"Brenda, we're going to have to do something about this," Officer Jarvis said. "Either tell me why you were there, or I'm going to let the other officers handle this." 

I knew he was referring to the cops handling my brother's case, so I reacted instead of thinking about it. My hands slapped down on the table and I stood slightly. "No!" I shouted, knowing my reaction wasn't completely sane, but, at the moment, I don't think he took offense at it. My eyes were red and puffy and my face still had wet spots where my tears had run before they ran dry.

He frowned. "Sit," he said sternly. I sat. "Now. Tell me why you were there."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't. Not right now."

"Does it have anything to do with the case we're working on?"

"Yes," I breathed, unsure if he would hear me.

He paused. "Then why won't you tell me?"

That was my cracking point. I saw the video over again in my mind and broke down, heaving sobs wracking my body even though there were no tears left to cry. I heard the screech of a chair and felt someone hug me. I leaned into them, my mind going back to what happened only an hour ago, even though it felt like a lifetime had passed since then.

I had plugged in my earbuds and queued up the video. On screen, I saw Rob slip into the door I had just entered through and open the safe. He opened a reusable Walmart bag and began to take out cash and put it inside the bag. A few stacks later Ben walked in. I felt my heart stop and I sucked in a breath, turning up the sound.

"You're late," Ben said, leaning on the desk. The camera had a good view of his face, so there was no mistaking either of them.

"Sorry," Rob said. He turned to Ben. "Things took a little longer than I thought they would. It's sorted out now."

The door opened and David Perkins stuck his head inside. "You two done in here yet?"

Ben shook his head. "Nope. Rob's being slow."

With a sigh, Rob stuffed the rest of the cash in the bag. "Get the car ready," he told David, who just nodded and closed the door. Once he was done, he wrapped the handles around his wrist and backed up to the door. "I'll catch you later," he said as he began pressing buttons on the alarm.

"Wait," Ben said urgently. "Where's my cut?"

Rob glanced at him as he hit the final button and the light on the alarm changed color. "You'll get it later." He opened the door and the light began flashing. "There's been a small change of plans."

"Still three thousand, right?"

"Of course." And, with that, he walked out the door. A few moments later the police walked in the room.

Ben turned to them, clearly shocked. "Hands in the air," one of them said. "You're under arrest for robbery."

"What?" He raised his hands, confused.

They went through with the arrest and I watched it. I watched every second. Twice. Then a third time. The next thing I knew, the screen went black and someone yanked out my USB. "Hey!" I shouted, before realizing Rob was standing there, staring at me with threat and murder in his eyes.

"The police are on their way, Brenda," he practically growled. "I'll be taking this." He showed me my drive. "You don't need what's on here."

"That's mine! You can't just take it."

"You can't just take what's mine, either." He grabbed my arm painfully and hauled me out of the chair and then out of his office. 

By the time we reached the door, a police cruiser was pulling up. Officer Jarvis got out and his face fell when he saw me. He shook his head and his disappointment hurt. "Rob, you can't have me arrest her for trespassing. This is public property, you know."

Rob put his free hand on his hip. "How can I get you to arrest her?"

He shrugged. "The only thing you can do is file a restraining order and then wait and see if she comes back. It would have to be a personal one, though. You can't actually ban someone from a business with one. You'd have to prove some sort of criminal act was committed."

"She stole from me," he stated. "Is that good enough?"

Officer Jarvis raised an eyebrow. "What did she steal?"

"Personal stuff."

"Hmm. Still would either have to press charges for theft or get a personal restraining order." He shrugged. "Come on, Brenda. If it'll make him feel better, I'll give you a ride in my car while he follows in his." He looked at Rob. "If you wanna fill out that restraining order, that is."

He huffed out a sigh. "Fine."

On the way to the station, I was too angry to speak. Every attempt by Kev was met with silence. But, halfway there, the video I watched finally hit me. I couldn't help it - I completely lost it. I sobbed loudly the rest of the way. Every ounce of anger left me, leaving me with nothing but a bitter sort of despair. I couldn't walk to the station due to how hard I was crying. Officer Jarvis sat in the front, listening to my cries in the backseat, until I'd calmed down enough to ambulate properly. That was when he'd led me to this interrogation room to talk.

Now, he released me and crouched beside me. "Brenda, please. Tell me what happened."

I was still calming down from my more recent sobbing, breathing in short pants and gasps. "Ben- He- He-" I closed my eyes and forced myself to relax. "Ben helped Rob steal his own safe and David drove him and it's all on my USB and Rob took it and I need it back and he's going to delete that video I just know it-"

"Breathe, Brenda," he said and I suddenly realized I'd said all of that in one breath. So I did. I took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before releasing it. Once I was breathing more normally, he asked, "Can you tell me again? Slower this time. Remember to breathe."

"Ben helped him steal the money from the safe. David Perkins - that reporter - was the driver for Rob, and probably the one who tried to kill me that time," I said, realizing. The car had been the same one Ben described to the police. "Anyway, Rob double-crossed Ben, but I think he still gave him the cut he was supposed to get. If our trip was anything to go by, that is. But I put it on my USB and Rob took it. He's going to delete that video, I just know it."

Kev rubbed my arm as he looked sadly at my face. "I'm so sorry, Brenda." He gave me another hug, this one very brief, and stood. "I'll handle this stuff personally, okay? Don't worry about it. Go do whatever you need to do, and I'll call you if I need you for anything."

My jaw dropped open. "You're not going to do anything? Not get my drive or check his computer or anything?"

He sighed and crossed his arms. "I can't just go there and demand him to hand something over without a warrant. In fact, there's no proof he took it. I'd just be going over there on your word and he'd never turn it over to me, especially if that video's on there."

I set my jaw and glared at him, but I knew that the effect was lessened by how puffy my eyes were. "You're not going to help me, then."

Officer Jarvis raked his fingers through his hair and tugged slightly. "I can't! My hands are tied! I would do something right now if I could but I have to follow the laws and I can't bend them."

I stood, my chair scraping loudly as it got pushed back. "I have to go." I paused halfway to the door and looked at him. "Unless I'm not allowed to leave?" I asked, a challenge in my tone. He made a shooing gesture and I practically ran out of the room and out of the station. 

Jimmy was waiting outside the front doors for me. He ran right next to me halfway down the block. "That bad?" he asked. "What happened?"

I stopped suddenly and he jogged several steps before he realized I wasn't by him. He came back to me. "I can't right now," I said, feeling choked up and livid at the same time. I was so mad I wanted to do nothing but cry tears I didn't have. "Just leave me alone. I need to just be alone right now. Please," I pleaded, voice sounding strained. 

He eyed me before cautiously hugging me. I didn't push him away, but I didn't return it either. I just stood there, still, enjoying his closeness before he released me. "Text me later?" he asked. "I'll be worried if I don't hear from you."

I swallowed hard, forcing the lump in my throat down. "Okay," I whispered before breaking into a run again.

---

I was shivering. Snow began falling at some point, but I wasn't entirely sure when. I just knew that I had to warm up, but I was far too tired to walk all the way from my spot to Ben's house. I didn't even want to see Ben. Not now, possibly not ever, even though I knew I had to go home at some point. I wasn't ready to see Jim yet, and I wasn't ready in the least to face Lilly, so I did the only thing I could think of: visit Heather.

I trudged to her door and knocked. The shrieks of her kids were coming from inside, so it took a few minutes, but she eventually came to the door. Her face lit up when she saw me, but fell as she began noticing I was shivering. She stepped aside. "Come in," she said. I stepped in and felt the warmth of the house, immediately feeling better. "Follow me." We walked a few steps down the hallway and into a living room with a fireplace that was heating the room. "Sit right over here," she said, guiding me into a chair.

The heat of the gas fireplace hit my face and began to warm it. "Th-th-thank y-you," I said. I held out my gloved hands towards the fire and Heather slipped out of the room. I closed my eyes and tried to ignore where my thoughts wanted to go, trying to think of Jimmy instead. He was waiting for me to call or text him, but my fingers were almost numb from the cold so I had to wait a little longer to do that.

That was when I heard some little voices in the room. I glanced around and saw three kids - a little girl, a little boy, and Cole - sitting on the floor surrounded by toys. They were staring at me with curious expressions. I gave them a small smile and turned back to the fire, shrinking in on myself a little bit.

A minute later Heather came in and sat on the sofa next to me. "Here you go," she said, holding a hot chocolate out for me. 

I pulled my gloves off and stuffed them in my pocket. She gave me the cup and I wrapped my hands around the warmth, closing my eyes. "Thank you," I said. I took a sip and looked at the kids. "Who's the girl? I thought you only have boys."

She smiled. "I do. I have Cole and Nathan. The girl is Rob's daughter, Leigh. She comes over sometimes."

"Is she feeling better now? I heard she was sick the other day."

Heather frowned. "When did you hear that?"

"The night of the robbery."

She shook her head. "Leigh was here and she wasn't sick."

I turned to her, surprised. "She was here? When was she here?"

Heather sighed. "Oh, let's see. She got out of school and came home with Nathan, and her Mom picked her up on her way home from work at the hospital about seven-thirty. Rob was going to do it himself, but..." She looked at me sadly and shrugged.

I nodded, but my mind was already racing. Leigh was here that night? If she was here, then Rob didn't have an alibi. I had to make a call. I hurried up with the hot chocolate, which had warmed me up nicely, and stood. "Is it okay if I step into your kitchen for a moment? I need to call my boyfriend and talk to him," I explained.

She nodded with a smile. "Of course, Brenda. I hope you can work things out."

"Me too."