24 Weeks...
Chapter Nine
She was all dressed in blue. The uniform that she couldn�t wait to put on ever since it had arrived a week ago. But today, as she walked into the room the last thing she was feeling was pride or happy; the feelings that she thought she would be filled with on the first time she wore them. She stared nervously at the seven panel men who were waiting for her as she prayed that her legs would not give away.
�Sit down Ms. Benson.�
The man on the furthest left addressed her. She walked up to the lone chair right on the center of the room and sat down making sure her legs were together, her shoulders were not slouching and her head was held high.
�You have already graduated from the Academy, even though the ceremony hasn�t taken place, in our eyes you are a part of Police Force. So, I hope you understand the responsibility that comes with that uniform and with that shield.� The same man spoke.
�Yes, I do sir.�
�Then I hope that the statement you�ll be giving regarding the events of Tuesday night at Ria�s Corner will be truthful.� He added without looking up.
�We want you to account from the beginning.� The man right next to him talked this time.
�We had gone to celebrate Adam�.Mr. Logan being the first in our batch.� Olivia started recalling the unfortunate night.
�Elaborate �We�.�
�Ms. Christine Logan, Ms. Gina Ramsey, Mr. Douglas Piccirilli and myself.�
�Ms. Christine Logan and Mr. Adam Logan are siblings?� It wasn�t a statement rather a question.
***** Flashback
�See�I told you he was smart.� Chris was boasting about her brother�s achievement as though it was her own. �I just knew it.�
�Yeah� that�s why he quit the last two times he joined Academy.� Gina couldn�t help but try and hose down her friend�s happiness.
�Why did he quit?� Olivia asked joining in on the conversation.
�Oh�he had a minor problem with his anger. He always got in trouble whenever he got in a fight. But� it doesn�t matter now. Those are past. Now the present is he topped the batch.� Chris was floating in the seventh heaven as she grinned through out the day.
******
�Yes Sir.� Olivia replied briefly before continuing.
�About half an hour after we were there, Ms. Ramsey noticed that Ms. Neill arrived with Je� her friend.�
�That would be Ms. Jena Rollins.� He pointed out for the rest of the men so that they could follow.
�Yes Sir.�
�It is said that Ms. Neill and Ms. Ramsey weren�t in good terms. Now what was Ms. Ramsey�s reaction when she saw them walk in?� He asked.
�She was not happy. But it wasn�t unusual for G�Ms. Ramsey to be upset seeing Ms. Neill, so we did not make much of it.�
Couple of the men in the panel made quick notes before then returned their attention back to Olivia.
�Several minutes later Ms. Ramsey wanted to go dancing. She first asked Ms. Logan but she did not want to. Then she asked me ��
***** Flashback
�What�?� Olivia had finally managed to look away from the dance floor and back at her friends.
The moment she saw Jena and Jaq walk towards the dance floor; her eyes were glued on her girlfriend. She had gone on numerous dates with Jena but never had she gone dancing with her, so to see her body move with the music especially in that slick black leather pants that stuck on to her like the way Olivia wanted to be right at that moment. But unfortunately she had to stay at least couple of feet away just watching her instead of being right next to her. That�s the reason why she hadn�t heard the word of what her friends were talking till she felt a nudge from Gina.
�Come on�let�s go and dance?� Gina asked once again.
Olivia first looked at Gina finding it strange that she was asking her instead of Adam or Dough, but when she looked at Chris she knew why. Chris blinked her eyes and slightly nodded to signal her to decline just like she had, but at that moment she didn�t care about anything other than being closer to Jena. So she accepted.
****
�And we walked to the dance floor.� Olivia took a moment to look at all the seven members of the emergency panel.
�After couple of songs was over, the music changed to a much faster one. The whole dance floor started to switch partners and go in circles.�
**** Flashback
YES�was all Olivia could think when the music had changed and strangers were in front of her for couple of seconds at a time before everyone switched again. She looked both ways to see how far Jena was. Just two more people she thought to herself as she moved with the music and the crowd.
Then Jena was in front of her. Both the women smiled as though they were showered gifts by Santa Clause, while they made most of the two to three seconds. Just as the beat was about to change, Jena leaned forward. �Feeling jealous?� Jena had only whispered it when she felt her body suddenly move away. Olivia turned just to be staring at Gina who had yanked Jena away from her.
*******
�Then at one point Ms. Rollins was in front of me. When she was saying something to me, Ms. Ramsey saw it and she pulled her off.�
�What was Ms. Rollins saying to you?� They asked.
�I knew her from the Seven Eleven, so she was just saying hi.� Olivia lied.
�Did you say that to Ms. Ramsey?�
�I did not get a chance to tell her anything.�
�So that is when the brawl started?�
�That wasn�t when the physical fight started but that did bring everyone to the dance floor, where Ms. Neill and Ms. Ramsey did start verbally abusing each other.�
�Was that the reason?�
**** Flash back
�Entirely my fault.� Jena said amazingly being able to hold Jaq back all by herself. �I apologize to you.� She said looking at Gina. Then she turned to Olivia and said the same thing, pulling Jaq further away. �We will leave�.and I am sorry again.�
Olivia and Chris were doing the same thing with Gina, pushing her back. At that point Gina turned to Adam. �All dykes need is a man to do them right.� Gina had to have last words.
�Yeah and your Dad didn�t know how.� Jaq retaliated just before Gina escaped the hold and slammed Jaq.
******
�Yes sir.� Olivia lied again.
�Tell us where you were when the assault took place?�
�Everything happened too fast and with all the people in the dance floor everything was getting too confusing. I was only able to push away few people when I the loud shriek��
Olivia froze; just like she had frozen when her eyes had seen the source of the scream. Even the though the room had still been chaotic her eyes had remained on the blood that was oozing out, the pair of eyes that was staring at it with nothing but pain, the hand that was now covered in blood trying to stop it.
�Did you see Mr. Logan plunge the broken gin bottle?�
�No. He was standing next to her with the bottle in his hand.� Olivia answered swallowing back the tears that were making their way to her eyes.
The panel members started to discuss among themselves as Olivia forced her heart and brain to stop hurting so bad. She was not going to break down in front of them she was ordering herself so as she stared blankly at the wall beyond the men.
�Ms. Benson�� The man on the center said a little louder bringing Olivia back to the room. �Like we just said, your statement corroborates with the other eye witness statements. We not going to penalize you but this will remain in your records as an unwilling participant of an assault. Now, the news is that she is still in hospital, and if she doesn�t make it. More severe action will be taken.�
�Yes Sir.�
�Just one more question. Who threw the first punch?�
***** Flashback
�I know.� Chris who was waiting for Olivia right outside dressed identically said as soon as she saw her. �I recognized Jena as the one who has been picking you up for a while.�
Olivia didn�t have anything to say. She just looked down feeling guilty.
�You know what I don�t have any emotion left in me to waste it being angry with you or to wonder why you hid it from us. Actually right now I don�t even give a shit about anything.� She walked up little closer. �But before you go into that room and when they ask you to point a finger, remember one thing. When I ask how Jaq knew about G�s mom the finger points at you.� She said thumping her index finger at Olivia�s chest.
*****
�I do not recall.� Olivia lied again.