Nobody's Fault But Mine

Chapter 9 – No Turning Back

The crime in this city never sleeps, Lucas thought to himself as he pulled up to the scene at just a little after 2am. The street had already been blocked off with yellow police tape and bollards. The area was surrounded by police cars, ambulances and news crews. The media had wasted no time in trying to catch the latest scope tonight. Even in the pouring rain the vultures were circulating.

Ducking under the taped barriers Lucas flashed his badge and scoured the area for his partner. Mitch Cassidy was of course already on scene, being the man who never sleeps, and was busy fending off a young reporter in a raincoat.

"Can I ask if you are treating this as a murder investigation?" she asked, speaking into her microphone and then angling it in Mitch's direction.

"No comment. And right now lady you are compromising the area. So if you would kindly step back past the line so we can do our jobs that would be great." He motioned for one of the uniform officers to escort her away. "Where the hell is the police liaison," he barked to no one in particular. "Can we get someone to pacify these reporters before we have bedlam. Thank you."

Lucas approached Mitch then and gave a small smile in way of greeting. "Hey, what have we got?"

"A young woman was thrown from a fourth storey window from her own apartment. Lucas it was Callie Sharpe."

The two watched as the EMTs zipped up the body bag before carrying it away on a stretcher and into the awaiting ambulance.

They then began the walk over to the place where Callie Sharpe had fallen. Lucas looked at the white chalked outline that had been sketched out marking where the body had been. Blood staining into the concrete, splinters of glass scattered over the surface.

"Who called this in?" Lucas asked.

"The girl's over there," he motioned to the covered entrance to the apartments. "Name's Peyton Sawyer. She was pretty shaken so I thought I'd give a while to compose herself."

"Do you mind if I question her?' Lucas ventured.

"Be my guest." Mitch had always preferred not to deal with relatives and friends and usually had Lucas do it anyway. "I'm going to go join the CSIs inside Ms Sharpe's home."

With that Lucas made his way over to where Peyton sat huddled on the steps. She still wore the dress from the party earlier. Her arms were covered in goose pimples, her knees brought up under her chin. Lucas took off his leather jacket draping it over her shoulders. He sank down next to her.

"Hey," he said softly. "You ok?"

She shook her head, turning to face him. Her face was tear stained from crying and her eyes still glistened as more threatened to spill. "No not really."

"Look," he tried to be as gentle as possible. "I know you're shaken up but I need you to answer some questions for me. Is that going to be ok?"

Peyton drew the jacket tightly around her body as if to shield herself. She took a deep breath. "I want to make a statement Lucas," she said boldly. "I know who did this."

"Ok," Lucas was slightly taken aback by this. "Lets get you back to the station." He stood up helping her to her feet and led her over to a police escort car. She climbed inside as Lucas called Mitch to let him know they finally might have a lead.

-- --

Peyton sat in the interrogation room waiting to be questioned after she had written out her statement. Her eyes stung from lack of sleep. She stared blankly at the stone wash walls. With only the dark wooden table and four chairs clustered around it the room was cold and clinical. She shivered, trying to keep herself as calm and composed as she could. Every instinct within her was telling to run now. Her conscious was battling with what was the right thing to do and what was best for her own self-preservation.

She turned her head then to the mirrored wall, knowing that they were watching her on the other side.

"How reliable do you think she is as a witness? Given her relationship to Mr Garcia I mean." Mitch had just finished reading through her signed statement in the adjoining room.

"Trust me," Lucas said as he watched her through the one-way window. "It's taken a lot to get her here. Garcia hits her. She's terrified of him. She's as a reliable witness as they come."

"Ok." Mitch took that in and looked at his partner curiously but didn't pursue his concerns further. "Well then lets go question her."

At the sound of the door cracking open Peyton looked up to see Lucas accompanied by an older, slightly stockier man with greying hair. "Miss Sawyer I'm Detective Mitch Cassidy and this is Detective Lucas Scott," the detective went through the introductions as he pulled up a chair. "We've read through your statement and just need to run over some of the details with you. The conversation will be recorded to be used as evidence."

With the two men seated across the table from her now Peyton felt her resolve weaken further still. She wiped her sweaty palms on the silky material of her dress.

"Miss Sawyer, are you ok to conduct this interview?" Mitch prompted.

"Yes," her voice was so unlike her own. Her throat was so dry and tight. She reached for the water they'd provided her with, her hands shaking as she brought the glass to her mouth.

"It's ok Peyton, just take your time." Lucas gave her a look of encouragement. She tried to focus on him and his ability to make her feel safe.

"Can you please confirm what is your relationship to Antonio Garcia?"

"I'm his girlfriend. Or his mistress is probably a better way to describe what I am to him."

"And how long were the two of you having an affair?"

"A year and a half. I didn't know he was married to start off with. He doesn't wear a ring and he never mentioned her to me. I found a picture once and I asked about her. That was when he told me. He never talked about her unless I brought her up." Peyton rambled, knowing Lucas was watching her, knowing what his own wife had done to end their marriage. She didn't want him to think of her in that same light.

"You know her name?" Mitch asked then.

"Jennifer Garcia." She watched him note that down.

"I need you to run through the events of yesterday for me. From when you went to see Miss Sharpe at her apartment to when you found her dead on the road."

"When I went back to work yesterday, Antonio told me that Callie hadn't shown up for work since Mickie had been murdered. I was worried about her so I went by her apartment later. The place had been broken into, all her furniture and things were thrown about everywhere, like someone was looking for something.

"Then I heard a noise from the bedroom and I found Callie. She was terrified. She was so scared that Antonio was looking for her. She told me that Mickie had owed Antonio money and that she thought Antonio might have killed Mickie. She wanted me to help her get out of the city. I said I'd try. So I got her some money and a car.

"After the party last night, once Antonio had left me back at my apartment I went to help her. But I saw his car already there. I heard a scream and then Callie fell from the window. And then I saw Antonio leave the building and drive away."

"Do you remember what time Antonio left your apartment?"

"At around eleven thirty. He said he had to go out of town. He told me his wife was sick. That's why he had wanted us to leave the launch party early."

"I see. You mentioned that Callie believed Antonio may have killed Mickie. Do you believe Mr Garcia is capable of murder? Or at the very least an act of extreme violence?"

She paused before answering; she opened her mouth but then closed it again. She looked down at her injured arm and nodded.

"Can you tell us what happened to your wrist, Miss Sawyer?" Mitch's eyes were focused now on her arm.

"He-he broke it." It was the first time she uttered those words of truth.

"Has he hurt you before?"

"Yes." She avoided all eye contact now, looking down. Their gazes seemed to boar into her skin. She felt so foolish and ashamed that she had let it go so far without ever reporting it or asking for help. She knew the stats of domestic abuse and the growing numbers of fatalities reported each and every year. She'd looked up all the information, arming herself with the facts to make sense of everything but still she had never once tried to get away.

"Ok," Mitch uttered gently. "Do you want a couple of minutes before continuing?"

"No it's ok. I just want to get this over with."

Mitch gave her a sympathetic smile. "What about Mickie Evans? Did you know him personally?"

"Not really. I'd seen him a couple of times when he came by the club to pick up Callie. And I know he worked for Antonio. But I didn't know him, sorry."

"Can you think of any reason that Mr Garcia would want to kill Mickie? Did he ever mention that Mickie owned him money? Or that he'd fired Mickie for dealing drugs?"

Peyton licked her dry lips, "yeah, Mickie did deal drugs. But Antonio didn't fire him. Antonio uses all his clubs to deal in. He always said it was easier to manage that way. No one could double cross him as he sees what they are doing, I don't know any more than that but I know Mickie did deal and I know that Callie wanted him to quit."

"Would you excuse me for one moment," Mitch rose from his chair and left the room.

Lucas took the opportunity to meet Peyton's eyes. He cleared his throat before speaking. "You should have come to me. I would have helped you. I would have taken Callie some place safe."

"I know you would have. But Callie wouldn't have ever trusted you. I-I just," she stammered. "She was a friend and she was scared. I was trying to do what I could. And I know I messed up."

"Hey. This isn't your fault," he smiled gently trying to reassure her. "I'm proud of you for doing this Peyton. You're doing what's right and I know it must be so hard. But with your testimony hopefully we can get Antonio behind bars."

"Yeah, I just hope it does help. Do you trust him?"

"Who Mitch? Yeah he's my partner."

"He's also a cop," she scoffed.

"So am I."

"Yeah but you're a nice one. Most of them in this city are a bad as they come."

Lucas frowned at that. He knew from the start that she did not like or trust the police. But the way she reacted at times disturbed him. But before he could ask her anything further Mitch entered back into the room and sat down.

"Sorry about that. Ok well I think we're about done here. We can get you some details on women's shelters if you like. But given the circumstances of the crime you witnessed and your relationship with Mr Garcia I am going to recommend that you be taken to a safe house. You'd be moved to a secure location with 24 hour a day police protection. We can also press charges against Garcia on the grounds of domestic abuse if you wish."

"No. Thank you but I'd rather not. I'll testify to what I saw last night. I owe that much to Callie. But as for the rest, I just want it over with. I just want to get out of the city and forget you know."

"Ok. But a safe house is still the best option. I strongly urge you to consider it carefully."

"No," she protested. "I just want to get out of this city all together."

"It's up to you Miss Sawyer. I can only make the suggestion but the choice is ultimately yours. Take my card. If you think of anything further or if you change your mind about the safe house give me a call. Thank you for your time. You're free to go." Mitch rose up again and exited the room.

-- --

Lucas walked Peyton out of the police station after they had done questioning her. The early morning sun shone down on them, it's rays so low and bright that Lucas had to raise his hand to shield his eyes.

"So do you know where you are going to go now?" He couldn't let her just leave the city and walk out of his life not knowing that she was at least going somewhere that she knew and that she would be safe.

"I have a friend in Savannah who'll put me up for a while. So I can figure out what I'm going to do next."

"And you're sure you don't want to think about the whole safe house option?"

Peyton shook her head, her mind made up. "I don't really trust the police. And I don't trust that Antonio won't trace me. I mean I'd just rather go somewhere I know."

"You do know your location would be under secured knowledge. He wouldn't be able to find out that information."

Peyton bit her lower lip, "Luke, Antonio's a powerful man. He knows a lot of people in this city. A lot of people in high places. Believe me when I say he has his sources. He has eyes everywhere. He'd find out where I was."

"Ok," Lucas decided to let the subject rest. He knew he wouldn't get through to her, as she believed the police department to be somewhat corrupt. "Well can I at least have some contact details for you. A phone number or an address? So once we get Antonio behind bars I can let you know."

She considered this for a few moments before answering. "The only clue you get is Jake Jagielski. You are after all a detective. If you want to know more you're going to have to do some digging."

"Ok." That was something he guessed. "You take care of yourself. And thank you again for coming forward with this. I know it wasn't easy for you. But it'll really help us with our investigations."

"Just promise me on thing Lucas. Promise me that you'll be careful when you investigate Antonio. He's a bad guy and he won't go down without a fight."

"He doesn't scare me."

"Well he scares the hell out of me. And I know him. Just watch your back." Her expression was earnest. "Please promise me."

Lucas smiled then touched by her concern. "I promise. You be safe ok. And if you ever need anything you have my number."

"Thank you." She stood up on her toes as she lent to press a kiss on his rough stubbly cheek. "Thank you for saving me Lucas Scott."

"Come here," he said taking her into his arms to hold her one final time. He knew that in truth she had saved herself and that he had only pointed her in the right direction.

They stood for a few moments to long just enjoying their warm embrace, both secretly basking in the possibilities of what might have been if they had met in different circumstances.

She was the one to finally break from the hold. "I guess I better give you back your jacket," she unzipped the garment and slipped it down off her arms.

He stopped her replacing it back over her shoulders. "Keep it. It looks good on you."

"Ok. Well I guess this is good bye then."

"Yeah. I guess so." His throat constricted making it hard for him to speak. But then he didn't really know what else to say.

She started to walk away from him, crossing the police parking lots. After a few steps however she stopped and turned back to him. "Hey Luke," she called over to him. "If things were different do you think maybe we would have stood a chance together?"

"Yeah, I'd like to think so. I'll be seeing you."

Peyton smiled her beautiful smile at him before she turned once more and continued to walk away. She hailed a cab, giving him a small wave before she disappeared from his view.

Take care of her, Lucas silently prayed to whoever might be listening, to whoever Jake Jagielski was and might be to her. Then he went back into the building to begin the case to bring down Antonio Garcia.

Author's Note - Hey there guys, just wanted to say thanks again for all your great responses for my last few chapters. I think because this is my first story and very close to my heart I'm kind of nervous of whether it's good or not.

Your reviews are always so encouraging and they make me want to keep challenging myself to make this story the best it can be. So thank you to you all for your continuing support and interest. I hope you liked the latest update. They'll be more to come soon.