Never Far Away (The Never #2)(48)
“Ella, are you still with me?” the dispatcher asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Good. Have you heard anyone enter the house?”
“No,” she cried. Being in the dark room by herself, unable to see anything, was almost scarier than being out in the open. She just waited for the bathroom door to swing open and for some man in a dark hoodie to point a gun at her. She felt helpless and terrified. Would this be her life from now on? Hiding from threats, crying in dark rooms, waiting for help to arrive?
She started to hear cars pulling up on the gravel.
“Ella, the officers have arrived. They are doing a sweep around the house, so I need you to stay put and let them clear the house outside.”
“Ok.” Tears streamed down her face. She heard sounds outside, but couldn’t tell what she was hearing. A few minutes passed then she heard a knock on the door.
“Ella, the officers are at your door now. It’s safe to come out and open the door for them.”
“Ok.” Ella stood up in the bath, legs barely able to hold her up for all the shaking they were doing. “Are you sure it’s the police? What if it’s the man?”
“Ella, I promise it’s the officers. I have been communicating with them this whole time. Officer Barrows is on the other side of your door; he’s there to help you.”
“Ok.” That seemed to be the only word she could muster. She walked slowly to the door, her eyes darting around the living room, looking for anything that might cause alarm or give reason to panic. Her trembling hand reached for the deadbolt and she twisted it. Then she gripped the doorknob and took a deep breath before slowly opening the door. True to the dispatcher’s word, a police officer stood on the other side. One of his hands gently pushed the door open, while the other rested on the holster containing his gun.
“Hello, Ma’am. I’m Officer Barrows and I’m here to help.”
“Ella, did you let Officer Barrows in?”
“Yes,” Ella answered into the phone as the officer slipped past her into the house.
“Great. Ella you did a wonderful job. I’m going to hand up now, ok?”
“Ok, thank you for your help.”
“No problem.” Ella heard the line go dead and then turned to the officer. “I heard some banging outside and then I saw someone walking past the front windows. I panicked,” She said a little embarrassed. “I might have overreacted.”
“Ma’am, I need you to stay here in the living room and we are going to clear the rest of the house just to be certain. Ok?”
“Alright,” Ella said and turned to find her way to the couch. She sat down and rested her head in her hands. Her breathing was shallow and her head was starting to pound. She heard footsteps on the floor above her and disembodied voices coming from all corners of the house as police officers searched the house for any intruders.
Suddenly there was a commotion outside and Ella heard yelling. She stood up before she knew where she was headed and found herself running for the door. The voice she heard outside belonged to Porter and he was more upset than she’d ever heard.
“Sir! We are still investigating and you cannot go in the house right now.”
“This is my goddamn house and she’s in there! ELLA! Damnit, get out of my way,” Ella heard Porter yelling. She came out of the front door to see Porter being physically restrained by two police officers, struggling to make it to the house.
“Ella!” He yelled as soon as he spotted her.
“Porter!” She cried as she ran down the porch steps towards him. The officers holding Porter released him when they saw Ella coming towards them. When they finally collided, her arms went instinctively behind his neck, holding him tightly to her. His arms wrapped around her waist and his face into her neck.
“Are you ok?” He said, pulling away and holding her face in his hands, looking at her to see if she was injured.
“I’m ok, Porter. I’m ok,” she said and buried her face back into his chest.
“I pulled up, and I saw the cop cars, and it was just like that night. They wouldn’t let me get to you. I had to get to you.” He was on the verge of frantic, and as upset as she was, he needed her right now to be ok. He needed her to be there for him, to know that what happened that night wasn’t being repeated.
“Hey, Babe,” she said as she leaned back to look him in the eye. “I’m right here and I’m fine.”
“I can’t lose you again,” he whispered, his eyes brimming with tears. He looked completely broken, as if everything he’d been trying to hold together for the last three months was crumbling right in front of her.
“Porter, look at me,” she said and she gently took his face between her hands. “I am not going anywhere and you don’t have to worry about losing me, ever.” He nodded his head at her, indicating that he had heard and understood her, then pulled her back into his chest, holding on to her tightly.
Minutes passed and they stayed in their embrace, unwilling to move for anything. At least until Officer Barrow returned to Ella.
“Excuse me, Ma’am?” Ella pulled back from Porter to look at the officer.
“Yes?”
“Can you give me a statement about what happened tonight?”
“Um, sure. She pulled farther away from Porter to speak to the officer, but Porter didn't let her go, his grasp on her waist still firm and comforting to her. Porter left and I was reading on the couch. When I got up to go into the kitchen I heard a loud bang outside, like someone had rammed into the door. I waited to see if I could hear anything else, but it seemed to go away. Then, I heard it again. I got a little freaked out, but wanted to see what it was so I went to the door to open it.” Ella felt Porter stiffen beside her. He obviously didn’t like the fact that she had decided to investigate. She linked her fingers with his and tried to calm him with her touch.