Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

The cops covered Jerlina immediately. The shooter was restrained by the other cops and a commotion ensued. He was still cussing at her saying that she doesn't deserve to live and stuff like that. Maybe because she's gotten used to such situations already, or maybe because she was sure that this is staged, she didn't feel scared.

Also, her mind was entirely occupied with Jeremy. And she wanted to get inside and so when the cops led her inside, she happily went inside. The police used this as a chance to start controlling the crowd and even the media were asked to step back as it is not safe anymore for them.

"There could be more of them," they said and started to disperse the crowd. "It's for your safety!" "Disperse!"

The police don't like the presence of media presence since it would turn to be a hindrance for their investigations. Jerlina could hear some of the cops muttering how this has spread this far this soon. Some blamed social media, but the presence of this many people shouting for justice this soon for a single woman who died, did raise some suspicions. 

But then one of the cops said something that made everyone else agree with him.

"Well, whaddya expect? He's a gang lord!"

Jerlina fisted her hands hearing the sneers and grunts of agreement from the other cops. She would not like others dismissing her husband as just a gang lord. What do they know about him and what he does?   

"Gang lord? Says who?" She turned and asked the cop. She used to respect the cops; she still wants to. But after what some bad cops did to her, and after she knows how easy it is to buy them, she doesn't find it in her heart to treat them to be in a respective position as many of them deserve to.

No one dared to answer her. Jerlina got away from the cops around and walked to the front. The cops urged her to file her complaint the moment she was in but Jerlina walked straight to Jeremy sitting in the waiting area, ignoring the cops. 

"Joel…" Jerlina kneeled before him as he seemed out of it, staring at the floor. Or he was staring at his interlocked fingers, she was not sure. A deep furrow was between his eyebrows and the blue of his eyes was dull, and veins were popping in the white of his eyes. He looked pale and parched with his lips dry and split.

He's distressed! What did he see? What happened?

"Joel," she called him again and held his hand. 

Her fingers trembled a bit and a chill passed through her spine as she felt how cold his hands were. Her instinct was to get her hands off his, but she held his hands tighter. 

Only after she squeezed his hands did he look up with a jerk. 

"Je-" he let out a sigh and started coughing as he was not talking for some time. 

Jerlina got the water bottle that was unopened beside him on the table. He must not have opened it till then. She opened it and offered him. He got the bottle from her and drank it.

"Don't squat for long…" he held her hand and helped her stand. "Sit."

Jerlina sat beside him and waited until he could compose himself. His hand holding hers was still trembling. His hold was tight and she knew if they were home, he'd be hugging her and sobbing, but he is holding back.

Gordon said that Jeremy is giving his statements to the cops, but she could see that Jeremy hasn't spoken much; which is good in such cases. She regretted not learning more about what happened before coming here. She wondered why Jeremy's lawyer isn't here yet. 

What exactly happened to Emma? And how is Joel involved? Did Emma go and meet with Jeremy after leaving our home? Did she plan everything? Is Emma that psychotic to put her life on the line to hurt Jeremy?

Ah… There was Jeremiah, right?

Jerlina tried to stand up as a cop approached probably for questioning him.

"Hello, I'm Detective Conrad. Mr. Harrison, we would like to ask-"

"Fitzgerald," Jerlina corrected the cop who approached them as Jeremy started to talk. "He's Mr. Fitzgerald."

"Sorry," the officer knitted his brows and looked through his notepad. "Mr. Jeremy Joel Fitzgerald," he enunciated each syllable as if he was annoyed he is getting corrected.

Jerlina didn't mind his inconvenience and looked at Jeremy. He pulled up the sleeve of his shirt and took a glance at his watch. She could feel his hand getting a lot warmer and clarity returned to his eyes. 

"Detective!" an officer called the cop talking to them and the cop walked away.

Jerlina observed the detective's face getting much more serious and the cop talking to him was having his hat close to his chest. She could feel that bad news is going to get announced. 

"She fell, Jeryl," Jeremy said pulling her hand, distracting her attention from the detective.

"Fell? How?" Jerlina asked as she didn't understand the context.

Jeremy sighed looking to his left seeing the approaching detective. He then turned at her with a caring smile, "Don't get stressed. And ask for a lawyer," he squeezed her hand. 

Jerlina could understand that the situation is not good and is escalating. She should be doubting Jeremy wondering about his involvement in all this, but she wasn't. She just cared that they handle this situation to the best of their efforts and get back home soon. 

"Mr. Fitzgerald, Emma Cooper is pronounced officially dead. Your sister didn't make it alive to the hospital…" the detective said and Jerlina's heart skipped a beat although she was prepared for it. 

Jeremy let out a deep breath and covering his face with his hands, he rubbed his face. Jerlina's eyes reddened thinking the scar this would leave on Jeremy and she rubbed his back to comfort him.

He might have told her that he didn't have no feelings for his sister these days, but he had loved her for decades. He would be hurting.

"This investigation is now officially a investigation of death. So I would need your co-operation… please…" the detective patted Jeremy's shoulder and asked him to get to the interrogation room.

"Mrs. Fitzgerald, you too will have to…Just for us to get an idea with everything that went on…" Another cop walked to Jerlina and with a nod, she stood up. 

"Joel, I am sorry…" she hugged Jeremy who looked at her with his eyes red. 

Jeremy said nothing and patted her back burying his face in her neck, covering his face. 

"Sir..."

"Miss..." 

The detectives urged them both to walk to the interrogation room and Jerlina cupped Jeremy's face. 

"Joel..."

"Jeryl... I'm fine," Jeremy said wiping his face with his sleeves. "Don't stress yourself..." he hugged her back. He then turned to the detectives.

"She's pregnant. So, please be just..."

"Oh? Congrats- We are just going to talk and we have to tell you that this is not an interrogation. As you know, this is not a-" The detective was clearly a little stressed hearing the news. 

"Please..." he pointed at one of the rooms and Jerlina walked in after nodding at Jeremy. 

"Sir, you too..." Jeremy was led in to the adjoining room. 

"So... " the detective sat in front of Jeremy with his fingers interlocked and over the table. He asked him some simple questions and asked if he needed anything to ease him up.

"Ok, then. Let's get to it." the detective got serious. "There were a lot of witnesses after your sister was on the balcony ledge of your office. Can you tell me why she was there?"

"Lawyer," Jeremy said. "I am not talking without my lawyer."

"Okay," the detective was a little disappointed but he will have to accept this request. "I mean you are obviously hurt by her death. You must have loved her. Why didn't you get near her and help her? Why didn't you-"

"Lawyer!" Jeremy leaned at the back of his chair.   

The detective stood up and left the room and closed the door.

"What a prick!"

He dialed a number that was on the top of his call log.

"He lawyered up...." he whispered.