Chapter 57

Richie looked up as the door opened, the man there unfamiliar but, by virtue of the suit and briefcase, he guessed it was Jon’s lawyer. Finally. About fucking time the guy showed up.

“Mr Sambora, I’m Thomas Vale.” The guy walked in, offering his hand.

Sliding his butt from the table, Richie shook hands with the lawyer, then his eyes caught sight of someone else behind the lawyer and he realised the lawyer hadn’t just arrived, but had already taken care of what he’d been brought here for. Walking into the waiting room was Jay - a handcuff-free Jay - with a tentative smile on his face.

“Mr….” Jay broke off at Richie’s suddenly stern expression, a smile flickering on his face as he remembered. “Sorry. Richie.”

“That’s better.” Richie looked from player to lawyer. “So………”

Any response was forestalled by the arrival of Detective Kellogg, her face flushed with embarrassment and just a hint of fear. A fear which was explained by the guy following her, everything about him screaming that he was in charge. And no doubt he’d just given his detective a lecture about procedures and protocols. And possible disciplinary action.

“Mr Kelsall.” She said quietly. “You’re free to leave.”

“Uh huh.” Jay replied cautiously, wanting to thank her, but knowing he couldn’t.

“I want you to be aware that we don’t tolerate that kind of violence in my city.” The boss-looking guy snapped, sneering at the female cop. “And the only reason you’re not being charged is this detective’s apparent disregard for the rules.”

“It’s hardly my client’s fault that your detective was so keen to obtain a confession she failed to ensure my client had been properly mirandized before interviewing him.” The lawyer said disdainfully, with definite emphasis on the ‘my client’ and ‘your detective’, laying the blame back at the feet of the chief of detectives.

The man looked at the lawyer briefly, then swung a harsh glance at Kellogg.

“Would you please escort these gentlemen outside.” His lip curled angrily. “If you can manage that.”

“Yes sir.” She replied quietly, not looking him in the eye. Not so much afraid of his anger, but afraid he’d see the truth in her eyes. The truth that she’d not forgotten to mirandize the suspect, but had done it - or rather not done it - deliberately.

Her boss turned on his heel and left the room, and she sighed in relief, glancing at the floor before looking up at the three waiting men. The lawyer still looked disdainful - but, hell, he was a lawyer! - but Richie and Jay just looked grateful, Richie grinning conspiratorially.

“Thank you.” Jay murmured, and she nodded once.

“This way.” She headed to the door, unable - unwilling - to say anything more here in the police station.

She led them into the foyer, and Richie was the one who hesitated.

“Uhhh…..I don’t mean to be a pain in the ass, but is there a back door to this place? The press are pretty much camped outside of here and, Jay, I don’t know if you want to…….”

Looking outside, the detective shrugged slightly. “If it helps, there wasn’t any media around until you and Mr Bongiovi arrived - so they’d probably think Jay was just helping with enquiries over his mom’s assault. Assuming that’s made the news.”

“Uh, yeah, it has.” Richie confirmed, and Jay looked at him in surprise.

“It has?” He’d been either closeted in the hospital, waiting for news, or in the police station - except for the brief trip home to sleep - and he’d seen no TV or papers since this all happened.

“Yeah. They haven’t gotten your mom’s name yet, but there was a news piece about a woman being assaulted in her room at the Carlton.” He tilted his head consideringly. “Might be best if they hear it from you, though.”

“Y’think?” Jay looked at the waiting detective. “Is that okay?”

“So long as you don’t accuse……anyone……..I don’t think there’s a problem. Just that you were here because your mom was attacked and we needed to take your statement should cover it.”

“And me and Jonny because Jay’s part of the family.” Richie winced at his poor choice of words. “The Soul family I mean.”

“Well, yeah.” Kellogg was a little confused. There’s something I’m not getting here. I know there is. Damn it, something I should have noticed, but…….

“Okay. Let’s do this, then.” Jay said, decisive as his father. As both of his parents, really. “Let’s get it over with.”

“Wait.” The detective halted them again. “You don’t have any transport, right?”

“No. Came over in a cab.”

“Okay. If you want to go out and do the press thing, I’ll bring a car around and get you out front.”

“Well, I have a car waiting.” The lawyer interrupted, somewhat miffed that, now he’d done as requested, getting the player out of trouble, he was being ignored. Not just ignored but….well, it seemed like everybody knew something he didn’t, and that pissed him off. “So I’ll be on my way.”

“Shit!” Jay exclaimed, cautiously offering his bandaged right hand. “Sorry, Mr Vale. Thanks for everything. If you hadn’t realised that the interview wasn’t legal……..”

“Yeah, thanks, Thomas.” Richie shook hands, too. He’d play along that the guy was a wonderful legal eagle, but he’d be damned if he’d call him ‘Mr’.

“You’re……welcome.” He replied. There was definitely something else here, but it wasn’t his concern. Quite frankly, he couldn’t wait to get back to the city - Philadelphia may be historic and wonderful and up and coming - yawn - but to him the only place worth being was New York. “I hope I never see you again.” He said, as close to a joke as he ever got, and Jay grinned.

“I’ll take that in the vein it was meant. Goodbye, Mr Vale.”

The lawyer left them there, heading outside to the car which was parked across the street, the driver in his seat waiting patiently. Richie and Jay exchanged glances - Jay’s smirk so like Jon’s that Richie wondered again how in the hell nobody had ever seen it before - then Kellogg interrupted them again.

“I’ll give you a few minutes then bring the car.”

“Are you sure? I’m sure you have better things to do than play chauffeur.” Jay objected mildly.

“Honestly? I think I’m best out of here for a little while. Before my boss nails me again.”

“Sorry, I……”

The glare from Kellogg shut Jay up instantly, her tiny headshake saying ‘not here’, and she opened the main doors of the station for them before retreating into the building, heading for the parking garage to collect her car. With a deep breath, Jay stepped out into the glare of flashbulbs, feeling the comforting presence of Richie at his side.

“Just keep it short.” Richie murmured to him before raising his hand to beg silence from the reporters. As they quieted, Jay cleared his throat to speak.

“I just have a…..a short statement to make.” He said nervously. Dammit, but he’d never been a big one for public speaking.

“Jay! Jay, were you arrested?” A voice yelled.

“Who……?” Jay pinpointed the questioner and shook his head. “No. My……my mother was attacked in her hotel, a few nights ago, and I was asked to come down to make a statement. Mr Sambora - and Mr Bongiovi - came down to give me some…..moral support, I guess.” He shrugged, smiling slightly. “As you know, the Soul is like a family, and I guess things like this bring out the best in families.”

“Is your mom okay?” A female voice this time, sounding genuinely concerned, and Jay gave the woman a smile.

“The doctors think she’ll be okay.” His voice softened. “And thanks for asking.”

“You said hotel…….was your mom the woman who was raped in the Ritz Carlton?” The first voice again, and Jay’s fists balled as much as they could in the protective wrapping of gauze and tape.

“Cool it.” Richie grunted so only Jay heard him, and he forced himself to relax his jaw before replying.

“Mom was……assaulted in the Ritz Carlton, yes. And I’m sorry, but that’s all I have to say.”

With relief, Jay saw Kellogg standing by the curb, holding open the back door of an unmarked car, and without another word to the press, he headed for the car, Richie following, his hand on Jay’s shoulder as they passed through the crowd. There were various voices yelling questions, and as Jay got into the car Richie turned to face the press, his expression sad.

“C’mon people - give the kid a break. His mom’s in hospital and he doesn’t need anything except to see her get better.” He said before following Jay into the backseat.

Kellogg got into the front of the car and drove away, just wanting to get out of the area - finding out their actual destination could wait a few minutes. In the back of the car, Richie clapped his hand onto Jay’s shoulder again, a comforting grip, then he spoke softly as he pulled his phone from a pocket.

“I should call him, let him know you’re out.”

“Yeah.” Jay breathed, grabbing out his own phone. “I need to find out how mom is.”