“I don’t know if I can stand back and do nothing. The feeling useless part will kill me.” “Well, it will kill me to know you’re digging around in this mess and my not being able to do anything to keep you safe.”
I could see his point. Maybe I could try to promise or cross my fingers behind my back or something. “How much danger do you think I could get into?”
“I have a really bad feeling about it.” “But, Emry, those involved are Buck and my father. They wouldn’t do anything to me,” I said, thinking to myself that there was little if any danger involved.
He shook his head. My attitude toward the situation irritated him. “Buck Brady is a bad man. He’s the type that wouldn’t hesitate to turn on a person, even a friend. And Pastor John James, I’m sorry to say it about your dad, but there’s something off about him, too.”
“The affair?”
“No. Something else. Like I said, I don’t know what, but my gut tells me it’s bad.” He wrapped
both arms around me and squeezed tight. “I know you want to help. I know your intentions are good. I’m going to miss you so much when we get back.”
“Let’s not go back,” I pleaded with him, tears streaming down my face. I felt like such a huge bawl baby with him. “Please, Emry.” “Shh,” he comforted me, stroking my hair, my cheek pressed firmly against his chest. “It’ll be all right. It’ll all work out. You’ll see.”
I pulled back slightly to look up into his eyes. “Then why does it feel like this is it? This is our one moment and then we’ll be torn apart?”
He wiped a tear away from my eye and tried to flash a smile, but he was just as sad as I was. Maybe he felt the same way, that this was it, but now he was the one being strong, putting on an act. “Nothing this strong can stay apart. Do you feel it?” He put the palm of my hand on his heart. The thump of his heart beating on my hand sent a sensation throughout my entire body making my own heart throb. “We are meant to be together, Anna James. And so we will.”
“Emry, I can’t bear the thought of being away from you again.”
He put his finger up to my lips, hushing me. “You have to believe that we’ll be together again, and we will. Just try to stay out of trouble, please,” he begged.
“I promise I’ll try.” That was all I could give him.
He smiled, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to not get involved because he was involved which tied me in as well, but being careful about what I was doing, and I would, was better than nothing. “No matter what happens, we belong together. Never doubt that,” he whispered. “I won’t. And I’ll never forget Evadere.” I was sad to leave. This place truly was an escape from today’s pain.
“I doubt it will be soon to leave your imagination and you can revisit anytime you like.” He smirked again and drew me closer, his finger tracing the outline of my lips.
“Just a figment of my imagination. How sad.” I smirked back.
“How crazy.”
“We are crazy.”
“That we are.”
He leaned in toward my face. I felt the warmth of his soft, gentle lips pressing against mine. I could feel the intensity of his emotions being poured out in that glorious kiss, and I felt all of my own anguish turn to mush in that instance as I moved my own lips hungrily against his and kissed him back. It was almost too much passion to bear. My heart throbbed in one big ache. I could feel his heated breath against my own mouth as he kissed me again and again, his fingers digging into the hair on the back of my head as my own hands slid up and down the smooth, tan skin of his back.
“What’s going on here?” I heard an angry, unfamiliar voice shout out. I pulled my head away from Emry’s and looked around. We were back in the courtyard at the prison, our arms around one another as a small group of policemen stood at the door of the courtyard watching us intently. At the head of the group of men stood a very outraged Buck Brady. He came storming over to us, and I could only gasp in horror as he tore the blonde bob wig from my head, my long brown hair falling down all around my face and shoulders, and the equally horrified look on Buck’s face.
“Anna?” Buck asked, his tone one of uncertainty. He searched my face for a moment, realizing the lengths I had gone to dress up as Emry Logan’s attorney. Then he glared at Emry and pulled violently at my arms, tearing me away from him.
“No!” I screamed, panic stricken as I held one arm outreached toward Emry as the other was being dragged away by Buck.
Chapter 9
I cringed in pain as Buck threw me carelessly like a rag doll down into a hard chair in one of their interrogation rooms.
“Do you want her handcuffed?” I heard one of the officers ask.
“No,” Buck huffed. He crossed his arms in front of him and glared in my direction. “Give me a moment, will you?”
“Sure thing.” I was so angry that Buck had taken my absolutely perfect moment away with Emry that I could swear I felt my blood boiling within my veins. I felt hot tears rush into my eyes as the other fact entered my mind. I’d been caught. What would become of me now, and what were they going to do to Emry?
Buck slammed his fists into the desk in front of me. I flinched at the noise. And here, I hadn’t given him enough credit. I didn’t think he could find it within himself to have enough intimidation to be a good cop.
“How could you do something like this?” he screamed at me. I pushed my shoulders back and smoothed out the skirt of the dress. There was a slight tear up the side of it. Carlin was going to kill me, though she was the least of my worries now. I straightened and sniffled slightly trying to get my emotions under control. I would not allow Buck Brady to break me down and make me weak.
“What were you thinking?” he yelled out again, his eyes dark and full of an intense hatred. Was it me? Emry? Seeing the two of us together?
I looked him straight in the eyes. “I won’t answer to you, Buck Brady.” I put as much demeanor into saying his name as Carlin did when she called me Annie. I knew he would feel degraded and hurt, especially by someone like me saying it, someone he had once took out on a date and cooked dinner for, perhaps even had feelings for.
It worked. His fists pounded down onto the table again, a growl escaping his throat in a sudden fierceness that even shocked me.
“Then you can sit here!” he shouted. I watched as he turned and exited the room. I lowered my head as all of the emotions I was struggling to keep out of Buck’s sight came rushing to me just now, all at once, and my shoulders heaved as my entire body shook with violent sobs. I let them come on, knowing that I was probably being watched and yet, just as long as I wasn’t face-to-face with Buck, I allowed the sobs to take over. I buried my face in my hands, looking down to see the black from the mascara and gray eyeshadow covering my palms. I must look a disheveled mess. I could only hope that I didn’t look as horrific as I felt.
I lifted my head as the sobs started to dissipate, and my eyes scanned the dreary, dull green walls of the room I was in. So this is where they put suspects to drill them with questions. I’d barely been questioned and already felt like a criminal myself sitting here like this. It was as if the room itself toyed with your mind before the questioning even began, a prelude to what was to come.
So what was to become of me now? Would they transfer Emry to be away from me? Would they throw me in jail, too? My parents would think the James name was forever ruined. I would surely be scorned and never again be seen as the same Anna James. Then again, the Anna James they knew had already been long gone. It seemed ages ago instead of months that the only thing I looked forward to when I woke up in the morning was going to the antique store. What a sad, pathetic girl I’d been. At least now I felt like I had a purpose. Love filled every empty void I had ever felt, thanks to Emry Logan, an inmate I was almost certain that I had instantly fallen in love with from the moment our eyes met. We were drawn to each other in a way that most people only dreamt about. And now, we were connected too, bound together by his secret, by his magica
l strength and the intimate lovely world he had accidentally revealed to me, his Evadere. I already longed to be back there and in his arms, his lips against mine as a glowing sun with red hue behind it shined overhead. I felt as if his kiss still lingered on my lips. It had only been moments ago.
My heart was aching with the sudden realization that if they were treating me like this, how worse it would be for him. They actually liked me. I closed my eyes tight saying a prayer under my breath, praying with all my might that they wouldn’t hurt my beautiful Emry Logan. Surely they couldn’t touch him. Yeah, right, I thought to myself. Prisons get away with more than they should every day, and something fueled their strong hatred of Emry. It was a bone-chilling kind of hatred that came on strong at the mere mention of his name. I had seen that hatred in Buck’s eyes, and every ounce of me longed to save Emry. But I couldn’t. He had been right. We were both trapped, caged in like animals, and the only hope we had was knowing that we belonged to each other, and that someday that would be powerful enough to break through all of this unjust agony. Our connection was magical. There was no turning back now. I had to face whatever was in front of me and get past whoever dared to try to stop my being with Emry. I thought about the realization of loving him just then, a pleasant thought, but also one of cruel torment. An unjust kind of love.
I heard voices speaking and the heavy door made an eerie, creaking sound as it came open just a crack at first.
“What’s going on? They called and said there was an emergency but told me nothing.” I recognized the voice immediately. It was my father. I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand and tried to smooth out my hair a little. I knew I looked a wreck, but I could do no more. I had run out of time. My time to mope had come to an end. It was now time to face whatever doom was lurking in the future as I could feel it headed straight toward me.
“Just take a look, sir,” another officer said. I looked at the door to see my father enter and then his eyes widen in disbelief as he saw that I was the one sitting in the dark room. I could only imagine what was going through his mind just then. I tried not to think about it but pushed my shoulders back and sat straight up as I had in the presence of Buck.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, still surprised and confused. Remember how you despise this man , I reminded myself. Picture him with Mrs. Anderson, dig up the memory of those emotions and don’t let him intimidate you.
Another officer, who I didn’t recognize, entered the room behind him. “We found her in the courtyard kissing one of the inmates, sir.”
“What?” My father’s eyes never left mine. I didn’t dare look down or reveal any signs of weakness. “Who?”
The officer hesitated a moment.
Then my father turned to look at him. “Which one?” he asked again, his voice rising. “Emry Logan.”
That had done it. Just the mention of his name made my father’s anger spring to life. His eyes were fierce and almost had a fire about them. They were very similar to how Buck’s had appeared. He walked over to me and wrapped his hand around my forearm. His grip dug into my skin. He pulled me to my feet.
“Is this true?” he screamed in my face. I wanted to shrivel up and melt into the floor, but I held firm to my ground and stared back, never giving him the satisfaction of hesitating. “Yes.” I was surprised at how calm my voice sounded when the word finally came out.
My father released his grasp on my arm and glared at the other officer. “How did this happen?” He turned back to me. “Why are you dressed like that?”
“She was wearing this wig.” The other policeman tossed it down onto the table. “Nobody recognized her. She claimed to be Emry Logan’s attorney.” “What? This is ridiculous. Where’s Buck?” he demanded.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, go find him!”
I had never heard my father speak to anyone that way. It was like he had some sort of control over these policemen, like they answered to him. It was strange to see him like this as if he were some sort of war lord. He turned to stare at me again. He didn’t recognize me, and I didn’t recognize him. We were on equal footing with one another.
“Anna, why would you do such a thing? How do you even know Emry Logan?” Buck must have not been too far away as he entered the room with the officer who had gone to retrieve him. He hiked his pants up in an arrogant manner as he approached me. “She first met him when she came down here to the jail,” Buck explained for me. My father gave him a confused look as if he had no clue what he was talking about. “The day she passed out your pamphlets to all of the prisoners.”
My father covered his gaping mouth with his hand as if it had all came back to him now.
“Don’t forget to tell him about the part where you accidentally slipped and told Emry who I was,” I belted out boldly. Buck cringed. “You may as well take a seat, Anna.” He gestured toward the chair. “I’m fine standing, thanks.”
He shrugged as if not really caring. “You could be here awhile.”
“This is so stupid!” I cried out. “Let me out of here!”
My father and Buck met glances. What kinds of thoughts were they exchanging? “Do you have any idea of what laws you’ve broken here?” my father yelled out at me. “Do you
understand what kind of mess you’re in?”
“Maybe she does know what laws she’s broken. She’s an attorney, after all.” Buck grinned at me. “You’re in trouble here as well,” my father snapped at him.
“Me?” Buck smirked. “I have no blame here. You’re the one who can’t control your family.”
“How did she get in here and fool everyone? Anna, you’ve always been so … honest. What has gotten into you? I just don’t understand how any of this has happened. Emry Logan? Of all people,” he mumbled.
I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to explain or what. He seemed to be talking at me and yet about me to Buck all at the same time. I decided I wouldn’t give him any information anyway. He was the enemy.
“Sit down, Anna,” my father commanded.
I ignored him.
“Sit down!” he roared angrily.
I decided not to push it and sat down in the chair as everyone else hovered above me.
My father knew he had lost his temper and tried to take deep breaths in order to compose himself. “Just … sit,” he said, although I already was, but repeating it as if he hadn’t meant to be so out of control the first time. “Let’s just talk this thing through, shall we?” He looked toward Buck. “A few more chairs, please?”
Within minutes Buck was dragging in two more chairs. I eyed them cautiously as they sat directly across from me. My father put his elbows on the table and crossed his hands in front of him. “I need to know everything, Anna. This is very important.”
“Why is it so important?” I asked, maybe a little too quickly.
“You have no right to question us,” Buck snapped at me. “Just sit there and answer the questions as they come to you.”
I glared at him but pressed my lips together. They weren’t going to give away any information. It would be a waste of breath to continue to try to press them.
“What do you want to know?” I asked, my voice a little less harsh and a little more on the quieter side, a little more like the old Anna. A sigh escaped from my father’s mouth. He tapped his finger lightly on the table now and closed his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts. “What contact did you have with Emry Logan after that first day when you handed him the brochure?”
My mind was spinning. Should I tell them about the letters? Of course not. What kind of traitor would I be then? The next question would be where are the letters, and then they would go take them away from me. What if they were all I had left for now to physically hold onto? I couldn’t bear the thought of them ripping up those cherished pieces of paper. No, I wouldn’t tell them anything. But they weren’t going to stand for me saying nothing. Think. Think! I screamed at myself. Send them on a wild goose chase. But how? What c
ould I say without getting him into even more trouble?
“I’ve made it a habit to come down and visit inmates like this,” I told them. “This is just the first time you’ve caught me.”
My father pushed the table away from him as he jumped to his feet in rage. His chair tipped over on the floor with a loud slam behind him as he did so, and the edge of the table hit my ribs. I gasped as the sudden pain took the breath away from me for a few seconds.
“I’m not going to sit here and try to figure this out if you’re going to act like this!” my father yelled, his arms flailing about as he did so. “You’re an ungrateful, spoiled child! You’ve been handed everything! Everything! This is how you treat me? You disrespect me and our entire family in this way!”
“I won’t tell you anything!” I screamed back, feeling that familiar hate for him suddenly from deep within as all of the powerful emotions I had felt toward him from that day seeing him on Mrs. Anderson’s porch exploded within me as they surfaced. “You’ve given me nothing but lies, so that’s all you deserve in return!”
“What are you talking about? She’s out of her mind!”
“No!” I shouted. “For the first time in my life I can see clearly, and I see you clearly for the blasphemous hypocrite that you really are!” His eyes shifted to Buck who lowered his head, knowing it was coming.
“Don’t look away, you coward!” I shouted at Buck. “You were there. You saw what I saw!” “What did you see?” my father asked. “Buck?”
Buck stood too, and began pacing back and forth in the room. “Anna, I told you you’re wrong about this.” “Now secrets are being withheld from me?” My father had a wild look about his eyes. I didn’t trust it because I didn’t recognize it. Who was this man? The same one I thought I had known my whole life?
“And the fact that you can stand there and blame me for disgracing the family? Take a look in the mirror. How can you do this to your mother, to all of us?”
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