Tear Down These Walls (14 page)

She wipes her top lip and nods, “Yeah, but I did it because I thought
that was what I
should
want. I was really good at cheering  The
guys liked me  I thought that is where I belonged, but I don’t think I
ever truly fit in  I wasn’t into drinking all the time. I didn’t want to
sleep around. Hell, I didn’t even want to sleep with Justin.”

“That guy….I swear,” Trent growls.

Teagan has to smile. “He is a douche bag, plain and simple.”

“So, can I ask a question?” Trent inquires.

“Sure.”

“Why didn’t you want to have sex with Justin  I mean, are you saving
yourself for marriage?  Trent asks, sounding very curious as he rests his
elbows on the table.

Laughing, Teagan says, “I just didn’t feel the drive to do it. He was a
horrible kisser and was very aggressive in that department. It didn’t….turn me
on, I guess. I loved him, so I looked past it, but I definitely wasn’t curious
about what it would be like.”

“Huh,” Trent exhales. “This guy sounds more and more like the ultimate
loser.”

“I know,” Teagan snorts. “I didn’t see anything coming, what he was going
to do. I mean, I didn’t think he was capable of something so horrible.”

“Were you 18 at the time?” Trent asks, narrowing his eyes.

She nods, “Yeah.”

“Did you press charges?”

“Yup, he got probation I think,” Teagan sighs. “I didn’t really want to
know. I tried to stay as far away from him as possible.”

“That’s wise,” Trent states.

Teagan pauses and says, “Would you like to sit down somewhere more
comfortable?”

“Sure,” Trent replies. They go and sit down on the well-worn blue couch
in the living room. They turn to each other at the same time. Their eyes meet.
“You need to take me to Michigan.”

“Trent….” She starts.

“No, I’m being serious. Say I am your date because I don’t want this guy
around you.  Trust me, he won’t come near you if I am standing there. Word
has it I can be very intimidating.”

With a slight smile, Teagan puts her arm on the back of the couch. She
nods. “Yes, I can see why people think that.”

Trent smiles, “So, let me go with you.”

“But you don’t even know me,” Teagan sighs. “Why are you being so
protective?  What if I am a serial killer?”

“I think I could handle you,” Trent chuckles, crossing his arms. “You
need someone to protect you from this guy. I can do it. I want to do it. I like
you, and you seem like a good person who got shafted.”

“I am,” Teagan retorts. “Are you sure about this?”

“Positive.”

Grinning, Teagan inquires slyly, “Will you dance with me?”

“Do you think I dance?” Trent stifles a laugh.

“Damn,” Teagan mumbles. “Well, at least Justin won’t ask me if you are
there.”

“He better not.”

“Okay, well I am leaving on Thursday. It’s a day’s drive,” Teagan
declares, taking a swig of her beer.

“Uh, we will fly,” Trent counters. “It’s much faster.”

“Maybe you are,” she laughs. “I can’t afford that. I will be driving in
my car.”

He raises an eyebrow. “
We
will fly.”

“
No
,
we
will not fly.
You
will fly,” Teagan asserts.

Trent leans in close to her and whispers, “I am going to buy you a
ticket, and I would rather not waste the money, so please fly with me.”

Scowling and crossing her arms, Teagan says, “Fine, but I will pay you
back, somehow.”

“You can come work at my office to pay me back if you want to,” Trent
states, sitting back up.

“In my cheerleading uniform?” Teagan teases.

The corner of Trent’s mouth twitches. “If that wouldn’t be
inappropriate.”

“I can file stuff in your office while wearing it,” Teagan says. “Keep
you preoccupied for a few hours.”

“I thought you weren’t trying to lure me in?” Trent scoffs.

“Who said anything about luring? You can appreciate my goods from afar;
there is nothing wrong with that,” Teagan giggles.

“Your goods?” Trent laughs. She shrugs and smirks. He shakes his head.
“No, dear lord, the rumors that would fly. No, strictly professional attire.”

Raising her eyebrows, Teagan quips, “So, I should dress like a schoolmarm
or a nun perhaps?”

“Something dressy,” Trent instructs politely.

“Prom dress!” He gives her a look. Teagan pouts, “Fine, I will wear a
nice dress.”

Trent nods, “That works.”

“A nice dress that barely makes it down my thighs!” Teagan exclaims. “I
have a few of those!” Trent places his face in his hand. Teagan laughs,
clapping her hands. She enjoys this side of him, making him laugh and blush a
little bit. He almost seems human every now and then. “I am kidding! I have a
nice suit I can wear.”

“Thank you,” Trent replies. Teagan takes a drink of beer and wiggles her
eyebrows.  He smiles. “You are a smart ass, aren’t you?”

“You have no idea,” Teagan laughs. “You should see me and Victoria after
we have a few drinks in us. We are something else.”

“I bet.”

They stare at each other for a few seconds before Teagan looks away and
takes a nervous gulp of her beer. Finally, she says, “So, I know you are very
private, but what else can you tell me. When did you get out of your rebellious
stage?”

Looking down and fiddling with his beer, Trent answers, “Something
happened when I was 20, and I had to grow up and be a man.”

“What was that?” Teagan asks, taking another sip of her beer.

He exhales and replies, “There are some things I just won’t talk about
Teagan. It has nothing to do with you, trust me, but certain things stay
private.”

“Oh, sorry,” Teagan gasps. “I didn’t mean to pry!”

“It’s fine,” Trent assures her and pats her leg. “Some things will have
to wait until we have known each other a little while longer.”

“Well, you know the worst about me,” Teagan whispers. “I really hope you
don’t tell anyone.”

Trent looks shocked. “Why would I!?”

“I don’t know,” Teagan mumbles. “My fear is for it to get out here. I
moved away because everyone back at home knew how Justin humiliated me. When I
arrived here, I got a fresh start. I just don’t want to ruin it.”

“If it does, I will handle it,” Trent assures her, his hand on her leg
again. “No one will know. I will protect you, I promise.”

She looks up and stares him in the eyes. “Always my hero?”

“I will always be your Batman,” Trent declares. “You have nothing to
fear, okay?”

Teagan leans over and kisses him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” Trent replies softly.

Teagan narrows her eyes. “So, what
will
you tell me about
yourself?”

“My favorite food is Italian. Can you cook?”

“Mmhmmm,” Teagan hums.

“Good, then I will be over for dinner because I can only cook the basics:
Mac n Cheese and Spaghetti.”

“I can teach you,” Teagan states proudly.

He raises his eyebrows and snorts. “That may be a hopeless cause.”

“What is your favorite Italian meal?” Teagan asks.

“Manicotti.”

“I can make that. Do you like spinach?”

“Yup,” Trent answers.

She smiles widely. “Well then I can make you a wonderful dinner. Do you
want to do it this week?”

“Whoa, I didn’t mean right away,” Trent laughs. “In the future.”

“Why not this week?” Teagan asks excitedly. “I don’t get to cook for
anyone very often. Victoria always wants to go out, so we can scope guys.”

He chuckles. “All right, how about Thursday? I am free.”

“Perfect!” Teagan exclaims. “I don’t have class. It will give me the day
to make the sauce.”

“Don’t you just open a jar?”

She scoffs and retorts, “
No
. I actually cook, which means making
the sauce from scratch.”

“W-O-W,” Trent says. “That’s dedication.”

“You will enjoy it. Have to impress you somehow, since you never cease to
impress me.”

Trent smiles. “And tell me, how do I impress you?”

“All your knightly gallantry.”

“Knightly gallantry, well then, that
is
impressive,” Trent puffs
out his chest. .

Teagan grins and says, “Yes, it is, but don’t worry, I won’t become an
obsessed princess or anything.”

“I would appreciate that,” he states, returning her smile.

Suddenly, Teagan’s phone starts to ring. She jumps over the back of the
couch and grabs it. “Hello?”

“Girl, you were supposed to call me,” Victoria snaps.

“Umm, I have been kind of busy,” Teagan murmurs.

“Why are you so quiet?”

Turning her back to Trent, Teagan whispers, “I have company.”

“At your apartment?” Victoria quips. “Who? 
Oh wait
, please
tell me it’s Trent!”

“Mmhmmmm,” Teagan hums. “Let me call you later.”

“You better girlfriend! I want every juicy detail!”

“Okay, I have to go,” Teagan emphasizes. “Bye.”

“Have fun  Bye!” Victoria exclaims as she hangs up.

Teagan turns around  Trent has a huge grin on his face. “Does
Victoria want to know if I kicked that guy’s ass?”

“Probably,” Teagan laughs. “She will be disappointed.”  She jumps
back over the couch and sits cross-legged facing Trent. “She would have been
ecstatic if you had.”

“If he comes within talking distance of you, he will fall hard on his face,
trust me,” Trent declares, “Really hard on his face.”

“That sounds awesome,” Teagan giggles.

Looking at his watch, Trent says, “I should probably get going.”

“Why?” Teagan pouts. “Did Victoria’s call run you off?”

“No, we both have to get up early in the morning,” Trent states  “I
did enjoy talking to you, and I’m glad that I could help tonight.”

“You have to at least drink your beer,” Teagan replies. “Otherwise it’s
alcohol abuse.”

Trent bursts out laughing, “You are
definitely
still in college.”

“Oh come on,” Teagan teases. “Stay and finish your beer. I paid money for
that, and I don’t have a lot of money.”

“All right, all right, I will finish my beer,” Trent chuckles. He tilts
it back and chugs it down.

She rolls her eyes. “I meant slowly.”

Finishing, Trent says, “You said to finish my beer. I did.”

“Whatever,” Teagan groans, catching herself almost rolling her eyes
again.

“Listen, I will bring a bottle of wine on Thursday, and we can continue
our conversation,” Trent offers.

“All right, as long as it is Pinot Noir,” Teagan counters.

“Specific, but a good choice.” Trent stands and grabs his jacket off of
the hook by the door where he had hung it.

“Okay, deal,” She stands up with him. “I really do appreciate what you
did tonight. I mean I shouldn’t have slapped him, but I hit like a girl.”

Trent shakes his head, “No, you shouldn’t have, but he
definitely
shouldn’t have grabbed you. If he does it again, I get to do the grabbing.”

“That you keep promising,” Teagan says. “It’s a good promise.”

They walk to the door, and Teagan opens it. Trent turns to her. “Call me
if he contacts you, okay?”

“Is that the only reason I should call you?” Teagan asks with a smile as
she leans against the door.

“Do you actually call people?” Trent inquires.

“Sometimes,” Teagan answers. “But yeah, I will probably text you.”

“Well then, you can text me whenever you want,” Trent declares.

“4 a.m.?” 

He scowls, “No.”

“Alright, 6 then,” Teagan giggles.

“Oh geez, I am leaving,” Trent moans. He bends over and kisses the top of
her head.  Teagan stumbles a bit. “See you later.”

“Bye,” Teagan whispers. Trent waves and walks down the stairs. Teagan
closes the door. “Wow, okay, I had better call Victoria before she has a
coronary.” Teagan goes over and grabs her phone. 

As Teagan turns her car off, her phone rings. She quickly picks it up.
“Hello?” 

“It’s 9 p.m. on a Wednesday evening. Do
you
know where your best
friend is!?” Victoria shouts, her words slightly slurred.

“Obviously drinking someplace,” Teagan laughs, as she throws everything
into her purse.

“We are at the bar on 5
^th
. You need to come down here!”

“It’s late,” Teagan groans.

“You don’t have class tomorrow!” Victoria counters loudly over the
combination of bar music and other conversations around her. “COME ON! I need a
designated driver! Wait,
we
will need a designated driver. That’s what
Michael is for!”

Teagan snorts, “How many have you had?”

“Two cosmos and two beers,” Victoria replies, sounding very sure of
herself. “I feel
amazing
.”

“You won’t in the morning,” Teagan giggles.

“Come on, come down here!”

Teagan exhales and rolls her eyes. “Fine, but I need to change and get
ready.”

“YEAH!” Victoria squeals. “Call me when you leave!”

“All right. It will take me, like, fifteen minutes,” Teagan gives in.

“Hurry up!”

“Well, I have to go if you want me to hurry up.”

“BYE!” Victoria shouts.

“Bye,” Teagan snorts as she ends the call. She grabs her stuff and gets
out of the car.  Her building is quiet as she walks in. Taking the stairs
two at a time Teagan runs up to her floor. When she gets there, she notices the
light is off in the hallway.

“Ggggrrreeeeaaaatttt,” Teagan draws out. “Another burnt out light.” She
digs blindly into her purse for her keys.  When she grabs them, she goes
to her door and notices it’s slightly ajar. “What in the hell,” she breathes
out. A little scared, Teagan pushes the door open.

There is no light inside the apartment. Teagan listens for a second and
then reaches in to flick on the light. When the room brightens up, Teagan
screams, “OH MY GOD!” She drops everything in her hands and covers her mouth.

Her eyes fall onto her apartment, which is now in ruins. Her things are
smashed on the floor, and the drawers are all turned up and over, their
contents splayed across every surface. The word “Bitch” is spray painted across
the walls. Her chest tightens as she takes a step inside. Suddenly, there is a
noise from inside the apartment. Teagan bends over and grabs her phone. She
quickly backs out of the apartment and dials a number.

“Hello?” A deep voice answers. She instantly starts sobbing
uncontrollably. There is a pause and then, “Teagan!?  What’s wrong?”

“Someone…..broke….into….my…..apartment,” she gasps out, her chest still
tight.

“Excuse me?”

She stutters through her tears, “I am standing by my door. My whole
apartment is trashed.”

“What!? Did you call the police!?”

“No,” she whimpers.

“Are you standing in the apartment?” Trent inquires forcefully.

“Outside my door,” Teagan mumbles.

“Get out of there!” Trent exclaims. “Go out to your car, and get inside
of it. When I hang up, you call the police. Okay!? I am on my way over.” Teagan
stands there crying so hard she can’t even answer him. “Teagan!” Trent yells.
“Go outside!”

She nods her head and starts to run down the stairs. “It’s completely
trashed!” She can’t get the picture of the mess out of her head. Her voice is
full of disbelief.

“Get into your car and call the police. I’m in my truck. I will be there
in five minutes, maybe less, depending on traffic.”

When Teagan runs outside, it dawns on her. “I don’t have my keys!”

“Get under a street lamp and call the police. Stay in a lit area. Scream
if you need to.  I’m on my way. Hang up and call the police.”

“Okay,” Teagan gasps.

“Now Teagan!”

She fumbles with her phone. Ending his call, Teagan dials 911. It rings
and then she hears, “911, what is your emergency?”

“My apartment…oh my god…I just got home and my apartment was broken into
and completely trashed!” She yells.

“Is there someone still in your apartment?” The woman asks, her voice a
steady contrast to Teagan’s urgency.

“I don’t know!” Teagan exclaims. “I heard something, so I left.”

“We will send officers over there immediately. Whatever you do, don’t go
inside,” the operator instructs. “Can you go somewhere safe?”

“I am standing under the street light outside. It doesn’t look like
anyone else is home in the apartment complex!”

“What is your address?”

“622 Lincoln Boulevard,” Teagan chokes out.

“Stay where you are ma’am. We have someone coming to you.”

“Okay,” Teagan gasps. Suddenly, the phone goes quiet. She pulls it away
and notices her battery is dead. “No!” She cries. Looking around, Teagan backs
up so that she against the pole.

It seems like an eternity has passed before she hears tires squealing. When
Teagan turns around, Trent’s truck stops right by her. He jumps out. Teagan
notices he is holding his gun down by his leg. “Are you all right!?” She nods.
“Stay here. Did you call the police?”

“Yeah, but my phone died!”

“When they get here, tell them I went upstairs. Tell them I am armed.
Don’t forget that!” Trent looks her straight in the eyes. She can see his
determination and knows he is serious.  Teagan nods vigorously. He
disappears into the building.

A minute later, she hears sirens, and a police car stops by Trent’s
truck. An officer gets out. “Are you the one who called?”

“Yes! My friend is in my apartment. He is a professional security guard.
He has a gun!  I am supposed to tell you that!”

“Which apartment is it ma’am?”

“3A!”

The officer sticks his hand out. “Stay here.”

“Where would I go!?” Teagan snaps.

The officer scowls and then goes to the building. Trent suddenly comes
out. The officer pulls his gun. “Stop!”

“No!  Wait!  That is my friend!” Teagan screams.

 Trent holds his hands up, gun in hand. “I have a permit. I checked
her apartment.  It’s clear.”

“Put your gun away, and show me your permit and ID,” the officer
instructs.

He holsters his gun and takes his wallet out. Teagan covers her face and
sobs. A few seconds later, she feels Trent wrap his arms around her. Teagan
buries her face into his shirt and cries. “Everything is ruined!”

“I know,” Trent whispers. “I will take care of it.” Teagan pulls him as
close as possible as she begins to shake. 

“Ma’am, once I have it cleared, I would like you to come upstairs with
me,” the officer says gently. “We need to go through the entire apartment and
see if anything is missing.”

Teagan nods and sniffles. The officer disappears into the building. “Hey,
are you okay?” Trent murmurs, pulling Teagan’s hair out of her face.

“NO!  Did you see my apartment! They spray painted my walls!” Teagan
yells. “They ruined everything!”

“I know. We have to look and see what we can do,” Trent replies, rubbing
her back.

“Who would do something like this!?” Teagan cries. “Who would do such an
awful thing?”

“I have a few suspicions,” Trent sighs. “But we will get into that later.
I need to make sure you are okay.”

She shakes her head. “Nothing is going to make me okay!”

“Come on,” Trent exhales, pulling her against him. “I will make things
right.  I promise.”

“You can’t protect me from this!”

“I sure the hell can try and make it right,” Trent assures her calmly.
“Let’s take it one step at a time, okay?”

Teagan nods, as Trent holds her closely. A few minutes later, the officer
returns. “If you would come up, ma’am.”

Trent takes Teagan’s hand into his, and they head into the building. When
they get to her apartment, she instantly starts crying again. “They destroyed
everything!”

“Bitch” is spray painted in red paint on three different walls. The couch
is in pieces from so many slash marks. Her kitchen is completely torn apart.
Glasses and plates are shattered all over the floor. 

As her eyes scan the room, her heart drops. Teagan walks over to a broken
vase.  “This was my grandma’s,” she whispers in horror. “It’s the only
thing I had from her.”

“Ma’am, we need to look around and see if anything of importance is
missing,” the officer says.

Turning in a circle, Teagan exhales, “I’m a college student. I don’t have
anything of value, only my laptop, and that’s in my room.” The officer gestures
down the short hallway.  Teagan takes in a deep breath and walks to her
room. The scene in front of her sends a knife right through her heart. “OH MY
GOD!” She screams. She rushes over and picks up her smashed computer. “No, no,
no, no!”

“Ma’am are you all right?” The officer asks.

“My writing, all my writing was on here!” Teagan cries, as she falls to
her knees.  “Please, no, no, no. It was all on here. ALL OF IT!”

“Teagan, didn’t you have it saved somewhere else?” Trent inquires,
kneeling down next to her.

She shakes her head slowly, “Not the new stuff. It was all saved on a
jump drive and someone stole that from my backpack. It’s all gone. All my work,
it’s gone.”  Teagan bends over and sobs.

“We will ask all your neighbors if they saw or heard anything,” the
officer states.  “We will also need a statement from you. There are some
questions we need to ask.”

“Just leave me alone,” Teagan cries. “Just go somewhere else.  Leave
me alone!”

“I am not going to do that,” Trent whispers, pulling her into his arms.
“Come on. I will try and fix it.”

Teagan lifts up the computer and gasps, “There is no fixing this!”

“Just give it to me, and I will see what I can do,” Trent replies softly.

The officer interrupts, “We are going to have to be in here for a while
and see if we can get any info on access points and maybe some fingerprints. Is
there someplace you can go?”

Unable to fully grasp what’s going on, Teagan whimpers, “It’s all
gone.  Everything….is ruined. Who would do this?”

“Why don’t you take a statement from her, and I will take her home. She
can stay with me for the night,” Trent suggests to the officer. “I can’t leave
her in this.”

“That’s fine,” the officer replies.  “Miss….”

“Her name is Teagan Murphy,” Trent whispers, stroking Teagan’s hair. She
leans against his arm and cries silently.

“Miss Murphy,” the officer starts. “Can we go into the hallway?”

It takes a few seconds, but she finally nods. Teagan lays her laptop on
the floor and tries to stand. Her legs feel weak, making her stop halfway up.
Trent grabs her and lifts her up on her feet. They stand there, with Teagan
wrapped in his arms. “We will make this right, I promise,” Trent whispers into
her ear.

“It’s all gone,” Teagan whispers, trembling. “Everything that I have.”

“I will fix what I can,” Trent promises.

“Come on Miss Murphy,” the officer says, gesturing to the doorway.

They make their way back through the apartment and out into the hallway.
“Why is there no light in here?” Trent asks, looking up.

“The light burned out,” Teagan mumbles.

The officer shines his flash light up. “No ma’am. Someone broke the
light.”

“What!?” Teagan gasps, looking up. Her heart stops when she sees the
smashed light fixture. “They did that on purpose!”

“Probably to scare you,” the officer sighs. “It seems as though this was
personal. Is there anyone who would want to cause you harm?”

“No,” Teagan answers. “No one I know would do this!”

“What about Franco?” Trent suggests.

“Who?” The officer retorts.

Trent looks at the officer. “I confronted a guy who injured her. It was
completely legal. I told him he needed to stay away from her.”

“What did he do?” The officer asks, pulling out his small, blue steno
notebook.

Looking at Teagan, Trent pushes off her jacket and pulls up her sleeve.
“He did that.”

“That is grounds for assault charges,” the officer replies.

“No, because you would have to arrest me, too,” Teagan mumbles. “I
slapped Franco first.”

“We will still look into this gentleman,” the officer declares as he jots
something down on his pad of paper.

“What’s with me and being assaulted?” Teagan whispers. “First those two
guys, and then Franco, and now this!”

The officer looks up. “What two guys?”

“That’s how I met Trent,” Teagan explains. “I was assaulted by two guys
in Arrowhead Park.”

“You were the young woman,” the officer raises his eyebrows. “You must be
Trent Grayson of TPS.”

Trent nods his head, “Yes.”

“We have heard good things about you,” the officer states solidly. “We
will look into the two assailants, too.  Anyone else you could think of?”

“If my ex didn’t live over a day’s drive away, I would say him. He is
nuts, but I know it wasn’t him. I honestly don’t know who would do something
this cruel,” Teagan sniffles.

“What is the guy’s name who bruised your arm?” The officer asks.

“Franco Phillips,” Trent answers. “He resides at the Theta Alpha Theta
fraternity.”

“Very good,” the officer murmurs. “Miss Murphy, is there anything else
that you can think of that would be useful for us to know?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t even know what to think or say!”

“We need to look through your apartment and do some investigating,” the
officer says, still holding his notebook and pen at the ready. “You said you
were taking her home tonight Mr. Grayson?”

“Yes, she can stay with me,” Trent responds quietly, looking at Teagan.

“I can track down Victoria,” Teagan exhales. “She is at a bar. I would
call her, but my phone is dead.”

“Teagan, you are fried. Just let me take you home. I have a spare room,
and you will be fine. I can protect you there. We don’t know who did this.”