Melody (THE LOGAN FAMILY) (21 page)

“Nice to meet you, Detective.” Arlen smiled. “Did Aileen Andrews say anything that could help Steven?”

“Well, she said the same thing but she seems to be a little shaky. She still says he said his name was ‘Kemp.’” Brianna shrugged. “Other than that she told me about the rape and that was it.”

“Once I do the lineup today, then this should be over with. Even if the guy looks a little like me, Aileen should know the difference. He can’t look that much like me, right?” Steven chuckled.

“No.” Brianna smiled. “Anyway, we all know how silly this is.” She grinned. “There’s no way anyone would believe you’re a rapist.”

“I hope so.” Steven took her hand.

Aileen hung up the phone in her den. Sarah and Melody had accompanied her home that evening to help with anything she needed. Melody knew it would take time for Aileen to come to terms with the rape. Yet she hated seeing her friend like this even for a day. She tried to put herself in Aileen’s shoes. When that became impossible, she vowed to just be there for her.

“You all right?” Melody rubbed Aileen’s shoulders. They stared at the phone.

“They want me to come to the station and to do a lineup later. Uh, they want to see if I can identify Steven Kemp as the rapist. Melody, I don’t know if I can.” She shook.

“Leen, it’s hard I know, but you gotta do it. If this man is the rapist, you have to do your part.”

“Oh, easy for you to say. What in the hell do you know about it?” Aileen shook her head. Melody ran her fingers through her hair. “I’m so sorry, Melody. I didn’t mean that.” She cried. Melody rocked her. “I can’t even think about what happened to me for dealing with all this other shit right now. I mean, the cops and not to mention that exam. It was humiliating, Melody. I felt like I was being raped all over again.”

“Shh, it’s okay. Just take it one step at a time. I’ll be here for you as long as you need me to be.”

Sarah walked in with a tray of sandwiches and chips. Melody appreciated Sarah’s concern.

“Is everything okay?” Sarah overlooked the touching scene.

“They want Aileen to do a lineup at the station later on.”

“Oh well,” Sarah sighed. “Uh, are you okay with that, Aileen?”

She sniffed. “No, but I guess I have no choice. All I can think about is how scared I was. How scared I still am. I can’t let another woman go through this. And if this officer is the rapist, he needs to be put away. Look at all the pain he’s caused all of us. If he goes free, he may never stop.” She wiped her eyes. “I just gotta be strong, right?”

“And we’ll be there to help you.” Melody hugged her.

“We will?” Sarah gaped. Melody looked at her. “Oh sure, we will. We’ll come with you, Aileen.”

“Yeah.” Melody smiled.

“I don’t know how to thank you guys. Your support is…well, it’s all I could hope for right now. I love you both.”

Sarah smiled. “We love you, too.”

“They’ll get him, Leen.” Melody pushed Aileen’s curly hair behind her ears. “This is just something that has to be done.”

Steven followed the officer from his cell. He met up with Brianna and Captain Jersey on the way to the lineup area. In less than twenty minutes, Aileen would forever clear his name. He wasn’t upset. He wasn’t anxious. He was very, very confident.

“Ladies.” He smugly followed them down the hall. Jersey and Brianna grinned at each other.

“Well, you’re the first person I’ve seen who looked forward to a lineup, Kemp.”

“Oh, I got no worries, Captain.” He cracked his knuckles. “I’m not the rapist and soon Mrs. Andrews will prove it. I just can’t wait to see the look on Agent Parsons’s ugly-ass face.”

Brianna grinned. “Let’s not get too cocky, okay? We want you to be cleared, Steven. But we should all remember Aileen is the true victim in this. We want to help her.” They walked down a long hallway.

“Bree, there’s nothing I want more than to find this man. That’s why I got to hurry up and prove I didn’t do it. How can I help them if I’m stuck in here? The entire thing was just ridiculous, anyway. I can’t believe it even got to this point.”

“But why did the rapist say he was you?” Jersey glanced at him. “That’s what I want to know.”

“I told you he’s using me to benefit him. Like he knew that shit about me and Bree being together. Obviously, he’s keeping tabs on the whole damn precinct.” Brianna nodded. “Who knows what else he’s doing. Shit, he could be a cop and we don’t know it. He just looks like me.”

Brianna sighed. “Hopefully, he doesn’t look so much like you that Aileen can’t tell the difference.”

They reached the lineup area. Six cops who resembled Steven sat on a little bench by the door.

“Don’t worry, Bree.” Steven winked. “I got this.”

She hoped so.

Sarah, Aileen and Melody made their way through the police station. Melody admired Aileen for doing this. Just
being
in a police station scared the hell out of Melody. They came to the room where the lineup would be held. A uniformed cop escorted them into the room. They noticed a small group of people. The group turned around when Aileen approached. A somewhat handsome man extended his hand.

“Mrs. Andrews? I’m Agent Parsons with Internal Affairs. I’m handling the investigation.” She nodded. “I just want to say that I’m very sorry for what has happened to you. I’m gonna do my part in making sure the man who raped you is brought to justice.” She quietly nodded.

“Aileen, I’m District Attorney Zachary.” A tall, attractive brunette held out her hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Aileen.” Melody recognized the elegant lady from many newspaper articles. “I look forward to doing my part to help you. I hope I can make this easier for you to deal with. That depends on what happens here tonight.”

“You mean, this could lead to the actual trial?” Aileen held Melody’s hand.

Zachary nodded. “If you identify Detective Kemp as the rapist, then we’ll definitely start the proceedings. Does that make you uncomfortable, Mrs. Andrews? We want to make this as easy for you as we can.”

“I appreciate that.” She shook. “These are my friends, Melody and her sister, Sarah.” Parsons and Zachary tilted their heads in respect. “I just want this over with.” Aileen looked at the glass. “Will I have to be in the same room with him, at all?”

“Oh no, no, no.” Parsons smiled. “Absolutely not. He’ll stay behind that glass, and he can’t even see you. No need in worrying. We’ll be right here with you the entire time.”

“We want you to take your time and try to be as accurate as possible, okay?” Zachary smiled.

“I’ll do my best. It’s just not easy, you know?” Aileen tugged at her clothes. “Just, well, none of this is easy.” She looked at Melody.

“We think you’re very brave, Aileen. And we’ll be with you every step of the way. We’re not going to let anyone get away with what he’s done to you ladies. Whether he’s a cop or not.” Parsons assured.

“Hello.” An older plain-Jane looking lady with red glasses walked up. Brianna Morris followed with a tall, bald gentleman. “I’m Captain Jersey, Mrs. Andrews. How are you?” Jersey took Aileen’s hand.

“Honestly, I’ve been better.”

“I quite understand, and my precinct will do all we can to help.”

Melody squinted. “Really?”

“Yes.” Jersey smiled. Melody didn’t bother introducing herself. She held a special contempt for anyone in this precinct already. “You remember Detective Morris. This is Arlen Sumpter, Detective Kemp’s attorney.”

“Hello, Mrs. Andrews. Are you feeling okay?” He smiled.

“Yeah.” She walled her eyes.

“Well, uh, I think we’re ready.” Parsons waved to a cop. The cop went to gather the men for the lineup. Aileen, Melody and Sarah sat at the table. The others stood behind them.

“So what happens if Aileen identifies Kemp?” Melody asked.

“Well, then Steven Kemp will be held in jail. But he’ll have a bond hearing probably tomorrow.”

“So he can get bail even if you arrest him.” Aileen rubbed her forehead. “So he can be the rapist and just walk free until God knows how long?”

“Aileen, I’m going to ask that Kemp be denied bail at the hearing if you identify him,” Zachary promised.

Brianna and Jersey exchanged glances. Neither liked that idea but at this point felt it important to keep quiet.

“Aileen, are you ready?” Parsons asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be. I just want to get this over with so I can go home. I haven’t been able to rest at all today.”

“We understand, and we won’t take up much of your time. We just want to do what’s comfortable for you.” Parsons smiled. “Please take your time.” He spoke into a small microphone in front of the glass. “Bring the men out, please.”

“Mel, I’m so nervous.” Aileen nearly ripped the skin off Melody’s hand.

“You’re doing the right thing, Leen.”

“Yeah.” Sarah smiled. “You really have no choice. If this cop is the rapist, no one can afford to have him walking around free. You wouldn’t want that on your conscience, would you?”

“No.” Aileen shut her eyes.

“Then just know you’re doing the right thing.” Melody held her.

The men walked out behind the glass. Aileen kept her eyes shut. She waited until Parsons instructed the men to look straight ahead. She turned to see Brianna, Jersey, Arlen, Parsons and Zachary gazing as if she held their life in her hands.

“Aileen?” Parsons gestured to the men. “Do any of these men look like the man that raped you last night?”

“I…” She couldn’t bear to open her eyes.

“Take your time.” Zachary smiled. The D.A. looked at Steven Kemp, who was number four in the line. Brianna and Jersey exhaled. They wished Steven didn’t look so cocky at the moment.

Parsons pointed to the first two men. Aileen looked at them carefully. They were dismissed. Parsons pointed to the third man. She leaned forward. He had a similar rugged look and build, yet his eyes weren’t nearly as intoxicating as the rapist’s had been. She couldn’t forget that shade of blue, no matter how much she wanted to. She shook her head at the third man.

“Aileen, what about number four?” Parsons stared at her. “Does he look like the man that raped you?” She looked up. She felt as if an imaginary hand pulled her from the chair.

She stood. She stared at the cunning face of Steven Kemp. Those blue eyes that already haunted every fiber of her being. That soft, blond hair that immediately took her back to being in bed with him. Those hands that had stripped her against her will. Those strong, hard legs that held her down while she screamed for help. Those lips that had drained her dry with one kiss.

Those eyes that she’d never forget in a million years. They made her afraid to go home and they made her afraid to
leave
home. Those eyes that would forever be engraved in her mind.

“Aileen?” Melody found it impossible to hold the shaking woman. Steven Kemp stared ahead. They claimed he couldn’t see her. Aileen wasn’t so sure.

“Oh God.” She wept into her palms. She viciously shook her head. “It’s him.” Brianna and Jersey moved closer. “It’s him. Oh God, it’s him. I’m sure of it.”

“Are you sure?” Brianna gaped.

“Shut up, Morris.” Parsons rolled his eyes. “Don’t you dare try to influence this.”

“I wasn’t doing that. I wanted to make sure she was definite.”

“I think her jumping out of the chair and shaking like a leaf seems pretty definite to me.” Zachary rubbed Aileen’s shoulders. “The man you identified is Steven Kemp. Are you saying in front of all of us that he is the man who raped you?”

“Yes!” Aileen backed away. “When I looked up, something came over me. It was a fear I couldn’t explain! Just like last night! There’s no mistake. He raped me! I want him in jail! I want him in jail!” She cried into Melody’s arms. “It’s the eyes.” Aileen shivered. “The most evil eyes in the world. I don’t want to see him! Get him away from me, please!”

Parsons ordered the men to be escorted from the room.

“So she did it.” Melody looked at them. “She identified the man who raped her. What happens next?”

“He’ll be held on the charges,” Parsons stated. “And we’re gonna make sure he pays for what he’s done.”

“Aileen?” Brianna stood in front of her. “There must be some mistake. I have known Steven for years. He has dedicated his life to helping rape victims. He couldn’t hurt anyone. I’d trust him with my life. You have to be wrong.”

“I’m not.” Aileen shook. “He raped me, and if you weren’t so blind by how you obviously feel about him, then you’d see it too, Detective Morris. I was the one he attacked and not you! How could you tell me it’s not him? I know it!”

“There has to be some kind of mistake.” Jersey shook her head. “Mrs. Andrews, Steven Kemp is not a rapist.”

Melody shook her head. “If she says he raped her then he raped her! The question now is how much time will the bastard get. I can’t believe this. The main person who was put on this case to help the victims is the same man that’s assaulting them? What kind of police force is this?”

“You’re wrong.” Brianna sighed. “Steven Kemp is not a rapist! Aileen, we want to help you, but you’re not thinking clearly.”