos are circumstantial at the least. We would need witness statements, or some kind of evidence to tie him to the crimes."

"Or a confession," Rebecca said.

"Yes. As far as the attempted murder of you, that's not our jurisdiction."

"So, he will probably walk?"

"What other evidence do you have?"

"There's more pictures, some handwritten notes, and a couple of statements from people."

"We'll see what you have and finish your statement. Then we'll see what he has to say."

"All right."

Duane came back with a bottle of water. Rebecca took it and drank about half of it. They left the room and went back to the conference room.