Chapter 19
Chelsea’s Point of View
11
“I have your real” Cordelia announced and I dashed out of the room, half–dressed, my hands shaking as I stuffed some of my things into my purse. For the past six years, I had been the one calling, and going to the station, trying to find out if they caught the culprit. I went there regularly until last year,
My hope was starting to falter but when I saw him call me for the first time today, my hope was reignited in my chest.
But he didn’t bring me any good news, he wanted to close the case. After everything I have done? Without finding the culprit? No, that can’t be. Cordelia’s eyes widened in surprise, a little confused with the small commotion. “Chelsea, your hangover tea”
“I am sorry.” I muttered, tears leaking from the corner of my eyes, in surprise she walked towards me, her eyes narrowing in concern. “I have to leave”
“Why? What happened? Where are you going out of the blue?” she quickly strolled towards the table and dropped the cup. “Why are you crying?”
I sniffed, it was probably because of the pain in my head, or the hangover but it was difficult; trying to hide my emotions is difficult.
“I have to go to the police station,” I answered and her eyes widened, she knew the only reason I ever went there was because of our father’s case. “They are going to close the case”
“What?” she asked almost breathlessly as she took off the apron around her waist. “I will come with you.”
****
“Miss Chelsea there is nothing we can do” Officer Bentley said as he dragged himself out of the chair he was sitting in, he dropped the files in his hands to the table. A little exhausted, fine lines formed on his forehead. “It’s been years now, and there hasn’t been any added leads or witnesses. The only thing we had for those years was the dashboard camera from a parked car nearby, and they were so far apart we couldn’t get a clear shot of the vehicle’s plate number.”
“Leads?” I muttered feeling the color drain from my cheeks, Cordelia clutched my arms even tighter as though I was some sort of accessory; one she didn’t want to lose. “You should forget about the CCTV footage or any added leads. I was there on the day of the accident, I am a witness and I saw the plate number. I keep telling you, if you just listened to me and did your jobs properly, maybe we would have found them by now.”
“Miss Findley! I know how hard this is for you, but I will not let you disrespect the efforts we have put into this case.” Officer Bentley snapped, his voice raising, Cordelia and I jolted fearfully. The office that was once bustling settled down almost immediately, every head reeling in our direction. “We took the number you gave to us, and there is no such car registered under that number. We have everything in our database, we would have found it if it existed. Six years is enough time to find one small car, don’t you think?”
“But I saw it… I saw the number! I couldn’t forget it, even if I lose my memories.” I emphasized, tears welling in my eyes. “Before the police got to me, I memorized the number, I kept on repeating it like a crazy woman so that I don’t forget it. You don’t know what it is like.”
“And that is why I will suggest you go into therapy.” His voice came back, biting back with an unfamiliar coldness. “Kid. I have been in this office for the past thirty–four years, and trauma does a lot of things to people. It is hard enough to watch. your father die, you probably memorized the wrong number while you were in shock.”
“No…” I argued weakly.
“I found when you made that call six years ago, and in the state I found you, you didn’t even know your name.” He explained again. “It’s unfortunate what happened but there is nothing I can do. But if it makes you feel better, if we get any new
information, anything at all, we will be ready to reopen the case and work diligently, to catch the culprit.”
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Chapter 19
“Are you sure there is nothing you can do. Like check one last time?” This time Cordelia asked curiously. “We might be lucky this time.”
“I am afraid not.” There was no convincing in those grey eyes of his that much I know.
“I can’t give up yet…” I let out a sigh as we both walked out of the station, hand in hand. My heart was tearing apart but I just needed to convince myself that it wasn’t over yet. “I am sure that if I get some money I could use the help of those private investigators, I see them online a lot.” I rambled on as we strolled down the road, heading towards the bus–stop.
She was oddly silent, and it made me worried.
Was she sad?
“I heard from someone that they are way better than the police. Probably in less than six months they would find the car.” I tried to remain optimistic. “They will find the driver and he can end up in jail for good.”
“Chelsea…” Cordelia muttered in a soft voice, and I turned towards her, trying my best to maintain the optimism, even though the tears I was holding threatened to fall.
“Don’t worry, Cordelia. I will make sure I find that bastard and make them rot in jail.” I assured her, gently squeezing her hands.
“I think the police officer is right.” She whispered in an unsure voice and my eyes narrowed at the statement. Words can’t even explain what it felt like to hear such statement from my sister, but I felt a sharp tear in my chest.
“You think I am crazy and I need therapy?” I queried and she shook her head, letting go of my arms, as she tried to explain properly.
“I think we should give up on the search. They had been trying to find leads for six years. And until today they found nothing.” She hesitated for a minute before she said the last part painfully. “I think we should let it go, it’s a lost cause, even if you spent the next twelve years trying, I doubt we would find anything.”
“Let it go?” I pretended not to be offended as I waltz off without her, but she ran after me immediately. “I will act like you didn’t just say that.”
“But Chelsea, how long are you going to keep doing this?”
“For as long as it takes,” I snapped turning back towards her. “Father was so pitiful, he never had anything, not a home, not complete family, not even a wife! But he loved us dearly and wanted the best for us. And I am sure if either of us was in his shoes, father wouldn’t opt to just let it go!”
“Chelsea…” she whispered.
“I am going to find the bastard who cut father’s dreams short, the animal who didn’t give him the opportunity to see the good in life! I am going to give my father justice. So that…” My bravado faltering as I felt a sob escaped me. “… He can finally rest in peace.”
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AD
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