Chapter 12
“Where is my bracelet?” she asked herself as she looked through her jewelry box. She groaned, unable to find it. She closed her eyes, trying to remember where she had last worn it. But she wasn’t fully awake and after a night of no sleep because of Derrik, it was hard
to function.
Just as she was about to give up, she imagined the bracelet on her wrist. She could feel someone touching her softly and with so many emotions that it made her whole body tingle from that one spot on her wrist.[]
“Where did you get this?” a smooth voice with the smell of alcohol asked, and her eyes sprang open.[]
“Vegas,” she declared and she shuddered. She moved to the closet and got her bag. She took out the small jewelry bag she had taken with her. She dumped everything out and grabbed her bracelet. As she put it on, a silver ring caught her eye.[]
“Where did that come from?” She lifted it up to inspect.[]
It was a simple silver band. She frowned at it and turned it around in her fingers. Suddenly, what looked like an engraving caught her sight. She held the ring close to her ring and read the inscription.[]
‘Nemo and Dora.’ It also mentioned a date and the letters B on one side while a P was on the other.[]
She swallowed and her hand closed around it. She knew it was something that her mystery man had given her.[]
“I know it’s not much, Bean, but I will keep looking for him, I am going to keep this safe for you.” She looked through many chains and found a silver one which would go well with the band. She slipped the ring through it before putting it around her neck.|[]
She looked at herself in the mirror and could almost imagine ‘Nemo‘ behind her, kissing her neck.[]
‘I’ve never felt like this before,‘ he would whisper as his heated breath warmed her neck. Slowly, the illusion disappeared, leaving her alone in the room.]
“Come on. Let me remember something!” she said, looking up at the ceiling. “After this terrible year, it’s only getting better. If I can divorce a psychopath successfully, finding a random man would be easy!” she said out loud to give herself some hope.[]
She walked out the door, only stopping to pick up her jacket, and then headed to work. She had only been at work for an hour when someone walked into the office. She looked up to find the boss‘ assistant. “Pandora, Aron wants to see you.“]]
She nodded, grabbed her tablet in case she needed it, and moved away from her desk. She walked into Aron’s office and greeted him.]
“Pandora, you don’t look very well today and your assistant handed in your paperwork so you could leave early. What is going on here?”
“I’m fine. I just need to step out and go to the police station to file a restraining order. As you know, the city and paperwork take forever,” she mumbled and Aron’s eyes opened wide. Pandora groaned, “I’m sorry. I am really tired because I didn’t sleep well last night.”
She knew that her brain wasn’t working properly still.[]
“What happened?” Aron asked, rather frustrated.]
“Derrik decided to make a fool of himself.“]
And the restraining order you are filing is against Derrik, correct?]
Pandora nodded. “I should have listened when everyone told me to do it right after he served me the divorce papers. I am doing it now.”
Aron raised a brow. “Get this handled immediately. Once you are finished at the police station, head home, and sleep. I want you to take the next two weeks off and relax.“[]
Pandora protested but her boss wasn’t allowing her a chance to argue. “Pandora, you need to take care of that baby. You have not taken a break in the years you have worked here and you have to take care of yourself. Now. Off you go. I don’t want to see you for two weeks. If you show your face in the office for work, you will be suspended.“]
“You wouldn’t do that. I am your best employee,” Pandora challenged, making Aron grin.]]
“You are, which is why I need you feeling your best.“[]
Pandora walked back to her office and picked up her things, feeling better knowing she had a few days off.
She walked into the local police station and headed to the desk.]
“Ma’am,” the police officer greeted.[]
“Hi, I am here to see Milton,” she paused and produced the card out of her pocket. “He is with the Special Victims Unit.”
The officer nodded at her. “Your name?”
“Pandora Leonard.“]]
He nodded again and picked up the phone. He looked over her as he spoke into the phone and then hung up. “If you will take a seat. He will be right down.“]
Pandora moved over to where he pointed and sat down. She was looking around and almost jumped, not having heard the door open beside her. “Pandora.”
“Hi,” she said, standing up.
“Come on in,” he stated and grinned at her. She looked him over, seeing that he was back in plain clothes. Well, a suit, but still plain clothes.
“Not wearing the uniform?” she asked as they walked.[]
Milton laughed. “I only wear one if I have to go out. I am trying hard to get the point across that people are in danger if policemen walk around in plain clothes.“]
Pandora raised a brow.
“Anyone in a suit can approach you saying they are a police officer and hand over a badge. Do you know what a real one looks like?”
Pandora nodded in understanding. This was the same with prosecutors and other government officials, but the police held a sort of brutal power that people feared. So, being mistaken was dangerous. “I do know what an official badge looks like, but only because my father was a prosecutor. One of the things he ground into my head was to ask for ID, and then call the station they claim to be from. You always need to check. But that is not all that he taught me. He always told me not to pull over for an unmarked car or open the door to anyone without a warrant.“]
