One For Jessie - 1. Chapter 1

There was a loud sigh, then a kind sounding man asked:

"Can we get this over with, already? He isn't guilty; why should we keep him waiting?"

There was a gruff chuckle, and then a voice even deeper retorted.

"He's a fucking faggot! I'm not going in there until I'M ready."

"God! You are such a bastard sometimes! Fine, have it your way, give me the goddamn recorder."

I hear a door squeak open, footsteps in the hall, and seconds later the door behind me grinding against the floor as a very round man came bouncing in. He stopped suddenly and looked down at me.

I must have been an awkward sight. I had collapsed onto the steel table. I looked up into his eyes, tears blurring my vision. He put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze, set the recorder on the table, pushed record, and began to talk.

"Detective Davidson, questioning Anders Harmon, Male, Sixteen." He turned and scowled at the mirror, and continued. "Anders,....I know this is hard for you, but we need your side of the story. Please, answer my questions honestly and try not to leave anything out. Are you ready to begin?"

I nodded.

"Yes sir." My words seemed to hide behind the sobs.

He took a seat in front of me, and gave me an apologetic smile.

"Ok, will you please start by telling me what happened. Tell me what started all of this."

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It was the second day that I hadn't heard from my boyfriend, Jessie. I was starting to worry that he was very angry, more so than he normally gets. I didn't think that he was angry with me, but still, when he gets mad, he shuts everyone off. The only thing I could think of that may have pissed him off so badly was his dad. His dad is a devout Christian, and is very conservative. Jess knew that, of course, but he still felt that he needed to tell his parents his secret.

He told my mother and I that he was coming out to his parents.The last time I had talked to him, was after dinner when I walked him home and begged him to think hard about what he was doing. I didn't want his dad to forbid us from seeing each other. We live right next to each other, but his dad could still keep us from visiting, or going on dates. Jess wouldn't change his mind. He said that if he kept his secret, he would be no better than his dad.

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"That was the last time I saw him."

The round man nodded.

"And when did you try to find Jessie, and when was it that you decided something was wrong?"

"Well, the next day..."

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The next day, I woke later than normal. I laid in bed thinking of the dream I had been dreaming. Jessie and I on a beach. Setting on a beach towel, watching the sunset, and holding hands...it was perfect, until it began to rain stones and we got separated as we ran for cover.

I finally found the strength to roll out of bed and get dressed, brushed my teeth and tamed my hair, and checked for a message from Jessie on my cell. Nothing. Maybe he was downstairs. I crossed my fingers as I tiptoed down the stairs. To my surprise, Jessie wasn't asleep on the couch, like he normally was. Normally when I wake up, he his already come by, had coffee with my mom, and laid back down for a nap 'till I get up.

The rest of the day, I checked my online messages and cell phone every chance that I got. I wasn't going to miss it, if Jessie decided to talk. When I wasn't checking for messages, I was leaving them. I called everyone I could think of,friends and family, everyone except Jessie's dad...If he had pissed Jessie off, the he had pissed me off as well. I tried Jess' cell, and left him messages online,but after about twenty messages, I finally accepted he wasn't going to answer me yet, so I tried his mom's cell, but she didn't answer either, and his older brother, didn't answer either of his phones.

The next day started very much like the previous day, but instead of laying in bed thinking about Jessie, I was going to go talk to him and try to figure out why he had abandoned me. We'll, at least I felt like he had abandoned me, even if it wasn't true.

When I got to my cell, I had a text from Jessie.

"My mom and I left the state last night. Sorry for not coming to see you. Time to get over me. Sorry Babe."

I began to cry as I read the last sentences. Just as I feared, his dad must have reacted really badly for them to leave...and Jessie would never call me Babe. He says it is so shallow. I needed to find out where he was. I needed to see him. My fingers moved quickly over the numbers as I keyed my reply.

"Where are you? And what do you mean time to get over you? I need some answers! Please, Jessie. I love you and will never get over you. I need to see you."

I hit send and watched the the message fold into an envelope and fly off the screen.

I need to talk to Mom. I ran down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Mom was standing at the sink pouring herself a cup of tea. She looked at me and smiled.

"Want a cup?"

"No, Mom.I got a message from Jessie. Here, I'll read it to you."

I scrolled through my phone until I found the message that I was looking for. Then read it aloud.

"My mom and I left last night. Sorry for not coming to see you. Time to get over me. Sorry Babe."

She looked as hurt as I felt. She set the mug of tea on the white tiled counter as she walk around it to my side. She hugged me and whispered into my ear.

"It's hard, I know, but maybe its for the best."

Just then my phone began to chime off a happy tune, and we both jumped apart. I looked down at the cell.

"NEW MESSAGE FROM: JESS"

I flipped open the phone and pushed "View".

"Look, I don't what to hear from you again. You're a faggot; I do not want to have anything to do with your kind."

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"It was at that point that I was sure that there was something wrong with Jessie, and that it wasn't he who was text messaging my phone. He never talked like that, even about the people he hated most. He had never said anything like it before."

The detective pulled a note pad from his pocket and scribbled a few notes.

"I see. And do you still have these messages on your phone?"

"No, That night I deleted them right before I went to bed. The phone company sends Mom a record of my messages, though."

He scribbled another note down.

"Ok, will you know tell me the events of today?"

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I had decide that today, I was going to confront Jessie's father. I got dressed in my best clothes and told my mom were I was going. She was hesitant to go along with my plans, but after I pleaded, she agreed. Of course, she made sure I had my cell phone with me.

Mom and I left the house at the same time. She locked the door behind us, and handed me the spare. I kissed her on the cheek.

"Have a good day at work. See you later."

"I will. Be careful, Hon."

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"I need to call her. I told her that I would call if there was any trouble. Please. can I call?"

He stood and paced the room, stopped in front of the mirrored glass and sighed.

"Actually, we called her already. We assured her that you were fine, and that we would be talking to you, she wants you to call when your done here. Please continue."

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I started across the lawn to Jessie's house. I pushed to doorbell button, and listened for footsteps. There was no answer. I pushed it again. Still no answer. I shook my head and started back to head back home, when our neighbor Crista caught my attention.

Crista is a five year old and, despite her age she is quite smart and always fun to be around. She always looks on the bright side of things. Today. she was out side playing in the front lawn of there house with Jessie's little brother, Michael, who was just a few years older than Crista. I watched them from across the street as they laughed and played. The had blankets out on the lawn, and were wrapping themselves up in in them.

I headed across the street to say hello and to ask Michael about Jessie.

"Hey Michael. Hi Crista."

They both gave me a hug and we all laughed

"What are you doing?"

Crista threw the blanket off of herself.

"Making cocoons!"

She held out the "o" sound. I laughed and so did she.

"Were did you learn that?

"Jessie did it in the dark place."

"What do you mean?

She pointed to a small square in the crawlspace under their porch. Then she pointed to Jessie's house. I turned to Michael who had gone ghost white, and had started to shake.

"Michael, are you ok?

"I have to go!"

He turned and ran back across the street, barely avoiding a car as he urgently ran back inside his house.

I left Crista standing there as I followed Micheal to his house. I walked around a few bushes to where the crawlspace was. I knelt down on the hard stone and peered into the darkness. The cool damp musk swam through the air to me. I couldn't see far though, so I took out my cell phone, flipped it open, and let the light shine into the abyss. The floor of the space was dirt and rats and bugs scurried here and there.I shown the light to the left. I found nothing. Then to the right, Again nothing. I was about to crawl out of the space when something caught my eye. The red stone of Jessie's class ring. I placed it into my pocket and, looked farther into the darkness. On the far wall lay two blue tarps wrapped into "cocoons". My worst fears were just confirmed.

I crept back to the front porch. I rang the door bell again , but to my surprise, this time Jessie's dad answered. I wasted no time and started asking questions.

"Sir, I was wondering if you could tell me about where Jessie went. He sent me a text message saying that he and his mom had left. I was hoping that he wasn't wrapped up somewhere."

"Yeah, he sent you one this morning. They left last night."

"Sir, you said he sent it this morning, as if you knew. But you say he left last night."

"Look, lets discuss this inside. Come it won't...kill you."

I glared at him, but followed.

"Look, Sir. I know want you did. I know that you killed him."

"What on the earth are you talking about? Are you ok in the head? Let me make some tea."

He went into the kitchen and I hear the stove click on and the kettle clank on the the grate. From the living room where I set with Michael, I could see His dad reflected on the glass of a picture frame. I watched as he made the tea, and just before he poured it into cups, he pulled a pulled a blue bottle from the cupboard above the stove and place a tablet into my cup. I knew he had put something deadly into it. I had to get out of here, and call the police. That was one on my priorities. Horrible thoughts filled my head. Without waiting for him to return, I told Michael to come with me, and we left very quietly.

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"At that moment I tried to call the police, and told them what had happened, and what I had saw, and they said that there was no units in the area at the moment, but to stay calm that someone would be there in less than five minutes."

The detective had now lit a giant cigar that was filling the room with a rank smoke. My tears had begun to flow freely now. I held nothing back and tried to remember every detail.

"Sir, the last part happened so quickly, I..."

"Just tell me what you can remember"
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I had just finished explaining the situation when I heard Michael's scream come from the house. I thought he was right behind me. He must have stayed. Either way, I had to save him. I pulled a can of key-chain mace from my pocket and headed back into hell.

Michael was grasping and clawing at his fathers' hand. His father had took a handful of hair and lifted Michael several inches from the floor. The knife was dancing on his neck.

"What the hell did you say. How did he find out? I told you what I would do to you!"

Michael gasped and cried out his innocence, but his father wasn't convinced. He raised the kitchen knife. Time stood still as I made my move. I shoved the man form the boy and as he fell, I let the mace rain down on him.

The woman on the phone asked me if I was ok.

"Yes, you could say that."

"Ok, do you have a gun?"

"Yeah, My mom keeps one."

"I want you to get into a closet, and lock the door. Take the gun with you. If he gets to near you, shoot."

I could here sirens now, but several blocks away.

I turned grabbed Micheal's wrist and ran back to my house. I took Michael to the hall closet and told him to stay there and to be very quiet. I then remembered the small handgun mom kept in the house. She had always told me not to touch it unless there was an emergency, but I didn't think this is what she had thought we would need it for. I took it out and turned to see Jessie's dad stumbling toward me.

I turned and pointed the gun at him.

"Stop! Don't come any closer! I SWEAR! I'LL SHOOT!

I aimed for his leg, and pulled the trigger. I guess the years of setting untouched had caused some wear on the gun, because it was difficult to pull the trigger all the way back, maybe it was my nerves, but after the split second delay, the gun fired.

"You bastard child! You shot me! I should have killed you when I had the chance!"

He stood and started toward me again. he raised the knife and there was another gun shot as I pushed the gun forward into his stomach. I felt the blood running down my chest as he collapsed, falling onto me. I heaved the body off of me and if fell to the floor with a thud. I kicked the beast's face

"And that's one for Jessie."

"Are you ok? I heard gun shots! Please talk to me. several units are on their way!"

Words poured from the earpiece of my cell phone. I walked to the closet door and picked it up. Michael sat in the far corner hugging his knees, crying. I could only imagine how hard it must be for him. He had lost everyone. I reached out to Micheal and he took my hand as I pulled him into an embrace.

"We're ok, Mama. I had to shoot him. He almost killed us!"

"The officers should be there any second"

Actually, the were walking into the house as she spoke the words; guns pointed in every direction. I heard one of the shout.

"Drop the gun! Slowly lay it on the floor and put your hands on the back of your head.

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"I guess you know the rest, Detective."

"Yes, I guess we do. Look, Anders, Like I said before. This must be a very heavy burden, but I have to ask. Will you testify this in the Court of Law?"

"I will. And I will do anything else that is needed to be done to put this man away for good. But, I also have a question. What will happen to Michael?"

He shrugged, then grinned.

"Apparently, his father had some sense. He signed legal guardian ship over to your mother today."

A PA system switched on.

"Mr. Harmon's mother is here."

I stood and Detective Davidson shook my hand. He smiled and looked me in the eye.

"Its people like you who make this job worth the crap we have to put up with. You may go."

He walked me out to the main doors, and told me that he would call my mom in the morning. I walked into the waiting room to find my mom with Michael curled up against her chest. No doubt, most likely sleeping. I sat next to them and took my mom's hand and kissed her on the cheek. I began to cry. I was grateful for Michael. He was one of the only things that still linked his brother and I. I remembered another special something in my pocket. I slid a hand into my pocket and pulled out Jessie's class ring. I kissed it, and slid it onto my finger. Mom was watching and smiled through here own tears.