Chapter 10: No Memory

Carl walks Beth and Jean towards the interview room pulling them into the side he would be watching from first. Jean walked right up to the glass to see a small stark room with a table and chairs but what had her attention was the woman sitting there. Grace was still crying but she was trying to breathe deeply as Jean had said and she seemed to be cleaned up wearing a pair of LAPD sweats.

"Paramedics checked her out when we arrived on scene. She has some bruises, various stages of healing, a cut on the head and a fractured wrist." He handed Beth an ear piece, "Here I'll let you talk with her but if I ask something try and get her to answer."

Beth put the ear piece in and nodded to Carl, "Thanks Carl."

After doing a quick audio check Carl led Beth and Jean to the door and let them in before heading back to watch. Jean walked straight for Grace who upon seeing Jean broke down into more tears and bigger sobs. "I'm was so scared…so so scared."

Beth just watched as she made her way around the table and sat across from where Grace had been sitting making sure to sit to the side and not impede Carl's view. There was a pitcher of water of the table and some glasses along with a box of tissues. Beth pushed the box towards Jean who mouthed 'thanks' before pouring Grace a glass of water.

"Grace it's okay you're safe now. We're going to figure out what happened sweetie but you are safe. No one is going to hurt you okay." Jean eased back and handed Grace some tissues rubbing her back gently as she blew her snotty nose and wiped her eyes with a handful of tissues.

Jean handed her the glass of water and sat beside her keeping her hand moving gently on her back. "Have a drink okay."

Grace nodded and took small sips from the glass. As she was drinking she noticed Beth for the first time. "Are you a cop?"

Beth shook her head no. "Grace this is my very good friend Beth St. John. She and her husband are private investigators. I hope you don't mind but I asked them to look into this."

Grace set the glass down and nodded, "Thank you."

Beth smiled softly, "I know this is hard for you but can you tell me what happened?"

"You're safe now remember that," Jean added to soothe her.

"That's just it," Grace began. "I don't know what happened."

Beth looked at Jean and in hushed tones asked, "I'm going to try and push her to remember what she can. If you think it's too much just let me know but we need to know."

Jean gave a nod and Beth looked at Grace once more. "Why don't you tell me the last thing you remember before the hotel?"

Grace moved her hands to her temples and lowered her head trying hard to remember. "I was home…the kitchen I think. I went to the fridge for a snack but couldn't find something that sounded good. I had some tea I think…and then…I don't know."

Carl's voice came in Beth's ear, "See when's the last time she saw her husband."

Beth bit her lip, "When you were at home do you remember if your husband was there?"

Grace shook her head quickly, "No he wasn't. I do remember that. I was relieved when I came home and he wasn't there."

"When was the last time you saw him?"

Grace started to cry again and turned towards Jean who pulled her into her shoulder for a hug. Jean simply held onto the woman and kept whispering that she was going to be okay and that she was safe. "Last night," she managed to muffle against Jean's shoulder.

Beth looked over her shoulder towards the glass to make sure Carl heard the answer. "Thanks I don't have anything else for her right now. We need her to sign some papers for us to check her place and get some DNA to rule out her husband." Carl saw the look on Beth's face but continued, "If she doesn't sign the papers we'll just have to hold her until we get a warrant."

"Grace the police are going to bring in some papers for you to read and sign okay. Basically just giving them permission to check your place and look for any kind of evidence as to what happened to you." Beth kept the part about the DNA to herself not wanting to upset the woman any further.

"Whatever they need," Grace nodded grabbing more tissues.

Beth stepped out of the room leaving Jean to help Grace anyway that she could. Carl waited for Beth outside the door and handed her the papers but Beth walked down the hall a little ways. "Did the paramedics take a blood sample from her?"

Carl rolled his eyes dismissively, "Of course they did this isn't my first case."

"I know," Beth gave him a reassuring smile. "I don't know what happened but I do know this woman is a mess. Please tell me you're not going to hold her here."

"I don't know yet." He looked at Beth's eyes grow wide. "Like you said we don't know what happened but either way she can't go home given the state of things and she doesn't have any family in town. Keeping her here might be the safest thing for her."

"Or it could hurt her more," Beth looked up at him with her pleading eyes. "She's been through a traumatic experience. She should feel safe and secure not like a prisoner."

"Were would she go Beth? Are you going to take her in? You have a little girl to think about."

"She does but we have a guest house she could stay in," Jean spoke from behind Carl causing him to jump. "I didn't mean to startle you. I was hoping to get more tissues when I overheard."

Carl looked back and forth between the two women and shook his head, "I'll grab you some tissues and think about your offer first I want the techs going over her place to see if anything turns up."

"Thank you," Jean said pleasantly.

As Carl walked off to grab more tissues Beth huddled next to Jean, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"It was all I had at the moment. She can't stay here Beth it will only cause more harm to her and she's already fragile. I need to ask Josef but I hope he'll agree."

Beth nodded, "How are you holding up in there?"

"It's hard but I'm pretty good at this." Carl came back with another larger box of tissues and handed them to Jean. "Thank you," she disappeared back into the room to sit with Grace and calm her down.

Carl turned to Beth, "So are you ridding with me to her place?"

Beth grinned from ear to ear, "Carl are you really asking me to ride with you to a possible crime scene?"

"You or your husband will show up either way I figure if I invite you I can keep an eye on you."

"Let me just tell Jean that I'm leaving and I'll text Mick on the way," she headed back in the room.

"Text me what?" Carl turned around and there stood Mick St. John himself.

To Be Continued…

Evilous