Across The Hall (46 page)

door and what had happened after that. I explained to him how he had dated Sylvia and she broke it off with him but he kept texting her and my

suspicions that he was in her apartment. I watched Sloane and Kai being questioned. Every once in a while I would glance at the EMTs working on

Beau. I didn’t hear what they said but I knew it wasn’t good. It wasn’t long before they had him on the gurney and took him away.

The whole time I was being questioned, I thought of Sylvia. I wanted this over with. If Sylvia was on her way I just wanted to hold her in my arms

and know that she was fine. Sloane said that Beau had been to see her. He didn’t tel me if she had been hurt or not. I was worried about her. I

could only assume that she was at work that others were around and that would keep her safe. Stil I would be on edge until I saw her for myself.

The officer told me to wait there while he talked with the one that had been interviewing Sloane and Kai. While I was waiting something caught my

eye on the floor where Beau had been. I walked over to investigate. It was Sylvia’s pendant. I knew that asshole had taken it. I picked it up and

brought it over to the officers. I told them this was on the floor where Beau had been and it belonged to Sylvia. They took it from me and turned back

to each other.

After a few minutes, the officer I was talking to said that due to Beau being unconscious and unable to make a statement, I would have to come

with them down to the station. He led me down the stairs and outside to his car. It was freaking cold and I stopped as we got to the car and asked if

I could go grab my shirt and shoes. Just as I asked, Kai came out holding both. The officer let me pul the shirt on before I got into the car. I heard my

name cal ed as I was sliding in the back. I turned and saw Sylvia across the parking lot.

“Kai, there’s Sylvia. Take care of her for me and meet me at the station. Cal my dad. My phone’s in the bedroom,” I cal ed out to Kai before the

door was shut on me. I watched Sylvia through the window for as long as I could. I was stil pissed about the whole thing, and I was coming down off

the adrenalin high. I should have been concerned with what was going to happen at the station, but I knew I was in the right and I would do whatever

they needed from me so I could get back to Sylvia. I took a deep breath in and slumped back against the seat. For the moment, I knew she was

safe. That was al I cared about.

Running was not the best idea. Any time running would have saved I spent picking myself up off the ground. After my fourth stumble I gave up and

walked quickly. It was normal y a ten to fifteen minute walk, and it seemed to be taking twice as long. I rounded the corner onto the street that would

lead me home. I was stil several blocks away, but at least I was getting closer. I heard the sirens. I froze, peering down the street trying to make out

what it was and where it was coming from. My gut told me that it was indeed coming from my apartment building, but my brain was trying to keep

the rest of my body calm. The wail of the siren steadily built to a crescendo as the ambulance approached. I remained stuck to the sidewalk as I

watched it for a few heartbeats. My fear for Quinn was crippling, yet al I felt was hol ow as the ambulance passed by and continued towards the

hospital.

I envisioned the guy from the bar, al bloody and laying on the floor. His face transformed into Quinn’s. The sick feeling I had in my stomach was

creeping up. I swal owed hard, wincing at the thought of losing it here where anyone could see me. I was so lost in my fears that I jumped when my

phone sang out to me. It was Reed’s tone. I was nervous as I answered it and my hand shook, causing me to fumble it for a couple seconds before I

could push the answer button.

“Sylvia, are you home? What’s going on? Sloane won’t answer.” Reed was clearly distressed. His normal y loud voice was turned up a notch as

he yel ed into the phone. I could hear Kerri trying to quiet him in the background.

I took a big breath as fear coursed through me.
Sloane won’t answer
ran through my mind, sending shivers up my spine. My voice trembled as I

answered him back. “I don’t know. I’m not there yet, but an ambulance just passed me coming from that way.”

“A what?” Reed hol ered, making me flinch and hold the phone away. “What’s going on there?”

“I don’t know. I can’t see.” I couldn’t hold back anymore and started to cry, the frustration overwhelming me.

I heard a little scuffle and Kerri came on the line. “We’re on our way, Sylvia. Don’t go to the apartment alone. Cal Jason and wait for him

somewhere else. If you can’t get a hold of him, cal us and we’l pick you up. You need to keep yourself safe right now, and I don’t think home is safe

for you. We’l see you soon.” Then she hung up.

I knew her advice was probably the best, but I couldn’t take it. I had to know what was going on. I needed to know if that ambulance held Quinn. I

started back down the street, clutching my phone tightly. I would at least have it ready if I needed it. Every step I took brought me closer to the chaos

that awaited me in the parking lot. The first thing I noticed were the flashing lights stil there. I was final y able to determine them to be police cars.

That reassured me of my own safety, but struck the terror back into me ful force.

I picked up my pace but stopped dead once I reached the edge of the parking lot. I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched Quinn walk out of the

apartment. He was safe and he appeared to be unharmed. I couldn’t tear my eyes from him. He was like an apparition of a god, walking out al

shirtless with his muscles tense and hard. He was like Zeus coming down from Olympus. Once he stepped out of the shadow the sun hit his hair,

reflecting the deep bronze highlights and casting a halo-like effect. In that moment he transformed from a god into an avenging angel. His face was

a barely-contained mask of rage and aggravation. His jaw was tight and his hands were clenched into fists. As he continued to move, I watched the

way he stalked forward. He seemed to be so self-assured and in control of himself, even though his face told me different. The jeans rode low on

his hips, revealing the deep v of muscles that I considered mine alone to look at. I moved my gaze lower to reassure myself that he was indeed

unharmed. I couldn’t understand why he was walking outside without his shoes on. For that matter, why wasn’t he wearing a shirt?

It was then I noticed the officer next to him opening the door to the cruiser. He turned and said something to the officer as Kai ran up and handed

him a bundle. He pul ed a shirt on and I realized he was about to get into the car.

“Quinn!” His name tore from my throat.

He turned and looked at me. His eyes locked to mine as he slid into the backseat. He said something again but he didn’t tear his eyes from

mine. I was aware of the officer getting in the front, and I began to panic as the car started to pul away.
No, they have the wrong guy. Quinn is the

good guy. They are supposed to be taking Beau, not Quinn.
I turned my eyes, fol owing the car as it left the lot and made its way down the street.

Quinn turned and watched me the whole way. I reached out as if I could stop him from being taken away. When the car was out of sight, I felt arms

around me and heard Kai reassuring me that al was going to be fine.

I whirled on her. “How is it going to be alright? Quinn was just taken by the police. Wait, why was Quinn taken? What is going on here?” My words

were tumbling together as my hysteria rose. I was looking around wildly, as if something somewhere held al my answers. I noticed the residents of

the complex al standing around watching the spectacle that had been taking place in the parking lot.

Kai calmly reached for my thrashing hands, effectively stil ing them. “Sylvia, look at me.” Her voice was authoritative, and I turned my attention to

her. “Quinn wil be fine. They just need to ask him about what happened.”

“What did happen?” I was worried, yet relieved.

“Beau showed up and kicked in your door.” Her words hit me like cold water. I flinched.

“But Quinn...”

“Quinn took care of it. He is fine.” She was talking to me as if I were a child in the midst of throwing a fit. I guess, in a way, I was.

“The ambulance?” I knew the answer but I needed to ask anyway.

Kai nodded, confirming my thoughts. “It was Beau. We don’t know how bad it is, but he was unconscious when they left with him.”

“Unconscious, but breathing right?” The ice water seeped into my veins, causing me to tremble. I wasn’t concerned with Beau. I was worried

about Quinn. If he kil ed Beau, would the police let him go?

“Yes, he was breathing. We need to go get Sloane and I need to cal Quinn’s dad. Then we’l go to the station to wait for him.”

Kai let go of one hand and pul ed me along with her by the other. She continued tel ing me about the voicemail from Reed and the commotion

they heard coming from my apartment. Kai insisted it al happened so fast that by the time they got there it was over. We started up the steps, but

she stopped in front of me on the second landing.

“Sylvia, don’t freak out when you see your apartment. I promise, Quinn was not hurt.” Kai was al serious, and it made me wonder what I was

walking into. Visions of war zones danced before my eyes. I imagined broken furniture, holes in the wal and the door hanging by the hinges.

The reality was nothing. Just a few broken trinkets and picture frames. I looked over everything as Kai went to retrieve Quinn’s phone. I was so

relieved. Of course there was a hole in the wal where the doorknob hit it and a boot print on the door from Beau. I was about to laugh at Kai and her

worry over my reaction until I spotted the bloody cloth lying on the floor. I felt immediately sick.

“Sylvia, are you alright?” Sloane came out of the kitchen with the broom and dust pan.

I just pointed to the cloth.
Please let that not be from Quinn.

Sloane’s gaze fol owed my finger and he strode over and picked it up. “Don’t worry. It’s Beau’s blood. Quinn just needed to wipe it off him.”

I nodded, not real y knowing what to say. Quinn had told me not to worry, that he could handle himself. But I had never real y believed that he

could. I had been wrong. I was trying to process that as Kai came from the bedroom, hurriedly speaking on Quinn’s phone.

“...I assume that’s where he wil be. He told me to cal you.” Her eyes fluttered to mine. “No, she’s fine, just a little shook up.” She smiled at me.

“Yes. We’re on our way.”

Kai took the phone from her ear and stuffed it in her pocket.

“Okay, let’s head to the station.” Sloane reached for her and hugged her for a brief second. I was momentarily envious. I wanted Quinn’s arms

wrapped around me like that. I wanted to feel his comforting embrace, letting me know that everything was indeed just fine.

“Sylvia, do you need to get anything before we go?” Sloane turned and asked me before pul ing me in for a hug too. It was slightly reassuring but

it wasn’t Quinn.

“No. Wait, we need to cal Reed and Kerri. They are on their way here.” I didn’t want them to come and find al of us gone and not know where

we’d gone.

“I’l do it from the car. Kai, you drive.” Sloane ushered us both out the door and shut it tightly behind him.

We made our way to Kai’s little blue car and got in. They both talked al the way there, but I didn’t listen to them. The guilt was worming its way in. I

should have broken up with Beau before al this started. I should have never let him back into my life after that first weekend I stayed with Quinn. I

should have gone to the police, I should have told my dad. Al of the should haves kept piling up. By the time we reached the station, I felt the weight

of the world on my shoulders.

We walked into the brightly lit room through a set of metal detectors. There weren’t many in the front waiting area. Kai motioned for Sloane and I

to go sit down as she walked over to a high front desk encased in what I assumed was bul et proof glass. Sloane and I sat on the hard blue plastic

chairs and waited. I glanced around and noticed that Alex and Marie weren’t there yet. Not that I expected they would be. They lived on the other

side of town and Alex had more than likely been at work. Kai approached us and took a seat on my other side.

“They aren’t tel ing me anything. Something about privacy laws. Don’t worry; Alex is coming with an attorney. We’l get answers then.” She patted

my back reassuringly.

A young blond haired man in a gray suit, carrying a briefcase walked in and headed straight for the desk. He spoke quietly and confidently. I

heard Quinn’s name and snapped my head in his direction. I studied him as he reached into his pocket and showed the person behind the desk

what I thought was probably identification. I was hoping he was the attorney we were waiting for. I continued to watch him as he waited patiently for

someone to come and lead him back behind the closed doors where Quinn must be held.

After he was led back, I hopped back on the guilt train. What had I dragged Quinn and his family into? What if he was charged with something?

Would it hurt his career? Oh my God, did I destroy al he’s worked for? I was so not worth al that. My foot began to bounce frantical y as more and

more worries and scenarios played out in my head. Sloane reached over and put his hand on my leg to stil it.

“Sylvia, you need to calm down. Look at me.” I looked into his tranquil green eyes. They implored me to calm down. He spoke quietly to me and