All is Found - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

The phone call with Lindsey did not go well. First thing in the morning we meeting at her office to go over some things. We didn't listen to the rest of the press conference and just turned the TV off. Thea retired to her bedroom a little while after she hung up the phone with Lindsey. I didn't want to join her right away. Fear started creeping into my mind.
What if she is going to drop me as a client and I'll be on my own again? I thought Thea said she was the best. How could the best be backing down from a challenge like this? What if someone finds my cell phone? There's no way they are going to find it though. They would need to send divers into the river and with the temperatures so low right now there is no way they would risk that. The only way they would is if they thought I went over the rail and then they would be looking for my body.
My mind kept spiraling as the what ifs kept floating to the survice of my mind. Finally I got off the couch and took a long hot shower. When I was done in the bathroom I walked into Thea's bedroom to find her playing around on her phone. I quickly walked into the closet and shut the door behind me as I'm only in a towel. Quickly I changed into some pajamas and returned the towel to the bathroom before joining Thea in bed.
We didn't say anything to each other as I quickly feel sleep. The next morning I woke up to an arm thrown over Thea and I didn't have the heart to move. I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the clock. We needed to start getting up to get to Lindsey office but I wanted to savor the moment a little longer. I felt Thea stir and I watched as she opened her eyes. She looked down at my arm around her waist then to my face and saw that I'm awake.
Thea didn't say anything and I slowly moved my arm off of her. Once it was gone so was Thea. She got up and started to get ready for the long day ahead of us. I stayed in bed for another few moments before I got up to get ready. I didn't bother asking for a nice shirt today and just went for a flannel and a pair of jeans.
Once I was done I met Thea in the kitchen as she started to lace up her boots. I did the same and grabbed my jacket. Before we left the house Thea turned to face me and placed the SPD hat on my head. She took a second to adjust it to her liking before she turned around and left me standing in the doorway. It's a good thing the hat blocked my beat red face.
The ride to the office was tense. At least a dozen patrol cars past us on the way there. We met Lindsey at the back door again and she ushered us right into her office as it's now Monday and her staff filled the office. Once we were safely inside I sat down in the same chair from Saturday and sighed.
"We can't keep this up. It will do more harm than good even though you have a good reason to be in hiding. I want you to think about releasing a video statement to show people you are alive and well. You can briefly explain what is happening and that you will remain in hiding until it is safe for you. I will also get my team working on filing an emergency restraining order against Bobby if you like." Lindsey said.
"I can call Connley and have just him come here and speak with you himself so he can call off the search as well." Thea said.
"How quickly can the restraining order be put into place?" I asked.
"The police can issue an emergency order of protection until we are able to get in front of a judge but I should be able to push it through pretty quickly because of your name. I could have the court date as early as next week." Lindsey said.
"Call your boss Thea." I said and rubbed my head.
I know that this needs to be done. I can't have the police waste their resources on me when I'm not missing. Thea made quick work calling Connley as Lindsey grabbed Jack from his office. Jack and Lindsey started going through my contract while Thea was on the phone with Connley. When she got off she told us he is coming right now and should be here shortly.
True to her word Police Chief Connley walked into Lindsey office no more than ten minutes later. When he saw me his eyes widened and he reached for his radio.
"Don't" I said and watched as Thea took his radio away.
"Do you know you have people looking for you Ms. Monroe?" Connley asked as Thea clipped his radio onto her belt.
"Yes but I never thought this would happen for being away for only a few days. I'm going to make a statement now and upload it to my social media accounts to take responsibility for everything that happened but my manager can't know where I am." I said.
"We will explain everything to you Chief in a little bit but we wanted to record this video and release it so you can call off the search." Lindsey said.
"Whatever you need to do counselor I want to hear this." Connley said.
It didn't take long before I was sitting in front of Lindsey cell phone camera. We are going to record everything on her phone and upload it to twitter from there and let social media do its thing.
"We are ready whenever you are Ashlyn." Lindsey said. I just nodded and took a deep breath. They didn't tell me anything to say, just told me not to go into details. Lindsey counted down from three and started the recording. I just took a shaky breath and looked at Thea behind the camera. She gave me a smile and a nod and I opened my mouth.
"I just want to say thank you to everyone around the world looking for me. I wanted to make this statement of my own free will because I can't have the police going out of their way to look for me when I didn't want to be found. I didn't think that my manager Bobby Miller would have filed a missing person's report that quickly. Currently I won't say where I am because I'm afraid for my safety. I'm working with a legal team who is helping me get protection from my abuser. I won't say his name but he knows who he is. For now please know that I am safe and have spoken with Salem Police Chief Rory Connley and I'm currently under police protection." I said and smiled at Thea who blushed.
"That is all for now and I will update everyone again when I am able too." I said and gave the camera a small smile before Lindsey stopped recording.
Thea and Connley stepped out of the office while Lindsey uploaded the video to her firm twitter account. It only took a few minutes before the video went viral and Connley called off the search. Lindsey had her team work all day on getting everything needed for the order or protection while Chief Connley issued the temporary restraining order. Him and Thea also went over having her on a protection detail for me while this is going through the court.
Lindsey also sent one of her employees out to the nearest store and bought me a new cell phone with a new number. Thea and I spent the day with Lindsey and Jack going over everything they have been working on in preparation for our court appearance when we get a date.
It also didn't take long for the press to swarm the front of the office and for Bobby to show up at the front door. After debating for a few minutes I told the officers it was okay to let him in. Lindsey and Thea didn't think it was a good idea but I wanted to hear what he had to say. To see if he would show any remorse for his actions.
Chief Connley stayed and walked into the conference room first followed by Thea then Lindsey and Jack then myself. I still find it kind of crazy how my lowest moment brought these people into my life. Bobby was sitting smugly in the plush navy chair in his favorite black sport coat.
"I just had to see you for myself." Bobby said and looked me up and down.
"What do you want Bobby?" I asked trying to read his expression.
"To make sure you are okay Ash, I've been worried sick about you. What the hell is going on about being in protection from your abuser? The label has been calling me nonstop because you wouldn't answer your phone." Bobby said and leaned forward in his chair. He did look concerned; I'll give him that but the fact that he already brought up the label showed where his concerns really lie.
"I haven't been answering my phone because I threw my old one off the Essex Bridge right before I almost threw myself off of it. I thought that maybe you might be concerned about me as a person but once again you're only concerned about your pay day. Let me ask you this, how much of a bonus did you get for signing me to this contract?" I asked as my anger rose.
"What are you talking about you almost threw yourself off a bridge Ash." Bobby asked ignoring the question completely.
"I tried to kill myself after I left the restaurant when I found out that you had me sign the contract you greedy manipulative bastard!" I said finally losing my temper. Angry tears started pooling in my eyes and I blinked fast trying to get them to go away.
"I rather be dead then being stuck in another contract with you!" I yelled again as the first tear fell from my eye.
"You little bitch! Do you know how much money you cost me! I worked my ass off to get you the contract that big and this is how you repay me?" Bobby said.
Lindsey looked at me and took my hand in hers before nodding at Chief Connley. Connley has been standing in the far corner of the room during this. Before I agreed to see Bobby, I made sure I was able to get into my new phone and pull all of the pictures of bruises from the abuse by Bobby. Once she saw everything that happened, her and Connley agreed to arrest Bobby if things got out of hand.
"Bobby Miller you are under arrest for assault and battery and forgery. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?" Chief Connley said as him and Thea pulled Bobby from the chair and forced his arms behind his back to place handcuffs on his wrists.
I heard metal click of the cuffs tightening around his wrists as Bobby continued to hurl insults at me as Thea and Connley forced him out of the conference room door. His yelling could be heard all the way down the hall as he was dragged out the front door of office. Once he was gone things finally started to settle. Bobby won't be able to hurt me anymore. I took a shaky breath as a few more tears fell from my eyes.
Lindsey squeezed my hand and it brought me back to the present. I looked around the room and saw that Thea was back. Her police department badge hanging from her neck as she sat on the edge of the conference room table. When I focused on her eyes I let go of Lindsey's hand and stood from the chair. I wiped my eyes and looked at both woman before me.
"Thank you" I said my voice thick with emotion.
"We got you Ashlyn, he can't hurt you anymore." Thea said and grabbed my hand.
"I'm going to go back to my office to review everything you have given me Ashlyn. I will give you a call tomorrow afternoon after Mr. Millers arraignment hearing to let you know how things go. I would prefer you stay with Thea because I know that press will be staking out your house. If you need anything don't hesitate to call." Lindsey said and took her leave.
"You ready to get out of here?" Thea said quietly.
I gave her a small smile and nodded. We collected everything from Lindsey's office and left out the back door. Lucky for us the press didn't know about the back door and we were able to get away unnoticed. On the way back to Thea's house I asked if she would drive by my house. Just like Lindsey said, the press were everywhere. We could barely make it down the block with all the news vans hoping to catch a glimpse of me.
"Chief Connley has officers posted outside for the foreseeable future until things settle down along with a car on the block behind your house after I told him about the tree." Thea said as she turned to go around the block to show me the patrol car right by the tree.
"Thank you for all of this. I need to thank Chief Connley myself again the next time I see him." I said as Thea took off towards her house.
Thea didn't say anything else for the rest of the ride. We got back to her house on the hill and I took a deep breath. The sun was starting to set in the early evening sky as we walked through her front door. I sat down on the couch and looked up towards the sky. Freedom is so close I can taste it.