Chapter 27

One morning, Lieutenant Stanley Benton came knocking on the door. Doc Lin answered.

"Hello, I am here to do a follow-up on the killing of Ralphealeon Mantilla. May I come in and talk to Lora Hall?" He asked as the doctor studied him. "May I ask who you are?"

"I am Doctor Lin Williams, Lora's counselor. Please come on in. Lora is upstairs. I'll go get her in a minute. Can I talk to you first?"

"Sure." Stanley was curious about what the doctor could want with him. "I am glad that Lora is getting some help. I wouldn't want her to go through this alone."

She led him to the living room where they sat on opposite couches. "It wasn't her choice. I am court-ordered in her case. Listen, Lora is having a hard time with this. I can't get her to open up to me and neither can any of her friends or family. If she will open up to you and tell you the details of what happened, then please let her. You will get the information you need and she might get some of the relief she needs. She has to talk about it. She will never get to rest if she doesn't. She has nightmares and visions of the rape. If she doesn't put the event into words it will haunt her for the rest of her life. I can't justify telling the court that she is okay unless she tells her whole story. If she doesn't, I will have to have her committed." Doc Lin explained.

"Wow. It's that serious. O.K. I do understand. She might open up to me because I am a cop and if she does I will let her talk till she tires. I promise." Stanley replied. He was surprised at this woman's interest and dedication toward a court-ordered case.

"Thank you. Keep her in the house and it will be recorded. It is for her own safety and health. Here, sign this form of non-disclosure. It states that you can use this information only as it pertains to the case and that you will not tell anything that is said to anyone else." Stanley signed and Doc Lin went to get Lora.

Lora came into the living room wearing a beautiful satin gown. Stanley could look at her all day. She was lovely. Her hair was in silky braids and he wanted to run his fingers through them. Stanley had to control his urges.

"Hello, Ms. Hall. Nice to see you again." Stanley stated.

"Hi, Lieutenant. I am glad they sent you to talk to me."

"Good. I am glad you are comfortable with me. I just need the whole story so we can clear up the file and close the case. Let's start from the beginning when you met Ralphealeon until his death. I need to know the whole story."

"It is a long story and it is hard to tell."

"I have all the time you need and I am a good listener."

Lora felt safe with Stanley. She didn't have any of the weird "he has already seen me" feelings she had about everyone else. She wanted to tell him. His eyes made her feel that she could trust him with her secrets.

Lora walked over to the couch and sat on the floor in front of him. She held his hands and looked him in the eyes. Stanley saw all the sorrow and pain in her eyes. He also saw a need to be loved by someone who really loved her. It took Lora all day and the next morning to tell Stanley everything. She cried and cried. He took her in his arms and cradled her while she talked. She talked herself to sleep while he held her. Doc Lin came down the stairs and saw Lora. She studied her breathing, heart rate, and the calmness of her tension points (eyes, hands, toes, etc.) Lora was totally relaxed, something she had not been in all the time she had been in therapy.

"I can't believe that she is totally relaxed. I am glad you were able to get her to open up. I was going to have to admit her to a hospital if there wasn't a breakthrough soon. Thank you."

"I am glad I could help. She is very special. She has been through a lot of mess. I wouldn't wish any of what she went through on my worst enemy. How could any man be so cruel?" Stanley still cradled Lora. He enjoyed holding her. "I am going to let her sleep here for a while. She can use the rest. Bring me some food and drink and a phone. I'll stick around here for a few days."

"That is very nice. I think she will like that. I know I appreciate all you are doing." Doc Lin got Stanley his supplies and left him there. She had to go get the tape of Lora's story so she could listen to it again. It warmed her heart to hear the pain and anguish Ralph had put Lora through. 'She deserves more than what he did. She ruined him.' She thought. 'Now I have what I need to ruin her.'

Lora slept all through the day and then calmly woke up. There was a sense of peace and relief. Lora looked around and saw a fire in the fireplace, a meal on the floor beside her, and heard soft music playing. Then she saw Stanley, sitting and reading a novel by the fire. She sat up. Stanley looked over at her.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty. How did you rest?" Stanley asked.

"I had a good rest. I haven't been able to say that in a long time. What did you do, spike my drinks?"

"No." He laughed. "I just let you talk about your pain. You needed to talk. I am happy you talked to me."

"Are you happy I talked to you? What do you like hearing stories of pain?"

"No. I know it is an important part of the healing process. I am just glad you were able to open up to me. I think you are a very special person. Now I know more about you than almost anyone else."

"Did you ever notice how relationships all start off real nice and then for some reason they fall apart?" Lora changed the subject. She could feel herself liking him and wasn't sure if she liked it.

"You know, you are so right. I think relationships; especially those that will last should start as a friendship. Look, I am not looking for anything other than friendship from you. I think you sense that I am trustworthy with your story. I have got to go to the office and file my report on your case so it can be closed. Doc Lin is upstairs so you are not alone and I'll be back this evening." Stanley left. Lora watched as he left the room and then as he drove away.

Stanley was a nice-looking man. His eyes were hazel and his hair was short and wavy. His rich medium brown skin tone made for a beautiful completion of his look. Lora wasn't sure but a friendship with a guy that gorgeous would be nice.

From then on Doc Lin noticed an improvement in Lora and a refreshing newness of thought. Lora stopped dwelling in the past and started living in the future. She smiled. Lora hadn't smiled since she started her therapy. Doc. Lin wasn't sure she liked that. The change was going to mess up her plan.