My heart was racing in my chest. Now I knew where AJ had gone while I was asleep….
I couldn’t think straight. “He’s not…I mean, you’re not gonna….he won’t have to go to jail or anything, right? I mean…if he’s even the one who did this?”
“Calm down, Ms. Kelley. As of right now, I’d just like to have a talk with him to find out what went on. Like you said, we don’t even know if he’s responsible. I’m just following protocol. Mr. Martin was pretty bad off when we got there. However, I believe whoever did this wanted someone to find him and call the police.”
I started doing a tailspin. What if he got in trouble because of me? If he went to jail trying to protect me, I’d – The feel of Detective Jimenez’s hand on mine brought my gaze to hers. “And between the four of us…if Anthony or whomever did this for the reason that I think he did it…I’m not interested in reaming him. However, there are some questions that I need answered.”
That calmed me a little.
Detective Jimenez needed a few more details from me about that night, and then we were free to go. My father drove us back to the hotel and I sat on the bed while the two of them rested at the table.
I still hadn’t wrapped my head around the news about Antonio. I tried to imagine all the built up animosity between him and AJ coming to a head during that one epic collision that landed Antonio in the hospital. It dawned on me that AJ didn’t have a single scratch on him.
“Well…I for one pray all the police station gives AJ for what he did is an award,” my father said, pacing in front of the window.
My mother came to sit beside me, placing he hand on mine. “Do you think you should maybe try to call him to let him know that the police are interested in speaking to him?”
Yes…I should, but after that argument, he probably wouldn’t answer. Still, I tried. When he sent me to voicemail almost instantly, I hung up and just shot him a text – two of them actually. The first gave him the basic information he’d need and a summary of what the detective told me. The second, simply read, ”And thank you…”
That night, my parents stayed in the room with me, relieving Terrell and Maisha of their duties. None of us really slept, but that gave us time to talk. I finally told them that AJ and I had been broken up for months, but didn’t say why. Their next thought was that I shouldn’t be here alone, suggesting that I return to Fairfax with them. When I explained that I didn’t feel like being the topic of local gossip, they understood.
“We could just move,” my father suggested.
“Dad, no. Your practice is in Fairfax. Mom, you’ve been at your school for almost fifteen years. I’m not letting you guys uproot your entire lives for me.”
“That’s our jobs as your parents,” my mother reasoned. “We don’t want you out here on your own.”
I nodded in agreement. “I don’t wanna be here at Charleston either.”
My mother frowned. “Then where would you go?”
I fidgeted with my nails because the thought had only occurred to me an hour before. They may or may not go for it.
“I wanna stay with Aunt Lisa and Uncle Todd. I could transfer to Angel’s school and finish my program there. And it’s not like I’d be on my own.”
My mother clearly didn’t like the idea.
“Staying here and going home aren’t an option,” I added.
“Lisa and Todd would look out for her,” my father stated with a sigh.
“I can call them in the morning and see what they say. If they don’t mind, I could be moved in a week or less.”
Mom shook her head. “I still say we need to get through this time as a family.”
“They’re family,” I reasoned.
She swayed back and forth while she thought. Her expression eventually softened. “We’ll call in the morning.”
I felt relieved knowing that I may have somewhere other than here that I could go after all.
“But…don’t you think New York is a big city for you?” Mom asked.