Find all the parts of this story here.
Chapter 4: Witness
Part 2: Sam
Sam was getting a little bored on patrol when his radio crackled.
“Assault at 1900 5th street, possibly still in progress,” came the clear dispatcher’s voice.
Panic slammed Sam’s gut a split second before he picked up his radio.
“Show 793 responding,” he barked out. He flipped on his lights as he executed the fastest (but still safe) U-turn of his life. He screeched to a stop outside Sophie’s building not 30 seconds later, requesting an update from the dispatcher. He should have more information by now.
“Assault occurred in the building lobby. Vic and caller are in apartment 204, second floor on the left.”
Sam knew. Before the dispatcher described the location, he knew it was Sophie.
But wait. Victim and caller?
“Suspect?”
“Left him in the lobby.”
“Show me 10-96,” Sam updated, giving the code to indicate both that he was now on foot and that he wanted backup.
“10-4, 793.”
He leapt from his cruiser, leaving the lights flashing, and sprinted toward the front doors. At the last minute, he remembered to shove his emotions in his back pocket and use his training and logic. He stood to the side of the front door and peered through the glass.
The poorly lit lobby was empty, but he couldn’t see behind the staircase toward the hallways. He opened the door cautiously with his left hand and kept his right hand hovering over his weapon.
It took less than a minute to ensure no one was in the lobby or the first-floor hallways. By that point, another cruiser had appeared outside. He waited for his backup – Officer Katie Fleming – before ascending the stairs. They quietly tag-teamed up to ensure the second floor hallway was also devoid of humans.
“You want me to come with you to check on the vic?” Katie offered.
“Please,” Sam nodded, swiftly approaching apartment 204. He reached for the radio at his shoulder before knocking.
“Show 793 and 814 entering apartment to take vic statement,” he reported.
“10-4, 793. 11-40 please.” Sure – let him know if an ambulance was needed.
“Will do.”
Sam took a steadying breath before knocking. He had no clue what he would find behind this door. Who was the vic? Who had called? Most terrifying – was Sophie hurt? He hadn’t spoken to her outside of church the last two Sundays, but he had spent pretty much all his free time, and a not insignificant amount of patrol time, thinking about her.
He forced himself to knock before he got any deeper in thought. It only took a few seconds before the deadbolt moved and the door was flung open.
Sophie.
Sam exhaled fully for the first time in 10 minutes.
“Sam!” she exclaimed, some of the worry line fading from her forehead.
“Please tell me you checked the peephole first,” he couldn’t help poking at her.
“Of course,” she replied earnestly, eyes wide. “I needed to make sure it wasn’t the…” She glanced behind her, then leaned in closer to whisper – “druggy from downstairs.”
Deep breaths, Sam reminded himself. Deep breaths. And protocol. That would save him from the insanity of this reckless woman.
“May we come in?” he asked, choosing to not respond to her commentary just yet.
“Of course,” Sophie practically jumped back from the opening. She held the door wide and eyed Katie warily as the cop duo made their way into her tiny living room.
Nothing had changed in her apartment since the night he had given her safety tips, except that she had turned on every single lightbulb in a 2-mile radius. Oh, and the bottle-job redhead on the couch was new.
“Sophie, this is Officer Katie Fleming,” Sam introduced his coworker, who shook hands with Sophie. “Officer Fleming, my friend Sophie Lane from church.”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Lane,” Katie replied with a smile. “Who’s your friend?” she asked, nodding her head toward the redhead.
“Oh, um…” Sophie hesitated, chewing on her lip. “The man downstairs called her Denise, but she hasn’t said anything to me since I convinced her to wait in here. I’ve never met her before tonight.”
The redhead kept her eyes down, hands twisting nervously in her lap. She sat on the loveseat cross-legged.
“Did you place the 911 call?” Sam asked.
“Mmhmm,” Sophie nodded and bit her lip again. Her gaze bounced between Sam, Katie, and Denise.
“Divide and conquer?” Katie asked, casting her glance toward Denise. Sam got it – he could get more out of Sophie since he knew her, so even if Denise clammed up with Katie, they’d get one good accounting. He nodded.
“Is there another place we could talk separately from Denise and Officer Fleming?” Sam asked Sophie.
She stared at him like he’d asked her to solve a quadratic equation.
“It’s a one-bedroom,” she finally spoke on a very delayed exhale.
Duh. No other place to go besides her bedroom, which wasn’t great for making a police statement.
“Denise? I’m Katie,” Katie spoke softly as she crossed the room. Sam watched before asking Sophie anything further.
“Hi,” Denise squeaked, then cleared her throat. Sam noticed Sophie watched with rapt attention, too.
“Are you hurt?” Katie asked, her tone reminiscent of one he’d use for scared stray dogs – so soft, so gentle, that you couldn’t possibly feel threatened. Katie was 100% the right officer for this task.
“N-no,” Denise stuttered. “He only pulled my hair.” She ran a hand over her vibrant hair before flicking a glance at Sophie. Sam was itching for details.
“How would you feel about riding with me down to the station to get your statement, Denise?” Katie asked, still maintaining that soothing voice.
“I, uh… I guess I can do that,” Denise finally answered after a few hard swallows. Sam imagined she had probably had less-than-pleasant interactions with a police station already. It showed a certain amount of fortitude that she was willing to go now.
“Thank you.” Katie held out a hand, and Denise rose from the couch, following Katie from the room. Denise paused at the doorway to look at Sophie.
“Thank you-” she paused, her voice choking. It took her a minute and working her jaw back and forth a few times to compose herself enough to speak again. “Thank you for helping me.”
Sophie took the woman’s offered hand in both of hers and squeezed gently.
“I’m thankful I was in the right place at the right time for you. I hope everything works out for you,” Sophie spoke earnestly, but with a smile.
“You, too,” Denise gave a tiny smile, and then she and Katie were gone.