"Gabby baby, we were so worried" Lynn said pulling her daughter into a fierce hug.
Gabby's arms stayed at her sides instead of returning the gesture, she wasn't quite ready to forgive her mother. The woman who would drink herself into a stupor instead of helping for all those years.
"I am so sorry" she cried pulling herself from her mothers embrace and sobbing into Logan's awaiting arms. This has always been her safe haven, in her brother's arms; this was her little piece of safety.
"Its alright… He isn't dead" he admitted, her head moved up to look him in the eyes, her feelings on the brink of relief and disappointment. "He is in the hospital…but he can't do anything now" he whispered into her ear, pulling her closer. She moved her hand around him and clung to his back. He gasped in pain but put it aside, he didn't care anymore.
"Thank you so much for your help" Veronica said looking at Leo. "How did you find her so fast?"
he hesitated for a moment, internally debating if he should tell the truth or not. "God you make me sound like a little lost dog" Gabby laughed trying hard to hide the uneasiness in her voice. It wasn't the time, so much had happened this was just one thing she wanted for herself, untainted.
"So are you going to tell us what has been going on?" Logan finally spoke, readying himself for her confession.
Aaron sat in the small white room, the steel table was cold under his fingertips as he smoothed his hands against it. The chair was old and creaky, squeaking slightly while he shifted in it. He had never been in a interrogation room before, a staged one for one of his movies yes, but not a real live room. There in the corner was the 2 way mirror, the lone table with two chairs, one on each side, and the window behind him with the blinds closed.
His stomach was bruised and tender with two broken ribs, while he was recovering from a small concussion to the head leaving a huge ugly gash that needed 12 stitches. 'god that is going to leave one hell of a scar' he thought as he looked at it again in the mirror. 'That little twit is going to pay when I get out'
The door to the police department opened as his lawyer strolled in, he was wearing an expensive Armani suit and looked the part of the take-no-prisoners defense lawyer he claimed to be. The sheriff was due next to do the questioning or so he thought. Instead in walked Keith.
"What are you doing here?" Aaron asked a little irritated by the unexpected visit.
"I am here for moral support" he answered with a small smile.
"Aww for me, how sweet" Aaron sarcastically snapped rolling his eyes.
"No for her" he said moving aside to let Gabby through the door.
She was in a baby blue sweater with a pair of white shorts that screamed 'innocent and cute'. Her hair was swept up in pig tails, and her face was stretched in a sugary sweet smile.
"Hello daddy" she said moving into the room and taking a seat at the desk putting her over the shoulder backpack on the floor next to her.
"Sweetie, what are you doing here?" he asked through gritted teeth but still pulling off a smile.
"Well daddy, Since I was the one to put you in here I thought it would be fun to be the one to show you all the evidence we have against you."
"Evidence?... on what charges?" Aaron asked a bit confused.
"Well lets see…." She said pointing out her fingers to each one. "one count child abuse for me and one for Logan to start with" she said looking at him to defy her.
"What are you talking about I never laid a hand on you" he said putting on his best act for the mirror and the officers on the other side.
"O well that isn't what these hospital records say" she said moving to pull a folder from her pack. Aarons face paled at the words looking worried as she opened the folder and began shuffling through papers. " You would be surprised what you can get your hands on by calling up a corrupt pediatrician….dropping a couple names…a little money….I mean Logan's was a bit harder to get a hold of, since he didn't know what I was doing but you would be surprised at what I uncovered." She said looking at him for any reaction.
His face was now stone cold glaring at her as if telling her to 'bring it on'. With his lack of response she went on.
"Like did you know that there are bones in the body that when broken multiple times are seen as major signs of abuse?" She said looking again and this time smiling in triumph when seeing his eyes widen. "Well I sure didn't, but I am sure you did….I am willing to bet that you knew that Dr. Collins was investigating it…he was going to file a report until you called the police with a little tip on his 'illegal drug practices'." She added this time Aaron couldn't help but smirk, the smug bastard, he was actually proud of all the shit he did to cover his tracks. 'well this parts going to hurt' she thought when looking at the files again.
"But what really is going to put you away is the photo evidence and testimony of me, Logan, and your own wife." She said her smile saying 'your move'.
"That means nothing, so I raised my hand to my children so what… I wont be given more then 4 months community service for that." He said in that tone, the one that always made her fell so small and weak.
"We have a expert witness who is willing to testify that the scars you left on mine and Logan's backs are indeed from your belts" she said trying hard to hide the desperation in her voice. How was he able to make this into nothing?
He didn't even flinch at this, he knew as well as she did, that this was all minor stuff in the eyes of a movie star. He would be back on the streets and in their home in a coupe days. She swallowed a bit trying to gather her courage. Keith walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder. She sucked in his energy and looked up giving him a thankful smile before turning on her game face again, there was one more point she had, he secret weapon.
"Well then I guess you wont need to worry about the tapes."
"What tapes?" o that got his attention, he was now leaning against the table, his mind racing with all possibilities, 'she couldn't possibly know about those…could she?"
"Well when those guys were setting up those "security cameras" around the house I took the liberty of having one installed above the door in your study… it has a great view of your desk…you know the one we had to lean over as you whipped us." She said her smile fading into an angry scowl.
"Those will never be able to be used in a court of law they were illegally placed without the participants knowledge they will not be admissible in court" Barry popped in his tone stern and to the point.
"But you signed for them daddy don't you remember…. The contract the security company had you sign the ones that described in detail where each camera was located." She said looking innocent and sweet again causing Keith to grin.
"You little bitch" Aaron yelled straining himself to stay in his chair instead of leaping from his chair and beating her.
"Uh uh uh… daddy what have I told you about not reading contracts before you sign them" she said in a lecturing tone shaking her finger up and down.
Although his features were curled in a angry scowl he couldn't help but feel relief.
"Daddy, why do you look so relieved… could it be that you thought I was talking abou the other tapes…" she said pausing for dramatic effect, causing Barry to look at his client in confusion. Aaron didn't say any thing, to stunned to talk. "You know the tapes that will help secure the 7 stagetory rape charges you have against you too." She said all so sweetly.
"Stagetory rape?" he asked in disbelief.
"well see after watching the first couple I felt a little sick, but soon that passed and I started seeing a pattern with your conquests." She said looking at Keith for strength again before going on. "It seems that a lot of the stars in your little private movies were girls I knew. But more importantly girls I knew from school…Making them…." She trailed off waiting for an answer.
"…minors." He finished for her, he bent his head low looking defeated.
"Good answer…you should get a cookie" she said moving from her seat and moving to the door. "See you in court Aaron" she said opening it. She took one last look at the man in front of her. His head still low in defeat and disgrace, she had done as she promised all those years ago to her brother. She ended it. The monster would never hurt them again.
Interrogation