2: 2
We looked at each other. Neither of us answered the other's question, but we both understood why the other was here.
After that, the conversation got simple.
The police arrived quickly. We answered every question honestly and gave our statements.
Once we were done, Odette and I went our separate ways home, and the police went off to arrest those thugs based on the leads we'd given them.
On the surface, none of it was any different from the dream.
But Odette and I were both certain this time would turn out different.
And then, the next day, I was cornered outside my rental apartment again.
Jerome Abbott held up his phone. "Everybody look, this is the guy who assaulted my sister and drove her to kill herself."
"God in heaven, why does my daughter have such a wretched fate?" Florence Perry sat on the ground, sobbing like her heart was being torn out. "My poor girl, she's dead, and the monster who did it is still walking free. There's no justice left in this world!"
"You animal, you filthy animal. If the law allowed it, I'd kill you where you stand." Norman Abbott jabbed a finger at me. "My daughter was so kind. How could you lay a hand on her? Go turn yourself in right now and give my daughter the justice she deserves."
More and more people gathered around, and once the Abbotts laid it all out, every pair of eyes turned on me was thick with disgust.
"Looks decent enough on the outside. Who'd have guessed he was this kind of animal."
"If somebody did that to my daughter, I'd beat him to death."
"Lower than a dog."
Curses came from every direction. A few worked-up bystanders started hurling whatever was in their hands at me.
I kept my face hard and looked at Odette's family.
"I did nothing to hurt Odette, and I won't stand here and take your baseless accusations."
"If you think I'm guilty, then call the police and have me arrested."
"You piece of filth, you've still got the nerve to say that?" Norman glared at me. "If you hadn't violated my daughter, how would she be dead?"
"Odette's dead?" My face changed in an instant. A moment ago they'd only said she'd tried to kill herself, and now her own father was saying she was dead.
