As they wrapped up, my phone buzzed. It was Richard.
“Hi Kate. It’s Richard here,” he started. “Are you ok, girl? George was trying to find you after the mayhem.”
“Hi Richard, yes I’m fine. Matt’s security team took me to the condo right after the building was evacuated.”
“Well that’s a relief,” he answered. “What in the hell kind of shit storm is circling you these past few days, huh Kate?”
“I know,” I said glumly. “I feel it’s all my fault.”
“Nuh uh, missy,” he replied. “You can’t take the fall for some psycho out there trying to go all Joker on your ass. What does he think this is, fucking Gotham?”
“Oh, Richard,” I said, smiling. He had a way of lightening the mood. “So what are they saying in the news? I just walked in the door here.”
“The usual. Everything and nothing,” he answered. “They’re just reporting what the can see. The police haven’t said anything yet.”
“Did they say if anyone was inside injured?” I asked.
“Two people from the emergency response team were seriously injured is what I heard last,” Richard replied. “They weren’t specific.”
“Did you hear from Matt?” I continued to probe.
“What, he’s not there with you?” he asked.
“No. Why would he be here with me?”
“George was looking for the both of you,” he answered.
“He’s not here,” I shouted. “I never saw him come out the building.”
“OK calm down, baby doll,” Richard said in a softer tone. “I know you’re worried, but panicking isn’t going to change anything.”
“I know you’re right, Richard,” I replied. “I just can’t stop thinking about him. About everything.”
“Love has a funny way of making you think, doesn’t it?” he said. “Listen. Want me to come by while we wait for our men?
“Why? Where’s George?”
“He’s over at the affiliate. He’s managed to get the online program on a music loop, and is tying in the programming. He’ll be home late. So what’ll it be, darling? You, alone with the stiffs, or the lovely, the entertaining, and might I add, bright-eyed, Richard to the rescue?”
As I was about to reply, I heard a call on the other line.
“Let me call you back in a few minutes, Richard. That might be Matt.”
Chapter 2
“Matt?” I answered hurriedly, after cutting off Richard to answer.
“Hello, Ma’am,” started the voice on the other line. “No this is not Matt. Am I speaking with Miss Kate Samuel?”
“Yes,” I replied. “Who is this?”
“Ma’am, this is Detective Robert Bateman, from the NYPD . Do you remember, we spoke a few days ago at the hospital after you were attacked?”
“Oh, yes. Sorry for calling you Matt.” I said, clearly disappointed. “How may I help you?”
“Well Ma’am, I’m calling to follow up on a few pieces of police business. I’m going to need you to meet us at the station as soon as possible tonight. The top priority is to get your formal statement about the attack at the hotel. We’d also like to discuss the bombing today and also just a few questions about the fire.”
“So are you saying they’re all related?” I had to know.
“Ma’am, the best thing you can do is come down here right now or as soon as possible,” he stressed, with a tone that suggested it was not a request, but rather, an order. “This is standard procedure ma’am. We need to get your statement on all three incidents, and to know a little bit about you. We’ll be wrapped up within a couple of hours, not to worry.”
“I will have to let Matt’s security team know,” I answered. “Actually, can you speak to one of them? They’re on orders to keep me here at his condo.”
“Yes, that’s fine. And by the way, my apologies my officers didn’t stay with you during the bomb scare. They were officially first on scene, so protocol requires them to be incident commanders until emergency command arrives.”
“No problem, Detective. I completely understand and I’m fine. Let me put the security guard on the phone.”
I passed my phone to the tan suit waiting at the elevator. I couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but tan suit repeated several ‘Yes Sirs’ to the detective, then hung up and handed the phone back to me.
“So we’re going down to the station right?” I asked him.
“Yes, Ma’am,” he replied, and then called down the two others who were still checking the rooms upstairs.
We left for the police station right away. I still hadn’t heard from Matt, but with this request to go down to speak to the Police, more questions were on my mind, competing for air time with my worry for Matt. I wondered if all this disaster happening around me had to do with the fire. Was I the only common denominator between all the three events? Was it really about the Holsteins or me? Was the fact that the bombing happened at the same time that my parents sent that check pure coincidence?
By the time we arrived at the Police station, I was mentally exhausted. In hindsight, it was probably not the best frame of mind for anyone to be in when they’re about to be grilled by the heat for hours on end. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if there was any chance they thought I was a suspect. He did say something about wanting to get to know more about me. It’s no wonder even the most innocent people get nervous when they’re asked to report to the police for questions. Even I was paranoid, and I was the victim. I was already at the front doors when I thought that maybe I might need a lawyer. I shelved that thought as I was already there.
I found it funny that as I was being led to an interview room to meet the detective, all I could think about was what I might have been having for dinner with Matt if none of this had ever happened. I let out a loud sigh – louder than I had expected. This was not the way I thought I’d celebrate my return to work. A promotion, yes. Some after-work libations, maybe. A pat on the back, for sure. But not this. I did not foresee becoming a potential victim or suspect in a pipe bombing. Why was all this happening to me?
“Nice to see you again Miss Samuel,” Detective Bateman startled me as I stood in the interview room, completely absorbed in thought. “Have a seat. Would you like some water or coffee?”
“Um, coffee please,” I answered.
I’ll be right back with the coffee and some documents for us to go over.”
My heightened worry quickly turned to minor concern as I sat in the small boardroom with a large glass window pane, covered in open horizontal blinds. I waited for what seemed like hours. It was actually just around twenty minutes, but it felt like forever. I was not in the mental state to busy myself by checking messages, because I didn’t want to see any possible bad news either. Why would he make me wait this long? Perhaps he was trying to soften me up so I would admit to something I didn’t do. I’d watched enough of The First 48, Criminal Minds and CSI Miami to know this was likely a tactic to see how I might respond to interactional deprivation. If that was the term, anyway. I acknowledged I was probably being paranoid.
“Thanks for waiting, Miss Samuel,” Detective Bateman started, as he re-entered the room with a paper coffee cup in one hand and a thick file folder under the other arm. I was silent for a short time, still caught up in my thoughts.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes I’m fine, detective,” I answered quickly. “I’m a little nervous about being here.”
“Here you are, Ma’am,” he said. He placed the cup of coffee in front of me, and sat in the chair on the opposite side of the table, facing me. There were video cameras on two of the walls facing me. I was in the hot seat.
“So I’d like to start by advising you that you’re actually here voluntarily, and that you’re not under arrest. We’re going to get your formal statement on the hotel attack, try to understand what happened, what you observed, and any additional information you may have on the three incidents. Is that all right?”
/> “Yes, that’s fine. Where do you want me to start?”
“Actually ma’am I’d like you to start with the hotel attack. We have an initial verbal statement from the hospital. I know this will seem repetitive. We just need all the details you can remember. I’ll be asking you a lot of those questions again. It’s procedure to record your witness statement on video. I’ll also ask you to write out as much as you can on this notepad, in your handwriting, and then sign it. This is required because it may be provided to the District Attorney’s Office, or used in court.”
“I’ll do my best.”
He pressed a button on his side of the table and the red recording lights on the video cameras came on simultaneously.
“Can you please provide your full name, address and contact number?”
“Kate Rebecca Samuel, 212-222-0000 is my cell phone number. I’m sorry I don’t actually know Matt’s address. That’s where I’m staying right now. Because of the fire.”
Another homelessness reminder. Shit, I’m Kate Samuel of no fixed address now. Fuck. I sound so guilty.
“For the record, we will note that Lieutenant Matt Lewis is the person Miss Samuel refers to as Matt. Is this correct, Ma’am?”
“Correct, Detective.”
“Thank you. We will determine his address during or after this interview. We have the location of the attack already documented in police and forensics report. However for the purpose of your statement, can you tell me the exact date, time and location that the hotel attack took place?”
“The exact time? I don’t know. I would say after 10:30pm. And the date? I will have to think back. Location was the Ashburg Hotel where you first saw me. Detective, I’m not sure this is a good time. I honestly feel a little disoriented after what happened today.”
“Miss Samuel, you do know you are here voluntarily, correct?”
“Yes.”
“You can leave at any time that you want. But the more you can help us now, the more information we will gather to determine who attacked you, how the other 2 incidents may be related, and whether you are still in danger. Does this make sense?”
“It does, sir. I want to help. I am willing to cooperate. I just can’t remember all the details like time and date. I had fallen asleep when I heard Matt knock on the door.”
“Did you just say Matt attacked you?”
“No Detective. He was at my door and left a few minutes before the attacker broke down the door. It’s completely unrelated. Can we stop recording? I don’t feel prepared. I haven’t thought about that night much, as so much has happened since.”
“How about we try this in a different way,” he said, realizing I was probably close to my emotional limits. “Just start from the time you got home that evening and tell me everything that happened. We can figure out specific times as we talk it through.”
The interview picked up and was a vast improvement from then on. I gave my account of the sequence of events, and the Detective only stopped me a few times, for details on the man’s description, what I had seen and felt, and if I saw him leave after I had slipped free.
“That was a lot better, wasn’t it, Miss Samuel?” I nodded in agreement. “Can you take this notepad, and write down that same order of events and descriptions for me? That will form your statement and then we can move on to today’s bombing incident.”
I began to write and felt some relief that we were one step closer to the end of this visit. The Detective got up and left while I worked on the written statement. As I looked back, I saw the shadows of the 3 tan suits through the closed blinds. They were not going to let me out of their site. It had to have been some intensive training they would have gone through. I continued writing my statement. As I was on the last sentence, the door re-opened. I didn’t look up as I thought it was the Detective entering.
“Kate,” I heard Matt’s voice and jumped up so fast, the chair I was in flipped back and fell.
“Matt,” I exclaimed. In an instant, I was in his arms, clinging to him so tightly.
“I was so worried about you. Are you ok?” I asked. I was still holding on, not wanting to let him go.
“I’m fine,” he answered. Just a couple of bruises, and this,” He pulled away, and lifted back his right shirt collar to show me his bandaged shoulder.
“Oh my God, what happened, Matt?”
“Shrapnel from the pipe bomb,” he answered. “Surface wound. I didn’t even need stitches. I was 25 feet away when it went off. I’m a lot luckier than the bomb tech. He was pretty banged up, even with his protective suit.”
“Wow, that’s so sad. Will he be okay?”
“Yes, he’ll be fine,” he replied. He ran his hand over my right ear and gently cupped my face. “How about you? Is the Detective running you ragged down here?”
Detective Bateman walked in just as Matt asked the question. “Lieutenant Lewis. You should know better than to question my charming interview style. Now let me have another 20 minutes to wrap up with Miss Samuel here, and then you can escort her home.”
I saw a spark of defiance in Matt’s eyes. “I don’t think so, Detective Bateman. Miss Samuel’s been through enough today. You’re more than welcome to phone and schedule a time to come by my home. You can get the rest of her statement then. Miss Samuel is leaving with me. Right now.”
“Well, if you insist. You know she’s here of her own volition,” the Detective replied, wearily eying Matt. He looked down at the statement I had just written. “Miss Samuel, can you sign at the bottom of the last page and initial each page before you leave?”
“Yes, definitely,” I answered, and glanced over at Matt as I signed. There seemed to be a tenseness between the two of them. I may not have noticed it on the night of the attack, but it was present and palpable in that interview room.
“Thanks for your cooperation Miss Samuel,” he said as I handed him the notepad. He then turned slightly and nodded at Matt. “Lieutenant.”
As we left the room, Matt placed his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his warmth. It felt so good to be near him again.
Chapter 3
Ross was waiting with the limousine as we left the station. The security team followed us in their two SUVs. I leaned my head on Matt’s shoulder as we were seated and headed off.
“I’m so relieved you’re ok, Matt,” I told him. “I was beyond worried that something had happened to you when the bomb went off. And when you didn’t answer the phone and your men couldn’t reach you. I—Well I wasn’t sure I could keep it together all that time at the police station.”
Matt reached his arm around to my waist and pulled me close to him. He whispered to me, “I’m fine. A little scratched up is all. In any case, I’ll get some rest soon enough. We’re not going back to the condo for a while.”
“Why, did something happen there?”
“No, not at all. That place is a fortress.”
“So why, then?”
“I decided that you and I are going to my place in the Hamptons,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “I have some time off work. Shoulder shrapnel, remember?”
“Ahhh, right,” I replied. “I thought it was a little scratch?”
“Well,” he started, “I feel fine. But one man’s scratch is another man’s debilitating wound. I’m under orders, and what the Fire Captain says, goes.”
“So what if I want to stay here in the city, Matt?” I was glad he saw me as a part of his getaway plan, but it was that independent spirit in me that wanted to have a say.
“Because in this case, what I say goes.”
“I don’t think you’re in a position to tell me what to do.”
“Stop being stubborn,” he said. “You are going to the Hamptons with me, and there’s nothing more to discuss.”
“Really, Matt,” I scoffed. A tiny bubble of anger floated up within me. I think he sensed my obvious displeasure.
He turned to face me and gently cupped both his hands on my cheeks. “Liste
n. I’m not letting you out of my sight for the next little while. You, Miss Kate, you need a few days to escape with me from all this. The place is gorgeous around this time of year. My staff had already begun to prepare it for the annual Christmas charity ball next week.
“What charity ball?” I felt there was so much I didn’t know.
“We talked about it that time we had dinner with George and Richard, remember?”
“Oh, yes. Ok, that seems so long ago,” I answered, disoriented.
“So the place is all ready for us. The security team did their assessments and we’ll be safe. Plus, I had Yolanda pack a few of your things to take with us. They’re in the trunk. Tomorrow, I’ll get the girls at Holts to deliver some more clothes for you there. I promise you’ll love it. It’s peaceful, has great views, and you’ll have no worry, no stress and no more danger.”
I caved. I knew he was right. “I was so happy to be back at work,” I pouted. “You really think there’s more that can happen?”
A worried frown came over his face. “I felt I couldn’t protect you in that place. My men warned me there were too many building vulnerabilities. And they were right. The check with that warning message was brought in with the others. Just like that. And the pipe bomb was in one of the gift boxes that a visitor brought into the building. That criminal was able to get so close. Hell, I might have even looked him in the eye and I wouldn’t have known it. This guy, or this group, whoever they are, they got too close to you twice. I’m not letting it happen a third time.” He leaned back in the seat, looking frustrated.
“Look. It’s not your fault, Matt,” I tried to console him. “I’m so grateful for all your kindness. You’re been so good to me and I appreciate it beyond words. But you need to know that I’m not your responsibility.”
Matt sat up quickly and gave me a look that pierced right to my soul. “You may be your own person, but I feel responsible for you. I’m -- look I care about you, Kate. A lot. None of this makes any sense. I know we haven’t known each other for long. And I’ve never felt anything like this before, so I can’t begin to explain it. But you mean a lot to me. And I need to make sure you get through this.”
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