Reaching Rachel

by LL Collins

  Devin peered at her over the paper, weighing his answer carefully. He had taken over talking to the D.A. because it sent Rachel back 100 steps every time they had to talk to her about testifying. He was terrified that she would actually have to do it, seeing as how the ass didn’t seem to be doing the smart thing and taking the plea deal. He actually had a plan in the works, but wasn’t telling Rachel anything about it for fear of her reaction.

  “Last I talked to the D.A., they said his attorney hasn’t contacted them back. He knows the stakes here, Rach. He’d be stupid not to go for the plea. They have him backed in a corner. They have so much evidence against him in your case, there’s no way he won’t be convicted. I think they are hoping that the other girl never wakes up, so they can’t pin that one on him, even though they have a pretty good case there as well even without her statement.”

  Rachel sipped her coffee, feeling like a lead weight had settled in her stomach. “I’m so afraid, Dev. I don’t think I’m strong enough to testify in front of him. And what if he gets off because they say he was insane? Then what?”

  Devin put his hand on hers across the table. “He’d be in an institution. He’s not going to get to you. Rachel, if you have to testify, we are going to do whatever we can to make sure you’re comfortable. I will stand right in the middle of the courtroom if I have to, so you can’t see him.”

  She stood up and walked around the table, taking his paper from his hands. He watched as she straddled him, wearing only a long tee shirt and underwear. His body immediately responded as she ran her hands through his hair, then down his face, chest, and abs. His mouth quirked up in a smile as she started kissing his neck, making her way to his morning stubble, then his lips.

  “Let’s stop talking,” she whispered, parting her lips as she took his in between hers. Sucking his lips into hers, he cupped her face with his hands as he matched her move for move. She grinded herself against him as they both panted with desire. He moved her panties aside to touch her, and she arched her back, putting her perfect breasts right in front of him. Even with a shirt over them, he knew there was nothing containing them. Shifting her slightly, he shoved his shorts down so he was free, then moved her underwear to the side so he could sink himself inside her easily. She was ready, so ready for him, and his eyes rolled back in his head as she fit over him, rocking slightly.

  Rachel stared into the eyes of the man she loved, watching him as he started to come apart. Gripping her hips, he drove into her faster, his eyes still trained on hers. She wanted to close her eyes against the sensation, but looking into Devin’s eyes, she knew she had to hold his gaze. He looked at her with such possession, desire, love, and protection, she couldn’t look away. He was the only one in her life that had ever looked at her that way, and would be the last. As they fell over the cliff together, they held onto each other, the meaning in both of their eyes not lost on each other.

  “Devin, can I see you for a second?” Andrew called as he walked past. Having just arrived at the office, a little late due to his kitchen and shower time with Rachel, he knew he had a busy day ahead. It had been totally worth it. Every day she let another piece of her concrete wall fall around her heart, and he finally felt like someday, she’d be his Rachel again, 100%.

  “Hey Drew, what’s up?” Andrew had become a lot more than a boss to Devin in the months he had worked here. After the debacle that had been Rachel’s rescue, Andrew had been more than just a boss, he had been a genuine friend.

  “Got a call this morning from Michael Raymond.” Michael was the D.A. prosecuting Justin’s case. Devin searched Andrew’s face, wondering what he was going to tell him. “She’s awake.”

  Devin looked at him a moment, processing what he said. She’s awake? Who? Then, it hit him like a ton of bricks. “Alana Daniels is awake? Are you serious?” He almost started jumping around the room, he was so happy. “Is she talking?”

  Andrew smiled. “She’s talking. The police are taking her statement now. Michael said it was looking good to add those charges to his current ones.”

  “Do they have actual evidence, or just her word against his?”

  “Well, now that she’s talking, she can give more information and details about where they can find proof that he was the man that she was involved with. Plus, they have the evidence on her body from the night they got her, and the house. That puts him with her, definitely. Of course he denied that he did any of that to her. He said when he left, she was fine. Her statement will show otherwise.”

  “This is fabulous! Have you gotten anywhere with my request?

  Andrew smiled. “That was the other thing I was going to tell you. You’re cleared to go this afternoon.”

  Devin couldn’t stop it this time, he whooped. “Drew! I owe you big time, my man!”

  “Being friends with the warden helps,” Drew laughed. Devin turned to walk from the room when he called his name again. “Be careful.”

  “Will do, boss,” Devin winked at him, walking out of his office. This was shaping up to be a super day, and it had just started.

  After going through quite a lengthy process to get into the prison, even though his visit had been prearranged, he finally made it to the last step—the room where they would bring Mark Stevenson to meet with him. Of course, Mark had no idea who he was, but he was going to know, and very, very soon. Mark was being held at a maximum security facility while he was awaiting trial, due to the severity of his charges.

  “The prisoner will be brought in shortly,” the officer told Devin. Before he shut the door, he looked back at him. “You’re a cop, right?” Devin nodded. “So you don’t need me in the room, then?” The look they exchanged was one of understanding. Devin shook his head no, and the officer nodded once, shutting the door behind him.

  Flexing his fingers, Devin waited impatiently for them to bring that scum to him. Standing up, he paced the room, stretching his neck. He was all knotted up in anticipation. The room was bare, with only a table and two chairs in the whole room. A two way mirror lined one wall, and the door opened only by keycard from the outside.

  The door buzzed, and Devin looked up, barely containing the rage that bubbled under the surface at the sight of him. The officer led him in, dressed in his prison garb, his ankles and wrists bound with chains and cuffs. Mark looked at Devin with interest, not knowing what he was doing there or who he was. Devin was dressed in street wear, just a pair of jeans and a button down shirt as to not give away who he was. While Devin knew that Mark was a nice looking guy, the months he had spent in here had not been kind to him. His hair was long and unkempt, and he looked gaunt.

  The officer sat Mark at the table and hooked his chains to the floor. Looking back at Devin, he nodded at him. “I’ll be outside the door. You have 15 minutes.”

  Devin never took his eyes off Mark, but nodded in response to the officer. As soon as the door shut, Mark swung his evil eyes to him.

  “Who the hell are you? Someone from the public defender’s office? I already told them, I’m not taking any plea deal. That bitch’ll never get up and testify against me. She’s too afraid.”

  Devin bit his lip hard to keep himself from launching himself across the table at him, and leaned across the table until Mark stopped talking. “I’m not from the public defender’s office. I’m here with a few messages.”

  Mark looked at him, confused. “What the hell does that mean? How did you even get in here?” He looked around wildly, realizing they were alone.

  Devin sat back, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched Mark squirm. ‘“I may have a thing or two you’ll want to hear, so shut the hell up and listen.” Devin knew he had an intimidating voice; it had served him well as a detective. Mark, while he was a bully and a prick, was probably the kind of guy that would back down easily from someone much bigger and stronger than him. Guys like him liked to pick on the ones they knew they could win against. In his case, women.

  Mark watched him warily, but quieted. Devin stared
at him a moment, enjoying making him squirm a little.

  “So, I heard an interesting piece of information today,” Devin started, his voice even. Mark said nothing, so he continued. “Would you like to hear it, Mark? It may be important.” When he still didn’t respond, Devin stifled a laugh. “Okay then, I guess you wouldn’t want to know that Alana Daniels is awake.”

  Mark’s head jerked at his statement, and his eyes became wide and afraid. “You’re full of shit. Where are you from, the D.A.’s office? You aren’t allowed to be here without my attorney.”

  “I’m not from their office either, jackass. Now shut up and listen to me. Alana Daniels is awake and talking to the cops. What do you think she’s going to tell them?” Devin was about to move in for the kill.

  “I’ve got something for you to listen to,” Devin pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened the voicemail Andrew had forwarded to his phone. Pressing play, he put it on speaker and set it on the table.

  “My name is Alana Daniels, and I’m 25 years old. I live in Mobile, Alabama and have spent many months in a coma because of Mark Stevenson. We used to date, and not long after we met, he started getting physical, hurting me when he was mad at something I did. He would always be apologetic, telling me he’d never do it again, sending me flowers and telling me how much he loved me. Until that day when he was so—m—mad at me, he tied me up in a chair, beating me until I was almost unconscious. Then, he forced himself …”

  “STOP!” Mark raged, slamming his cuffed hands on the table. Devin clicked off the recording and sat back, a smirk on his face.

  “You sure you don’t want to take the plea deal, asshole? Sure sounds like your problems are multiplying. Bet you thought you were going to get away with that one, didn’t you? After all this time, she wakes up now. Isn’t that irony, douchebag? How many more are out there like her, that if we looked hard enough we could line them up, the victims of Mark Stevenson? Or did you use aliases with others too? Or that was just Rachel, since you were already on the run. She gave them other names you were stupidly calling her when you had her tied up, so it’s only a matter of time before they find the others.”

  At the mention of Rachel’s name, Mark’s eyes flashed, and he yanked on his chains in irritation. “That bitch should’ve died. I’m going to get her back if it’s the last thing I do.”

  Devin reacted, jumping across the table and putting his hands around Mark’s throat. Mark tried to fight back, but he was chained, so that made it hard. “You won’t ever get the chance to be near her again. Ever. You’re going to spend the rest of your life looking at the grey walls of a maximum security prison, while some guy bigger and tougher than you makes you his bitch. Maybe then you’ll finally understand what you did to these women.” With that, Devin shoved him back in his chair, and Mark gasped and wheezed.

  “Guard! This guy is fucking insane!” he shouted, coughing. Devin looked at the door, but it didn’t open.

  “I don’t think anyone’s coming to save your sorry ass, Stevenson. So here’s how this is going to go down. Listening? Tomorrow, you’re going to call your deadbeat attorney and tell him you are accepting the plea deal. Even though you deserve to die, you deserve to rot in prison even more. Wait until the boys in prison find out what you’re there for. They don’t take too kindly to trash like you. If you choose not to accept the plea deal and you make these women come and face you in court, you’ll have another visit from me, and this time—I won’t be as nice.” Devin stood up, leaning over the table into his face. “Am I clear?”

  Mark spat in his face. “Fuck you. I’ll do whatever I want, and you aren’t going to come in here, whoever the hell you are, and make demands of me. I’ll have you arrested for manhandling me!”

  Devin wiped his face, flexing his fists in anger. “Arrested? That’s some funny shit. I’m going to tell you this one more time.” Devin grabbed his arm and twisted until he howled in pain, then held his arm there. “You’re going to take the plea deal, or next time, you’ll get a lot more than what I’m going to give you right now.”

  Devin yanked his arm, feeling it snap under his grip. Mark howled, and Devin shoved the chair so that it landed on its side, Mark unable to move. Tapping on the door so the officer would open it, he turned back to the piece of shit laying on the floor.

  “That’s for Rachel, you prick. Rot in hell.” He looked the officer in the eyes, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “He fell.” With one last look back at the room, he walked away, hoping the guy was smart enough to heed his advice.

  Devin stroked Rachel’s hair as they watched television, his eyes looking at the program but his mind elsewhere. Not able to stop it, he chuckled out loud. Rachel turned to look at him, a smile in her eyes.

  “What’s so funny, baby?” She snuggled into him, and he kissed her head.

  “Well, I had an interesting day today,” Devin said.

  Rachel sat up, searching his face. He almost looked boyish with as happy as his expression was. “Well? Spill it! You’ve been holding out on me all night? Tell me, tell me!”

  “Two amazing things happened today. Which would you like to hear first?”

  “Devin Putnam! Why are you just now telling me this? I want to hear the first amazing thing that happened today. Now tell me!”

  “Alana Daniels woke up.” Rachel’s mouth dropped open, and she jumped up off the couch.

  “What? And this wasn’t important information before now?” Rachel was mad. She was furious. Devin didn’t expect that. “This is my life, Devin! This is what you thought was so funny?”

  “Let me finish,” he continued. “I also went and paid a visit to Mark today.”

  Her mouth opened and closed. She looked at him incredulously. “You did what? How in the world? Why would you?” she sputtered her questions, starting to pace back and forth.

  She couldn’t believe him. He had seen him at the prison? He knew all day that Alana was awake? “Why do you treat me like I’m a child, Devin? This should’ve been something you told me right away! Not now, like it’s something comical that I should laugh at!” She was getting hysterical, her pulse racing and her head swimming. She willed herself to not panic, to calm down.

  Devin saw it too, and stood, stopping her pacing by placing his hands gently on her shoulders. “Rachel. Look at me.” She looked at him, angry tears shimmering in her eyes. “Calm down.”

  Rachel flung his arms off her, continuing her pacing. “Don’t tell me to calm down! Tell me what the hell you were doing there, Devin! What if what you did ruins the whole case? What if he gets to walk?”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Devin reassured her. “I had permission.”

  “So what? Did you touch him? If you did, he’ll tell his attorney and everything will be screwed up! What did you do that for?” She was coming undone. “Is Alana talking?”

  Devin blew out his breath, feeling helpless. He wasn’t helping her at all. “Yes. She has given her full statement to the police. We’re pretty positive that the charges will stick there, too.”

  Rachel collapsed back on the couch, her head in her hands. She started rocking back and forth slowly, and Devin stood, rooted to the ground. For the first time, he didn’t know what to do.

  Rachel’s head was spinning. Alana was awake. She was talking. Devin went to see Mark in prison. Why would he have chanced doing that?

  “Everything I do is for you,” Devin said, his voice soft in her ear. “I’m sorry for not telling you right away. That was stupid of me. It’s going to be okay. I think Mark’s going to take the plea deal. If he doesn’t, he’d be stupid.”

  Rachel lifted her head and met his worried eyes. She hated that she freaked him out still. Would it ever get to the point that he was walking on eggshells, waiting for her reaction? That was all she needed was him with her just because he felt sorry for her. “When will we know?”

  “Soon, if he knows what’s good for him.” He laced his fingers with hers, and she stared at them. Cal
m settled over her. She would know before long if she had to testify or not.

  “I want to go see her.” The thought tumbled from her mouth before she could even think about it.

  Devin furrowed his brow. “Who?”

  “Alana. I want to go to Alabama.”

  “Rachel …”

  “Devin, I need to do this. I can go myself if you don’t want to come, but I’m going. I need to see her.”

  Devin ran his hands through his hair. He didn’t think anything good would come of this, but there was no way in hell she was going by herself.

  “Rach, I hate to ask you this, but I’m in a jam,” Kayley’s voice came over the line.

  “What is it, Kay? You know I’ll do anything for you.”

  Kayley laughed. “Would you mind watching the kids for an hour? Emily’s sick, my parents are out of town, and Ben’s parents have plans. I have an appointment, and Ben’s at work.”

  Rachel looked across the room at Devin, sprawled on the couch watching sports. She had never watched Kayley’s kids before, as much as she loved them. Noticing she was looking at him, Devin raised his eyebrow at her in question.

  “Sure, we can watch them for an hour,” she agreed, and Devin smiled, realizing who she was talking to. “Are you bringing them here?”

  Rachel hung up the phone, walking over to Devin. “We’re babysitting,” she announced, looking around the room. “Wonder what we should put away?”

  Devin stood up, wrapping his arms around her waist. “This should be a lot of fun, babe. Kinda like playing house. Ooh, speaking of playing house …”

  “Devin Putnam,” Rachel scolded playfully, swatting him. They laughed, and before they knew it, there was a knock on the door. “Saved by the bell.”

  “Thank you so much,” Kayley said, breathless from getting the kids and all of their stuff into the house. “Ben should be by to get them in about an hour unless something happens at work. He’ll call you if he’s going to be later. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”