Chapter Twelve: I Feel Like an Archeologist

Renee

When Natalia had asked me if I had any siblings, I was kind of shocked with the question. My words were caught in my mouth and I could not seem to be able to say anything for a moment or two.

"Yes." I finally managed to say.

"What are their names and where are they now, Renee?"

"My older sister, Allison; my younger brother, Jason; and my youngest sibling, Austin. I have absolutely no idea where they are right now. Why did you want to know? Did you find them?"

"Sadly, no I did not find them. When I was looking in your mother's past to try to figure out if there was somebody there who would want to kill her just in case if Jamie didn't do it and I found out you had two missing siblings, Allison and Austin. What happened to Jason?"

"Why does it matter? He's probably dead by now."

"It will help us determine exactly what evidence to bring forth to the judge."

"Okay. He ran away a few months before my mother divorced the devil."

"Why did he do that?"

"He was tired of his father's ways of discipline."

"What were his ways?"

"His ways included breaking bones, causing severe pain, almost too much to bear, and bruising everywhere."

"That is horrible, Renee."

"You get used to it."

"I promise nobody will ever hurt you again."

Natalia

I could somewhat relate to Renee since my ex husband, Nick, was abusive to me. Under the same breath, she endured much more than me.

Her father died when she was young, her mother married two abusive men and she had to put up with it, all of her siblings are missing, and now her mother is dead.

I never had to go through all of that emotional pain.

I feel like an archeologist.

Uncovering bones with secrets from deep, deep down.

Ryan

I walked into Jamie's holding cell to interrogate him, hoping to make him crack like an egg.

"Mr. Jamie Williams, do you know that your ex-wife, Ryanna Wolfe, is dead?" I asked him.

"Nuh-uh. I lookin right a' 'er." Jamie slurred.

"No, sir. I am Ryan Wolfe, her twin brother."

"Oh. I wuz wunderin why oo had short 'air."

"Please answer my question."

"I dunno."

"Okay. I will talk to you again when you are sober."

"Why not now? I 'ober."

"No you are drunk. Meanwhile, you will be in a holding cell for some time until the alcohol wears off."

I nodded to the police officers and he escorted him to a cell as I walked out the interrogation room door.

Calleigh

I had offered Renee to stay at my place and she accepted with an excited facial expression.

I ran it by Ryan first and he agreed. He said it would be good for Renee to get out and about and that the new surroundings would really help her.

Underneath that I could hear Ryan's concern for Renee.

"Ryan, don't worry about her. She will be alright. I can promise you that."

I drove Renee over to Ryan's so she could pick up a few things to bring and then we headed back to my house.

"Just so you know, Horatio is in a wheelchair since he can't walk on that leg yet so it will be weird seeing him in it, trust me."

She laughed at the mental picture of Horatio being in a wheelchair and we walked into my house.

"Honey I'm home!"

I heard Horatio laugh in the kitchen and I cooked the three of us spaghetti.

Renee was going to sleep in our spare bedroom which was right next to our bedroom.

In the middle of the night I heard a weeping noise in the spare bedroom. I swiftly got up and walked in there. It was Renee crying.

"What's wrong, Renee?" I asked with concern in my voice.

"He's going to get me." Renee answered in between her cries and sobs.

"Who is going to get you?"

"Jamie. I can feel it deep inside."

I hugged her and held her there for a little until her sobs quieted down some.

"Renee, he will not hurt you ever again. I promise."

"Yes he will. I just know he will someday."

"Trust me, he won't."

"You and the others are making a lot of promises to me against Jamie."

"And we will fulfill those promises."

Renee sobbed some more.

An extremely tired Horatio wheeled his way in the spare bedroom and asked me, "What is wrong in here, Calleigh? Why is Renee crying?"

"It was just a dream she had about Jamie coming after her, Horatio. Do me a favor will you? Comfort her here while I get some comfort food." I said.

He nodded and wheeled next to the bed. Renee shifted and put her head on his shoulder.

Then I heard him make the biggest promise I ever heard him say.