Chapter 62 RAGE 3
“What? What are you guys talking about? You were all in on this. Why are you suddenly counting him out of it?” I barked at the four boys who were now practically denying ever knowing Gary.
“We said we don’t know him. We only took the lady to that house because we just wanted to have fun with her, and she came on her own will,” the one with the damp blond hair said, glaring at me as if I were the one lying.
I stared back at him, a slow, unimpressed smirk forming on my face.
He was lying. I could see it in the way his eyes flickered, in the way his jaw tightened just a little too hard. I tried as much as possible to keep the fact that I was a detective hidden, just like Jaxon had warned me, but these four were pushing me beyond my limits. They were clearly trying to deny Gary’s involvement so his charges would be dropped and he would walk free.
My eyes shifted toward Gary. He was already staring at me, as if he had been waiting for my gaze to meet his. A sly, mocking smile curved across his lips as he casually shrugged his shoulders, like this entire situation was nothing but a game to him.
My fists clenched instantly.
“Mr. Hushman, may I ask what you were doing at Block 56 of that estate around the time Miss Carter was there with these four and Miss Zoe?” the detective seated across from us asked. His reading glasses rested neatly on the bridge of his nose as he peered over them.
“I only rushed in when I heard noise,” Gary replied smoothly. “I thought someone was being attacked. All I wanted was to help, but Miss Carter here mistook me for a criminal and knocked me out before I could even explain.”
His sluggish gaze slid toward me, that same irritating smile still plastered on his face—one I desperately wanted to wipe off with my bare hands.
“You rushed in to help?” I snapped, my teeth grinding together. “You were already fucking inside the building before we even arrived, and I fucking saw you at the party loading Miss Zoe into the back of your truck!”
My voice trembled with barely restrained fury.
“Miss Carter, let’s restrain ourselves from making accusations we don’t have evidence to support,” the detective said calmly. “If you are making claims against Mr. Hushman, then you must provide proof.”
That statement made my frustration boil over.
“Oh please, don’t tell me what I fucking know,” I spat. “I know a criminal when I see one, and that man is far worse than just one.”
My voice rose uncontrollably as anger consumed every inch of me. I slammed my bare foot against the floor in frustration.
Pain shot sharply through my knee, forcing me to recoil. I sucked in a sharp breath, suddenly remembering I was still barefoot after tossing my heels aside with Jaxon earlier.
The thought of him only made my anger spike further.
We were two witnesses… yet here I was, sitting alone, carrying this entire mess on my shoulders.
“Instead of sitting here and getting angry, Miss Carter, why don’t you provide evidence if you truly want Mr. Hushman arrested?” the detective continued. “Once we are able to hear from the victim, we will determine whether he is guilty or not.”
I could only glare at him, rage and helplessness twisting painfully inside my chest. I ran my fingers roughly through my hair, trying to steady my breathing as frustration threatened to suffocate me.
All I could do was watch as the four boys were taken away and locked up…
…while Gary remained merely detained.
And the worst part?
He was still smiling.
I sat in the chair, feeling completely devastated. My last chance of getting Gary exactly where I wanted him was Zoe. If she could give a statement against him, then he would be locked up, and further investigation could finally be carried out.
I wanted—so badly—to provide that video. The one of him dragging Mia to the car… the same one connected to Ravyn Vale. The evidence was right there, practically burning in my pocket, begging to be used.
But somewhere in the back of my mind, Jaxon’s voice echoed relentlessly, warning me about the danger. Warning me about consequences I might not be ready for.
And against every instinct screaming inside me, I decided not to use it.
Showing that video wouldn’t just expose them. It would expose me too. It would reveal that I was a cop… and worse, that I was secretly working the Ravyn Vale case. A case that was already drowning in shadows and blood.
Frustration swallowed me whole. It pressed against my chest so tightly it felt like I was about to lose my mind.
The sharp ringing of my phone jolted me out of my spiraling thoughts. I quickly excused myself and answered the call.
It was the hospital.
Zoe was awake.
My heart leapt violently against my ribs. I didn’t hesitate—not even for a second. I rushed outside and flagged down a taxi, urging the driver to move faster than the traffic would allow.
By the time I reached the hospital, my nerves were stretched thin with desperation and hope battling inside me.
I rushed toward the front desk, my breathing uneven as I approached the receptionist.
“I’m here for the girl—Zoe—who was brought in earlier as an emergency,” I said quickly, struggling to steady my breath.
“Are you her guardian?” she asked calmly.
“Yes… I am,” I replied without thinking twice.
“Take the stairs to the second floor. You’ll find the doctor’s office down the hallway. She’s waiting for you,” the nurse instructed.
“Thank you,” I muttered quickly before dashing toward the stairs.
My legs burned as I climbed, but I barely felt it. My mind was racing with a thousand thoughts, all tangled with fear over what Zoe might say… or worse, what she might refuse to say.
When I reached the doctor’s office, she ushered me inside almost immediately.
“Miss Carter, right?” she asked gently, gesturing toward the chair across from her desk.
“Yes,” I replied quickly, sitting down but leaning forward anxiously. “I’m here for Zoe. Please tell me she’s okay.”
“Fortunately, she is,” the doctor said, offering me a reassuring smile. “Apart from a few cuts on her face and bruising along her lower abdomen, she’s stable. Thankfully, there was no internal bleeding to her head or any other part of her body that could have put her life in danger.”
The tight knot in my chest loosened slightly, though my hands were still trembling in my lap.
“She may need to stay here for a few days before being discharged,” the doctor continued. “We want to monitor her closely for any delayed complications, although I doubt any will occur. What she really needs right now is proper food and rest.”
She paused, studying me carefully.
“Do you think you can arrange that for her?”
I nodded immediately, relief and determination rushing through me all at once.
“Yes,” I said firmly. “I can.”
“Any specific food I should order for her?” I asked, but she shook her head.
“Any food is fine, as long as it’s healthy.”
I nodded as she stood, her report chart held firmly in her hands. “There’s a restaurant right across from us. You could go there and order something for her.”
“Thank you, doctor. But… can I see her before I go?”
“Yes. I’ll show you to her room.”
With that, I followed her back to the first floor. She led me down the quiet hallway before stopping in front of Zoe’s room. After pointing it out, she excused herself, explaining she had other patients to attend to, and left.