Chapter 0005



26

tick. tock.

The constant, repeated and might I say annoying noises of the clock rang in my ears as I just sat opposite the table.

It was worse in the moments of silence where I couldn't answer anymore questions.

The noises of the impaled my ears, slowly sulking me into a form of hypnosis to telling the truth as I began to zone out.

"Ms Baie" His voice dashed me back to reality as I just stared like a deadbeat, my hands slumped tightly in the handcuffs.

Soon, life was a heavy cross to bear.

I didn't sleep, I couldn't sleep.

"You want to tell us the truth now?" The investigators that oversaw the arrests asked, now comfortably sitting opposite me.

My eyelids were heavy, begging to be closed as my uncle just nodded as a form of reassurance.

"I've come to a deal" Douglas said, sliding a bonded document across the table.

"My client here, will answer all your questions, regarding the arrest including the names and confidential information" He paused before I looked to him.

"And in return, my client not only walks out of here free, but she is given immunity" He raised his voice as they went through the papers.

"Come on, that is an unrealistic deal here-"

"My client has valuable information regarding the perpetuators and the evidence, you know she's not really who you want" He continued.

"Your client is facing charges of possession, theft and assault. She's facing months even probably a year if she doesn't start speaking" The investigator threatened.

"You know you can't have her in prison unless pled guilty" Douglas argued.

"Then all you have to do is plead guilty, you're right, she's not the one we want" The other replied immediately.

"You're the bait-"

"You plead guilty and tell us everything, not withholding a single piece of needed information and you get community duty and probation-"

"And blanket immunity" Douglas interrupted.

"I can't snitch on Harry and the girls. He had nothing to do with this. It's all my fault" I outburst while the men stood.

"I don't think she understands. The offer isn't on the table for long. We have a dozen of girls here that could kill to have that deal" He said as he walked out.

"I just need a word with her" Douglas, my uncle replied before he turned to me.

"We got the d-"

"I'm not snitching on Harry" I interrupted his squeal of excitement with my words.

****

WEEKS AGO

My hair was slumped around my neck, soaking my skin with moist and dripping water

-before i immediately dashed the soft linen under, enveloping the strands to clean it off.

I walked to my closet with the towel around my chest, my palms clasping the cream that rested on the wooden table.

I slipped a finger through the content before gently running around my palms, and then I creamed my body

-even though i was about going to sleep.

But the truth was i was just covering it up, trying not to think about the day i just had.

I was worried sick-

"Ruby was in an accident" Her voice kept echoing in my head, so did the sight of her being unmoved in the hospital bed.

And the sight of suddenly rushing her in for a surgery, i was worried sick.

But when my phone rang, it suddenly drifted me from my thoughts as I rushed to it, in hope to hear her voice.

I immediately swiped across the call, totally ignoring the name that was on the screen.

"Ruby?" I could feel my voice crack as I repeatedly called out to her name.

But there was some silence before a masculine voice interrupted, leaving me shocked.

"Jacqueline?" He called out with doubt and it was then I recognized his voice.

"Is this H-"

"Harry. Yes" He interrupted with an audible exhale and i was left perplexed, how her got-

"Jones. Jones wrote down your number and I just couldn't wait to talk to yo-"

"Look" I interrupted, before his sound died as if no one was in the line.

"I don't know the kind of impression I gave earlier, but I'm certainly not someone you couldn't wait to call" I answered.

"Harry, you sounded amazing but us, i don't believe I'm cutout for a relationship" I said and there was a light chuckle

-one that embraced my shame at his next words.

"Jacqueline, slow your roll. No one's talking about a relationship" He teased, being an obvious lie.

It wasn't the first time i was called to a table, and these men either wanted some private service or at least your number.

"You sound tense, like you're almost panting" He continued and I remained quiet.

"At least you could talk to me?" He asked, before I fell into the bed, adjusting the towel around my chest as I exhaled.

"Have you ever feared that you might loose something, someone so dear?" I asked, and after the brisk pause, I shook my head.

"Nevermind, you're just a complete stranger, don't be weirded out or anything. Look at me opening up t-"

"Yes" He simply replied, shutting me up as i awaited his further words.

"Actually, i do understand. And i live with that fear almost every day of my life" He continued and for the first time that night, i took my mind off Ruby.

"My friend, back at the club. She was in an accident and it's-" I sobbed, withholding the eager tears that clung to my eyelids.

"It's very bad. She's like my sister and she's not talking, she's not moving" I said as I finally let the tears fall down my cheeks.

"You said- you said you understand?" I asked, shaking my head off my most terrible fears.

"My mum, she has- cancer. Almost half my life, I'd seen her struggle with jobs, chemo and life" His voice deteriorated.

"She didn't have anything. We didn't and we just assumed she was going to die" He said.

"It had always been both of us, ever since father left us when i was younger" He said.

"I couldn't imagine loosing her- Geez, this is not how i planned this conversation to play out" He forced a laughter as I just listened.

"I'm so sorry" I apologized, and there we were, on opposite sides of the city, comforting ourselves of our fears.

There was something about him that made me open up, the fact that he was real, he was relatable or that he didn't judge.

"I'm Jacqueline, and I'm half south African, by roots, never spent a minute there" I said and he just chuckled, remembering the similar conversation we had earlier at the bar.

"I still smell some mystery" He said.

"That makes two of us- i'm actually really sorry about your mother. I can't imagine how tough it would be" I added.

"We manage, i guess. You do the things you do to survive" He replied before I felt a slight shiver then I looked to my bare chest.

"Shit" I cursed.

****

"Shit-"

"Why do you make it sound so easy? That i could just rat him out because of?" I asked.

"Your freedom, but i guess that's not very much important" He replied, sarcastically.

"You heard the deal, and this is the most generous we could get" Uncle Doug said, pacing around the room.

"You don't understand, he did this for his mom, sure she didn't know but she was dying and they were all alone" I answered.

"She has cancer and not all people take risks for their parents. I knew i would have that day-"

"I would have stood there, to get shot while I get to see both my parents walk out that door alive and I'd give anything-"

"I'd do anything to have changed the outcome of that night" I yelled.

"But that is not the story they want to hear, they just want to hear the result" I said.

"They're going to treat him like a hardened criminal, and who's going to take care of his mom while he's gone" I said.

"So it is about doing some justice? The only justice here is yourself. You can't change that day, saving him won't do anything except from bring you both down" He said.

"Then so be it, it was my decision that day to go out, not his. If anything, he told me to stay" I replied as I looked away.

"Jacqueline, can you hear yourself? Where is that girl, that smart young girl that wouldn't let anything get in her way?" He questioned.

"All in the name of what? Love?" He scoffed, placing his hands above his hips.

"She's gone. She's far gone, this is the new jacqueline, the one that has been wronged by alot of people" I answered.

"And I'm not playing their games" I said.

****

WEEKS AGO

"I'm not playing games, you either have it done by transfers or you withdraw-" He raised his voice, not noticing i stood behind.

"But he's been calling, that he knew where i li-"

"I don't give half a shit, it's your mess and you have to clean it this time" He said to her before he finally turned back to see me.

"Jacq?" His tone lowered as I dropped the bags on the couch, my eyes glaring into his.

"Is anything wrong?" I softly asked as he approached me with his half buttoned shirt that partly revealed his hairy chest.

His palms groped my elbows, pulling me into him as our breaths mingled.

I slipped my shoes off my feet before he planted a kiss in my lips, while his eyes glinted mischievously.

"Your mother around?" I whispered as he pulled towards me as we found ourselves walking back into the bedroom.

"No-" He said as I pulled him by the collar of his shirt as we fell to the bed, his lips buried softly into mine.

"Ruby's getting better and i need to stop worrying, so make me- make me stop worrying" I whispered into his ears as he pinned me down to the bed.

He slowly crept beneath, raising my top up towards my chest as he struggled with the button on my jeans.

My breaths hitched as he pulled down my panties, my hands buried into his blonde hair as he lowered towards my spot.

A moan escaped my lips as my other fingers clinched hardly to the bedsheets, my head raised in the air in utmost pleasure.

Then he raised his face, while I moaned at the warmth of his touch.

He crawled up, planting yet another kiss on my lips before he took off the button on his shorts to reveal his muscled boner.

I slowly sat up, knowing how badly I had wanted this while he just fell back into me.

"I love you-" He had whispered into my ears as i just laid on the bed

-for a moment, unable to say it back.

****

"I did make a mistake and that mistake was leaving you-"

"I couldn't imagine what you'd have been if I had took you in like my own daughter, what your father would have wanted" He continued.

"I've missed so much and you have to, you've been a stripper for six years?" Doug asked and I chuckled.

"A stripper?" He sighed.

"If there's anyone doing justice, i am but nothing would ever take that guilt from my heart knowing that i left you" He said.

"So please, you still have years ahead of you, don't waste it behind bars, you'd miss out on alot more" He said.

"I want you to come with me, when you're out. I want you to finally be in my family and experience love and-"

"Uncle Douglas?" I whispered in doubt.

"This is your green card, your silver lining and I want you to take it" He said.

"Your father always said not to waste time on your past or worry about the future, all that matters is now" He said.

"All we have is now"

****

"Do you plead guilty to all the charges alleged?" His question pierced my ears.

A judge, a court and all of the familiar memories.

-

"...nothing but the truth"

"

Harry Smith"

"Were they any cases of sexual assault?"

"No"

"No"

"Yes"

Each answer i gave always attracted more questions, that was why I was relieved when the booklet was closed.

"Thank you for your cooperation"

-

The buzzing noises jolted me from sleep as I waved the strands of hair away from my face with sleepy eyes.

It took a while for me to process that my uncle stood above me, and my hands were free, without handcuffs.

"Come on, let's go" He said, with a smile as we stood apart, guilt inflating my conscience.

"Come on, you're free" He whispered as I slowly walked out, a guard at my side as we made our way down the cell blocks.

My eyes navigated each corner in the hope that I would sight him, at least.

"Jacqueline?" His dim voice called before his hands groped mine and I shook, startled.

"Are you okay?" Uncle Doug asked before I gasped, running off

-to him.

The alerted guards had flooded to where I ran before I halted right at his front.

The food slipped off his hands as he held me tightly, not willing to let go.

"Step away from each other, now" A guard yelled, flinging a gun in his hands.

"One second" I whispered as my eyes watered, my fingers holding his clothing.

"Now" His threatening voice echoed through the walls as we withdrew, while our eyes stared deep into each other's, speaking the words our lips failed to say.

"I'm sorry, Harry" Was all I could whisper as my hands were held back, pulling me.

"I'm sorry" I wailed, as the tears streamed down my cheeks, where for some reason felt cold, like blood washed.

I was free, and i was meant to be happy.

Instead i was angry, depressed and nauseated, refusing the urge to throw up

-which i later did.

My belongings were handed to me over the counter as soon we made our way towards the exit-

-and as soon as we did, as soon as the sun caressed my skin once more and the breeze swayed my way, i wanted to feel at peace.

So badly.

I paused on the steps, while my gaze followed distantly before he held my hands.

"I'm not leaving you" Doug assured in a shrill whisper, while I still looked away.

"Not this time-"

To be continued...