A/N: Thank you guys for your reviews! I'm really glad you guys like it, and thanks for the replies!
At that moment, Jude returned with coffee and all of its makings on a tray. Tommy couldn't help but notice how she filled the role of hostess so easily. Instead of sitting on the sofa between the two detectives, she chose to sit on the arm of Tommy's chair.
"We're investigating the attack that led to your hospitalization," said Andrews. "We're aware that you've told your story to the police force, but now the FBI is involved. We'd greatly appreciate it if you would recount what happened."
Tommy had never heard the details of Jude's attack. He wanted to know, but was afraid to ask.
"I was in my studio Friday night," she began. "When Spencer walked in."
"How do you know Spencer?" one detective asked.
"I hired him as my assistant a few weeks ago."
"I see. Please continue."
"He invited me out for a cup of coffee. I refused, saying it was late and I needed to get home. He told me that he understood. I walked out to my car, but it wouldn't start. Spencer was there. He offered me a ride home."
"Is it possible that Spencer may have sabotaged your vehicle?"
"Maybe. He had access to it. It was in the employee parking lot."
The detective nodded.
"Go on."
"I accepted the ride and gave him my address, only he didn't take me home. We ended up in a cabin in the woods. I think we were by the lake because I heard sounds of water, but I was blindfolded."
"Then how did you know you were in a cabin?" asked Andrews.
"Spencer said something about his family owning a rundown cabin in the woods. He said it was a safe place for him to keep me because it was so secluded. He was also babbling about how I'd betrayed him. He kept hitting me. Mostly in the arms and stomach. He said he didn't want to mess up my face."
Tears trickled down Jude's face. Tommy wanted to scoop her up and hold her. He wanted to scream at the detectives to get out. Couldn't they see that they were upsetting her?
"Miss Harrison," Jackson said. "We understand this is hard for you. If you'd rather finish this discussion later, we can leave for now."
"No," Jude responded. "I'd rather just get it all out now."
A few hours after we arrived, I told him I was thirsty and I needed water. At first he wouldn't give it to me, because he was afraid that if he left the room I would escape, but I was so thirsty I could barely speak. When I couldn't answer his questions anymore, he went to the kitchen for water. He told me that he could still see me and not to make a move. He wanted to put the glass to my lips and let me drink that way, but I kept letting the glass fall. Finally he untied my hands so I could drink on my own, but he trained his gun on me and told me not to try and get away."
God, Tommy really wanted to kill this guy. He'd never been angrier in his life. How could someone do this to his Jude?
"I drank my water and put my hands behind my back so that he could tie them back up, but he had to put the gun down to do it. As he was binding my arms, I reared back and kicked as hard as I could. I know I got him in the shin. He bent over for a second. I used it to run out the door. I knew he was behind me, so I ran as far as I could. Then I remember falling to my knees…. and then waking up to Tommy."
The entire time Jude told her story, the detectives were scribbling on notepads. They turned to Tommy.
"Do you mind if we ask you a few questions, Mr. Quincy?"
"No, not at all."
"How did you know where to find Jude?" Jackson asked.
"I didn't. I recognized Spencer's car on the side of the road as I was heading home. I thought he was having car trouble, so I pulled over. I saw Jude's bracelet on the ground and got suspicious. I started calling her name. I heard leaves rustling and went to check it out. That's when I found Jude, unconscious."
"Where were you heading when you saw Spencer's car?"
"I was on my way home from the studio. Jude and Spencer were the only ones still working when I left."
"If you left before Mr. Taylor and Miss Harrison, how did you happen upon them on the road?" asked Jackson.
"I stopped at a restaurant for dinner," answered Tommy.
"How did you know the bracelet belonged to Miss Harrison? Couldn't it have been someone else's?"
"No," Tommy said with certainty. "I gave it to her a little over two years ago for her sixteenth birthday."
"Excuse me detectives. Are we almost finished here?" Jude interrupted. "I need to get to the studio to conduct interviews for someone to fill Spencer's position."
"Actually, we have a few updates we'd like to give you, but we could meet you at the studio in an hour if you'd like."
"That'd be great," Jude answered.
Tommy showed the detectives to the door and turned to Jude in time to see her swiping at her face.
"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry. I didn't know."
"It's okay. I'm going to take a shower before we head to the studio."
She turned to flee into the bathroom, but Tommy wouldn't let her. Not without telling her how much he cared for her.
"Jude, listen to me. I swear I'll protect you. I won't let anything happen to you. I need you too much. That may sound selfish, but you're all I've got."
She began to cry.
"I believe you."
She walked over to him and hugged him with a brute strength Tommy didn't know she possessed. Before he could hug her back, she scurried into the bathroom for her shower.