Somewhere in Between (22 page)

*LtB*

As Gemma and Elliot talked that night, Gemma relayed everything Leighanna had told her. Elliot was just as surprised as Gemma had been, though he voiced wishing he could have seen it. He also said it had nothing to do with Trisha or wanting to see girls fight and everything to do those brats getting what they deserved, if on a smaller scale. In turn, Elliot told Gemma he didn't really see Christie. She had stayed late at the hospital and then had a lot of homework to work on. She skipped dinner and went straight to her room but not before huffing at everyone and everything. Her bedroom door was slammed once she reached it.

When Gemma asked what Elliot really thought about his sister's behavior, he told her honestly. "I almost expected this, I guess. I mean she was kept in the dark, and even though she and my parents
say
she's trying, she is still Christie. Christie still wants to be the center of attention. But," he began but trailed off.

"But…what?" Gemma prompted.

"My parents talked to me about it. They wanted to make sure I knew they'd spoken with her about everything and got her to stop any potential large-scale tantrum she may have wanted to have. Which is really the main reason they came to school today. Christie’s “something bad” message to my mom was more about her being left out than anything else. They showed up just in case," he continued with a small laugh. "Dad said that while yes, Christie is upset at being out of the loop, they talked today, and she realizes this isn't about her. And she can't make it about her because for one, she doesn't have the right to feel hurt after everything she participated in. He said he told Christie while she was busy trying to make everything about her, acting in a completely selfish manner, her best friend was suffering and she was too full of herself to even notice there was a problem. He said if anyone is to blame for her being kept out of the loop, it's her. But more than that, he said you deserve a friend who isn't trying to make your pain their gateway to popularity. Guess that shut her up quick, well other than the huffing and door slam."

It quieted anything Gemma had intended to say, too. "Wow."

"Yeah. She doesn't really know details, it's no one's place but yours to fill her in if you want. But she knows something happened, that Penny and Cassie are idiots, and if she wants any chance of being your friend again, she's going to have to get over herself." Elliot paused, "Okay, that's really more what I thought. But it's still true."

At that Gemma laughed. But then she sobered up quickly. "I just wish…things were starting to look up, you know? Things were going okay. I'm mean yeah, things could be so much better if you know…
it
had never happened… or the cops knew something… but
I've
been better. I don't want to be set back because of this."

"Have you thought about...," Elliot started but stopped. "You
are
better. And I don't think, by the mere fact that you didn't cower today, that you are going to have a setback. You accomplished so much today," he boasted, hoping she understood. "But if you're worried, maybe talking to Dr. Archuleta will help."

Gemma nodded even though she knew he couldn't see her. "Yeah. I see her tomorrow. I'll bring it up." Her goal had been to talk to Dr. Archuleta about her feelings regarding Elliot. She had decided to finally "man up," as it were, and get it over with. Now, she didn't know if it was the right time, since the whole thing with Penny and Cassie had made her feel weak, regressed.

They hung up not long after that. The day had been tiring, and Gemma was ready to sleep it away.

*LtB*

The following few school days passed much as the rest of Monday had. People looked at Gemma, but mostly just shook their heads with a look on their faces that suggested Leighanna and Trisha had completely succeeded. When Gemma visited Dr. Archuleta, she was a ball of nerves.

"What happened your first day back?" Dr. Archuleta asked quickly, without her usual preamble. Something told Gemma Dr. Archuleta had an idea already.

And without even a breath, Gemma launched into the tale of the day before. When she finished, she found she was panting from anger. It was anger she hadn't let herself feel the day before, too worried people would notice she was in fact, affected, and worse yet, damaged. "My sister and um, Trisha made sure people didn't talk about me." It was the first time she had mentioned Trisha to Dr. Archuleta, and it made her wonder if she should have said anything. Was it some kind of violation? She wasn’t the doctor so she wasn’t certain.

For the longest time Dr. Archuleta sat, a contemplative look on her face. When she spoke, it was not what Gemma was expecting. "First, I want to tell you how sorry I am for what you went through. Regardless of what was discovered, something like this, it should never get out. Not unless you want it to be out. As for Sarah, the receptionist, we've spoken with her, and she is currently on an unpaid leave of absence while the situation is investigated further." In that moment, Gemma knew Dalton Wade really had kept his word, and called to resolve the matter immediately after leaving. "Second, I want to tell you how proud I am that you chose to stay at school yesterday. It took a lot of courage. And no one, absolutely
no
one would have thought of you differently had you decided otherwise. What you went through can bring down the most powerful. But you stood tall."

"I just didn't want to add fuel to the fire," Gemma murmured.

"I understand that. Regardless, I'm proud of you."

It was in that moment that Gemma found her courage. "There was something I wanted to speak with you about.

*LtB*

"I can't believe what happened to Gemma, man," Josh muttered around a bagel.

Elliot watched his friend make a mess all over the counter before he responded. "No one can. Not even me." He didn't say even though he was there. No one knew that just yet. "But she's doing so much better."

"Yeah. I wondered why you guys avoided me for a while there. Thought it had something to do with Christie, thinking you were choosing sides being that she’s your sister, and was Gemma’s best friend, but uh," Josh stated as he looked around, even though no one else was home, "I never saw you guys with her, so I wasn't sure what was going on."

Elliot just nodded. He didn't want to talk about this anymore. It was still entirely up to Gemma to tell what she wanted. Even if Josh had some inkling, he wasn’t going to be the one to fill in the holes. "What about you? You talking to Christie again?"

Josh just shrugged. "Kinda. I mean I'm talking to her, but we're not really
talking
talking, you know?" Elliot didn't but didn't say anything. "Like, after Christmas, I called her. I wished her a happy new year. But yesterday, it was like bad Christie popped up again. I don't know, Gemma passes out, and instead of being concerned, she was pissed because no one told her what was going on! You saw her tears, I really thought it mattered, and then once you guys were in the office, she was asking why everyone was keeping things from her."

"My parents told me they talked to her about that."

"Yeah, you should have seen her though. She called your mom right quick like, ranting about something bad happening. I actually thought she was upset because of everything, but then she started going off on no one telling her anything and that it wasn’t fair, she had a right to know,” Josh shook his head. “I can't believe how deep Penny and Cassie managed to get. I mean, Chris has always been a little selfish, but she was never
mean
. She was never this bad. It's like a guy who has the alcoholic gene. Give him some liquor and all hell can break lose."

It disturbed Elliot to hear Josh talk about Christie that way. And not because it angered him, the diss. He was disturbed because it was an accurate description. She may have been starting to get her life right, but she still had a long way to go. "I hope she starts to really get better now that she won’t have anyone around to feed the monster."

"Me too, man. Me too."

*LtB*

Gemma had a lot to think about. Dr. Archuleta had left her with a lot to consider. She still wasn't completely certain, but there was hope. Before she could delve too far into her thoughts, her cell phone buzzed on her night stand. It was an unfamiliar number; local, but not one she knew. She thought to let it go to voicemail, but at the last minute, answered.

"Hello?"

"Gemma? Hello, this is Detective Vasquez."

Hearing that name, after so long of not hearing anything from the detective, Gemma's blood ran cold. "H-hi, Detective Vasquez. How can I help you?" Her voice was trembling almost as bad as her body had suddenly begun to.

There was an intake of breath. "Gemma, we uh, we got a hit on your case tonight."

CHAPTER TWELVE

She was numb. She didn't feel the leather on the seat she sat on. She couldn't feel the chill in the air. Or feel the way Elliot kept stroking her hand, trying to soothe her. She didn't feel anything. The moment Detective Estrella Vasquez uttered those words about possibly knowing who hurt her, her entire body, her mind, completely shut down.

Gemma remembered walking downstairs, seeing her family sitting at the dinner table, since dinner was going to be served soon. She remembered telling them about the phone call. She even remembered calling Elliot to tell him. It would be important for him to know too, she'd thought. But while she remembered, it felt like someone else's moments. Every action felt like they belonged to someone else.

"Gemma? What's wrong?" her father had asked her, but his voice was muffled, like she was under water.

She never answered him because she couldn't say. She couldn't articulate the words needed to tell her father how out of control her mind was running. Even in her phone call to Elliot, she didn't really say much.

"Detective Vasquez called. They're coming to my house."

It was Elliot who showed up and ended up explaining what was going on.

This was almost worse than the moment she started walking into the police station those months before. She was in a daze, desperately trying to snap herself out of it. It was only when Elliot pulled her to him, held her tight, and told her she was going to be okay, that Gemma felt anything close to cognitive. She nodded her head, and followed him into her kitchen where the two detectives working her case were waiting.

She didn't remember them arriving.

"I'll explain a little about what's going on," Detective Thompson began after everyone was seated. "We decided to expand our parameters after coming up empty within the local area as well as the state. First we sent out requests hoping for some form of DNA match in surrounding states. We sent out the sketches and a screen capture of the video hoping someone close by recognized the three." He cleared his throat, his fingers playing with a file. "We got a hit, but it wasn't anything substantial like we'd hoped. When that came up empty, Detective Vasquez and I decided to take it throughout the whole US."

"And you found something?" Andrew asked, his face in lawyer mode.

"We found a big something," Detective Thompson answered.

"There was an assault, a young girl, not much older than Gemma, raped and beaten in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She said it was three men who attacked her. The description she gave is near identical to Gemma and Elliot's. Then there was a college student in Duluth, Minnesota. She unfortunately did not survive. But," Detective Vasquez said softly, "the DNA evidence left behind, because she fought back, pinged onto Chattanooga and another case, almost a decade old. They'd already had evidence on file for their case. And when yours came through, it was discovered at least one of the men was matched to that decade old DNA."

"They've done this how many times?" Leighanna asked quietly.

"We have evidence that points to at least four."

"But you suspect many more." Caroline wasn't asking.

"We do. Right now, we have an APB out. And the FBI has been contacted due to the crimes being spread throughout much of the country."

The detectives went on to explain a little about how they came to the conclusions of who, and how the FBI will now work. There was going to be a visit from an agent within the coming weeks to discuss the case. Everything was adding up and quick.

It almost seemed amazing how there was no breaks for so long and the bam! Everything was falling into place.

And then their names were said. And no one knew what to say or do.

Jim Kenton. Evan Clallum. And Quinten Marshall. All from Boise, Idaho. All members of wannabe punk rock band Boise Storm.

Each were in their thirties. Each had been married only to divorce not long after. Each believed they were rock star Gods, though the music they made never went anywhere and so they worked odd jobs here and there to pay for rent. Each had been arrested several times for disorderly conduct, and Quinten, for sexual battery. He'd served four years before being released. They had no respect for anyone, and felt women were merely made for sex. They'd also never met a woman who said 'no.'

Of course, that just meant there were probably many more women out there who had been taken advantage of or assaulted.

When Andrew questioned why nothing had been done to prevent more attacks, there wasn't much Detectives Thompson and Vasquez could say. Somehow, they had slipped through the system. Especially since the Minnesota girl had been attacked before Gemma. There was a repeat offender on their hands, and he got away.

"We are doing everything we can though to bring them to justice. I promise you that."

"Why… they're not local, not even from this state! Why were they in Broomfield?" Gemma asked, her mind finally playing catch up.

"We think they're hard-up for money and had originally tried to get in on some of the oil field crews throughout the northern part of the state and in Wyoming, but when that didn't work, they changed direction and were looking for bars that would let them play. Every bar owner we talked with described a small group that wanted to play their stage but none agreed." Detective Thompson smiled sadly. "It's unfortunate that it was so dark in these establishments, that no one really got a good look at them. We probably wouldn't have needed this much time to pass, and other victims to come about if not for that fact."

“The fact that we now know who we’re working with is good news. Have hope,” Detective Vasquez encouraged.

Long after the detectives left, everyone sat silent, still at the table. The only sound that could be heard was the grandfather clock ticking in the living room.

"They have names now," Gemma murmured softly. "I don't… I don't know how I feel about that." For the last few months, they were monsters in her nightmares. They had faces, and she held fear, but she didn't know anything more about them. But now, now they had faces and names attached to them. They had backstory and cruelty. She almost wished she could go back in time to when she didn’t know anything more.

"They're going to get them. I know it," Caroline said firmly. She was nodding her head, determination on her face. "And when they do, those assholes will be so lucky that they're protected by the jail bars."

Gemma wanted to leave the conversation after that. She didn't want to think any more on any of it. Standing from her chair, she smiled at her family, and then quickly left the room. She rushed upstairs trying to push the thoughts of what it all meant and how long it would take to finally catch them. One thing she did know, after they'd hurt her, they'd left town. But did that mean they wouldn't be back?

They lived, or were from Idaho. It didn’t matter if that was more than a state away. They were still in the same country, still on the same continent in the same hemisphere. That was too close as it was.

"Gemma?" Elliot was standing at her bedroom door, watching as she rubbed her temples, her body rocking slowly back and forth on the edge of the bed.

"I hate this," Gemma mumbled. "First everything at school, and now this? I hate this."

"I know, sweetheart." He stepped into the room and sat beside her. He didn't know how to make this better for her. While it was so good to know the cops knew who had done this, it didn't really bring any peace. Perhaps once they were caught and prosecuted, but until then…he didn't' know what to do.

As she leaned into her friend, Gemma let everything she and Dr. Archuleta had talked about fill her mind. It was a good distraction for the time being even if it set her on edge in a different way.

"I don't know what to do," she begins, her fingers twisting the ends of her shirt. "I mean before I was…before, I really liked Elliot. I liked him so much and he liked Trisha. I never told him how I felt, and he still doesn't know now, because I just didn't want to feel the rejection, you know?" She's embarrassed but doesn't stop. "And then…and then I was…raped…and I just stopped thinking about how I felt. It hurt too much to even consider liking anyone because I've been so terrified of everything. And I didn't want to taint anything."

"That's understandable. What are you asking?"

She huffs, keeping her eyes away from her doctor. "I noticed that Elliot is more affectionate toward me. A lot more. He calls me pet names like ‘sweetheart’ when he never has before. Though I don't know if he knows he does, or if it even really means anything. I mean he never did anything like that before so…. He always holds my hand, and keeps close." She looks up, finally making eye contact. "I wanted to explain it away thinking it's because I was attacked, and because he found me. But sometimes the things he says, friends don't say those things. At least not to those they are
just
friends with. And my sister, she said she can see that he's different with me. And Trisha, she's not even on his sphere anymore. Almost like she never was. And she seems to think we’re dating or close to so I don’t know."

"What does he say?"

Gemma feels her cheeks warm. "He tells me I mean everything to him. He tells me, he'd be lost without me and that I'm the most important person to him. He says he would do anything for me. And the way he says these things, there is so much passion behind them."

Dr. Archuleta is quiet, her pen scribbling away. After a moment, she speaks, "Do you want him to like you?"

It is a question she knew would be asked. "Yes. I mean, it's what I wanted before. But what if I'm too damaged for him to like? Or what if he likes me because he feels sorry for me?"

"Oh Gemma. For one, you are not damaged. You were hurt, but you are healing. That does not equal damaged. And these things take time. You can't expect to just be able to have normal relationships immediately because your mind is not ready." More scribbling. "Do you like Elliot?"

Here it is. "I believe I still do. I mean I know I do. I just don't know if that's acceptable."

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Because of what happened. I was hurt. I shouldn't like anyone! That’s like saying it’s okay what happened."

"Feeling affection for someone, after a traumatic experience does not mean what those men did to you was acceptable. In no way, shape or form will it ever be acceptable,” Dr. Archuleta’s voice is sharp as she says this. “Being raped does not mean you can't still have romantic feelings for someone. Being raped doesn't mean your life is meant to be empty, devoid of love and affection. Just look at me. I was attacked, but I am someone's wife now."

She lets that sink in, lets it crowd her mind. "So what do I do?"

"Let things go at their own pace. Don't try to rush anything. Just let each day come, and take each as they come. You may like Elliot, but if you try to rush it, you may end up setting yourself back. And if he likes you in turn, he may just be waiting for you to give him a sign that you are accepting of his affection before he proceeds any further." Dr. Archuleta smiles kindly, her note pad no longer in use. "You have both been through something very traumatic. It is likely to bond you tighter together, or pull you apart. I believe you two will be bonded well. But let it come naturally."

Gemma still wasn't completely sold on the idea that it was okay for her to have these feelings, regardless of Dr. Archuleta’s story, but she left the appointment promising to try to not be so hard on herself. Besides, like Dr. Archuleta said, if she could be married, what made Gemma different-other than the circumstances of both of their attacks? It was just something else she knew she needed to work on, getting her mind back to knowing what was okay and what was just her fear tricking her into thinking wasn't.

"You did better, you know?" Elliot broke into her thoughts.

"What?"

"With Detective Thompson. The first time you were around him, your whole body was stiff, I could feel the tension rolling off of you," he smiled reassuringly. "But tonight, he walked into the room, and I didn't notice any change in you at all." He blushed slightly at the idea of mentioning that he was paying attention to her body, but didn't comment further.

"Huh. I hardly noticed."

"You are making amazing progress, Gemma. One day you'll be able to see it too." Glancing at the time on the alarm clock, Elliot let out a heavy sigh. "I should probably get going. I said I wouldn't be gone long." He stood pulling Gemma with him as he wrapped his arms around her small frame. She felt warm and right against him. And if not for the theme of the night, he would have allowed his mind to wander a little and imagine holding her without something bad happening to cause it. And because it was so very easy to see, to allow his brain to travel, Elliot knew he needed to clamp down on any and all thoughts that were anywhere close to affectionate toward Gemma so that he could walk away from her without looking like a moron. "I'll call you in a bit."

"Okay, drive safe." Gemma reached up on her toes, and lightly brushed her lips against Elliot's cheek. It felt right, and she wanted to show him how grateful she was without saying the words again.

"I will. I lo-" His mouth went dry and his brain nearly fried. After deciding he wasn't going to let his imagination roam into anything more than a friend offering a supportive hug, his tongue decided it needed to change the game up, especially with her mouth so close to his. There was no way he could tell Gemma he loved her, even though just the thought of it made him feel warm inside. There was no way he could do that because he knew she wasn't ready for it, and saying it, he wanted her to believe it, to know it, and to hopefully return it. But holy shit, he needed to get his filter checked. And take another cold shower. "I'll uh, see you tomorrow."