A/N: Hey all! Thanks for all your reviews :)
Those who follow me on twitter know this already but I've actually taken a hard look at myself last week and realized how unhappy I am. Probably since my sister was diagnosed with cancer, I've buried myself in work and with being a property manager - it's not exactly a stress free or fun job.
I've let go of what makes me happy, to the point I don't know what that is anymore. So this week I quit my job and I'm flying over to the U.K. and Europe on the 11th June. I'm going to travel around for a few months, alone, push my comfort zone and meet people and experience different cultures.
I haven't got plans, I'm just going to see where it takes me.
If you know of anywhere I should visit or what I should see, please let me know :)
When I get back I'll be deciding where to take my life, but this is about being selfish and finding my happiness again.
I can't promise frequency of updates on my journey, but I'll be taking my laptops and I'm sure there will be updates.
I hope you can understand, thank you x
Now onto the chapter..
Reasonable Doubt – Chapter Twelve
Erin POV
"We need to prepare for the trial." My pen is scribbling furiously across my page, files and boxes filling my dining room to the brim, my home office already in organized chaos.
"Where do we start?" Jay moves towards me, with two coffees in hand.
"First, are we ever gonna talk about the key I gave you?" I lean back in my chair, bringing my foot up to rest on the seat.
I smirk at his gob smacked face, my elbow on my knee as I cock my head at him.
"Uh. I… I mean."
"Yeah?" I push the glasses back up my nose, watching him rub the back of his neck in nerves.
"I'm in this Jay. 100%, so if you're in… just say you're in."
"I'm uh… I'm in." His blue eyes meet mine, full of warmth and spark as he leans forward to brush my lips gently.
"Good. Now I need to know everything about you." I flip back to my professional persona.
"Slow down. I just moved in with you woman. Don't get all needy." I roll my eyes at his banter, a smirk pulling at my lips.
"Don't be a smart ass. Suits me better."
"You do have a nice ass."
"Tell me everything. The good. The bad. The ugly."
"Well… I actually have already changed my address to yours. On all my important paperwork."
"Someone's been busy." He's smirking over at me, a secret in his gaze.
"Thought I'd make it official before you came to your senses."
"Never." I giggle as he places a kiss on my fingers.
"Now back to information. I usually have my team doing research, but that's not an option, so I need you to be honest with me."
"I will."
"Brutally. It's important. Because you're important to me and I can't risk being blindsided up there."
"Okay." His tone is soft and serious, his hand resting over mine in comfort.
"What can I expect?"
"They are going to do their best to discredit you and any witness I put up on that stand. You will need to be ready. Your friends will need to be ready."
"Friends?"
"We need character witnesses Jay. Would any of your ranger buddies do this for you?"
"I can't ask that of them Erin, they don't deserve to be dragged out into this circus."
"We don't have a choice Jay. They have sway with a jury because they are well liked, respected and perceived as honest. We need the jury to hear your peers stand behind you."
"Okay, I'll ask a few."
"Thank you. What about friends from that night?"
"I haven't been able to track any down yet."
"What about that lady?"
"No."
"Have you gone back? Maybe she still lives there."
"No one was home." He shrugs at me, growing frustrated with the prospects.
"Keep trying."
"Tell me about that night Jay. The night Allie was murdered."
Jay's eyes are full of grief as he takes a deep breath, eyes focusing behind me.
Flashback – The night Allie died
Jay POV
"Hey Bro, have you seen Allie?"
"Yeah she's sulking out the back."
"Huh?"
"You two fighting again?"
"I didn't think so." I shrug, running my hand through my hair.
"You're always fighting. No girl is worth this drama dude." I roll my eyes as my brother loses interest in me for the girl walking into the party.
I search the house before I find Allie in the backyard, sitting quietly and observing those around her.
"Allie, there you are."
"Jay! Finally, you're late."
"Sorry my car wouldn't start, I had to walk."
"Ever heard of a phone."
"Whoa. Hey. I'm sorry I'm late but you don't have to snap at me as soon as I arrive."
"Whatever." I restrain myself from rolling my eyes recognizing the mood she's in from our time dating, she's looking for a fight and I'd rather not be the one to engage.
"You're brother's an ass."
"Yep. We knew this already."
"I mean… how many girls does he screw over?" There's bitterness in her tone that makes me frown in confusion before the sound of glass breaking pulls my attention.
"We need to talk Allie."
"It's fine, I know how these conversations go by now Jay."
"It's not like that." I assure her quickly, persuading her to find a quiet room with me so we can talk.
"What's wrong?"
"I got in."
"What?"
"The military. I'm enlisting right after I graduate."
"What?" Her voice is breathy, shock in her eyes.
"We talked about this."
"I didn't know you filled out the paperwork, what about me?"
"You're the one that wanted me to grow up."
"Taking it a bit far, are you not?" She spits out, anger in her eyes.
"Allie, what the hell is going on with you?"
"I can't believe you're going to just leave me here to deal with this alone."
"Deal with what?" Her eyes widen briefly.
"Nothing… I just meant… our break up or whatever."
"We don't have to break up Allie. Things have been strained with us lately, and I don't even know why you keep pulling away."
"Well now you're going away and leaving the frickin country."
"Where did it go wrong with us?"
"Right now I'd say when you decided to leave me."
"Allie, my father doesn't support me. I really hoped I'd get support from you. You know why I want to serve."
"I just… I can't do this right now Jay. I need to go."
"Allie! Please."
Present day – Erin POV
"Then she ran off, I followed… we broke up." I raise my eyebrow, noticing how hard that was for him and deciding to give a reprieve from walking me through that part of the evening.
"Deal with that? What was she talking about?"
"I don't know."
"We need to find out, by the sounds of it she was acting weird that night."
"She'd been out of character for a while… weeks at least."
"Whatever was going on with her, I'd bet my life it got her killed."
"I should have tried harder to get her to tell me… to let me walk her home."
"Jay… then maybe you'd be dead too."
There's a harsh knocking on the door, pulling our attention.
I frown at it gently, looking to Jay briefly before moving to get up.
"Is Jay Halstead here?" The two cops in front of me are blunt, shoving papers in my hands and moving me out of the way.
"Excuse me. Can I help you?" My tone is full of fire as I follow them to where Jay is getting up.
"Jay Halstead?"
"Yes, what's this about?"
"You need to turn around."
"What the hell are you doing?" I move to stand in front of them, eyes flying to the papers in my hands.
"We're taking you back into custody." The sound of handcuffs clicking onto his wrists brings my eyes up to look into his terrified ones.
"What are you doing?"
"His bail has been revoked."
"On what grounds?" I call out as they lead him to the door.
"Take it up with the court."
"He hasn't violated any of his bail terms." My feet stop in front of them, stopping them in their tracks.
"You need to move out of our way before I take you in too." I glare at the cop in front of me before sliding out of his way and crossing my arms.
"Stay calm Jay, don't say a word. I'll sort this out and come see you."
"Erin, what's going on?"
"I'll find out babe. Where are you taking him?"
"Down to the district, at which point he'll be transferred back to prison until trial."
"Like hell he will."
I'm pacing with my eyes focused on my white sneakers as I wait for the guards to bring Jay to me.
"Erin." My eyes fly up instantly, heart breaking when I see him back in an orange jumpsuit.
"Jay, you okay?" He nods stiffly as the guard takes off his cuffs and gives us the room.
"Baby." I close the distance between us and pull him close.
"What happened Erin?"
"You're dad did this."
"What? How?"
"He revoked bail."
"Why?"
"I don't know… I have only suspicions. But you can be damn sure I'm gonna find out."
"I wouldn't want to be my old man when you do." Jay tries to a chuckle but it dies in his throat.
"I never wanted you to be back in this." I pick at his organge jumpsuit and he takes my hand in his, moving my hands from his sides.
"You okay?" I narrow my eyes at him, having gotten use to the way he deflects when he's injured and hiding it from me.
"You're hurt." He doesn't have to nod, he knows it's not a question.
"Damn it. I'm gonna get you out of here." I promise fiercly.
"How?"
"Talk to the Judge, pay your bond."
"Erin, where are you going to get a million dollars?"
"Leave it to me to worry about."
"No, don't spend your money on me." I glare up at him, shaking my head quickly.
"I'm not leaving you in here Jay… I'll use my apartment."
"Erin, I can't ask you to do that."
"You're not asking. And frankly, you don't have a say."
"Just keep your head down, until I can get you out."
"I'll try." I lean up to give him a quick kiss before knocking on the door, letting the gaurd know I'm ready to leave.
"Try damn hard Jay Halstead." My eyes are glued to him, savouring every inch of him as the gaurd waits impaitently for me to exit the room.
Jay POV
My instincts have been on high alert since Erin left the prison, wishing my father had been a prick a little later in the day.
At least at night we're locked in a cell and I only have my cellmate to keep an eye on, not planning to get a wink of sleep tonight.
The cafiteria is loud, my eyes peircing as they sweep the room, my body positioned to the rest of the room, spoon firmly in my hand.
My body is stiff by the times we're ushered into the outside for yard time, my ribs protesting from an earlier beating as I find a place against the building keeping watch.
I can't stop the shake in my hand, curled into a tight fist as I try and control my uneven breath, having wished the last of this was behind me.
The few months in prison etched into my memory, the scars on my body never letting me forget.
I swallow harshly, focusing on my breathing, pushing down any PTSD fighting it's way through from the time I was captured overseas.
"Look who's back guys. It's the girlfriend killer." My jaw clenches, instincts hightened and ready for a fight.
"The wanna be cop. Corrupt, just like the rest of them." A fist comes flying out of nowhere, slammng in my jaw and sending me stubbling back.
I'm momentarily stunned they chose such a public area, rather than in an empty stack in the library or in line back to our cells to slip away in the chaos.
I slam my fist back, hearing his nose crack under the pressure, my other hand grapping the next arm coming at me and twisting it around, flinging the guy into the wall.
There's a flurry of punches exchanged as I battle to keep my head above solid ground until the gaurds can break us apart, my heart rate excellerates as two of the bigger guys grab me on each side.
My feet swing up to kick the approaching two away, breaking an arm free and sending my elbow back into his face.
Burning hot pain spreads through my stomach before I can throw off the last guy, my eyes fly down to see he's lodged a shiv in my stomach before twisting and pulling out.
He drives it back in before I can head butt him, sending him stumbling back briefly as more inmates flood over, protecting them from the approaching gaurds.
My hands are on my stomach, trying to keep my balance as red blood seeps onto my hands.
I sway on my feet, dropping to my knees as I lose focus on the chaos around me.
Sweat beads on my forehead as I apply pressure to my wounds, feeling my body growing weaker by the moment, blood soaking my prison jumpsuit.
"Lock the yard down!" Are the last words I hear as my body hits the ground, welcoming the unconscious releif from the pain radiating through my body.
Wondering if I'll wake up from this nightmare, or if perhaps this is where my story ends.
A/N: WHAT'S WITH THE CLIFFHANGER?!
I can guarantee so many of you will say that... hahahah maybe review and convince me to update before I go ;)
Hope you enjoyed the chapter.. I'm evil but we knew that already lol
Thanks for reading :)