CHAPTER 65: JUST A SQUABBLE (2)

Somehow, in the next few days, the detectives got another tip. Another anonymous caller gave them their main clue for ’solving’ the case. The caller claimed that, the man who had brought Shelby into the hospital, may have been the assailant. According to their narrative, they witnessed the violent struggle between the lovers, but he was too scared to come forward and only mustered courage for the call only.

Even though the theory was far-fetched and came at a ’convenient time’, it was their only breakthrough. The person also claimed that the lovers had also talked about a tattoo they had had a couple of weeks earlier; the proof of their love. This validated the person’s claim, as everyone around Shelby claimed to have never seen her peculiar tattoo.

The hint pointed to two things,

One: the person really witnessed this or,

Two: the person was close to Shelby, but there was no proof to attest to the second point.

It was finally concluded that Shelby had started a hidden relationship in the month she had conveniently forgotten. The tattooed ring was their love and promise to each other, but something had gone wrong that night in the park, causing the lover to stab her mercilessly. But he had felt remorseful at the last moment and brought her to the hospital.

’It was just a lover’s squabble!’ They said.

The problem with this narrative was that even the detectives themselves did not believe it, and neither did Rocky because Rocky knew his sister inside and out, and he knew for sure that the tattooed ring on her finger had not been there even on the day she went shopping with her mother.

The anonymous tip was a bit detailed, so the case had to be closed as such.

The few people who suspected the stepfather never came forward, including detective number two!

***

Present day...

Back in Ian’s room and the Thornston state... silence! Pin-drop silence! No sound was heard in the room after Shelby recounted that day five years before. Her voice lowered, and she added the last part softly,

"The phenomenon that had prevented James from touching me that day in the hospital became my safe haven for years to come, and I learned to rely on it. I didn’t know what it was, nor did I care much about it because it helped me circumvent many men-related issues in the later years.

You are the only man unrelated to me by blood who has ever been able to touch me that way, but even that, you do remember what happened the first day you tried to touch me. That was different though, but... "

She let her voice trail off, and her gaze landed on her plate. Her salad was mostly eaten, and she balanced the near-empty plate on her lap.

Shelby lowered her head, fidgeting and not wanting to meet Ian’s eyes. She waited for him to say anything, but still nothing.

’I knew it! He thinks I’m a freak! I shouldn’t have said anything! Bu- but, he was there too, so he should not think that way... right?’ She finally turned her head to meet his grey eyes that were filled with so much depth and ... confusion?

’Why is he confused? What...is going on?’

He broke the silence first; "What did you say I did?"

"What do you mean by what you did?" She slighted her head, her eyes flying over his side profile.

She thought back to her narration and still did not understand what Ian referred to.

Ian felt like he was going crazy. The narrative he remembered differed greatly from what Shelby had just told him. Was it because she was on the verge of losing consciousness, and that was why she thought of these? Had she dreamt them?

He turned his palm over, and it was as pale as could be, devoid of any marks. Yes, he had had some slight pain, more of a discomfort sometimes in his palm, but when did he ever slash his palm for an unknown person?

He held her shoulders and turned her so that she sat facing him on the bed. He gripped her shoulders tightly and asked again,

"In the park! What did you say I did?" His voice had a bit of impatience, anger and fear? She was not too sure.

"You don’t remember? It is exactly what I just said,"

"That’s impossible!"

"What’s impossible?"

"I-"

Ian paused as he couldn’t bring himself to say whatever was on his mind.

’I saw her at the park, and then what happened?’ he asked himself, throwing his mind back, but no matter how much Ian thought, he came back to the same conclusion. They both recalled the situation very differently.

’So, I went to the park for Aliya but did not meet her, then I saw this girl on the verge of death, and then I ... I sent her to hospital? ... but why is she saying these?’

He examined Shelby’s face, looking for any signs that she was pulling his legs, but Ian also knew that there was no way she would joke about that.

’So, what do I know? I saved her life through a different means from she said, frowning as he remembered reading about that ritual she had described somewhere.

Currey stated that I brought her here, and my mum did nothing. She has the same ring as I do, which is unexplainable. Lastly, she claims that I am the only man that can touch her sexually.... Oh no!’

His heart dropped as he thought through all these and pieced the information together.

"What did I do? And most importantly, how?"

Shelby watched him as different emotions flashed across his face. He had dropped his hand on the bed in a helpless gesture. His brows went up and then crunched together. He pursed his lips, opened it as if he was about to say something and then closed it again.

Shelby stood up from her seated position and set down the plate on the tray.

"I have told you what you want." She started and paused, looking outside to see the sun already about to set.

’Have I been here for that long?’

"Anyway, that is all there was to it that day you met me and the events preceding that. Thank you for listening, but I have overstayed my welcome. So, I’ll head back now."

Shelby said quietly said and headed for the door.

This time, Ian’s shock from his thoughts was so much that he still sat frozen as Shelby made her way to the door.

She paused in front of it and took in a huge gulp of air, then slowly brought up her hand, but the familiar click was heard.

’Thank you!’ She thought as she pulled the door open and stepped outside into the familiar corridor, barefooted. She entered her room, letting out the breath she had not realized she was holding.

She felt as if a whole weight had been lifted from her just by sharing that piece of her past with Ian.

"You did well ma’..."

A thick male voice was heard, and Shelby turned around, looking for the voice’s owner. Even though it had startled her out of her thoughts, she wasn’t too alarmed because she had heard this voice once.

"Who is there?"

She sighed and walked to her bed, knowing very well that she would not get a response.

"Is it you, Murray?"

She waited a bit and still got no response.

"I wish Gabriel were here; then, at least, I would know if it’s really you. I-"

She stopped short as she saw her lamp move slightly.

"Well, thank you for letting me know that it’s you."

She dropped her head in her palms and rubbed her hands in her hair.

"It’s silly, right? I don’t know if you heard what I said to Ian back there, but you may think that I am stupid for not reporting my stepfather, right? Over the years, I have questioned myself several times, and the conclusion was still the same.

If I did, what would my mother do? She has no one but him, and I know that he would never harm her in any way. I know this for a fact, but I know mother can never survive without that man in her life. It would have broken her if I had said anything.... And I don’t even think that she would believe me.

She might say that I am trying to tear her from the love of her life! Ironic, right? Did I push my mother into bad waters by not saying anything? Nope, I don’t think so; I remember the days without my Dad and never ever want to go back to that time again!"

She lay back on the bed and placed her arm over her eyes.

"Do you think I am stupid for choosing my mother’s happiness over mine and staying with the man who had tried to murder me?"

She turned slightly to see the lamp move back to its original position.

"... I guess this is how we will communicate now, but at least James could not touch me. That was the frustration he had to live with!"

Shelby let out a sweet laugh! Gone was the docile and delicate girl looks. At that moment, she looked so fierce. None of her friends would have believed that she was capable of such an expression. A femme fatale, she looked like then!

"Imagine the torment he must have gone through! A typical case of he could look but could not touch! It took me a while to realize this, and that day was a truly glorious day for me knowing I was safe from him especial-"

"Oooohhhhhh! Miss Shelby! You are finally back! How was it?"

*********

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