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Chapter 4: Witness
Part 4: Sophie
She couldn’t sleep. Sophie had followed her most relaxing evening routine. The apartment had no tub, but she took a warm shower with a eucalyptus tablet to soothe her. She drank another cup of decaf tea. She ate a bowl of soft noodles, even though she wasn’t that hungry. When she was still awake at midnight, she texted Jonathan. It was only 10 in California.
Thanks for the noodle bowl!
She attached a picture of the silly cat bowl with noodles in it.
Cute. I’ll show Cici in the morning.
Thanks. 🙂
Why are you still up? Don’t you usually go to bed earlier?
Can’t sleep. I had a rough evening.
What happened?
Ever the big brother, Jonathan had never asked if she wanted to talk. Many times he felt like a bully, but ultimately Sophie knew he loved her.
I stopped an assault in my building lobby.
2 seconds later, the phone rang.
“Seriously, Soph?”
“Hello to you too, brother,” Sophie replied sarcastically.
“Sophie.”
She sighed. “I came home late from grocery shopping, and this guy was man-handling a girl in the lobby, yelling at her and pulling her hair. I didn’t think, I just yelled at him. She got away, and I happened to have my pepper spray in my hand so he didn’t come after me. I called the police, and everybody is fine,” she summarized as unemotionally as possible.
“Whoa. Slow down, there, kiddo.”
“I hate that nickname,” she groused.
“Tough. What made you think you should get involved in a physical altercation? Do you know these people?” Jonathan began his interrogation.
“I already gave a police report,” Sophie objected.
“And now you’ll give me a report,” Jonathan countered, then just waited.
“No, I don’t know them. And nothing made me think I should get involved. I just reacted, I told you that. Nobody else got hurt. And the policeman happened to be a friend of mine from church, so we’re all good.”
“Yet you’re still awake at midnight. Who’s the policeman?”
“His name is Sam Harrison. I met him doing that ride-along.”
“Ride-along?”
“Don’t you ever read your email, Jonathan? I send you, Mom, and Dad the same one every week,” Sophie chastised.
“I skim. Elaborate.”
“Fine. About a month ago, I got assigned to help rework the city’s marketing, specifically the law enforcement branch. I did a ride-along with Sam to see what a day in the life of an officer is like, and get a better feel for their work.”
“Sam?”
“Jonathan,” she growled.
“Is he a good guy?” Jonathan growled back.
“Yes,” Sophie replied emphatically. “He is an upstanding citizen, a police officer, a faithful church attendee, and respectful to his parents.”
“You met his parents?”
“His mom invited me for lunch after church. I repeat, read your emails.”
“Apparently,” Jonathan muttered, then sighed. “What do you need to fall asleep tonight?”
The question surprised her. Jonathan wasn’t touchy-feely. He’d always been more the kind of brother to beat up her bullies than ask if she was sad. She sighed too.
“I don’t know. I tried comfort food, tea, and a hot shower. Nothing helps.”
“Maybe you should text Sam,” Jonathan suggested out of the blue.
“What?” Sophie scoffed.
“He’s a good guy, right?” Jonathan countered.
“You’re weird. And you’ve been listening to Mrs. Striker too much.”
“I’m not matchmaking, kiddo. You obviously trust this guy, and being a police officer, I’m wondering if he knows a thing or two about how to remind you that you are safe. I’d give you a hug if I were there, Soph.”
A tear snuck down Sophie’s cheek before she could reply.
“Thanks, Jonathan. I’ll take a rain check.” She sniffed quietly.
“You got it. Go to sleep, kiddo. I’ll check in tomorrow.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Sophie stared at the black screen of her phone for 30 more minutes before she worked up enough courage – and fear – to text Sam.
This is Sophie Lane.
His response came less than a minute later.
Hi, Sophie Lane. Can’t sleep?
Darn insightful people…
No. My brother said I should text you.
I’m glad you did. Is your door locked?
Yes.
Windows shut and locked?
I live on the second floor.
And?
Sophie huffed before climbing out of bed to close and lock her bedroom window. She liked sleeping with fresh air, but maybe this was more important.
Done.
Good. Do you keep your phone by your bed?
Yeah. Why?
Then 911 and I are only a phone call or text away. Okay?
Okay.
Sophie cast around in her mind for something to say, but nothing came. She stared at the back of her eyelids, trying to fall asleep, but peace was just beyond her grasp.
Suddenly, the buzz of her phone ringing had her eyes opening. She swallowed down a jolt of nerves when she saw the name on her screen.
“H-hello?” she stammered.
“Hi, Sophie. Sorry if I scared you,” Sam’s mellow voice came over the line.
“No, it’s fine. I was just trying to fall asleep and failing.”
“I’m sorry. I could tell you were struggling, but texting just doesn’t go as well for me. What’s running through your mind?” Sam asked.
Sophie took a few deep breaths before answering. “I keep replaying the scene in my mind. I try to find more details, or remember words I forgot. But the more I watch it, the less I remember, the more confused I get, the more…” She swallowed, not wanting to acknowledge her fear.
“Scared?” Sam suggested.
“Yeah,” she admitted.
“I’d be surprised if you weren’t,” he reassured. “Want a suggestion?”
“Please.”
“Tell me about the most pleasant day you remember from last summer.”
What in the world? Such a weird request. Sophie cast around in her mind, finally settling on the farewell picnic her mom had prepared.
“Before I moved here, my mom and dad had a little picnic with me in the back yard of our house in Peshicot,” she said, hearing her own voice soften with warmth at the memory.
“Walk me through it. What was the weather like? What did you see and hear? How did the food taste?”
Sophie began talking about the blazing sun, the shade under the canopy, her mom’s cactus garden and dry river, the crackers with cream cheese and prickly pear jelly she loved… She talked for at least 5 minutes straight before realizing both that she was rambling, and that she was deliciously relaxed.
“Whoa. Thank you,” she said fervently.
“You’re welcome, but I think I should say thank you for my first taste of Arizona. You’re making me want to go.”
“You definitely should. It’s so different from Wisconsin, but beautiful in its own way,” Sophie encouraged.
“I’ll think about it. In the meantime, can I give you one other thing to think about?”
“Sure!” She was already feeling worlds better. What else was there?
“Would you like to have dinner with me?”
Sophie’s heart stopped, then took off like a freight train. Sure, she’d had dinner invites before, but never from someone who managed to make her feel so much – safe and nervous all at once.
“Um, y-yes,” she stammered. “Please.”
She could hear Sam’s smile in his voice. “Excellent. Then you think about that and your Arizona picnic. I’ll call you tomorrow night to work out the details. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“G’night, Sophie.”
“Goodnight, Sam.”
How was a girl supposed to get any sleep with a date on her mind? And yet, within 10 minutes, Sophie drifted off with a dorky grin on her face.