Freaking out
1351 Words
Nathan
The police officers shove me into the van. I wince at how rough they handle my wheelchair as they carelessly force it in. I should worry about being in prison while unable to walk, but being arrested is the last thing on my mind. My Babe looks devastated. I watch her as the car takes off. She has been through too much already. I was selfish for bringing her into this. I should have refused to marry her. But then again, I would have not known how true love really looked and felt like.
It is clear to me that the two officers who arrested me are paid to teach me a lesson when they verbally and physically abuse me all the way to the police station. The punches I took on my ribs left a dull aching pains. I hope they are not broken. It’s amazing just how many people I have to sort out when all this is over.
Amari arrives at the police station a few minutes after the van. I wince and smile to mask my pain when she embraces me. I text Brian and give her my phone.
“Keep your head low. I will do everything I can to get you out,” she advices with a shaky voice. I nod while my heart melts at her concern. I have no doubt that she will do just that. I still can’t believe that she was right in front of me, and I ignored her for years.
My photos and fingerprints are processed by a different officer. He is not rude, but does not seem interested in talking to me. I only appreciate him when he hands me back to one of the officers who arrested me. This guy really hates me because he decides that my wheelchair is a hazard in the holding cell. Something about I or other prisoners can use it as a weapon. I have to crawl on my knees to get to cell and find a tough-looking guy inside. The guy is about seven feet tall, eighty kilograms and covered with tattoos. Gold teeth line up his front teeth.
My heart starts pounding when the doors close behind me. I heard horrific stories about prison and inmates. I have no doubt that Brian will get me out, but will he be fast enough?
“Hello,” I greet and portray a brave front.
He nods before approaching me. I am freaking out. Even with functional legs, I would be terrified of him.
“You are Nathan Lord,” he says, his voice taking me by surprise.
I expected cold and scary, but it’s strangely gentle. The voice is the complete opposite of his looks.
I nod my head and he smiles, revealing more gold teeth.
I hold my breath and close my eyes shut when gets closer, bends down and his hands reach out towards me. I am dead meat.
I flip my eyes open a few seconds later, utterly shocked when I find myself squeezed into a hug. This is weird.
“Thank you, man,” he says and sits on the floor next to me while I look at him confused.
“I am afraid I have no idea what you are thanking me for,” I confess.
“Nadia Lorgan. Do you know her?” he asks and I nod.
Mrs Lorgan was a caretaker of one of my mansions for about fifteen years. A very hardworking and honest woman. She lost a battle to cancer ten years ago.
“My mom,” he says and I feel like an ass for not knowing him. I guess I was very self absorbed back then.
“You were rich, but young and an orphan, yet you took care of my mom. You paid her even when she was too sick to work. I don’t care what the media says, you are my hero, man.”
I am really touched by his words.
“Thanks for saying that. Your mother was a great person.”
He smiles and I actually see Mrs Lorgan’s resemblance on him. I want to ask how he turned out like this, but I don’t want to open a can of worms.
He lets out a sigh and nods. “Yeah, she was. I lost my way when she passed. She would be ashamed of me.”
The way he says this gets to me.
“My wife says it’s never too late to be whom you are meant to be,” I say, Amari’s influence hitting me.
He laughs. “Look at me, man. I have a record and no qualifications. Do you see anyone hiring me?” he asks and tells me all about his petty theft charges.
“That depends on what you want,” I tell him and we spend the hour talking about his future plans. He has memorised my number when I am released by a very apologetic captain an hour later. I am surprised that Brian is not here, but I don’t think much of it. I am heading out of the captain’s office when he speaks.
“About your wife…”
I stop and wheel myself around to face him.
“She is…” he hesitates.
“She is what?”
He swallows his saliva and avoids my eyes. “She is missing.”
“Excuse me?” I ask, chills descending my spine.
He lets out a sigh and tells me how Amari came to speak to him. He already suspected crooked cops in his department but did not have evidence. That is why he asked her to wear a wire. The conversation between Amari, James and one officer is what led to me being released and about four officers arrested.
“I am waiting for the part where my wife is missing!” I snap. I don’t care how informative the recordings were in exposing the dirty cops in his station, he should have never exposed my wife to danger, period.
I thought I was released because Brian arranged it, but it was all my wife. Now I wonder where Brian is.
“Mr Conor’s car was not meant to be let out of the gate,” the captain says while I stare at him until he sighs and continues.
“The instruction went out to not let anyone out, but the two other officers we arrested were in charge of that,” he explains the incompetency that led to my wife being successfully abducted right under their noses.
I massage my temples, my head spinning. That bastard has Amari. My wife is sedated by some predatory creep who tends to do something to make her forget me. My heart beats like a drum while my hands get clammy. I am freaking out. Witchcraft, hypnosis and drugs are things I have heard about that can erase someone’s memory. Amari not remembering me and our love will be my worse nightmare. I don’t know when exactly this happened, but that woman is my life.
“Mr lord, I assure you that everyone is out looking for her,” the captain says, trying to assure me. All I want is my wife here and safe. There is nothing anyone can say to make me feel better.
“You have crooked cops, and you are assuring me?” I ask and he looks away. I bet he does not even know if the other cops out there are clean.
“I am so sorry, Sir. I am doing my best,” he says, but I can’t accept this.
“Well, its not enough!” I yell and wheel myself out.
All I need is a phone and I am bringing in every specialised cop unit and military personnel into this town to find my wife. Doing this will blow up my poor man cover and I will probably never find out who tried to kill me, but that’s no longer my first priority. I will turn every section of this town upside down until my wife is found.
- Writer
