Chapter 33

Dakota POV

The morning comes, and I wait for someone to come take me to see the judge so that maybe I can get out of here. No one comes to take me. I watch out the tiny window as others are taken but not me. It feels like hours pass when an officer finally comes to my door. He opens the door.

“Dakota, please follow me,” the officer says.

He takes me out the front and hands me my clothes and other belongings. “Your ride is waiting for you out front,” the officer says.

He hands me a paper with court information on it. I take it and all my things and go out the front door. I look around but do not see anyone that I know. Who the fuck got me out of here, I wonder. At least someone knows that I am not guilty of this stupidity.

I begin walking down the sidewalk. I can walk home. I just want far away from here. A car pulls up beside me. “Hey, need a ride?” I hear a voice say.

I look down into the car. It is Jade. “Yeah, but why are you helping me?” I ask her.

“Get in, and I will tell you every little detail I know,” Jade says.

I open the car door and get into the car with Jade. “I cannot believe that you came and got me out,” I say to her.

“Well, I could not let you sit in there for something that I know you did not do,” Jade says.

“How did you get me out? I did not even see the judge?” I ask her.

“Easy, I know the judge personally, and I know you did not do a damn thing to that girl,” Jade says to me.

Jade drives to her place. “Are you sure you want me here?” I ask her.

“Yes, I went and got your things from the resort and your last check from the security guard,” Jade says.

“They let you have my things?” I ask her.

“Well, my dad is chief of security at the resort,” Jade says.

“Wait, what?” I ask her.

“It is so much you do not know,” Jade says.

I get out of the car and follow Jade into her house. “I need some food and a shower,” I say to her.

“Go down the hall, take a shower, and I will fix you something to eat,” Jade says.

I am so fucking confused right now. I get into the shower and try to wash the stench of jail off of me. I smell terrible. Jade has a lot of flowery shampoos and soaps. I don’t know if this will get the smell off or not. It is worth a shot. I scrub my entire body with everything she has in the shower.

I get out and towel off. I wrap a towel around me and go out into the hall.

“Where are my clothes?” I ask Jade.

“The second bedroom,” Jade yells down the hall.

I go into the second bedroom and find she has brought my clothes here. I grab the first thing I come to and put it on. I go back to the kitchen to talk to Jade. Her house is enormous.

“Jade, what exactly do you do?” I ask her.

“I am a private investigator,” Jade says.

“Oh really,” I say.

“Yep, I was flirting with you trying to get information for one of my clients; that is how I know you did not do anything to Melanie,” Jade says.

“Who is your client, and who are you investigating?” I ask her.

“That I cannot tell you, but I will tell you this Melanie is one more crazy bitch,” Jade says to me.

“So, this is not about Tonya?” I ask her.

“Not exactly,” Jade says.

“You do realize that your dad is hooked up with Tonya,” I say to her.

“Tonya is not my concern, and neither is my dad, but Melanie, on the other hand, is my concern,” Jade says to me.

“So, I take it you are going to help me clear my name?” I ask her.

“Yes, I am, but it will not be easy, and I will need you to keep a low profile for a few days,” Jade says to me.

“I can do that,” I say to her.

Jade hands me a sandwich on a plate. “Here, it is not much, but I am not much of a cook,” Jade says.

“It is fine; I am starving,” I say to her.

“I have to talk to a few people, but I know I can get this straightened out for you,” Jade says to me.

“You do not think Tonya was involved?” I ask her.

“No, Tonya is a whore, but Melanie is a crazy bitch. She has done some pretty horrible things to people, and that is why I am on her,” Jade says.

“Like what has she done?” I ask her.

“Dakota, you are lucky she only accused you of rape. She could have killed you, and trust me; she would have walked away from it. She is not one to mess with,” Jade says to me.

“I thought Tonya was pulling all of the strings,” I say to her.

“Tonya probably thinks so too, but I am telling you that girl becomes obsessed with a man, and then he just disappears when he tries to break it off with her,” Jade says.

“You mean like dead, I could have ended up dead?” I ask her.

“Yeah, you could have ended up dead. She may kill Tonya before this is over if she feels betrayed,” Jade says.

“This is all a little too much,” I say to her.

“Look, I work for a man whose son dated Melanie last summer; no one has seen him since the break-up,” Jade says to me.

“Are you serious?” I ask her.

“I am very serious; we do not need her to know where you are for your safety,” Jade says.

“I understand,” I say to her.