The Dark Places

was way past my curfew and my dad would be fuming, and then they said it was time for a private party. I didn’t understand, but Jensen just told me to relax, that they really liked me, that I was pretty and smart and much better to talk to than girls their age. I tried to stand up, and Pete grabbed my shoulder. I looked at him, and he smiled, not a nice smile, a scary smile that I had never seen before. I knew then that I was in big trouble. I begged them to leave me alone, told them that I was a virgin, and they said, ‘we know’ and started laughing. Clint kept going on about how I was always flirting with them, wearing short skirts and trying to get their attention, and that now I had it, I was whinging about it like a little girl.”
Kealy took a sip of her water. Surin sat back, trying not to show the rage she was feeling, secretly hoping not to hear another word about this poor child’s night.
“Then they took turns,” Kealy stated, no emotion registered in her voice. “Once they had me pinned down and my clothes off, I kind of just laid there. I was thinking about this treehouse we have in the backyard and how the pink curtains my mum sewed for me needed to be washed. That’s when Jensen hit me pretty hard in the face because I wasn’t looking at him. Clint and Pete were not happy about that. ‘Don’t mark her, you fucking idiot!’ Clint yelled. I was thinking, mark me? You’re raping me, you fucking idiot. Sorry, I’m not really allowed to curse, but these were the weird things that were going through my head.
“Once they were done, they told me to get dressed. None of them looked at me; no one helped me. They just stood there and waited. I was so scared, and there was, you know, blood and stuff all down my legs.” Kealy glanced at Parker, embarrassed. “My undies were ripped, but I still put them on. They dropped me off at the park near my home. It was raining, and they just pulled over and waited for me to get out. No one spoke to me or even looked at me.”
Surin waited for her to continue.
She looked up with new animation in her eyes. “I used to love that park. Before my mum died, she used to take me there every day on the way home from school and spin me around on the wheel. I used to lie down and let my head fall back and watch the clouds fly past above me. Now I’m not sure I’ll ever go there again,” she whispered.
“I stood there in the park, for hours. It was raining so hard, but I couldn’t really feel it, is that strange?” she asked, not really waiting for an answer. “I couldn’t go home. I just kept thinking I can never go home!” Reality hit Kealy again. “Oh my God, my dad, he will disown me!” Her composure faltered, and she began sobbing loudly. “Everyone is going to call me names. I am going to be a freak after this!”
Surin watched the poor girl baring her soul. She was right about one thing — her life would never be the same. She waited for the cries to soften before she continued.
“Kealy, honey,” she said, gently touching her forearm, “the paramedics who picked you up said they received a call from someone telling them you were in the park. Do you know who that would have been?”
Kelly sniffed and wiped her nose on the blanket. “Probably my brother, Seth,” she replied.
“Your brother? Why would he call an ambulance for you?” Surin asked, reaching for the girl’s hand.
Kealy looked at Surin, her brow furrowed like she wasn’t sure what she had been asked.
“Because he was there,” she replied and looked away.
***
Parker was getting his third coffee of the day when Surin entered the kitchen. “You want?” he gestured towards the machine, holding up a pod.
“Honestly, I think if I have another one today, my heart will give out,” Surin sighed.
“Uniforms just picked up our three eighteen-year-old rapists and one abhorrent big brother. His side? Wait for it, you’re gonna love this — he didn’t want his mates to think he was a wimp, and I quote ‘sex is sex, right?’”. Parker said as he shook his head. “Anyway, Kealy’s dad came and picked her up. He seemed terrified.”
Surin sighed. “The DA is going to get the brother charged as an accessory. All in all, a really shitty way to start the week,” She reached up and pinched her nose at the temple.
Parker watched her visibly re-group and straighten her spine.
“Right,” she announced, reopening her eyes, “I have a billion reports to write.”
As she turned to leave Parker said, “That case you have, on the DL, mind if I do some poking around?”
Surin looked at him, surprised. “Of course not. I wasn’t sure you were totally convinced?”
Parker smiled and took a sip of his coffee. “I’m not yet,” he replied.
Surin grinned back. Parker was smarter than she gave him credit for. He could already see the patterns, and it irritated him the same way cases like this irritate her. It’s the reason she was so good at what she did. Maybe having a partner might be the first step in getting a break, a fresh set of eyes, a new approach.
“Let me know if you dig anything up,” she said and walked back to her desk.
Parker watched her leave. She walked with her back straight and her head held high. After coming to the precinct with her this morning, seeing the respect the other officers have for her, he kind of felt privileged to be partnered alongside her. The way