V. To leave without saying goodbye.

Luna James

"Just tell me what you remember." A gentle voice tried to coax my words out.  I was frozen.  I couldn't think of what to say, my mind was elsewhere.

"Are they all dead?" I monotonously questioned.  I didn't have the effort to speak louder or make direct eye contact.  I kept my gaze downcast at my feet.  My toenail was split from stubbing it on one of the chairs I tripped on.  Amon had got me out in such a rush I didn't have time to gain balance.  My knees ached from being tackled on the stage, my head pounded from the gunshots, my eyes burned from the mascara that ran down while I cried, and my hands were trembling but all I cared about was finding out if there were any survivors in that room.

"No, Miss James.  We're still getting updates on the numbers, but we were able to take thirty-one wounded to the hospital.  We're still surveying the area and checking for anymore that may need help." Officer Howe answered.  He was average height for a man with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and mouth, but he was quite young to have such markings. I blamed his career choice.

It comforted me some to know that there were a few that made it out okay.  "Thirty-one." I repeated to myself. There were over two hundred in attendance. "What about the woman?  She was pregnant." My eyes began to water once more. I didn't think I had any tears left after the ordeal.

The cop sighed sympathetically.  "There were three pregnant women that were taken to the hospital.  I don't know if any were killed." He put a hand on my shoulder and took a deep breath.  "You've been through a lot tonight, Miss James.  I'm truly sorry for what it's worth, but if we're going to get to the bottom of this I need you to try and remember how it started.  You said you knew the woman who shot Callum?" He pushed and I saw no other option than to toughen up and get over my irrational lack of a voice.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and took a sip of the coffee they'd placed in a generic white mug for me.  "Her name was Denise Allen and she was my mother's personal assistant.  She stayed behind when my parents went out of the country to help me run the business in the meantime.  I have no idea why she did this.  I don't know why the security started shooting up the guests.  I didn't see any signs before tonight.  All I can tell you is that one minute I'm giving a speech and inviting Callum up to speak...and then..." I couldn't help myself.  I broke down into tears and cried into my hands.  I felt the hand of the officer on my back, but my current thought was on Callum.  He didn't deserve to die like that.  He was a good person with a bad past.  He deserved more than to be shot at a charity event.

"Miss James," Officer Howe began slowly, "Callum was airlifted to a hospital in New Orleans.  I can give you the information at the front before you leave." My head shot up.

"He what?" I sniffled in surprise.  "Is he alive? I thought he...Denise she-"

"I understand." He stopped me.  "Callum is alive, as of this moment.  He's in critical condition, but last I heard he is expected to go into surgery within the half hour.  The bullet missed his heart, but he's lost a lot of blood." My heart sped up.  He was alive. For now.  "So the shooting took place after Callum's speech?" He wrote a note down on the legal pad next to his right arm.

"No-" I was interrupted by the door to the interagation room slamming open and banging against the wall.

"Sorry about that.  It looked heavier than it was." A dark skinned woman with a curly bun apologized nonchalantly.

"Excuse me, can I help you?" Officer Howe stood up in a huff.  "You're interrupting an investigation." He gritted out in annoyance, his palms pressed flat on the table between them.

I looked back and forth between the two, utterly confused.  "Investigation?  Well I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but this lands in my jurisdiction." She gloated.

"Your jurisdiction?" He cocked a brow.  "The shooting took place in my city.  This is my jurisdiction." He spoke in a commanding voice, but the woman was unphased. 

"Be that as it may," she pulled out a badge case from her breast pocket and placed it open on the table, "this is now a federal case and I'll be taking over."

I examined the FBI badge with curiosity.  I'd never seen one in real life, or met an officer like her.  "Who sent you?" He inquired with less venom in his tone than before.

She scoffed and snatched up her case.  "The bureau.  Any other questions?" She paused briefly and cut in when the cop opened his mouth.  "I didn't think so.  Now if you wouldn't mind giving me and Miss James a little privacy while I conduct a proper investigation, I'd be very grateful.  And while you're out there I'd like a coffee.  Twenty ounce, sugar free black and white hot.  And skip the straws.  I don't like plastic straws." She barked at him and I was surprised to see him moving towards the door.  He was puzzled beyond belief, but he followed her orders nonetheless.

The dominant woman stepped purposefully to the now empty seat across from me.  I waited patiently to hear what she had to say.  "Luna James is it?" She began and set down a black briefcase, unsnapping the silver clasps and leaving it unopened on the floor.

"Yes." My voice croaked out.

She folded her hands over the table and forced a tight lipped smile at me.  "My name is Anna Warner." She reached a hand across the table for me to shake.  I tried not to noticeably hesitate, but my mind was racing. I timidly took her hand in mine and gave a light shake.  "I'm sure you're very confused and upset right now, but let me assure you that in all my years I've never let a criminal get away with it.  I don't intend for this to be any different."

I nodded, there was nothing else to say.  She took out a thick paper from her briefcase and slid it to me.  "Do you recognize this man?"

I let my eyes fall on the paper and scrunched up my brows.  "This is Amon Perceval." I identified him.  The picture showed him laughing next to a stranger.  He was dressed much more casually than I'd ever seen in a white t-shirt and destressed blue jeans.  "Why are you showing me a picture of him?"

"I just have a few questions for you about him." She took it away and pulled out three new photographs in it's stead.  I looked them over, wondering why these were the people she chose to ask questions about.  John, Remy, and Kit stared out at me from their stills.

"What's going on?" I queried with a strained voice.  My throat ached from crying and screaming only hours ago. 

"One week ago you began working with the Perceval family." She tapped a short nail against the pictures.  "One week ago you were a happy little rich girl without a care in the world," I glared at her, "and now a ballroom filled with celebrities and millionaires was just slaughtered.  I'm here to find out why."

I shook my head.  "I get that, but I'm just wondering why you're fixated on the Perceval family.  They aren't the ones who pulled out guns and started shooting.  Amon saved me!  He saved me and a little boy so forgive me if I'm a little put off by your questions."

Anna smirked and tucked the photos away.  "I know Miss James.  I'm not here to point fingers at anyone.  I'm simply trying to get to the bottom of this mess." The door opened and Officer Howe came in with a disposable coffee cup and set it down gruffly in front of her.  "Thanks kid." She quipped just as he went to leave.  He paused momentarily, but left without looking back.  "Where were we?" She took a sip and sat back.

"You were asking me about the Percevals." I crossed my arms and leaned forward.

"Yes, that's right.  So, Luna, may I call you Luna?" I made to answer her but she continued on.  "There are a few things I need to know before you can go."

I scoffed.  "Before I can go?  Am I a suspect?  I was under the impression I was just here to tell what I saw, which I did." I glared at her but she remained smiling and unimpressed with my assertiveness.

"Actually, I can legally hold you for fourty-eight hours should I choose.  You know, just in case you are under suspicion of involvement." She took another drink of her coffee, her eyes never leaving mine.

"Excuse me?" I slammed my hands on the table.  All of my anxiety had been replaced with anger for this one woman.  "I haven't done anything!" I shouted and got a short chortle from her.

"I never said you did, Luna." She was enjoying getting a rise out of me.  "All I'm saying is that if you cooperate you can be on your way back to your mansion on the beach where you can drink away your problems and fuck all the eye candy that you want."

My jaw dropped at her audacity.  "How dare you!" I stood up and went to leave but the door was locked.  "Open this door!" I pounded away but no one answered.  "You," I turned back to her, "let me out now!" She didn't move.

"Let's not make this anymore difficult than it has to be.  You want to leave and I want answers.  Let's help each other shall we?"

I glowered at her from beneath my lashes.  "What do you want to know?" I seethed.

"Please, have a seat." She gestured to the metal folding chair. 

"I prefer to stand." I childishly refused.

Anna shrugged and carried on.  "Suit yourself.  I want to know about the first time you met Amon Perceval.  What was he like?  What did he say to you?"

I furrowed my brows.  My gut instinct told me to lie.  "I first met him last Monday when he came to the tower."

She nodded, "James Tower.  Your parents business." It was a statement, not a question.

"He was very polite and-"

Her laughter cut me off.  "I'm sorry, I just...polite?" She cackled at the notion.

I felt offended though I had no reason to.  "Yes he was.  We were meeting to do business.  His family was very respectful and we just went over the details of the fight.  That's all."

She rolled her eyes and jotted down some notes.  "I'm sure." She mumbled.  "And what about Remy?  Was he polite as well?" She raised a condescending brow.

"Yes." I gritted through my teeth.

"Of course he was.  Now, tell me about tonight.  How was the fight?" She inquired.  She took a long swig of her drink and waited for my response.

My knees ached, but I refused to sit.  "Brutal."

"How so?" She pried.

"It was a cage fight with two grown men." I didn't want to talk to her anymore.  I didn't like her attitude or the way she kept looking at me.

"It would have been interesting to watch such a hyped up event, but I had to work.  I'm sure the charity ball was amazing." She put a hand under her chin and sat forward.

I narrowed my eyes at her in distaste.  "I'm sure you have access to the security footage. See for yourself." I spat and she feigned insulted.

"Now you know what? I think that's a fantastic idea!  But, oh wait, there is no security footage of the ball.  Someone shut down the system just after the fight." Her stare was so intimidating it made my palms begin to sweat.

"Then maybe you should be talking to the head of security right now instead of me." I quipped back.

"That's a beautiful dress you have on.  It must have been very expensive." She observed, making me feel uneasy about the exposing gown.  Her eyes went over the lace cutouts on my abdomen and down to my legs.

"What does my dress have to do with this?" I grew impatient of her games.  She laughed lightly to herself and shook her head.

"Just making an observation.  Regardless of whether I threw you in here or not I'm sure mommy and daddy would have you bailed out like they were just handing out spare change." She scoffed and looked away from me.  "Just one more question."

I shifted my weight onto my other foot to alleviate some of the pain.  "I'm waiting." I urged her when she paused.

"What would you say your personal relationship is to Callum MacBrady and Amon Perceval?"

The question caught me off guard.  At first I didn't know what to say.  "I don't have a personal relationship with either."

She pursed her lips and wrote something down.  "I see.  You're free to go, but I'll be sure to get in touch with you if I have anymore questions." She flicked her wrist at the door.

I tried the handle and this time it opened.  There was no one waiting for me on the other side, just an empty hallway.  I assumed they were busy trying to clean up the mess that was made.  I took my heels off once I was out of sight and padded my way back to the lobby.

Officers were bustling about in different directions.  Some were on the phone, some were rummaging through papers, and some were just jogging around the office in search of who knows what.  They paid me no attention as I made my way out the front doors.

"Miss James!" My name was shouted onto the porch where I stood in the cool night air.  I looked over my shoulder to see Officer Howe running towards me with a sticky note.  "Here," he pushed it into my hand, "it's the hospital information for Callum.  I don't know if they'll let you in because you aren't immediate family, but you seemed really concerned so now you can give him a call when he wakes up."

When.  Not if.  I smiled at the kind man.  "Thank you." I took it and tucked it inside of my dress.  "Thank you so much." I said sincerely and walked down the steps.

I made it all the way to the parking lot before I realized I had no ride.  I didn't have my phone and no one asked me if I had a ride home.  Tears brimmed my eyes as I thought of Drew and his family.  That poor boy had to witness his mother shot in front of him and I had no idea if Drew made it out okay or not.  I turned to walk back inside and ask for a ride home when a blacked out town car pulled up in front of the porch, blocking my way.

"Luna!" I was relieved to see John's face peeking out of the back window.

I carefully walked over the rough pavement with bare feet until I was close enough to see the interior through the cracked window.  "I thought you may need a ride home." His face was full of sympathy as he opened the backseat and slid out so I could get in.

I couldn't find my words, I lost all control of myself and broke down sobbing.  John stepped over to me and gently took my hand to lead me into the car.  "It's alright, you'll be home soon." He comforted me to no avail.

I sat down on the creme leather seats and covered my face with my hands.  I felt so helpless and violated by the night.  John went around and got in next to me at a comfortable distance. 

"The James house please." He ordered to the driver.  Of course people knew where our home was just by the name.  It was the biggest house in the city.

The driver pulled away from the curb without a word and headed towards my quiet home.

A/N

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