A/N: You guys are the best! Thank you for all the reviews and your positive words about my story. I hope you like this next chapter just as much. Please note that this is a story for entertainment and not set in the real world. I understand there are certain protocols that the law follows but then it wouldn't make the story as fun. ;)
As always the mistakes are mine. Enjoy!
CHAPTER THREE
{Anastasia}
I'm sitting next to the stark white bed holding the hand of my battered and injured husband. Well, soon to be ex-husband, I guess. He looks like he's been put through a meat grinder but thankfully he survived the crash. I only found out about the incident through the news at the hotel I was staying at. I'd thrown my phone out the window after leaving the restaurant and never looked back. As soon as I saw the news I rush over and haven't left his side. His parents were on vacation and should be here soon. Their plane should land any moment. Elliot, Kate and Mia have been in and out of the room all day bringing me food and hovering over me. I guess when your life is played out on the internet and tv you can't really pretend that nothing is wrong.
Christian has a broken leg and wrist, he had internal bleeding but the surgery to remove his appendix and spleen stopped that. The most important is his head injury and neck. He and Taylor were thrown out of the helicopter and they suspect that their bodies hit a tree. The doctors aren't sure of the complete damage until all the swelling goes down. They have a stint in to drain the blood and to relieve some of the pressure. The doctors are hopeful but I can tell that they aren't sure if he'll wake soon or at all for that matter.
Taylor is two doors down on the ICU floor with Gail by his side. He has both legs and a collarbone broken. He too was thrown out of the helicopter but didn't get as severe of injuries as Christian did. He hasn't woken up yet either, but the doctors aren't as concerned as they are with Christian.
I try and avoid leaving the room if I can help it. Every time I do I seem to get the sympathy look or pitiful eyes from everyone around me. It's either from my husband being in the hospital or the fact that our entire marriage ending argument was played out for everyone to have a front row seat.
"How's he doing?" I'm pulled out of my own self-pity for the moment when I hear Elliot's voice.
"Same. They check on him every hour but his vitals haven't changed." He nods and takes a seat on the other side of Christian's bed.
"You know that my brother is the dumbest bastard alive for what he did at that restaurant. I'm sorry you had to be put through that. I have no idea why he did what he did, but I know that he adores and loves you. Obsessed, even. It doesn't make any sense."
I let out a heavy sigh.
"Sometimes we just aren't enough for someone else. We should've had a longer engagement, I think we both rushed it because this was both our first real relationship and we skipped over a bunch of steps before we made that leap down the aisle." Even saying the words is like swallowing acid. I don't believe them but I sure as hell don't want any pity from his family. Or any one else for that matter, I'm doing a good enough job all on my own.
My hand immediately goes to my stomach and a knot forms. How are we going to raise our child? Does he even want to be in their life or cut ties completely?
"I don't believe that at all, Ana. I've never seen two people who are more in love than you two. It kind makes the rest of us look bad for not having such a strong connection like the one you both share."
"I'm not going to argue with that but sometimes maybe love just isn't enough." I shrug and can feel the tears in the back of my eyes.
We sit there in silence for a while letting the beeping from the machines take up the noise in the room from the lack of conversation.
"Who is the pedophile, Ana? Is it someone we know?" Elliot asks after a beat. I know the Grey's have no idea about Christian and Elena and I hate that my temper got the best of me at the restaurant. Christian had confided in me and I broke it. Even as mad as I am at Christian, I never wanted to be the one to tell someone else's secrets.
"Elliot…" I start to say but his phones goes off.
"Hello…you did, okay…okay see you guys soon." He hangs up and turns his focus back on me. "That was mom, they just arrived but dad got a call and needed to make a stop first and then will be here."
I nod then the door flies open and a handful of nurses come in. Elliot's phone goes off again so he walks out to answer.
"Dr. Richards wants to update some scans. It should only take an hour tops." The older nurse says as she connects his IV bag to the bed along with all the other portable machines that are making Christian comfortable. "Honey, go have some caffeine and stretch your legs. Fresh air is always recommended."
Taking her up on the suggestion, I walk out of the room and spot Ryan standing across the door. We make eye contact but don't say a word. I know he searched for me when I caught him off guard and sped away with exhaust in his face. I bypass him on my way down to Taylor's room. With a light knock Gail answers looking about how I look, I'm sure.
"Any updates?" I ask after pulling her into a hug.
"About the same. How about Mr. Grey?"
"Same. No changes."
"Don't worry, dear, they are strong and will pull through this."
I nod. I've been numb since yesterday. I'm not even sure how one is supposed to act in a situation like this. I've cried some much since yesterday that I'm sure my tear ducts are dried up.
"Let's go and get something to drink, Mrs. Grey. I'm sure the baby needs a break and a stretch." Gail says and leads me out of the room. We go down to the cafeteria on the first floor and I grab some juice and a banana while she gets a coffee and muffin. Ryan follows close behind and pays for our items since neither of us thought to bring our purses with us.
Walking off the elevator we are met with the entire Grey family along with Kate. Grandfather and Grandmother Trevelyan are seated by the nurse's desk and stand to greet me. I notice that Carrick is standoffish and eyeing me as though I've killed their dog.
"How are you doing, sweetheart?" Grandma T asks as she ushers me over to her seat. "Everything okay with b-a-b-y?" She whispers the last part.
"We're as well as can be expected given the circumstances."
"Don't worry, sweetie, those Grey men can pull through just about anything." She winks and a small smile pulls at the corners of my mouth. The first I've had in over the last twenty-four hours. No one must've told her about what happened yesterday.
"I know. Christian would never willing leave the ones he loves." Even if I'm not included in that statement, I know that he'd fight tooth and nail to be here for the rest of his family.
The bell of the elevators dings and out comes Christian's bed and his nurse's wheeling him to the room. Two police officers and a man in a cheap suit follow as well behind the nurses. As they approach we all stand and start to make our way over to Christian's room but stop when the officers block the door after the bed enters the room.
"Excuse us, we'd like to see our son." Grace stands toe to toe with the officers and almost pushes past them.
"Sorry Ma'am, but there has been a development."
"Well, don't just stand there like a statue, tell us what the hell is going on!" Grandpa T demands.
The young guy probably around my age in the cheap suit steps forward and flashes his badge. Detective Ford.
"After receiving a preliminary report, we suspect that the helicopter was tampered with. It was not an accident, someone sabotaged the aircraft and was hoping to succeed in the demise of Mr. Grey." Detective Ford tells us.
Gasps set off all over the place and my knees go weak. Grandpa T grabs ahold of me to keep me from landing on my ass. Out of everyone Carrick doesn't look one bit surprised and I wonder if he knows more.
Who would want to kill Christian?
"W-who would do something like this? Do you have any leads?" Kate, the ever journalist, pipes up as she holds Elliot close.
"Yes, we have a suspect and are about to bring them in. We feel very strongly about it and think we have our person." Detective Ford assures us.
"Well, then what are you standing around here for. Go do your job and take this asshole down!" Elliot yells and all movement and chatter stops in the hallway.
"We are on it." Detective Ford says then turns to the officer to his left and nods. They both step to the side of Grace and take a few paces over until he is close to Grandpa T and myself. "Anastasia Rose Grey, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney…"
Shocked. Numb. Dream-like state. Foggy haze.
Is this some kind of joke? When did we enter the Twilight Zone?
"…do you understand everything that has been said to you, Mrs. Grey?"
I'm not even sure I can respond. Is this man serious? I've never even had a ticket much less try and hurt another person.
All hell breaks loose when the man tries to place handcuffs on my wrist. Kate shoves the officer and Grandma T gets in Detective Ford's face. My body is shaking like a leaf and Grace and Mia are trying to steady me while yelling that they've made a mistake.
"You are out of your minds!"
"What are you talking about? This is his wife!"
"Is this a joke?"
"What kind of rent-a-cops are you?"
The berating and yelling continue until Detective Ford screams out.
"ENOUGH!" Everyone stops. "Let us do our jobs or I'll haul every one of you in."
"You are not laying a finger on Mrs. Grey." Ryan dares and steps in between me and the officer. For the first time in my life I'm thankful to have Ryan. He looks menacing at six-four towering over the others. The second officer on the right side of the Detective catches him off guard and subdues him against the wall. "You're making a big mistake. Mr. Grey will make sure to have you shoveling shit at a circus when this is all over!" He yells and tries to break free from the hold but is tasered into submission.
I feel the cold metal against my wrist but I definitely don't enjoy this like the last time cuffs were placed on me.
This is not happening. This is not happening.
Slowly I'm escorted out of the ICU and down to the front of the hospital where the paparazzi have been camped out since news broke of Christian's crash. The light bulbs go off and are blinding even as the officer tries to shield me from their cameras. I still haven't been able to form a single word and just follow as the officer leads me to the police cruiser. He opens the back door and places a hand on the top of my head to help me into the car. The questions that are being asked are just as ridiculous as me being arrested. We pull away from the curb and head out into the street.
I'm not exactly sure how long of a drive it took us to get to the police station because I'm sure I blacked out after everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours. Once we've entered the building I'm taken to a dark room and placed at a metal table where they lock my hands onto it then leaves me in the empty room.
That is where I sit and wait. And wait. And wait. For what, I have no idea. I place my forehead in my hands and let the waterworks flow. I thought the well was dry but this turned into a different level. Ever since meeting Christian my life has been turned upside down. Giving him my virginity. BDSM. Elena Lincoln. Psycho ex-subs. Being held at gunpoint. The engagement. Marriage. Buying my company. Wanting a divorce and the crash. And now this.
The door finally opens after what feels like hours and Detective Ford struts in with blue folders in his hands. After depositing them on the table in front of me he scrapes the metal chair out and takes a seat.
"Sorry to keep you waiting Mrs. Grey but the station is jammed packed today with criminals." He smirks. How can anyone find it amusing when you're being accused of something like this?
He reaches in to his jacket pocket and pulls out a recorder and sets it on the cold table. It looks just like the one I used to interview Christian with all those months ago.
"Listen, I was just promoted to Detective and this is my first real case, I plan on making a big splash out of the gate, so it would be in your best interest to cooperate. Make this nice and easy for everyone involved." He reaches out and strokes my hand with his fingers and I try desperately to yank them away from his touch but the handcuffs bite into my flesh, keeping me in place.
He presses play and then starts to talk again.
"This is Detective James Ford questioning the suspect Anastasia Rose Grey on the suspicion of her husband's, Christian Trevelyan Grey, helicopter crash and attempted murder." He looks up making eye contact. "Mrs. Grey, have you had your Miranda Rights read to you?"
Trying to pull any type of wetness into my dry mouth, I come up empty.
"Y-yes." My voice comes out as a whisper feeling like sandpaper so he pushes the recorder up to my face to say it again. "Yes."
"Good. Now, Mrs. Grey there seems to be a number of videos of you threatening your husband after what looks like a heated argument at a restaurant yesterday around lunch time. You have one hell of a slap on you." He chuckles and opens the folders. "It seems to me that a woman scorned as yourself would have motive in causing the demise of her husband. Especially without a prenup involved."
I've seen all kinds of police shows and movies where they interview the suspect and their lawyers tell them over and over to not say a word or answer any of their questions but I truly have nothing to hide.
"I didn't do this. I love my husband very much and would never try to cause him any harm. Yes, we had an argument but that didn't mean that I'd try and kill him."
Wait. Do I even have a lawyer? Can Carrick be my attorney, being that he's family? Should I call my dad or Kate? How does this even go? The movies aren't even real but they make it seem like this. Shit, dad is on a boat in Alaska for the next two months fishing, I don't even know if he'll have service to answer my call.
A knock on the door has Detective turning the recorder off then up from his seat and opening the door.
"Ah, just in time. We were just getting to the fun stuff." Ford says and opens the door wider to let whoever is on the other side in.
Thank god, Carrick walks in with a briefcase.
"I need a minute alone with Mrs. Grey." He informs the Detective.
"Sure."
"Can you uncuff her?"
Detective Ford strolls over to me with key in hand and unlocks the cuffs. I rub my wrists to try to get the blood circulating as he walks out the door.
Carrick has yet to make eye contact with me and is fidgeting.
"Carrick, what is happening?" I plead.
"I don't know, Ana, you tell me." He questions. "Grace and I get dragged back here from vacation to find out that someone has tried to kill our son and you're the prime suspect." He snaps at me.
"You can't possible think that I had something to do with this! This is nuts!" I throw my hands up in the air. How could he think or even suggest something like this? Carrick and I haven't been on the same page ever since Christian and I got engaged and he brought up having a prenup, but I at least thought we had formed some kind of understanding over the months.
He shrugs and takes out a folder from his briefcase. What is it with everyone and folders?
"Seeing as how me or my law firm representing you is a conflict of interest I suggest you retain a good attorney. You seem to have put yourself in some hot water."
Is this really happening right now? My mind can't even compute everything that is being thrown at me.
"What? You're not going to help me? Like in, at all?"
Mind. Blown.
"No, I'm not. But I am here to represent the best interest of Christian." He takes out some papers from the folder and slides them over to me with a pen set on top.
One thing I've learned about Christian is that you don't just sign papers without thoroughly looking over them. Picking up the pen to look over what these papers are my heart stops beating.
Divorce Papers.
A/N: Thank you for reading and please review!
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See you all next week and Happy 4th of July for those here in the USA!