That Which Destroys Me (8 page)

“Jesus fucking Christ.” I lean forward resting my elbows on my knees before rubbing my hands over my face. “That’s what she fucking said.” All I can do is shake my head in astonishment.

I’m pissed at myself for shoving all my shit at her. I’m pissed at myself for honestly thinking I could talk her or force her into being my sub. And I’m seething pissed at myself for thinking I had any right to even lay a finger on her, much less in her.

“I’m such a fucking asshole! Son of a bitch!” I leap from my leather chair and storm out of the room.

Before I know what I’m doing, I’m in my office calling Derrick, the best PI in NYC who’s been in charge of any aspects of my life that I should call the police for, but don’t.

He answers before I sit behind my desk, plowing my hands through my hair. “Speak.”

“Derrick, I need some info and I need it by Monday morning.”

“’Kay, you know the surcharge on expedited information. Name?”

“Stella Jolie Reese. The file I have on her barely brushes the surface. Foster kid from the age seven. Shit load of foster homes throughout Louisiana. I don’t have the names of all the cities - and all my secretary could find were two foster homes - but there is mention of more.”

“You want the full monty? Or are you just looking for answers during certain time frame?”

“Full fucking monty, man. That’d be great.”

“All right. I’ll have everything to you by Sunday night, Wes.”

After I hang up, I sit in my office and stare at absolutely nothing for hours. My mind keeps splintering over and over as her words run their course on a loop in my mind.

“You have no idea what the first seventeen years of my life consisted of. What I have had to do to get to where I am today. I am not a submissive… I am a fucking fighter. Because absolutely everything I possess, I’ve had to fight like hell to get.”

“You can’t be a submissive or peek into the lifestyle when the only sexual encounters you’ve ever experienced were rapes and molestations by father, after foster father, after foster brother from the time you were a toddler. There, there’s your goddamn answer, Wesley.
”

I have a fighter on my hands.

A shattered, damaged, little fighter.

Once I get my answers, I’ll modify a stratagem.

Just because I lost this little battle, does not mean I intend on conceding.

I will readjust my tactics. Then I will fight a broken fighter.

And I will fucking win.

On Sunday night the file is faxed over from Derrick.

The shit I see, the fucking shit in that file, comes extremely close to causing the scotch I’ve consumed to make reappearance.

Stella Jolie Reese

DOB May 10, 1988

Female

Caucasian

Height: 5’7

Last documented weight: 134 lbs

Hair color: Brown

Eye Color: Hazel

Marital Status: Single

Mother: Unknown

Father: Fredrick Reese- found murdered at age 31. Police files indicate seven year old daughter (Stella Reese) was the only witness. All evidence points to the child committing the homicide in an effort to evade her father’s sexual abuse. Charges were never filed and child was placed in therapy. CPS placed child in the foster care system where she was placed in a foster home.

Other living relatives: None

During an exam immediately following the incident, the SAFE RN documentation states the following was found upon assessment:

Over six broken bones noted via X-ray that appeared to go untreated. (See below):

Both clavicles, mandible, maxilla, left femur, right humerus.

The nurses’ notes also state there were multiple abrasions, lacerations and contusions. Some of which appeared to be recent as well as healing injuries.

Also documented and photographed: Numerous bite marks covering the patient from neck to knees, most of which were located on the patient’s anterior thighs, genitalia and rectum.

There was significant scarring as well as recent in appearance due to redness and swelling lacerations consistent with repeated sexual abuse. During sexual kit collection, speculum placed for assessment. Fluid noted at cervix specimen obtained, labeled at bedside and entered in to kit evidence. Blue dye spray applied during speculum exam for small tears unable to detect with naked eye. Pubic hair combed, stray strands collected and labeled, entered into evidence kit. All patient’s clothes removed per protocol and entered into specimen kit.

Foster Parents:

1) Mr. & Mrs. Blake Sims (1996-97)

Pine Bluff, LA

Child was admitted to the ER in Pine Bluff in 1997:

Documentation states:

Patient was brought into ER via EMS on a stretcher after students found patient (9 yo Stella Reese) in the bathroom of the school unconscious with copious amounts of blood around the patient. Upon assessment, after removing tampon and several pads 4
^th
degree vaginal and rectal lacerations were noted consistent with extremely severe sexual abuse and rape.  Patient stabilized with eight units of PRBC (packed red blood cells) infused per protocol. Social Services were consulted. Patient was discharged after three weeks per Child Protection Services to State of Louisiana.

Charges against both Mr. and Mrs. Blake Sims were filed by the DA of Pine Bluff. Mrs. Sims charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Mr. Sims was charged with rape of a minor. He served five years in Louisiana State Penitentiary.

2) Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Temple (1997-1999)

Alexandria, LA

During a therapy session between the child, Stella Reese, a Social Service Counselor, and a licensed psychiatrist in 1999, the patient, 11 yo Stella Reese admitted to being repeatedly molested by Mr. Jonathan Temple. Charges against Mr. Jonathan Temple were filed by the DA of Alexandria. Mr. Temple served three years in Louisiana State Penitentiary.

3) Mr. & Mrs. George Long (1999)

Ruston, LA

During a therapy session between the child, Stella Reese, a Social Service Counselor, and a licensed psychiatrist in 1999, the patient, 11 yo Stella Reese admitted to suicidal ideations. When asked to verbalize the reasons behind this behavior, patient immediately began showing signs of PTSD. Pt was removed from Mr. and Mrs. Long’s residence and placed back into child protective services until a foster family becomes available.

4) Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Smith (2000-2001)

Shreveport, LA

Stella Reese’s whereabouts remained unknown from July 4
^th
2001 until January 3
^rd
2004.

In 2004, 16 yo Stella Reese was found living in an abandoned home on Texas Street.

Documentation states 16 yo Stella Reese admitted to living in both the abandoned home as well as sleeping some nights in her high school library she’d been attending without knowledge of the State of Louisiana.

CPS filed for a warrant to retrieve the following medical files:

July 5, 2001- Time: 0018:

911 phone call: 

“Hey there’s some chick passed out by Cross Lake.” —background unknown female voice—“Steve she isn’t breathing! Tell them she’s not fuckin’ breathing!”

Male caller: “Umm… my girl says she isn’t breathing. I would stay, but I can’t be late for my curfew.”

911 dispatcher: “Sir, I need you to remain where you are. Do you or your friend know CPR?”

—Phone call ends. July 5, 2001- Time: 0020.

Medical Records/ Doctors dictation notes/ Nurses notes:

Dr. Cole- Dictation notes of patient currently known as Jane Doe (age unknown):

Received patient via EMS to ER 1. Upon admission, patient status is unstable with a weak and thready pulse noted. EMS documentation states that patient was resuscitated via CPR and defibrillation. After patient stabilized, doctor assessment yields asphyxiation as well as first and second degree lacerations noted in and around vagina and rectum consistent with rape and/or sexual abuse. Lacerations were sutured using a 2.0 chromic suture times 2.  Patient remains stable. Will continue to monitor.

(Patient signed out Against Medical Advice less than nineteen hours after admission.) Prior to patient signing out AMA patient refused rape kit.

Patient’s printed name and signature:
Stella Reese

Medical Records/ Doctors dictation notes/ Nurses notes of September 30, 2001:

Patient received to ER via EMS with symptoms of hypovolemic shock caused by an ectopic pregnancy gone without treatment and resulted in left fallopian tube rupturing and hemorrhaging.

Patient Name: Jane Doe.

DOB: Unknown

Allergies: Unknown

Labs drawn yielded patient is AB+ blood type. Drug screen negative. All cultures, including STDs were negative.

Patient prepped in OR for Left Salpingectomy. Procedure performed without incident. Patient remains stable. Will continue to monitor.

Prior to patient signing out AMA patient refused rape kit.

(Patient signed out Against Medical Advice once awake, alert and oriented—50 minutes after anesthesia.)

Patient’s printed name & signature:
Stella Reese

I can’t fucking read any more.

Sam Smith, he was one of my buddies. I fucking hung out with him that summer. That was the summer before I went to LSU.

Oh my fucking GOD!

Memories, all of them, begin flashing through my mind.

Her at the lake fishing with us.

Her tagging along to baseball games, parties — Parties. I was… MOTHER FUCK! I scan back over the date and re-read the medical notes.

I was at that party. I manned the keg at that party.

Jesus Christ! I remember wondering why Sam brought his kid sister.

I lean back into my chair and let my eyes reread the file until almost three in the morning.

I want to know who the fuck did this shit to Stella. Every single motherfucker that laid a finger on her, I want their blood soaking my hands.

I’m fucking proud as shit of my little fighter, dammit. There is no reason for her to be the beautiful person she is today, inside and out. Not one fucking reason.