McKinley Park

McKinley Park Chapter 21

August 12, 2019 by jackiecthomas 2 Comments

Rachel fell asleep, snuggled up in Ben’s arms. Her eyes burnt from crying and she had intended only to close them for a moment, but slipped into slumber. She slept deeply, feeling like a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She felt safe in Ben’s arms. He held her happily as he listened to her, breathing softly. He didn’t want to let her go. The early afternoon sun beamed into the bedroom, warming the room with its slopped Cape Cod-style ceilings.

Ben nodded off himself and woke to the noise of his phone, buzzing in his pocket. He tried to fish his phone out of his pocket without waking Rachel. He managed to grab it and answer it just before it went to voicemail.

“Hello,” Ben answered softly, not to wake Rachel.

“We got em. We got that son of a bitch. Smug fucking asshole thought we wouldn’t get him. I called Callie Carlson and asked her to come down to be here to I.D. him, its a match. Serena is on her way to ID, and we have a warrant for DNA. His lawyer is on his way. Man, you should have seen the look on Rhett Lawson’s face when we barged into his office. Derek was sitting in Rhett’s office. I thought Rhett was going to shit himself. One of the guys has got to have bodycam footage of it.”

“That is great news. Thanks for keeping me in the loop.”

“Hey, how’s Rachel?”

“Sleeping right now.”

“I don’t want to pry but can you connect the dots for me?”

“I can’t really right now, and not without her permission, but eventually, I hope so.”

“It didn’t happen recently, did it?”

“No, a while ago.”

Rachel stirred from her slumber at the sound of Ben’s voice. She looked up at him, only half awake, and then buried her head back in the crook of his shoulder.

“Well, I will keep you in the loop. I know what you have going on there is really important, but you should try to make the press conference if this is for sure our guy. We should know in a few hours.”

“I’ll have to let you know.”

“Ben, this is the collar of our careers. We’ve been looking for this animal for months now.”

“I’ll try.”

Ben hung up his phone. As much as he wanted to be there, to finally celebrate in catching the man, he wanted to be with Rachel more. He knew six months ago, nothing would have kept him from hauling the criminal in, himself, but Rachel had changed all of that. He reached down and stroked her hair as she rolled over. Ben pulled the blanket up over and snuggled up next to her, careful not to press his body too hard into hers. Awkwardly, he put his arm on his side; he didn’t want to make Rachel uncomfortable by holding her, he wanted her to rest. She reached out and grabbed his arm and pulled it around her.

“No more.” She murmured.

They slept for most of the afternoon cuddled up together. Ben’s phone rang again, and he rolled over to answer it looking at the time on the screen, it was 2 pm.

“It’s for sure him! The DNA matches, we got him, Ben!”

Ben exhaled louder than he had intended.

“Thank God. What’s the D.A. thinking? Any word from him yet?”

“I think he’s going to go for the max, life without parole.”

“Good. That monster should never be on the street.”

“Agreed. Hey, the Chief is calling a press conference at 4. You really should be here. He wants you here when he makes the statement.”

“Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”

“He wasn’t asking, neither am I. I know Rachel is important, but this is too. We’ve worked hard for this.”

Rachel rolled over, having overheard the conversation. She reached out for the phone, grabbing it gently.

“Hi Marty, he’ll be there. He isn’t going to miss this. I won’t let him. So you really got him, Derek, I mean?”

“Yes, he will never be a free man again.”

Rachel handed Ben back the phone, unsure of what to respond. Ben finished his call and hung up the phone, setting it on the nightstand. Rachel snuggled back up to him.

“Do you remember the first morning you accidentally stayed? You said to me, waking up next to me was your most favorite thing on Earth, well I think this is mine. Just laying next to you in bed.”

Ben smelled and leaned down and kissed her.

Two hours later the Chief announced in front of all of the Chicago press that The South Side Strangler had been caught. Rachel declined to come, knowing it would be too much for her. Ben stood proudly next to Marty, as they were both commended for their work. Ben was grateful when to step out of the glare of the bright lights for the t.v. cameras. He wanted to get back to Rachel.

On his way back to his desk, he walked past the cell that held Derek. He locked eyes with the man he had been hunting, seeing Derek’s carnage and brutality. Marty patted Ben on the shoulder as they kept walking past. Before Ben stepped into their office, he turned back around; he wanted to look at Derek.

“Hey man, don’t rip him limb to limb,” Marty said cautiously.

“I just want another look at him.”

“Yeah me too, with Calle’s pipe wrench in my hand.”

Ben walked back into the room where Derek sat in his own cell, still in his collared shirt. His tie and belt had been taken. Derek did not look like a serial rapist and killer. He was clean-shaven, with deep brown eyes and sharp jawline. He was handsome, not the sort of man who was pure evil incarnate. Ben starred through the bars; he couldn’t help himself.

“What?” Derek asked.

Ben stayed quiet.

“What are you looking at, man?” Derek asked again.

Ben looked at Derek’s hand; his left hand had a scar on the ring finger in the shape of an oval. The back of Rachel’s legs flashed through his mind. Ben grabbed ahold of the building rage inside of himself.

“Whatever, man.” Derek turned away.

Ben walked back to his office and sat, although he hadn’t said anything to Derek, he had wanted to say so much, not just for Rachel but for all of the women Derek had hurt. Ben knew that there were no words to make that kind of hurt right, nor was it his place to try. Marty popped his head back into their office.

“Guess who’s here to try to post bail?”

“Don’t’ tell me, Rhett?”

“No, it’s his dad.”

“Andrew Lawson?”

“Yeah, he’s pissed. He’d better watch it, or he’ll end up in the cell right next to Derek.”

Ben stood up and walked out over to the counter where Andrew stood red in the face.

“Is this you? Did you do this?” Andrew asked Ben.

“No, Mr. Lawson. Derek did this to himself. I am not the district attorney. There is no way Derek will ever walk free again.”

“We’ll see about that. I take care of my own.”

“Like you took care of Rachel? You and your creep of a son. You two belong in there with him.”

“What did you just say to me?”

“You heard me. You are all fucking animals.”

Ben walked away and back towards Derek’s cell. It was empty. Panic stabbed through Ben as he jogged to the interrogation room. Relieved, he saw the district attorney, along with Derek’s attorney in the room. Marty walked up and looked into the room through the two-way mirror. Marty switched on the audio so they could hear the exchange.

“Full cooperation and we won’t seek the death penalty. Life in prison without parole, that’s our offer.” The district attorney said as he slid the paperwork across the table towards the attorney.

“How long is to offer good for?”

“Until 9 am. Tomorrow morning.”

“We’ll discuss it. Thank you, Ken.”

The D.A. stood up and walked out of the room. He saw Ben and Marty standing outside watching.

“Good work, guys.”

The D.A. walked away as Derek’s attorney came out of the room looking for him.

“Hey Ken, wait. I want to talk to you for a second.” Derek’s lawyer said as he caught up.

Ben walked into the room, not quite sure why. There was something to be said, but he wasn’t sure what, and he wasn’t sure if he could say it without doing bodily harm to Derek.

“Why?” Ben asked rhetorically, knowing that Derek probably didn’t know the answer himself.

“What?”

“Why?” Ben repeated.

“Because I could. Because they belonged to me.”

“Belonged to you? People don’t own people.”

“Oh but they do, Mr. Carter, I am guessing. Am I right, you are Ben Carter, the guy who’s banging Rhett’s ex. My hat’s off to you sir, that is one fine piece of ass, or at least it was until I got to her. Like my handy work? She’s mine, always will be. I branded her. Rhett’s the only reason she is not face down in the canal like the trash that she is.”

Ben could feel his insides shaking with rage.

“I may not be ever able to see her again, but she will see me every time she closes her eyes. She will think of me every day. I own her. She can never be yours, not fully.”

“ That’s where you are wrong, she will stop thinking of you every day, over time. Sure, you will never fade away completely, but you will fade. You don’t control her life, not anymore.”

“You don’t get it; she belongs to me, they all did. They were mine to do as I wished. Rachel was my first. Do you know what it is like to have free will over another human being like that? Mmmmmm…. Turns me on just thinking about it.”

Ben turned to walk out.

“Thinking of Rachel’s face twisted in pain, so beautiful. Her pleading for me to stop, willing to do anything for me, to please me. I’ve done things to her you could only dream of.”

Ben turned around and lept across the table, taking Derek down to the floor. He hit him as many times as he could in the face before Marty got to Ben and pulled him off.

Derek sat up and spat blood on the floor as he began to laugh.

“See, felt good, didn’t it?”

“Come on man; this asshole is going to get to know what getting rapped every day is like, where he’s going. A pretty boy like that…” Marty said, trying to calm Ben.

Meanwhile, two officers that had followed Marty in, had hauled Derek up to his feet to take him back to his cell. The chief walked in, seeing Ben’s hand dripping blood from his knuckles.

“Everyone out, Carter, you stay.”

The room cleared out and the door shut, leaving only the chief and Ben in the interrogation room.

“Feel better?” The chief asked.

“Not really. Sorry, I know better.”

“Marty says, that animal hurt your girl. Is that true?”

“Yes. I know I shouldn’t have…”

The chief raised his hand, and Ben stopped mid-sentence.

“Law and order only work if we all stick by a strict code of ethics and strive to uphold them. As much as we would love to take justice into our own hands, we don’t. I know I don’t have to tell you this. I also know that if that animal had hurt my Debra, I would have done the same thing or worse. Good job, not knocking any teeth out, I don’t want to have to explain it to the judge.

Ben, you know I have to ask, what happened that you put the pieces together? We have been searching for this guy for months, then one morning you call and give his name?”

“He branded her, Rachel. I didn’t see it until this morning. I mean, she had not shown me.”

The chief’s face looked distressed.

“I’m sorry, Ben. It must have taken a lot for her to show you.”

“It did.”

“Is she okay, or is she going to be okay?”

“In time, I hope so.”

“This didn’t happen recently, did it?”

“No, a few years back.”

“Well I understand if she doesn’t want to, but her testimony and physical evidence will only help the case if she’s willing.”

“I don’t think she’ll want to do that, but I’ll mention it to her.”

“In the meantime, why don’t you take a few days off, take her somewhere. His face is going to be everywhere, and that will be difficult for her.”

“Good idea.”

“Thanks for not knocking that asshole’s teeth out, saved me a shit ton of paperwork.”

McKinley Park Chapter 20

August 1, 2019 by jackiecthomas 1 Comment

Rachel’s boys loved that Ben dropped them off for school. They were especially excited at the prospect of riding in his unmarked squad car. Their excitement was quickly dashed, when Ben told them Marty had his car and they’d be going in Rachel’s van. On the ride home, he called Marty, who was less than thrilled about Ben’s absence for the day but understood the magnitude of what was happening. Ben pulled into the driveway, promising himself that he and Rachel would be car shopping before the end of the week. He wanted to drive that van, off a cliff.

He walked into the house and found Rachel sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. There was a box of tissues on the table, her eyes puffy and red from crying. Ben came and sat down next to her. He pulled her closer to him, and she rested her head on his shoulder.

“The boys are safely deposited at school. What do you say, we go back upstairs and get some rest? Do you think you could sleep for a bit?”

“Ben, I have to show you something.” She looked him in the eye as she said it.

“Okay.” He said nervously.

She stood up and walked around to the other side of him where there was more room in the small kitchen. She turned her back to him and let her robe drop to the floor. She reached behind her and slowly pulled up her nightgown. Ben thought he was going to vomit; he had seen those marks before. There had to be at least a dozen burnt-in brands on the back of her upper thighs and butt. Rachel held her nightgown up but said nothing. They were the same brands on all of the victims of the South Side Strangler.

“Rachel,” he tried to say as calmly as he could, “you have to tell me where got those burns?”

Ben stood up and slowly walked around to face Rachel.

“Derrik Hall, he’s the friend of Rhett’s that I was talking about last night. He is the devil, Ben. He did this, Rhett sat there and watched him do this.” Rachel sobbed. “This is why I don’t like to have the lights on; I didn’t want anyone to know.”

Ben wrapped his arms tightly around her as she slowly moved to the kitchen floor. She was so upset she couldn’t stand. He helped her down as she sat on the floor and cried. Ben knew Derrik Hall had to be the name of the perp. He needed to know more, but Rachel was so fragile. He held her and stayed quiet as long as he could.

“Rachel, honey, what does Derrik look like?”

“What? Why do you want to know what he looks like? How that important in any way?”

“I have seen that brand before. Rachel, what does he look like? Honey, this is important.”

“He works with Rhett. He is our age. Maybe a little over six feet tall, white, thin.”

“What color is his hair?”

“It is dark blonde.”

Ben thought he was going to vomit again. He stood up and pulled out his phone. As it rang, Rachel stood, alarmed.

“Ben, no, you promised, you can’t tell anyone! No please.”

Ben pulled the phone away from his ear.

“Rachel, the man that has been leaving dead women all of over the city has been branding them with the same brand in the same spot. I would know it anywhere.”

The phone continued to ring. Ben put it on speakerphone as he searched through his photos for the artist rendering of the suspect.

“Is this him?”

Ben knew by the look on her face that it was. The call went to voicemail.

“Ben I don’t want to be involved in this, I don’t want my boys to know. Please.”

Ben redialed Marty’s cell. It rang two times before he picked up.

“Hey man, I’m in the evidence locker, can I call you right back?”

“The guy’s name is Derrik Hall. He works with Rhett Lawson.”

“What? What guy?”

“The guy, our guy!”

“Wait, how do you know this? It is a long story. I have a positive i.d. from one of his victims.”

“Who are you interview…” Marty stopped mid-sentence. “Rachel?”

“Yes.”

“Holy shit! We got him! Are you coming in for the collar?”

“No, I need to be here. Call me when you have him.”

Rachel got up and walked out of the room as Ben finished his conversation as quickly as he could. Marty would keep him informed of any updates. He climbed the stairs, knowing Rachel was in bad shape. He walked into the bedroom and saw her curled up on the bed. She looked so small and fragile in the bed by herself; it broke his heart. Ben walked around the bed and knelt down beside her.

“Rachel, honey. I am sorry I had to call it in. I know how hard this was for you. You have saved a lot of lives this morning and gave justice to others that weren’t so lucky. Can you tell me how and when this happened? Please, it is really important.”

Ben noticed she had begun to tremble from the adrenaline of reliving the trauma. He stroked the side of her face.

“Honey, look at me, you are safe. I promise nothing will hurt you anymore. I think you are the strongest woman I have ever met.”

“Will you lay next to me?”

Ben kissed her cheek and came around and got in bed next to her. He thought she would roll over, but she didn’t.

“I want you to hold me from behind.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I don’t want that to be taken away from me anymore. This has taken away enough in my life.”

Ben scooted up behind her but didn’t press his body against hers; he wanted his touch to be gentle. He draped his arm over her but did not hold her tightly. He felt her body tense.

“I love you and am so incredibly proud of you.” He said softly.

She laid like that as long as her body would allow until she rolled over to face him. She took a deep breath.

“I am going to try to tell you the whole story. I am not sure if I can, I’ve never told anyone all of it.” She reached for Ben’s hand, and he grabbed it gently.

“After the first time with Derrik, I wanted to leave Rhett. I didn’t know what to do. I had pushed everyone away by that point. My own parent’s wanted me to leave Rhett; when I refused, they stopped speaking to me. They didn’t know about the abuse; they just knew I wasn’t myself. Even my relationship with Becky was strained. I didn’t have anyone to turn to, so I went to Rhett’s mother again. She called me a dirty whore and told me to get out of her house. She thought I was having an affair, and making up some wild story to cover my tracks.

After that first time, Rhett was different. He was happy like I said, he was the man I had married. It lasted for about six months. I was dumb enough to think it would last. I was very careful not to drink and to stay aware, even though things were back to normal, part of me knew. I was so stupid. Derrik came back at; first, he just hung around the house with Rhett after work and on weekends. I told Rhett I didn’t want him in our home, Rhett ignored me.

One evening I came home from shopping. I had left the boys with Rhett for the afternoon. When I got home, he told me his mom had the kids. I knew something wasn’t right; my mother-in-law never looked after my kids. When I saw Derrik walk out of our kitchen, it sunk in, what Rhett had planned. I never consented, I fought him. Rhett just walked out of the room.” Rachel sobbed. “ I just couldn’t understand how my husband, the man I loved, who I had children with, could be okay with all of it. The next day when I went to pick up the kids, I talked to Rhett’s father. I needed help; I wanted my marriage to work for the boys’ sake. I told him I was going to have to leave if it didn’t stop and he promised me that things would get better. Andrew was always a stern man; I believed him. He talked to Rhett, and it stopped completely, but Rhett was so unhappy and violent.

One night Rhett sat me down and told me he needed me to be with Derrik. He said he could limit to maybe once or twice a year, as messed up as it sounds, Rhett spun it as if it was just sex I… Derek was a very violent man. I imagine it would be what having sex with the devil would be like. I thought Rhett was nuts, we both were, but I still felt that we could fix our marriage. I was so delusional. The last time Derrik came by I ended up with some of these. I didn’t scream; I didn’t want to wake the boys. I remember thinking, that it could not last forever by Monday, they would both be at work, and I would take the boys and disappear, start a new life.

The day I tried to leave, we got into the car, Tommy was three. I had Evan in his car seat, and as I loaded the car, Tommy vomited everywhere. He came down with a bug. I brought both boys in and cleaned Tommy up, but it was clear that I was going to have to leave the next day. That night, Rhett brought Derrik home with him again, I fought. I screamed, I knew I would wake the boys, but I also knew I couldn’t live through that again. A neighbor heard me screaming and called the police. I was so beat up that the cop wrote it as domestic assault. He took Rhett to jail. I kept trying to explain that there was another man in the house, but the cop didn’t believe me. Rhett told the police I was crazy and they believed him. They searched the house but didn’t find Derek. The police said I was confused. When he took Rhett, he left Derek hiding in the house. That night I thought I was going to die, I learned Rhett had kept Derek in check.

The next morning Andrew brought Rhett home. He found Derek in the house and put an end to it. I was so out of it; I don’t remember a whole lot of it. I complied because I was terrified for the boys. Andrew had a doctor come to the house for me. Andrew came over a few days later and told me if I stayed with Rhett, that we would never see Derek again. I didn’t believe him this time. I tried to leave twice after that; Andrew found me each time. Rhett didn’t seem to care about our marriage until I disappeared. He didn’t want to be married to me if I wasn’t willing to do what he wanted.

I turned up pregnant with Luke, and Rhett didn’t want him. He thought Luke was Derek’s son. I honestly can’t say.”

Ben was speechless. He pulled her in closer as tears ran down his cheeks.

“I left a month after Luke was born. I went to Becky and told her that Rhett had been hitting me. She and her husband, Jack, me get out. By that time, I made a will and wrote down all of the abuse and put it in a safety deposit box. I wanted Becky to have the boys if something happened to me. Andrew tried to scare me, but at that point, I didn’t scare so easily. I had looked into the eyes of the devil. I knew if Andrew killed me, my boys would be safe away from Rhett. “

Ben held Rachel in bed. Neither of them said anything for a while; the noise of their breathing was the only sound that filled the sunny bedroom. Rachel propped herself up and turned to look at Ben.

“Ben, I know this is a lot. If you don’t…”

Ben sat up before she finished.

“Do not even finish that sentence. Rachel, I love you, there is nothing that would change that. I think I love you more today than I did yesterday, and I will love you more tomorrow… We can’t change what happened to us in our past, but we choose how our future goes. Look at you, raising your three boys; you are a fantastic mother to them. Rachel, I think you are the strongest woman I have ever met.”

Ben leaned in and kissed her on the lips softly. He pulled away and caressed her cheek. She grabbed his hand and pressed a kiss into his palm.

“Do you remember you once asked me why I became a detective?”

Rachel nodded.

“I didn’t give you the full answer to that question at the time, because it didn’t feel appropriate. My mother is the reason I became a detective. She was attacked one night coming home from the grocery store. I was little, maybe seven. She was alone, and a man grabbed her. My dad couldn’t handle it, and it made him crazy that someone had hurt her. You know, I am sure she hurt, but she never showed it to me or my older brother Joel. You remind me a lot of her. That is why I became a detective, to get guys like Derek and the guy who attacked my mom off of the street.”

“Ben, I don’t know what to say.”

Ben grabbed Rachel’s hand and brought it close to him.

“You remind me a lot of her, your strength, how you are with the boys. I hope that doesn’t sound weird.”

“Not at all. Can I ask a question?”

“Sure.”

“About your mom?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know about it? It isn’t exactly an open topic of conversation for most families.”

“Well, I remember a lot of it, even for being so young. I didn’t know the details until I was much older. My older brother Joel and I went to the library and thumbed through old copies of the newspaper. We found the story. I mean we had always known something bad had happened, but we didn’t know the details. I remember sitting in the old dusty basement of the library looking at pictures of my mother’s swollen face in the paper. I was so angry. I ripped the page out of the newspaper book and took off with it. I didn’t want anyone to see her like that. She was my mom. It took me three years to get the courage to finally ask her about it.”

“How did that go? I dread that conversation with my boys.”

“She was surprisingly open about it. She just said that bad things happen in life sometimes, things we can’t predict or change. It is our job to watch out for each other and the ones we love. When bad things do happen, that we focus on what is important and hold onto that tight. My brothers and I are what she held onto. From that day on, I knew what I wanted to do; I wanted to be a police officer. I wanted to help women like my mother.”

Rachel wiped a tear from Ben’s cheek and then her own.

“I want to hold onto you, Ben.”

She reached over and wrapped her arms around him, and he reached his around her. She leaned into him as he kissed the top of her head.

McKinley Park Chapter 19

July 30, 2019 by jackiecthomas 1 Comment

***Warning! This chapter describes sexual violence******

Ben pulled up in front of Rachel’s house. Marty grabbed Ben’s arm before he got out of the car.

“You have got to calm down, man. You go in there all upset, with Rachel’s past, you’ll scare the hell out of her and mess things up. Just chill.”

Ben knew his partner was right. Rhett was the sort of man who would say something like that to get a rise out of him, but he was also the sort of man who would be forceful with Rachel. He thought back to that morning with Laura and her talk of Rachel having an affair.

“Look if you go knocking on the door after midnight you are going to wake her whole house.”

“I just have to know she is okay. She would never sleep with him willingly.”

Ben walked away from the car. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The house stayed dark. He knocked again, and waited, still no answer. He had given her a key to his house, but they had meant to get him a key for hers and had not got around to it yet. He walked back off the porch. He picked up a small pebble out of the neighbors’ yard. He threw it at her bedroom window — still nothing.

“Ben, come on, she’s probably asleep,” Marty said.

“I just need to know she’s okay,” Ben said as he went back for another rock.

Marty flipped the lights on top of the car and let the siren loop twice. Rachel’s light turned on. Ben felt a wave of relief that she got up and came to the window. She opened and looked down at Ben standing on the sidewalk in front of the house and Marty hanging out of the car with the door open.

“Ben, what’s wrong? Are you drunk?” She asked, confused at the sight in front of her house.

“Are you okay?” Ben asked.

“What?”

Ben felt like an idiot. Rachel shut the window, and they watched the hall light come on, that could be seen through the front door. The porch light switched on, and Rachel opened the door. She stepped out onto the porch, her robe wrapped around her. Ben walked up to her and pulled her close to him so he could see her more closely.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Yes, I was asleep. What the hell is going on?”

“You two good,” Marty asked.

Rachel looked around Ben and waved.

“We’re good,” Ben said.

“See you in the morning. I’ll come by and get you. I am taking your car home.”

“Okay,” Ben said, still not looking at Marty.

He looked at Rachel’s face over for any signs of injury. He looked deeply into her eyes and knew that Laura had to have had her facts wrong; there was no way Rachel could be capable of the things she had said. Rachel still couldn’t have sex with the lights on, that did not sound like a person capable of wild sex. Marty pulled away, leaving Rachel and Ben on the porch.

“What is going on, Ben? You are scaring me.”

“I ran into Rhett tonight. I thought he had hurt you.”

“Honey, he isn’t supposed to be anywhere near the boys or me. I would have called the police if I had seen him. You are really shaken up. What did he say to you?”

“It doesn’t matter, as long as you are okay. You didn’t see him tonight, did you?”

“Of course not. I took Evan to Karate and went to the grocery store. Come upstairs; you look exhausted.”

“I am. But we had a break in the case tonight; some woman beat the hell out of the guy that keeps attacking all of these women. We are going to get this monster, his days as a free man are numbered.”

“Ben that is excellent! That is good news. I am glad he got some of what he deserves. Is the woman okay?”

“Yes, she’s tough.”

“I am glad she is okay. Come to bed, honey.”

“I should run home real quick, feed the cat. Oh, shit Marty has my keys, they’re in the ignition.”

“I fed the cat, when I didn’t see your car by ten, I went over and fed him. I hope that is okay? I used the key you made me. Man, you are tired. Come upstairs.”

Rachel ran her hand across Ben’s cheek, feeling the stubble that had grown on his chin and pulled his lips down to hers. Her tongue brushed his lightly. He pulled her in close and held her tightly. He usually didn’t; he did not want to scare her. He had to hold her; it was the only way for him to register that she was okay. She pulled away gently and grabbed him by the hand, leading him into the house an upstairs to bed.

Ben walked in the bedroom and found himself looking for signs that sex had happened there earlier. He hated that Rhett’s words were still reverberating in his head. The mental image of Rhett and Rachel together earlier in the night made his stomach churn. Ben kicked off his shoes and sat on the bed as he emptied his pockets onto the nightstand. Rachel walked out of the bedroom. Ben undressed and locked his gun, in the small gun safe he had bought since he had started staying over. He did not want a repeat of the gun debacle with Luke ever again.

Ben laid down on the bed and rolled into the pillow as he took a deep breath, trying to smell any trace of cologne. He hated himself for it. The sheets smelled like Rachel’s soft citrus scent. He closed his eyes and woke a few minutes later to Rachel gently shaking him awake.

“Hey sleepy, I made you a quick snack. I didn’t know if you would have stopped for dinner tonight. You don’t have to eat it if you are too tired.”

Ben opened his eyes to see a sandwich and a glass of milk on the nightstand. He smiled as he reached out for her to pull her close to the bed. His hand hooked around the back of her legs. He knew she didn’t like to be touched there, but in his half-asleep state, it did not register. Rachel instantly went rigid as she pushed Ben away. Her reaction jogged his conscious; he let go immediately. He sat up. She had not had that strong of a response in a long time to his touch.

“Rachel, I am sorry, I wasn’t awake.”

“It’s okay; I am okay.” She said out loud, but her face showed fear.

Ben stood up, and Rachel took a step back, away from him.

“Honey, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. “

He could see tears welling in her eyes.

“Rachel, please don’t cry. Honey, I’m sorry.”

“I know I’m fine… Just ignore it. Let’s go to bed; it’s late.”

She walked around the bed, deliberately away from Ben’s reach and climbed in still wearing her robe. She leaned up and switched off the lamp on her side of the bed. He wanted to know the story, he was trying to be patient, but he knew there was something that Rachel had not told him. Between sex with the lights off, and the things with her legs, he had never seen her fully naked in the light. He wanted to ask, but he also wanted to be respectful. He climbed into bed and took a bite of the sandwich, to not hurt her feelings. He took three big gulps from the milk, set the glass down, and switched off the light. He knew she was more likely to talk in the dark. He moved closer to her in the bed, but she had laid facing away from him. She did not like to be held from behind. She would lay on her back if they snuggled up together. He put his hand on her arm lightly.

“Honey, please rollover, please talk to me.”

She stayed quiet.

“Rachel, please.”

She rolled over onto her back. Ben reached up and caressed the side of her face; he could feel her cheeks were wet with tears. He leaned in and kissed her softly.

“Honey, I am really sorry.”

“Please stop apologizing. I know you didn’t mean to.”

“Look you don’t owe me any explanations, but there is a reason why you don’t like to be touched there. Can I ask why? Regardless of your answer, I will always respect your wishes. Whatever happened won’t make me love you any less.”

“Ben, I can’t. I’m sorry. I just, I just can’t say it out loud. I’m not ready.”

He knew to back off, he had helped enough victims of sexual assault to know when to back off but he really wanted to know, he loved Rachel.

“I would like to know someday when you are comfortable to tell me why you react that way when I touch you there. When you are ready honey, I will be there to listen, whether it is tomorrow or fifty years from now, on your timetable, not mine.”

He leaned down to kiss her again. She looped her arms around his neck.

“Ben, I love you. You are such a good man. I am sorry I have all of this baggage.”

“I love you too. I am sorry you had to go through whatever it is you went through. I want to spend the rest of my life, loving away your hurts.”

She kissed him again. He laid back on his back, and she rolled over and laid her head on his shoulder. Ben closed his eyes and fell asleep in no time.

“Ben, Ben, are you awake?”

Ben opened his eyes; the room was still dark. He reached over for Rachel and felt her waist. She was propped up on one elbow facing him.

“Hmmm?” Ben said half-awake.

Rachel laid her head on his chest. Ben began to stroke her soft, brown hair as he woke completely.

“What’s wrong honey?” He asked.

“You are right; you deserve to know. I am just not sure if I can talk about all of it.”

“I am willing to listen to whatever you want to tell me.”

She looked up at him.

“I think I can tell you some of it, but I may need a little scotch to get the courage.”

“Okay, do you have any?”

“Yes, downstairs in the cabinet in the dining room next to the wine rack. I’ll go get some.”

“No you wait, I will go.”

Ben got up and crept downstairs. He grabbed the bottle and two rocks glasses next to the bottle. He brought it all back upstairs and switched on the light. They both winced at their eyes, adjusting to the change. Ben poured them each a moderately sized pour and handed Rachel’s to her. Her cheeks were already tear-stained. Ben sat down on the bed softly and leaned back.

Rachel took a deep breath and then a generous sip of the scotch.

“Becky doesn’t know any of this; I don’t want anyone to know. I’ve never said anything because I don’t want the boys to know either. I couldn’t handle them knowing.”

She looked up at him, needing unspoken consent that he wouldn’t share her deepest secret. Ben nodded. She took another large sip. And rested the glass in the palm of her hand.

“A while back you had asked about Rhett and I in the bedroom. He was not..” She stopped and took another sip of the scotch. “He wasn’t always a violent man; he used to be tender and sweet. At first, it started with more adventurous sex, after he got his job working for his first real firm. He said it took the stress level down. I had just had Tommy and the fact that he still found me attractive felt good.” She sipped from the glass again. “Looking back, it was pretty tame stuff, but it felt adventurous to me at the time. I went along with all of it, and it seemed that soon, what was doing it for him, wasn’t anymore. The sex got rougher. Around that time, I started to suspect that he was on drugs, some sort of pills. He’d get real riled up and aggressive out of nowhere.

I got pregnant with Evan, and I thought things would tone down a bit.” Her voice cracked as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“It got so rough; I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. I told Rhett that we had to tone it down while I was pregnant. He started telling me that if I couldn’t give him what he wanted, he’d go elsewhere. I wanted my marriage to work. He told me how good of a wife I was to him, and how it eased his tensions.”

Rachel wiped her nose with the sleeve of her robe.

“Soon, it didn’t matter if I was a participant willing or not. I was so afraid Evan was going to get hurt while I was carrying him, that I went along. It was less dangerous to fight him off than it was to give in. The first time he hit me was over an argument about sex. I was holding Tommy and pregnant with Evan the first time he hit me. For the next week after that, he was the man I fell in love with. He was amazing. I thought we had turned a corner.”

Tears streamed down her face. Ben scooted closer to her.

“After Evan was born, he didn’t even wait the six weeks I was supposed to wait. I knew then that I wanted out. From there, things spiraled out of control. He brought a friend from work.”

Rachel tipped the last of the scotch back. The tears streamed down her face.

“I was against it; I didn’t want any part of it. He was just supposed to watch Rhett and I. The first night it happened Rhett took me out to a nice dinner. We had a lot to drink, too much. I didn’t know what he had planned. That night when we got home, his friend didn’t want to watch, he wanted to participate, and Rhett was going to watch. All I could think was how is my husband okay with this, I wasn’t… I don’t remember a whole lot of that night; I get bits and pieces that come to the surface but, I can’t put them together. I know I tried to fight, but I didn’t succeed.” She took a deep breath. “That is why I don’t like to be touched from behind in any way. The next day Rhett went out and bought me my van as a gift. He told me I was the world’s best wife. That it was the sexiest thing he had ever seen and how amazing I was as his wife. He told me that it made him love me more, that I would give him that gift. I felt so dirty, so used.”

“Rachel, whoever this man was, he belongs in prison right next to Rhett.”

She shook her head, “Ben, I can’t. I can’t re-live it all again. I know you are right. I have had a lot of therapy to work past all of this. No one knows I have been seeing a therapist for almost six years now. I couldn’t tell Becky; I couldn’t tell anyone. You and my therapist are the only two people on earth who know, other than Rhett and his friend.”

“Rachel, you can’t let them get away with this. Rhett is a violent man, and his friend, is a rapist, they’re both rapists.”

“I know, but I can’t, Ben. I’m not strong enough.”

“You have me; I will be your strength.”

“Ben, please, no.”

“Honey, I am not going to push you. I know it took a lot to tell me tonight. Just think about it okay?”

“Ben, I think about it every day of my life.”

“No, I know you do, I mean think about prosecuting those assholes.”

“I told you because I want to move past it, I want to let you hold me without panicking. I don’t want you to think that I am cold to you or that I don’t love you.”

“I would never think that. Come here.”

Ben pulled her in close to him. They leaned back against the headboard, and Rachel laid her head on his shoulder. Ben wrapped his arm around her and stroked the side of her face with his other hand. She cried quietly as they laid there, watching the sun come up.

“I need to start to get ready and wake the boys.”

“Honey don’t go to work today; you are in no condition to teach today. I will take the day off too; we will spend it together, okay?”

“Routines are important to me.”

“I know they are but, have you slept at all? Emotionally, you are drained.”

“What about the boys?”

“I’ll take them to school this morning. Call in and say you need a personal day?”

“Yes.”

McKinley Park Chapter 18

July 23, 2019 by jackiecthomas 1 Comment

“Have a great day honey. Good luck with school today, boys!” Ben said after he kissed Rachel through the open driver’s side window.

Ben and Rachel had spent every available minute they had for the past month together. Ben had really gotten to know the boys, who adored him having around. Ben knew she was the one, and Rachel felt the same about him. They were crazy in love with each other. He waved as Rachel’s van pulled out of her driveway. He watched her car turn around the corner as he started off for his own vehicle.

“Ben, hold on a sec.” Ben turned around to Laura’s voice.

He had not seen much of Laura since he had started dating Rachel. She was usually knocking on his door, waving and flirting each time she saw him, but that had stopped. Laura did a little jog to catch up to Ben more quickly.

“Hi, Laura.” Ben gave a half-hearted wave.

“Hi, hey do you have a second to talk?” She stood with her hands on her hips. “It won’t take long.”

“Um, sure, what’s up?” Ben didn’t really want to talk to her.

“Hey, I know this isn’t my place but, there’s some stuff you don’t know about Rachel and you really should. I know what this looks like, but you are newer on the street and after that dust-up with her ex a couple of months ago… I just don’t want you to walk into anything blind.”

Ben leant up against his car. As Laura continued.

“She is no victim. She’s just as bad as he is.”

“What do you mean? As bad as who?”

“Her Ex, with their sex parties and stuff. I mean look at the both of them, clean-cut, playing the perfect family. She had an affair, that is why he left her. There was always this other guy hanging around. I think it was his friend. It makes me sick. Look, I am not meaning to out her or anything like that. I just,” she reached out to touch Ben’s arm, he pulled away.

“Laura, I love Rachel very much. I think you have the wrong information. He ex is a monster.”

“No that’s just the thing, he isn’t. He was always nice to everyone on the block.”

“Most guys like that usually are. I have seen the police reports Rhett Lawson is not a good man.”

“Ask her about the other man that used come around when she was still married to Rhett. She was not as good to Rhett as she plays.”

“It wouldn’t matter to me, I love her. I should really get going to work.”

“Look you are a really sweet guy. I would just hate to see you get caught up in something because no one spoke up.”

“I have to go.”

“Okay, I am only trying to help.”

“Bye Laura,” Ben said as he got into his car.

The conversation plagued him the entire way to the station. He knew that Laura had always been sweet on him and maybe that is why she said what she did. Ben sat down at his desk and pulled Rhett’s file out of the drawer and reread it. The records did not read like Rachel was a willing participant. There weren’t any records for calls to the house about noise complaints or complaints of any kind. Ben tried to shrug it off. Laura’s information did not mesh with the story Ben knew.

Ben and Marty commandeered the station’s conference room that afternoon, laying out all of the victims the timeline of the crimes, and the evidence they had found. They both had the feeling that they had missed something, there had to be a piece of evidence that would find the killer, it was not possible to not leave a trace of physical evidence. There was not a single fiber, hair, or fingerprint left behind anywhere. The crime scenes were so clean, they had concerns that it might be the work of a crime scene tech.

By 10 pm. Ben and Marty were beyond exhausted and frustrated. All of the players from the game had solid alibis. They had searched through all of Danwood’s workers, as quietly as they could. Serena had been able to give a part of a description, in that the man was white, and the ring, but other than that, they didn’t have much to go on. Every registered sex offender with a record of violence, within one hundred miles of the city had been checked. Eventually, information about the ring was put out to the press, hoping someone would recognize it. They were able to draw it from Serena’s description and the brand marks on the victims. They had yet to get a hit from the public on the ring.

Marty looked at the pictures of the brand marks hung up on the wall.

“Hey take a look at this? These two brands look like they may be a different size. It is slight but possible.” Marty said

Ben got up and inspected the photos. It looked possible.

“Let’s pay the M.E. a visit,” Ben said.

A dispatch officer knocked on the door and poked her head inside.

“Hey, guys I just got a call that I think you might want. A woman just fought off an attacker who tried to abduct her from her apartment in Lakeview. She said he was dressed in all black.”

Ben and Marty looked at each other as both made for the door.

They pulled up to the woman’s apartment and walked past the officers standing in the hallway. They walked into Calle Carlson’s neighbor’s apartment to find her wrapped in a blanket sitting at the kitchen table. Her mascara had run down her cheeks in black streaks. Visibly upset, she looked up at Ben and Marty who introduced themselves.

“It was him, that perv that has been snatching women. I know it”

“What makes you think it was him?”

“Well, I don’t have men breaking into my apartment every day.”

“I was ready for him though. That fucker wasn’t grabbing me.”

“What do mean ready for him? Can you walk us through what happened tonight?”

“Well, I pay attention, you know. Girls have been showing up dead all over the city since spring. I read the paper, and watch the news. I teach kickboxing at the Northlane Athletic Club. I started taking extra precautions, carrying pepper spray, putting my keys in between my fingers when I walk out on the street, I don’t walk with my earbuds in, that sort of the thing.”

“That’s good. You’re smart. I wish more people paid attention like you did. Can you tell us what happened tonight?”

“I finished my last class at 8:45 and got the El home. It felt weird today like I was being watched. I couldn’t prove it but you know what I mean, just the feeling of being watched. I thought I was going nuts.

Anyway, when I got home tonight, there was an eerie feeling in the apartment, like I wasn’t alone. I know this sounds crazy. I called my best friend Viv, and kept her on the phone while I walked through my place, there was nothing out of the ordinary. I thought I was just paranoid. I hung up and started the shower. I got in and I thought I heard something. The pipes in this apartment are a mess so I keep a pipe wrench in the bathroom.

I slid out of the shower, leaving water running and grabbed the wrench. I hid behind the door. I was just getting ready to get back in thinking I was crazy when I saw him. He was dressed all in black. I spotted him through the crack in the door, he didn’t see me. He has brown eyes and is about as tall as I am. I am 5,9.” He walked in and I watched him standing in front of my shower curtain. I lunged and hit him as hard as I could with the wrench. He stumbled and I froze, so stupid. I told myself to run. I took off and he came after me.

He wrestled me down to the ground and I kicked the shit out of him. I realized I still had the wrench in my hand and I started hitting him with it as hard as I could. I split his glove on his left-hand open and saw a gold ring on his pinky, the kind that would leave a brand like news said. I am telling you guys, this is the guy. I started shouting at him “I see you. I see you!” He scrambled up to his feet and lunged at me again and I moved towards him to hit him again. He turned around and ran out of the apartment. I fought that fucker off! I am telling you this guy has got to be hurt. Aside from getting a beatdown with my pipe wrench, I really did kick the shit out of him. His face has got to be a mess. I scratched him too and pulled as much DNA as I could from that asshole. I ran to my neighbor’s house but he wasn’t home so I came here to the lady that lived next door and she called you guys.”

“Where is the wrench now?” Marty asked.

“Probably still on the floor in my hallway,” Calle said.

“Are you hurt? Do you need medical attention,” Ben asked.

“No, I don’t think so. I’ve been hit worse, it comes with the job. I do want to shower, even though I wasn’t raped he had his hands on my naked body and it just creeps me out. Can you guys get what you need from me so I can shower please?”

Calle had been strong till that point but Ben could see the cracks in her demeanour change.

“Our evidence tech is on her way, we will have her collect evidence from you first. Are you sure you would not rather go get checked out at the hospital? You look like you could be hurt?”

“Did you hit your head at any point?” Janis Thorton the evidence tech asked as she walked in.

“I’m not sure, it happened fast.”

“Hi, I am Janis, I am the evidence tech. You should probably have a doctor look at you to be safe.”

“Okay, if you think it is necessary.”

“Better safe than sorry,” Ben said.

“I don’t want an ambulance and all of that fuss. Can we just go in a cab?”

“I can drive you,” Ben said.

“Would you mind if I came with you Calle,” Janis asked. “Our team is combing over your apartment right now. I would like to collect the physical evidence rather than have the hospital do it.”

“Okay.”

Janis showed Calle to Ben’s unmarked car as Ben stopped into the apartment quickly to let Marty know where he was going. There was blood on the hardwood floor in the hallway.

“We have hair!” a tech shouted out. “It’s blonde.”

“Any chance it could be someone else, other than our guy’s?” Marty asked.

“I doubt it. We’ll run it, I’d put money on this being the guy though.”

Ben dropped Calle at her friend Viv’s house after the hospital. He had a squad car parked outside of the friend’s apartment for her piece of mind, and his. Ben wasn’t sure if the man would come back and finished what he had started, he doubted it but who knew what the monster was capable of. Marty was still at the scene, but they were wrapping up too. There was a ton of physical evidence around the apartment, fingerprints, hair and blood. There was also a partial bloody boot print. Calle had given a description of the man that sounded very similar to Serena’s account.

Ben called Marty on the way back to the station. He wanted to take down a few notes while they were fresh in his head. Ben typed up his notes and went back into the conference room to look at the evidence they had laid out. The killer didn’t have a type of woman he preferred, they were all races, all young, and all pretty. That was the only thing they had in common, was they were upper-middle-class and lived in or around the city. Ben thought it was interesting that Calle had said she felt like she had been watched. Ashley, from Skokie, had actually been watched. Stephen Duke had planted the camera. He’s pay Serena a visit first thing tomorrow morning.

Ben sat in one of the chairs around the table and looked at the wall of evidence. Marty walked in looking just as tired as Ben felt.

“Anything new?”

“A lot of DNA. He had to have been in the apartment for a while. You said you questioned her about a boyfriend?”

“She said she hasn’t had a man in the place in a couple of months, not even the super.”

“I know it’s a long shot but my gut says it’s him,” Marty said

“Yesh, it sounds like our guy.” Ben agreed.

Ben rubbed his forehead.

“What?” Marty asked knowing Ben was thinking about something.

“You know who else is blonde and wasn’t seen at his usual haunts tonight? I made some phone calls when I got back here. His car was spotted on by a red light camera crossing Lincoln and Halstead.”

“Rhett Lawson? That’s four blocks from Callie’s!”

“What do you say we go say hello, see what his face is looking like tonight?”

“Why don’t I just go? It’s not great for you to be knocking on his door at almost midnight with everything going on with Rachel and all.”

“You’re right, but I am going. If it is him, I want to be the one to put the cuffs on that fucker.”

Marty looked at the wall of evidence as he thought it over.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Ben and Marty pulled up to Rhett’s Lincoln Park townhouse just after midnight. Ben was happy to knock on his door. He wanted Rhett to be the killer so badly. He pounded loudly.

“Hey man, maybe I should do the talking.” Marty chimed in.

“Hopefully his face will do the talking.”

Ben pounded again, as the entryway light turned on.

Rhett opened the door in athletic shorts and a t-shirt. The only thing on his face was a layer of stubble.

“What the hell? It is after midnight? What the hell do you want?”

“Sorry to disturb you Mr. Lawson.”

Before Marty could continue Rhett recognized Ben.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me! I know who the fuck you are. This is police harassment. I am calling my lawyer.”

“Mr. Lawson..” Marty started again.

“Fuck off pigs!” Rhett said as he started to shut the door.

“Where were you tonight Rhett?” Ben asked.

“Fucking Rachel, where were you? She begged me for every minute of it too.”

Marty moved in between the two men before Rhett slammed the door. Ben walked briskly to the car as Marty followed. Ben slid into the driver’s seat as Marty got in. He drove away calmly until he pulled onto Lake Shore Drive. Once they got onto the Drive, Ben hit the sirens and lights, as he put his foot down hard.

“He was fucking with you man. Rachel would never sleep with him.”

“Not of her own will.” Ben gritted out through his teeth.

McKinley Park Chapter 17

July 16, 2019 by jackiecthomas 2 Comments

Ben took a shower and made some lunch, stopping by his front window to check on Rachel’s house each time he walked past. He turned on the Cubs game but wasn’t interested, he was frustrated with Rachel. He understood her fear but, he also wanted her to trust him. He knew it was going to take time. He got up to take his plate back to the kitchen when he heard a knock at the door. He put the plate back on the coffee table and went to answer the door. Rachel stood on the front porch.

“Okay, let’s go. If I don’t go do this now, I will chicken out.”

He could see how conflicted she was. He grabbed his keys off of the table next to the door and locked it behind him. They got into his car, the heat from the sun making it feel like a sauna. Rachel stayed quiet as they rode along. Ben reached out and laced his fingers over her hand and squeezed gently. She squeezed back.

“I am really proud of you.” Ben said softly.

Rachel gave him a half smile.

He picked up the hand that he held and pressed a kiss into her palm.

“Trust isn’t easy for me Ben. I’m scared.”

“I know and that is why it means so much to me that you are trusting me. I won’t let you down. Look, I hope the future sees us together, happy as a family, but if it doesn’t I will still protect you and the boys from Rhett and his family. I promise you. Your protection is not mutual with us having a relationship.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Twenty- five minutes later Rachel sat at Ben’s desk as an officer went over the paperwork with her. She felt safe sitting in Ben’s chair. Ben went to go get her a cup of coffee from the kitchen while she completed the paperwork. He didn’t want to hover and make her feel pressured by him. As he walked into the kitchen he saw Marty drinking a cup of coffee in the break room.

“I thought you were taking some time off?” Marty said, as he finished coffee.

“I am. I’m just here with Rachel. She’s pressing charges against Rhett, and petitioning for an order of protection for her and the boys.”

“That’s a big step for her. In the file there were a noticeable lack of charges filed by her, most were filled by the state on her behalf.”

“Yeah. This has got to stop.”

“I hear ya. You really love this girl, don’t you?”

“Is it that obvious?”

Marty laughed.

“If she is here filing, she really loves you too, you know,” Marty said as he crunched the paper cup in his hand and flung it into the trash can.

Ben tried not to smile.

“Hey I am glad you are here anyway. I wanted to let you know, Rhett’s alibi is solid for the night Serena was attacked and the rest of the nights we have. He wasn’t even in town for Serena. He was partying his ass off out on the coast.”

“Shit are you sure?”

“Yeah it all checks out. Sorry man. Don’t worry though, he isn’t off my radar. I get get the same read you do. He knows something.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well we questioned him, and even with his attorney there, he was so cocky. There’s something about him, slimy. Be careful there, he’s got some powerful friends too.”

“I met his father this afternoon, when he came to get the bastard’s car. I didn’t like the look of him either.”

“Hey, have you asked Rachel about Rhett?”

“I tried. She shut down when I brought up their sex life. There is more there I know it. She just isn’t ready to tell me.”

“Would it help if I talked to her, I mean since the two of you are involved? It might be less uncomfortable for her?”

“Yeah maybe, but give it a day or two. She’s been through a lot. I know there is trauma there. It is like part of her is holding back and I think it has to do with that piece of shit.”

“Well give it some thought.”

“Did you get anymore information on Duke?”

“You mean did we find all of him?”

“Yikes, that bad?”

“This wasn’t a murder, it was a hit. Someone wanted to shut him up.”

“Danwood?”

“That would be my guess. I put a call into Yee to let him know what was going on. A bit of penance for last night.”

“Good call. I should get back to Rachel. Keep me up to date?”

“Yeah. Enjoy your time with her.” Marty nodded out towards the main room where Ben’s desk sat.

Ben looked in that direction to see Rachel walking into the kitchen.

“All done.” She took a deep breath as she said it.

Ben walked over to her and put his arm around her. He kissed the top of her head.

“I am proud of you.”

She gave a half smile, the tension in her body radiated in the small space of the kitchen.

“Hi, I’m Marty. I am Ben’s partner.”

“Oh, it is nice to meet you. I am Rachel.”

“It is nice to finally meet you. Ben talks about you… a lot.”

“Uh oh, is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“It’s a good thing. I am happy to see him happy. You two will have to come out with my wife and I sometime.”

“That would be fun. Thank you for the invitation.”

“We should get going.” Ben chimed in.

“It was nice to meet you, Rachel.”

“You too.”

“Call me if you get anything big?” Ben asked as they stepped out of the kitchen.

“You got it.” Marty patted him on the back.

Ben and Rachel walked out of the station. He opened the car door for her. Before she got in she reached out and hugged him tightly, laying her head on his chest. He brought his arms around her and held her close to him. They stood there on the sidewalk, with the car door open, in each other’s arms.

“Thank you.” Rachel said quietly.

She looked up at him after she said it. Ben caressed her cheek.

“Thank you for forcing me to be brave.”

“Honey you are making this choice, I would not force you to do anything.”

“No, I know, it was a figure of speech. You know it is so weird, I was so afraid to do this and now it is done and I am not afraid anymore. I thought I would feel awful afterwards but I don’t. As cliche as it sounds, I feel light, like a huge weight has been lifted. So thank you.”

“I am glad to feel that way. You are stronger than you know Rachel. You are not alone, I am here and I will always have your back.”

She leant up on her toes and kissed him. A few officers walking in began to hoot and holler at the two of them. Rachel stopped kissing Ben and buried her face in his chest, her face blushing. Ben gave them the finger as he laughed, the officers laughed in return. They both got into the car and Ben pulled away.

“I’m kind of hungry. Are you hungry?” Rachel asked.

“Well it is almost dinnertime, do you want to get something while we are out?”

“Sure.”

“What do you have a taste for?”

“Chinese?”

“That does sound good. Where do you want to go?”

“What about Happy House on Hasted?”

“My favorite. That sounds good to me.”

Ben and Rachel ate dinner, and had ordered enough food for leftovers for three days after. Ben pulled into his driveway and parked the car. Rachel leant over and kissed him. He wanted her. They both got out of the car, as he came around to her, she put her arms around him and kissed him again. The intensity of their interaction was almost inappropriate for being out on the street, but they were shielded by the darkness of early evening. They kissed their way to his front door, as they both tripped over one of the stairs to the the front porch. Ben caught Rachel before they both fell.

He fumbled with his keys in the door, never breaking away from her lips. He opened the front door and they spilled into the foyer, Ben closed the door behind them. Ben wanted to take her right there in the hallway, propping her against the wall.

“Ben wait.” Rachel said breathless. “We have to slow down a bit, please.”

She pushed him towards the couch. He sat as the back of his legs hit it. She climbed on top of him and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her and she kissed him back. He pushed her blouse off of her shoulder and kissed the exposed skin. Ben moved her hair out of the way and kissed her neck as he felt her hips move against him. She moaned as he kissed back down to her collar bone. He reached up and tried to undo more buttons on her blouse. She reached down to help him. He pushed it off of her shoulders and she helped but got caught by the buttons on the cuffs of her sleeves. Ben had went back to kissing her and had not noticed Rachel’s arms were caught in her sleeves. She began to panic, being trapped. He reached for her clasp at the front of her bra, as she still struggled to free her hands. Ben had been too eager and was moving too fast to notice.

“Stop! Please stop.” Rachel cried out.

Ben stopped right away, and noticed her arms were stuck. He looked at her face and saw she was on the verge of tears. She looked away embarrassed as Ben reached out to free her arms.

“I’m sorry honey, I didn’t notice you were stuck.”

Rachel brought her arms around to the front of her and got off of Ben’s lap. Ben stood up, as she stood in front of him, her arms across her body, sheilding her nakedness.

“Can I please have a glass of water?”

“Of course. Rachel I am really sorry.”

She nodded and walked towards the kitchen, in only her bra and pants. Ben followed her and grabbed a glass of from the cupboard and filled it. He set it on the counter next to her. She picked it up and took a drink from it. Clutching the glass, she walked over to the large windows at the back of the kitchen. Ben stayed quiet, he wanted to give her the space she needed. He stood at the counter.

Rachel turned back around.

“Ben I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I’m sorry I didn’t notice you were stuck.”

“I shouldn’t have freaked out like that. I know you wouldn’t hurt me, it’s just that…” she stopped talking.

Ben walked across the kitchen to her. He held out his hand and she took it. He pulled her in to him, slowly. He wrapped his arms around her, his warm skin on her cool back felt wonderful to her.

“Rachel you can tell me anything, nothing will change the way I feel about you.”

“Can we go upstairs to your bed?” She took a step towards the stairs.

“Yes, but wait,” he reached out for her hand. “We don’t have to sleep together if you don’t want to.”

She cut him off.

“Ben I want to, I really want to. I just needed to calm down. Can I ask a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Can we just go slow? I just have a hard time moving too fast. I need to stay in the moment, and going slow really helps.”

“Of course.”

Rachel kept ahold of Ben’s hand and walked upstairs with him. She let go of his hand once they got into his bedroom and walked over to the bed. The room was dark, with only the light from the street light outside to illuminate the room. Rachel undid her bra as Ben could see the yellow light from outside reflecting off of her perfect breasts. She undid her pants, her back to the wall where Ben could not see. As she slipped them off Ben followed her lead and began to undress. She slid into the bed completely naked and he followed suit.

She scooted over to him, meeting him in the middle of the bed. He wrapped his arm around her, and kissed her gently. He reminded himself to go slow, pay attention to her body and not to touch her ass or the back of her thighs. The more he kissed her the more he felt the tension ease from her and her body began to respond in a pleasurable way.

Ben kissed down her chest again and took one of her nipples into his mouth as he spread out his hand on her stomach an slowly moved it downward. Rachel ran her hands though Ben’s hair. He loved the feeling of her fingers in his hair. His hand inched lower, as he moved his mouth back to hers. He kissed her gently as his hand made it’s way to it’s destination. Ben cupped her most sensitive spot and paused watching for any signs of hesitation. He felt her hips buck towards him and he took the invitation, still moving slowly, paying attention to her body. He slid his fingers inside of her slowly, and she began to ride his fingers. It took everything in Ben not to come undone, it was so simple but so incredibly sexy at the same time. He looked at Rachel in the lamp light, in pleasure, and he kissed her again.

She wrapped one arm around him and copied his movements as she took him into her free hand. Him sitting in her warm hand, while he continued to move on his hand inside of her, ignited a sense of urgency in him that he fought back. He wanted to make love to her, going slow savoiring it all.

“I have to grab a condom,” he whispered through gritted teeth.

If he didn’t pull away soon, he would be spent and this bliss would be over. He rolled over and opened the drawer on the nightstand. It was the fastest he had ever put a condom on in his life. He rolled back over to Rachel who embraced him again, with her arms and her tongue. He moved his body gently to move her onto her back, looking for any sign of hesitation. She rolled herself easily, and welcomed him into her body. As he pushed in, he was sure to go slow and make eye contact with her.

Her body was better than he had remembered it from the last time they had slept together, and he would have classified that as heaven. He could see the whites of her eyes in the lamplight as she looked at him. There was a connection there. He knew in that moment something special had happened. This was more than just sex for the both of them. Ben leant down and kissed her.

“Ben” she whispered, “Can I get on top?”

Ben slid his arm under back and rolled the both of them so she was now on top. He could see her smile at his skill. She began to ride him slowly. He ran his hands up her stomach and cradled her breasts. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He was getting close, and he fought it, he wanted this to be just as good for her, if not better. He reached up and brought her mouth to his, kissing her. That intense kiss was all she needed, Ben could feel her finish before he could hear her. She sat upright and grabbed his hands and put them on her hips as she continued to ride through the waves of her orgasm. She threw her head back as a moan from deep inside her escaped. Watching her on top of him, enraptured in pleasure, was more than he could fight off. His own orgasm came racing through his body, so intense he could feel his fingers tingle.

Ben was relieved he had made it that long. Sex with Rachel was the best sexual experience of his life. He never had to fight to stay in the game before, but there was something with her that was different. She laid down on top of him, resting her head on his shoulder as they both caught their breaths. He wrapped his arms around her back and moved them up to her face. He took her head into his hands and kissed her mouth.

“Rachel you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” He kissed her again.

“I love you,” she said back to him after their kiss.

McKinley Park Chapter 16

July 9, 2019 by jackiecthomas 4 Comments

Ben led Rachel upstairs to her room, the front window of her room faced, his bedroom window across the street. He pulled back the quilt as she turned off the lamp on the nightstand. She slid off the robe underneath, a long, grey, silk slipcovered her body. Ben turned the light back on, and she looked at him surprised. The light showed the deeply colored bruises on her upper back and arms. Rachel tried to cover the bruises on her arms, ashamed. Ben ran his fingertips over the bruise on her left shoulder blade.

“Ben.” She whispered.

He lent down and kissed the bruise, and then the one next to it, kissing every visible bruise he could see. She turned around and faced him, running her hand over his cheek.

“You are so beautiful Rachel. This is the last time you will ever have marks on your body like this.”

He leaned in and kissed her mouth, her kiss reaching into his chest and warming his heart.

He pulled away gently and grabbed the blankets pulling them further back as she took the prompt and climbed in. He pulled the blankets up over her. He reached over and switched off the lamp. Rachel reached out for him.

“Please stay?”

Ben slid off his shoes and his dress shirt. He made sure to lock his gun in his holster and he hung it high on one of the posters on the bed, where Luke could never reach it. The boy would literally have to climb on top of Ben’s head, yet it was close enough for Ben to use if needed. He slid into the bed next to Rachel. He pulled her close as he draped his arm over her. She didn’t want to lay on her side but, laid on her back next to him. She held onto his arm wrapped across her torso. He wanted to ask her about Rhett, about the abuse, Rhett’s past. Ben knew Rhett was involved somehow in the Southside Strangler case, he could feel it in his gut. Ben had learned that there was no such thing as a coincidence in his line of work.

Ben woke to the sound of a lawnmower, he opened his eyes, the morning light poured into the bedroom. He looked over at the bed where Rachel had slept and it was empty. He looked up to see his gun where he had left it and breathed a sigh of relief that Luke had left it alone. His phone chirped, letting him know there was a message. It was the Captain.

“Ben this is Cap. I need to see you in my office first thing this morning. We have to talk about last night with Mr. Lawson. 9:30 See you then.”

“Shit,” Ben said under his breath. He knew what was coming, he was going to be pulled off of the case if Rhett was a real suspect. He sat up, still feeling tired from the night before, and sore. He grabbed his shirt off of the end of the bed, he’d go home and freshen up before going in to meet the captain.

He came downstairs to the noise of another woman’s voice. He walked into the kitchen where Rachel’s sister sat, heavily pregnant, as Rachel scrambled eggs.

“So you must be the white knight and my hero. Hi, I am Becky. I am Rachel’s little sister.”

“Good morning.” Rachel turned towards Ben.

“Good morning. Nice to meet you, Becky. Where are the boys?”

“Luke is playing with Alex, Becky’s youngest on the back porch. Tommy and Evan are still asleep. Why?”

“I was just wondering. Hey, I have to go in this morning. I’m sorry, the Captain called. But we have to talk when I get back.”

“Are you in trouble for last night?” There was concern in Rachel’s voice.

“I don’t know, it doesn’t matter, it was worth it. Will you be home later to talk?”

“Yes.”

Ben put a hand up to wave goodbye to Becky as he walked out of the kitchen and into the dining room. He heard Rachel coming up behind him.

“I’ll walk you out.” She said, with a concerned look on her face.

Ben and Rachel stepped out onto the front porch. In the sunlight, Ben could see the faintest outline of a bruise on her cheek. He reached up and slid his thumb across it, and she winced in pain.

“Sorry.” He said not meaning to hurt her.

“Ben, I just wanted to thank you for last night. About later, it’s okay, I get it. This is a lot, I get it if you don’t want to do this after all. I don’t want you to risk your career.”

Ben pulled Rachel in close to him, wrapping his arms around her tightly and kissed her with everything he had in him. She pulled away breaking the seal of the kiss first, after taking a long fill first.

“Whoah, what was that for?” She asked wiping her lip, sounding embarrassed.

“None of this is too much to be with you. I see guys like Rhett everyday. You are worth it Rachel, you are so worth it.”

“I thought when you said you wanted to talk later…”

“I wanted to talk later about the next steps to putting an end to this. There will be no next time, this was the last time he will ever hurt you or the boys. I will be back around 11:30, let’s talk when I get back. I should get back here before he has made bail. If he gets back here before I do, do not under any circumstances answer the door or let him in. Call me or the police before you think you need to. I will be back as quickly as I can.”

Ben crossed the street where he had parked his car the night before. He opened the door to get in when he heard Rachel.

“Are you sure?” She yelled.

“Sure of what?”

“I’m worth it?”

“Never been more sure in my life.”

Ben watched a big smile spread across Rachel’s face and it felt wonderful that he had put it there, especially after the night before. He put his phone in the cup holder and went to shift the car into gear when he saw Rachel next to his window. He rolled it down and she leant in and kissed him.

“Come back home, I will be waiting for you.”

Ben walked into the station, still in the clothes from the day before, and stubble on his chin. Marty was waiting for him.

“Whoah, nice nose job. Lawson really did try to rearrange your face last night.” Marty jabbed.

“Please tell me the fucker hasn’t made bail.”

“No way, with his record, and assault of a police officer, a snowball’s chance in hell. I have more news though. Duke showed up this morning.”

“Where?”

“Half buried in the dump on 97^th. Pretty ugly too, let’s just say not all of him is there.”

“Shit.”

Ben walked towards the door as Marty put his hand out to stop him.

“You know what you are walking into, right?”

“Yeah, is it official?”

“Lawson may be a piece of shit, but he is a connected piece of shit.”

Ben knew it was coming.

“Go in, take your punishment like a good boy and for what it is worth, I would have done the same damn thing. Hopefully, you’ll get the girl though.”

“Yeah, I think I will.”

“Hey before I walk into this, you have got to look further into Rhett, he’s connected in this, I know it in my gut. I want to go back and talk to Rachel later, we didn’t get a chance last night. I did see his hands though, no burn marks.”

“Got to examine them real close, I see.” Marty joked. “You got it. I will look into him, this guy won’t have any secrets when I am done with him.”

“Thanks. Keep me in the loop if you can?”

“Of course.”

Ben walked out of the station forty-five minutes later off of the case, for now. With Rhett possibly being a real suspect, Ben couldn’t be anywhere near the case. Leave for a couple of days the Captain called it, but nothing official. Ben took the leave, he wanted to be around for Rachel. Ben pulled up in front of Rachel’s driveway, where Rhett’s Mercedes still sat in the driveway. He made sure to let the Captain know the car was still parked in the driveway before he left the station as well.

Ben walked in the front door, announcing his arrival.

“Hello? Anybody home?” He knew they were, the front door was open.

Rachel came down the stairs, a smile on her face at seeing him.

“You are done early. You didn’t get fired did you?”

“No. I took some time off.”

She looked at him sceptically.

“That sounds a lot like fired to me.” her tone was sarcastic.

“I was practically promoted, but I am taking a few days off. It happens from time to time. Where are the boys?”

“They went home with Becky. I didn’t want them here if Rhett came to get the car himself.”

“Good call. I’ll be here.”

Rachel yawned. “I’m so sorry about all of this.”

“I’m not. Rachel, stop apologizing for his mistakes. It is time this stops, you deserve so much more, so do your boys.”

“He doesn’t like me moving on, even though we have been divorced for three years now.”

“It’s about possession with guys like that, it’s not love, it’s control.”

“You are right.”

“Did you tell him about us last night?”

“No, Tommy did. I know he didn’t mean anything by it. How was he to know how Rhett would react? I wasn’t expecting him. He just walked in like he still lived here. Tommy said, joking around, “mom has a new boyfriend.” He meant it as a joke, and Rhett went nuts. I told the boys to go up to Tommy’s room and put on a movie. They fled from the table leaving their half-eaten dinners, I didn’t want them to see that. The kids didn’t make it out of the kitchen before he started this time. This has got to stop. I don’t want my boys to see that. They aren’t babies anymore. It isn’t so easy to hide it anymore. How did you find the boys?”

“They were outside, along the side of the house. I came to peek in the backdoor when I didn’t see you. I knew something was not right. Every light in your house was on at almost 11 pm on a weeknight and your van was parked in the driveway. My gut said you were here. I just wanted to make sure you are okay. I spotted the boys as I came around the side of the house.”

“They were so scared. When I divorced, I petitioned for sole custody but Rhett’s family hired expensive lawyers, even with the documented abuse, he still got joint custody. He told me afterwards that if I wanted to keep the boys, I needed to stay single, that was the deal, that I would always be his.”

“What?”

“ I know that is crazy.”

“No, he said you would always be his? Were those his exact words?”

“I don’t know, something like that. Why?”

“I need to ask you some questions about Rhett? Has he always been violent?”

“No, he wasn’t when we first met. He was Prince Charming when we first met. He came from a good family, and we were crazy about each other.”

“When did the abuse start?”

“After Tommy was born. He has always had a temper. The first time he ever hit me, I had Tommy in my arms. A lot changed in our marriage around then. I went to his mother and showed her the bruises. She told me that sometimes that is a price that is paid for such a charmed life and to not upset him, that it would pass. I was dumb enough to believe her. I kept it from everyone, even Becky. He would apologize each time promising it would never happen again, but it just got worse and worse..”

“I hate to ask you this, but has he ever been violent in the bedroom, when you were together.”

“Ben I don’t want to talk about that.”

“I’m sorry, there is a reason aside from us that I am asking, I promise.”

Rachel’s demeanor changed. She had gone from calm to agitated.

“Ben, please don’t ask me about that, please.”

“It is important.”

“Ben, I can’t. I just can’t talk about that.”

Ben took a deep breath.

“Do you think he could be violent with other women in the bedroom?”

“What kind of question is that? Ben I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” Rachel stood up and walked out of the living room.

Ben had struck a nerve. He got up and walked into the kitchen. Rachel’s back was to the door as she looked out of the window over the sink. A car door slammed outside and she jumped.

“He’s here to get his car.”

“I will deal with this. When he leaves we are going to file a restraining order for you and the boys and you are going to have to press charges.”

Ben walked out of the kitchen and onto the front porch. An older man who looked like Rhett stood on the first step. It had to be his father, Ben thought.

“Can I help you, Sir?”

“I am looking for Rachel, I am her father-in-law.”

“She isn’t in. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Ah, you must be the cop that worked my son over last night.”

“Is there something I can help you with Mr. Lawson?” Ben said cutting him off.

“No, I just came by to get my son’s car and to say hello to Rachel and my grandsons.”

“I will be sure to tell them you stopped by.”

Mr. Lawson Sr. looked at Ben with a look that could be lethal. Rhett may have been an uptight shit that liked to knock his ex-wife around but there was something about Lawson Sr. that Ben knew was dangerous. He could feel it radiate off of the man. Mr. Lawson walked over to Rhett’s car and got into it as the car that had dropped him off pulled away. Another Mercedes with tinted out windows. His dad pulled out of the driveway and peeled away down the street, barely stopping at the stop sign at the end of the block.

Ben turned around and walked back into the house. Rachel stood at the top of the stairs and watched Ben come back in.

“If you think Rhett is scary, Andrew is terrifying. He normally doesn’t come over. It cannot have been good that he was here.”

“I was here, he is not above the law.”

“Ben they are going to try and take the boys away from me.”

“Come on, we are going to go file those protection orders right now. I had them drawn up before I left, all you have to do is sign them.”

“If I sign them Ben, they are going to take the boys, I know it.”

“Not with Rhett’s record, no way a judge will take your boys out of your house and put them with Rhett.”

“No, you don’t understand.”

“Rachel, help me understand. You can trust me.”

“When I had Rhett served with papers, I didn’t give a warning. I took the boys out of town. Becky and her husband came with me. Rhett called me and made all sorts of threats. I turned my phone off and tried to go on with the weekend for the boys. I don’t know how they found me, but Andrew turned up at the cabin we rented in Wisconsin. I mean we were on a lake in the middle of nowhere. He told me that if I didn’t go home and make things right with Rhett, that I would never see the boys again. Jack, Becky’s husband got in the middle of it, and Andrew backed off when he realized I wasn’t there alone.

I went home and stayed with Becky and Jack for about a week, while I worked with my lawyer. I had an order of protection put in place. Andrew came to see me and told me that If I kept the boys from Rhett, I would spend the rest of my life in prison. That he would plant drugs in my car, my classroom and the house. I would be looked at as an unfit mother, he would find drug dealers to say I had traded sex for drugs. I was terrified. I told my lawyer, she had pictures of the bruises and the police reports. She told me to drop the order to keep the peace, and just play nice until the divorce was final.”

“What? What kind of attorney advices that?”

“One that my ex-Father- in- law pays off. Ben, I am terrified that they are going to take the boys. Rhett doesn’t really want them, he only wants them because he knows I won’t let them go. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he loves them, but he isn’t interested in raising them.”

“That will not happen. Come on, let’s go get all of this document. Believe me, Andrew Lawson’s power only goes so far.”

“Are you so sure of that? Because you are risking my boys if you are wrong.”

“I would never put your sons harm’s way.”

Ben held grabbed her hand gently.

“Documentation is key to all of this, trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you or the boys.”

“Ben, can I think about it? I don’t want to be pushed into this.”

“I’m not meaning to push. I’m sorry. I just know this is how this works. I am trying to help you and the boys.”

“Ben stop, please just stop.” She took a deep breath. “I need to lay down for a while, I am exhausted. I cannot think straight.” She turned to walk up the stairs and Ben followed her. She stopped and turned around. “ I would like to be alone, please.”

Ben tried not to look hurt. He was only trying to help her.

“Of course.”

Rachel turned around and walked upstairs. Ben suddenly felt like he didn’t belong in the house anymore. He locked all of the doors and then went across the street to his house. Felix was waiting for him at the door, meowing for food as Ben walked in.

“Sorry man, let me get you some food.” Ben bent down to pet the cat.

McKinley Park Chapter 21

McKinley Park Chapter 20

McKinley Park Chapter 19

McKinley Park Chapter 18

McKinley Park Chapter 17

McKinley Park Chapter 16

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