Chapter 13

Jared

We are doing this. I decided in the shower that Laynie is my soul mate. I could cry and bitch all I want about what I put her through, or, I could do something about it. I hate myself for what I put her through but I know she won't give up on me. I can see it. She cares for me more than I deserve which is why I know when we do eventually talk, and I learn what I have put this woman through, that she still won't let me go. So, I'm going to make it my mission to make her happy. I won't let the darkness come through, because I am going to track down the reason it came out in the first place, and make this shadow of a nightmare leave me alone once and for all. I'll go to counseling if I must. I have a good feeling I know where it came from and what it was caused by.

With a gentle hand, I lead my wife to the kitchen that smells of freshly brewed coffee and breakfast. My stomach growls loudly and Laynie lets out a little giggle. Fuck, if I could bottle that laugh up I would. We all sit around the table and silently eat. I decide to make some sort of apology to our friends. I stand up with ease, already feeling the medicine I took a few minutes ago starting to kick in.

"Listen guys, I wanted to apologize." I say with a sigh. "I obviously don't remember anything, but I can tell this year strained our friendships. That was my fault. I must have let moving here change me into something I'm not. I wish I could go back in time and change everything, but I can't. Instead, I'm going to make it my mission to continue to be close to you two. We live in New York and as far as I can tell our lives are here." I catch a glace of Laynie put her head down. I still don't know why we are here of all places, but I need to talk to her about whether she would want to move back to Minneapolis. I will give her anything she wants. "Alan I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you had your car accident." I think me and Alan need to have a guy day or something. Something isn't sitting right with him and I want to know what it is. "Anna I'm sorry I was such a jerk that I couldn't go to your grand opening. I should have been there. We should have been there." She gives me a nod of gratitude. "Lastly, my wife Laynie. I can't apologize enough, but I will make this better. I have to." I say with a double meaning.She has tears in her eyes that she quickly swipes when they collapse down her cheeks.

I sit, already feeling like a tool for making a damn toast, but I know it needed to be done. Still I don't see Alan letting that go anytime, as he is already snickering as I lower myself down to my seat.

"That was beautiful." Alan says pretending to wipe his eyes and fanning his face, like he just won Miss USA.

We each laugh and continue eating. Later on, when I'm putting away the dishes I can hear the three of them in the living room. The house isn't an open concept, but I can still hear them and if I lean to the left a little I can see them as well.

"So, you're okay? Really? We only have a few more days here before we have to go back, and I don't want to leave knowing you're not feeling yourself." Anna says.

"Yes Anna. I'll be honest, I feel a little off since his memory is gone, but I'm making the most of the situation." Laynie says.

"Do you think you guys would eventually want to move back to Minneapolis?" Alan added.

"I'm not sure. We haven't spoken about anything yet. I haven't even given Jared a chance to ask questions. I'm sure he must feel a little off." Laynie says sadly.

She is right. I have too many unanswered questions and its making things uncomfortable. I feel like I'm going to say something wrong every time I open my mouth. I promised her I was going to be a better husband but I feel like I'm constantly failing. There is a knock at the door and I towel off my hands and peer over at Alan. Ever since I found out about those guys breaking in I want to be sure I can keep Laynie safe. I'm going to ask Alan if he will go with me to the hardware store and help me install a security system for the house. That will give me and him some much-needed guy time too. I also need to ask him about us moving out here. There must be another reason other than, a great opportunity for work.

Alan gives me a chin lift and walks over with me to the door. I hate that I might need his help but with my injuries still very much intact, I may need some assistance. I look through the peephole and see the two detectives from the hospital. I open the door and greet them both.

"Hello mister Cole." Fuck I hate that. "May we come in? We have some questions for you and your wife." Detective Andrews states.

I nod my head and head over to the sofa with the girls, Alan trailing behind me. We both sit as the detectives shake hands with Laynie, and introduce themselves to Anna and Alan. Detective Stephanson holds Anna's gaze a little too long for Andrews, because he clears his throat. Stephanson straightens and walks behind Andrews, but still facing us. They decline a seat and a drink and get straight to business.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cole." Damn, that still sounds strange to me. "Are you two alright with us sharing the new information with your friends here?" Andrews asks.

I glance over at Laynie, who already has her eyes to me. I hate that she is still asking for permission. I give her a nod and she does the same. I look over at detective Andrews whom clears his throat and begins.

"Jared, Laynie. We got one of the three men that broke into your home and assaulted you, to talk. It wasn't just a break in. This was personal." He pauses for dramatic effect, but this news does not surprise me. The report said that they were in here for about an hour. I'm guessing they deduced that from my injuries and the witness's phone call to the police. I still need to talk to Laynie about that lady. Andrews told me in the hospital that she was there for an appointment with Laynie for her mother's estate. I still cannot believe her mother is gone.

I'm guessing everyone else figured it wasn't a random act of violence too because the room stays silent.

"The main assailants name is Gregg Sanchez. He was upset that you apparently fired him and his two brothers. Says you came back from an unknown place and were upset. Apparently, you walked up to him and his brothers and fired them. Sanchez states it was random. He and his brothers did nothing wrong. He was one month away from losing his home and he just snapped. Admitted they didn't even have a plan when they broke in, just let their anger take over." He continues. "We are still trying to get to the bottom of the whole ordeal but with this new information, we needed to speak with you.

"Mr. Cole do you know why you would want to fire this man, or his brothers?" Stephanson speaks up from behind Andrews. "That you can remember?" He adds, remembering that I wouldn't know anyways.

I shake my head. I had no idea I even lived here. I'm not going to know why I fired these men. If how I treated Laynie was an indication of who I was when we moved here, then I may have just been a complete dick to these men for no reason. For now, I keep my mouth shut because I really don't know the extent of the situation yet. Hell, I didn't even know I had my own company.

"Did he have a previous record?" Anna asks in a cold tone. Neither of us would have come up with a question such as that, but neither of us have had Anna's background either. She was never fully open with us about her life, but we have been friends for a long time. We didn't need much confirmation to see that her parents were pieces of shit that taught their children the wrong things in life.

"We cannot discuss that ma'am." Detective Stephanson says, still from the back of the room. He is so quiet. Even in the hospital when I was questioned he hardly said anything. It seems only certain things make him speak up. His shirt is a strange one again. It is light blue with little pineapples on it. What the hell is with this guy's shirts?

"What we can tell you, is that he was on his wits end. This last man's last straw was you firing him. His family doesn't have much. His wife and children are almost on the street. We are using our resources to keep them in a home in exchange for information." Stephanson continues.

"Didn't know the NYPD could put people in homes for help unless it was a safe house." Anna states in an accusing tone. She seems to almost be goading Stephanson.

Alan gives her a hard stare. Anna does not take her eyes away from Stephanson. The two of them seem to be having a silent argument. It isn't until Andrews clears his throat and addresses Anna's statement himself that everyone sees to take a much-needed breath

"Normally we don't, but we needed some information on him, and our captain was fine with helping out if we can close a case. Now, Mrs. Cole, do you happen to remember if Jared came home from work that day a little off? Sanchez is trying to claim wrongful termination, so we need to understand why he was fired in the first place." Andrews says moving his eyes from Anna to Laynie.

Laynie shakes her head, then lowers it. I wonder for a moment if she is hiding what she knows. I want to get my hands on these guys myself and question them. Not for me but for her. Both detectives get up and thank us. What the hell? Those are the only questions they have for us? I'm more confused than ever now.

"We appreciate everything. As usual please let us know if you remember anything or might think of something to aide us in the investigation." Andrews nods at both Laynie and myself and heads for door behind Stephanson.

Before they can open the door, a question is shouted behind me.

"Do you shop somewhere specific for those shirts, or do you have to get them ordered in?" Anna laughs.

Stephanson turns around and smiles sinisterly at her.

"Delula right?" Stephanson says her last name with a smile. We all become silent and when I glance at Anna her eyes are wide. "No, my niece has Leukemia, and she likes to draw me fighting the bad guys every day. Each time she draws me, I'm in a funny looking outfit. Job won't allow me to wear funky outfits, so I just get the shirt she draws me in, custom made. I'm happy to oblige. You see that's what family does for each other. They love each other, are there for one another, and most of all, they don't train their children to become thieves."

With that he looks at Andrews and walks outside. Andrews shakes his head slightly and turns back to us. He gives us an apologetic smile then leaves as well. We all stand in silence as the door closes behind them.