Part 9 / Hotel.

An hour.

Sixty minutes.

24 re-readings.

That's how much it took me to wrap my head around the police report.

I read each part again and again,not being able to believe the words that have been written on it.

Hell,I was so afraid to continue reading the crime statement,I read Stefan's profile seven times.

Name : Finn,Stefan

Birth date : 04.21.1995

Sex : Male

Eye col. : Green

Height: 6'4"

I have all that shit imbedded into my scull,Including the girl's profiling too.

Name : Maxwell,Lydia

Birth date : 09.30.1996

Sex : Female

Eye col. : Green

Height: 5'5"

The crime was committed at the Arthur hotel, on July 13th.

The victim claimed that Finn had drugged her; a number of substances including alcohol and rohypnol were discovered in the victims blood test.

Finn's DNA was found after the victim did a rape kit,also bruises were found around her neck,arms and wrists.

The Arthur hotel provided the police department with tapes that showed Finn and the victim going into room 294.

The hotel?

Stefan kept saying that he didn't know if he did it,but If there was physical proof,then why the hell would he still be lying.

Unless,the tapes were compromised.

That's a far fetch,don't you think Charlie?

Well,worth checking out.

***

I drove an hour for this fucker.

He better be worth it.

Why am I doing this again?

To prove that he's innocent?

So he won't be judged and beaten to a pulp everyday?

Or you just like him?

No.

I mean,Stefan is a good friend. And weather I like to admit or not,the last two months have been...fun.

We've gotten to know each other better,and even though he almost burned the place down more than once,we still laughed about it.

So yeah,I guess this Is me either getting my friend,or kicking out someone who committed a horrible action.

I walk with my phone In my hand,up and down the street,following Google Maps' instructions,and finally find the hotel.

I walk inside,and see that it's quite a fancy place,but not fancy enough so I couldn't get through to what I need to see.

"Hi." I smile at the lady behind the desk.

"Hello. Welcome to the Arthur hotel,how can I help you?" She replies.

My eyes see a door opening and closing at the end of the hall,and I see a guy,in front of a couple of TV's,security.

"Could I possibly use your bathroom?"

"Of course. Down the hall,to the right." She points as I smile.

"Thank you." I take out a five dollar bill and place it in the tip jar as she gives me a warm smile.

I look over my shoulders and see that there aren't a lot of people around,most are using the elevator,and others are by the bar.

I stand close to the door and hear that a man is working in there.

So,in my natural fashion,I pull my jeans up,and hike up my bra,thinking that wearing a V neck was a good idea.

I knock and hear a "Come in" after a few seconds,so I do.

He signals that he's on the phone and will only take a few minutes so I nod.

I sit next to him,and "casually" push my boobs together and lean over.

"The date was horrible. If you could even call it that. He was horrible."

"Damn it." I whisper to myself and lean back.

After a few seconds he finishes and turns towards me.

"What can I do for you ma'am?" He says with a small smile.

"Hi. I was uh...hoping that you could help me with some footage I need." I lean over and place my hand on his arm.

"And I'm really hoping you're bi." I say as he laughs.

"I'm not.But sure lady,I'll take a look since you're the first person to actually make me laugh today." He says tapping away at the computer keys.

"For real? You can do that?" I ask with a smile.

"Sure. You're not the first person trying to make evidence of an affair or something disappear."

"It's...nothing like that." I shake my head.

"Okay. Date?" He asks.

"July 13th. Room 294." I say as he nods and pulls up footage of a hall on the monitor.

"Can you tell me between what hours?"

"Uh,maybe eleven to midnight?"

After a couple of minutes we just stare at a screen,watching strangers walk up and down the hall.

After like 15 minutes,I'm ready to give up but then,there he is,right there.

I watch him stumble a couple of times,and lazily try to unlock the door while a girl kisses him repeatedly.

"This is it." I say to Craig and he stops the footage from fast playing.

"Is that your boyfriend?" He asks confused.

"Shh,no." I say focusing on the screen.

Yes,they walk into the room together,making my stomach drop.

So,he did it? That's it right,they went in and he did it?

I look at the empty hallway for a couple of more minutes until the door knob moves,and the person exiting is not Stefan,but actually it's Lydia.

She looks fine for someone who was sexually assaulted.

I frown as I look at her perfect dress and hair,hell,even her makeup isn't smudged.

She walks out,leaving my jaw to hang in ajar. I tell Craig to skip forward and eventually the screen shows Stefan leaving the room,looking like hell.

But he leaves,he has his clothes on and is leaving the room.

I check through the footage from that night,and what I found was shocking.

Lydia comes in the same room with another guy,they make out in front of the door for a couple of seconds before going into the same room Stefan was in.

I assume they didn't have sex since that would compromise the evidence,but something went on i that room.

Next thing that happens,the guy leaves and an hour later police flood the scene.While Lydia looks like she had been through a hurricane when an hour ago she looked like she was modeling for Vogue.

"Can you put all of this on here,please?" I ask giving Craig a USB as he nods.

After a couple of minutes he hands it back and I smile.

"Thank you so much. Truthfully,I don't know how to thank you." I say as he smiles.

"It's cool. I hate this place anyway." He shrugs.

I take out a Joan's diner card and hand it to him as he looks over it.

"Please come over sometime, weather its breakfast,lunch or dinner. It's on me." I say as he smiles and I thank him one more time.

***

I knock on the door a couple of times and wait until I hear footsteps running towards it.

A little girl,and an even younger little boy appear with huge smiles on their faces.

"Hi." She says as I smile.

"Hi sweetie. Is your dad here?" I ask and she nods.

"Chrissy,baby. I told you a hundred times not to open the-..." He stops when he sees me.

"Charlie?" He asks with a smile.

"Hey uncle Fitz. I hope that offer about coming over was real." I shrug.

"Of course it is. Come here kiddo." He says wrapping his arms around me as I hug him back and smile.

"Besides,I have something to show you." I show him the thumb drive in my hand.

***

I unlock the front door after climbing three flights of stairs,because apparently the old lady with the broken hip and her five grandchildren couldn't wait so I can take the elevator first.

I hear that the TV is on,and see Stefan on the floor surrounded by textbooks pens and notes.

He gets up immediately when he sees me,and had a blank expression on his face.

"I'm sorry. I just didn't know what to do,I..."

I take off my jacket and scarf,disposing them on a chair,before I walk up to him,and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Oh..." He says in a surprised tone,before awkwardly placing his hands on my waist.

"Charlie,are you oka-"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." I breathe out as I hug him tighter.

"About what? Is everything okay?" He says but I don't say anything as I stay in the same position.

He takes a few steps and sits down on the floor,slowly making me straddle his lap awkwardly,as I continue breathing against his neck.

Get your shit together Charlotte.

"You done?" He asks making me chuckle and pull away to look at him.

"I'm really sorry about last night. I was having a terrible dream,and when I woke up,you were just...so I was scared and..."

"You don't have to apologize.You have every right to be scared,I..."

"That's the point Stefan,I don't have to be scared. I know you didn't do it. I have proof." I say with a smile as he frowns "What?"

We both look at his phone that's charging by the wall when it rings.

"That's probably your lawyer." I move off and let him answer the phone.

With a dozen more phone calls later.

Eventually,I went to my room and changed into my comfortable clothes while hearing some shouting through the phone.

I see him on on of the chairs in the kitchen,with his elbows on his knees a she scratches his head.

"Jesus Christ..." He mutters again and again.

"Is everything okay?"

He looks up and sighs rubbing his eyes with his hands.

"Nothing is okay. Especially my fucked up family."

"What are you talking about? I thought they'd be happy to know..."

"Oh,they knew." He says through his teeth as his jaw clenches.

"What do you mean?"

"My parents.They made a deal with Lydia. Her father is the owner of Maxwell's Oil company. He owns half of Florida. So my father wants to run for governor next year,again,and he wouldn't sponsor him."

"What does that have to do with you?"

"They had the tape all along. Threatened him that he would tell everyone that his daughter lied about sexual assault,and she would go to jail. Ruining his reputation. In exchange,Lydia gets money which her father won't give her. Everyone wins,except for me."

"He would rather have you called a rapist and be governor,instead of looking out for your future?" I ask in a deep state of shock.

" "It's not like we framed you for murder" my mother said." He says shaking his head.

"They're threatening to completely disown me. Cut my college tuition,so I would have to pay for it myself next year. And be completely erased from the family if the story gets out."

"My dad's friends,he's a detective,he's making sure that it's getting out Stefan." I say slowly as his eyes meet mine.

"I will not apologize for what I did. I will not apologize that I proved that you are not a monster." I say crossing my arms over my chest as i grint my teeth together.

He walks in front of me,and for the longest time stares.

I look up at him and praying to God that I didn't go through all of this for someone who would chose money over pride? Happiness? Love even?

He just places his hand on the side of my face before placing an ever so sweet kiss on my forehead.

"Thank you Charlie." He says with a goofy grin before walking to the bathroom.

The little jolts of electricity and goosebumps appearing after that is just a coincidence,right?

"What the fuck just happened?" I whisper to myself as I lean against the counter for the longest time.

"I bought pizza. Its in the oven." He says making me jump slightly.

"Thank you." I say rubbing the side of my arm "Do you wanna watch a movie or something?" I ask as he nods.

I pick up the pizza box and find him sitting on my bed,flicking through the channels.

He both lean against the headboard and stare at the TV,it being the only light illuminating in the room's darkness.

"You think we're gonna be okay?" He asks out of nowhere.

I think for a couple of seconds and smile "I think we'll be perfect."

"As long as you don't burn,drown,or brake my apartment down." I say as he laughs.

We couldn't find a movie to watch that night,but we both fell asleep in my bed while watching a crocodile documentary on the discovery channel.