Page 48 of Lone Wolf in Lights
He opened his eyes to Detective Harris, who stood outside the cell. “Interesting day?” Harris asked with a frown.
“You could say that.” Eli’s voice was gritty, raw.
“Listen, you know this is just protocol, right?” Harris leaned in closer, his voice dropping to ensure confidentiality. “Just gotta give your report, go through the motions. It’s all part of the process.”
Eli’s jaw clenched and he nodded, as he grappled with the reality of his situation.
“You protected people today,” Harris said, his eyes locking onto Eli’s with a steadying force. “So, whatever you’re feeling, stop. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Eli couldn’t even find it in himself to respond. He needed to think. He needed to get his head back on straight. His thoughts were muddled, cloudy.
“Come on,” Harris said after a long moment. “I’ll take you to give your report.” He unlocked the jail door.
The cell door swung open, and Eli stepped out, squaring his shoulders. He didn’t regret punching Buck. His fingers twitched to do it again, but all he could see were those broken crafts, and he knew there were broken hearts back at the bar. Including Willow’s.
The tension twisted inside him like barbed wire as they approached the door marked Interrogation Room. Each step felt heavier than the last, grounding him in a reality he couldn’t escape.
Before Harris opened the door, Eli said, “Before we go in there, can I make a quick call?”
Harris eyed him for a moment, then nodded with understanding. He gestured toward a phone mounted on the wall a few steps away. Eli’s fingers trembled as he dialed Willow’s number.
“Hello?” Charly’s voice filled the line.
Disappointment washed over Eli. “Charly, it’s Eli. I need to speak to Willow. Is she—”
“Willow can’t talk right now,” Charly interrupted, her tone gentle yet firm. “She’s giving her report.”
Eli closed his eyes briefly, imagining Willow’s tears. “Tell her I—” Eli started, but the words tangled up in his throat.
“I’ll tell her you called for her,” Charly promised. “Just focus on what you have to do there, okay?”
“Okay,” he whispered, the receiver cold against his ear. “Please have her call me when she can.”
“I’ll mention it to her.”
With a click, the line went dead, leaving Eli turning to Harris.
“Ready?” Harris asked, his hand resting on the door handle.
“Let’s do this.” Eli took a deep breath and tried to steady himself. He entered the cold, sterile room and heard the door shut behind him with a loud thud. The walls were bare, except for a one-way mirror that he knew concealed others watching in. In the center of the room sat a single table, flanked by two hard metal chairs; one was already taken by a stoic police officer whose emotions were impossible to read.
“Mr. Cole?” The officer beckoned, gesturing to the chair across from him.
Eli took the seat.
“Whenever you’re ready,” the officer prompted, pen poised above a piece of paper. “Tell me what happened today.”
“All right,” Eli replied, his voice steady. He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. “Let’s start at the beginning...” he began.
By the time he was finished, he couldn’t stop thinking about the million things he should have done differently. He should have kept his cool. He shouldn’t have punched Buck. He should have held him down until the police came. He shouldn’t have ever let Buck get up. He shouldn’t have crushed all the hard work the group had done.
The police officer’s pen stilled above the paper; he leaned in slightly, his gaze never leaving Eli. “Did you feel Buck posed a direct threat to Ms. Quinn and the other women there at the bar?” the officer inquired.
“Yeah,” Eli replied without hesitation, the muscle in his jaw clenching. “Willow was on the ground, cowering away from him. It was clear Buck had shoved her, and Amie’s cheek was red as she sat on the floor, an indicator he’d hit her. Everyone there looked terrified.”
The officer nodded, his hand moving across the notepad, capturing every word. The rhythm of the pen scratching against paper resonated in the quiet room, a testament to the seriousness at play.
“I have your report written out here,” the officer informed Eli. “Take a few moments to read it over and if everything looks accurate, sign and date it.”
