Broken Silence (Silence, #2)(67)

Of course that was okay. “Yes, I promise. Let’s go. Mum can you—”

“We’ll keep calling and researching. You go.” She waved her hands, dismissing us and went back to the computer. She was looking into laws and calling our local MP with Miles and Mia.

We arrived at the station and headed straight to the front desk. A short plump woman in a police uniform sat behind the window drinking from a take-away cup.

“Hello?” I snapped to get her attention.

She looked up at me and sighed. Oh, sorry, was I disturbing your break? Putting down the cup, she scooted her chair to the opening. “How can I help?”

“I need to know what’s happening with Cole Benson. Please?”

“He’s still being questioned. That’s all I can tell you, Miss Farrell.” She knew who I was, then; not that it was a surprise.

I sighed. “Please?”

Jasper pulled my arm. “Go and sit down, Oakley. I’ll try talking to someone who knows what’s going on.” She made a face at him but didn’t comment, just sat back down and looked at her computer screen.

“David!” I pushed past Jasper and ran to Cole’s dad, who had just appeared from around the corner. “Where is he? Is he okay? What’s going on?” I questioned, speaking too fast.

He held his hands up. “Calm down, it’s okay. He’s still being questioned. Linda’s with him. I don’t know anything else, but Linda assured me she would do everything she could. We didn’t get time to speak properly, but I think she’ll be able to get him off.”

David looked stressed and worried. He was usually a closed book, hiding his emotions well, but right now the book was lying wide open.

“Really?” Oh, God, please! My heart started pounding in my chest.

“We just have to wait. Come and sit.” I let him lead me to the black fake-leather chairs, and Jasper followed.

Just have to wait. How long for though? What did they have to ask? Yes, we’d slept together when I was underage but we both wanted to, we were both kids. It wasn’t the same. They were turning it into something sick and twisted and that wasn’t what it was.

We all sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. The mahogany clad clock on the wall ticked loudly with every second. Watching time pass was never a good idea. Time was different in here it seemed. Every second lasted a minute.

“What the…?” David trailed off, looking out of the window.

Turning in my seat, I gasped as my eyes fell on what he was looking at. Oh, wow. Outside were most of our neighbours, some of the press I recognised, and others I didn’t. It was hard to hear what they were shouting, but a few people had ‘Free Cole’ banners. They really listened. My heart leaped into my throat, and I ran for the door.

There was a round of applause when I stepped outside, and the all-too-familiar flashing of cameras. I didn’t mind the cameras this time. They were there because I’d asked them to be, as well as just wanting a story.

“Thank you all so much,” I said. My eyes filled with tears. It was so overwhelming to see all these people here for Cole.

“Oakley, what’s happening now?” someone from the crowd shouted.

I couldn’t see who it was, so I replied in their general direction, “Cole’s being questioned, so at the minute we’re just waiting.”

Jasper pulled my arm. “We appreciate you all coming, but we need to get back inside. Thank you,” he said and dragged me back into the building. “Just stay in here, okay? You’ve done your bit now, but you can’t get too involved.”

“Yeah. Okay,” I agreed, nodding. He was right. If I stayed around out there, I could mess something up, say too much. Jenna paced the reception area. “What’s going on now?”

She shrugged and rubbed her hands over her face. In the short few hours that Cole had been here, Jenna had developed dark circles under her eyes. Did she hate me for what had happened? I gazed at her, anxiously.

“Come and sit, sweetheart,” she said as she finally sat down. “How are you holding up?”

“I don’t know,” I replied, sitting next to her. I was just about holding it together. I wanted to scram and cry. “Why are they doing this to him? I’m so sorry, Jenna. I should have never said—”

“Oakley.” She grabbed both of my hands. “Please don’t blame yourself. Everything will be fine.”

“How do you know?” I whispered.

“Because I won’t let anything happen to my son.”

I smiled and prayed she had the ability to do that. Of course she would want to protect her child, but was there anything she could realistically do? “You should go home, Oakley. Especially now there’s so much media attention. There’s no use in you waiting around here too.”

I started to panic. My stomach turned. “I don’t want to leave him.”

“I know, and I understand that. I do think that while he’s being questioned, and we’re not sure if they’ll charge him, you shouldn’t be here though. Please don’t think it’s because I don’t want you here. I just need to make sure everything is done properly to give him the best chance, and I don’t know if the press following you and getting wind of what’s happened is the best thing here.” Her eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t even imagine how she was feeling.