Chapter 39

Josh couldn’t believe his eyes as he saw his mother, Lisa, stumble through the front door of their suburban home, her clothes hastily thrown on and her hair a wild mess around her flushed face. The scent of sex hung heavy in the air, clinging to her like a second skin. She had never looked this way before—like a woman who had just been fucked within an inch of her life. His heart racing, he approached her, noticing the way she avoided eye contact and the tremble in her hand as she tried to slip the wad of cash into her pocket. “Mom?” he called out, his voice a mix of concern and confusion. “What’s going on?” Lisa jumped, the guilt etched deep into the lines of her face. She had hoped to sneak in unnoticed, to hide her transgressions from her son, but the jig was up. She looked at Josh, his innocent curiosity tainted by the unmistakable aroma of fresh cum that seemed to ooze from her pores, and she knew she had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed. The weight of her actions pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe, let alone speak.

With a tremble in her voice, Lisa grabbed Josh’s arm and pulled him into the kitchen, the urgency in her grip speaking volumes. “Josh, sweetie,” she whispered, her eyes pleading, “you can’t tell your father about this.” Her breath was hot and ragged, reeking of Freddy’s lust as she leaned in closer, her ample breasts pressing against his chest. “Please, I’ll explain everything later, but right now, you have to promise me.” The desperation in her voice was palpable, her eyes swimming with a mix of fear and regret. She knew that if Ben found out about her tryst with Freddy, it would destroy their family. The money in her pocket burned like a secret brand. Josh looked at her, his mind racing, trying to piece together the puzzle of what he had just witnessed. He nodded, “I won’t say anything,” he murmured, feeling a strange cocktail of emotions, “But you better hope Dad never find out.” Lisa sighed in relief, her grip loosening as she leaned into him, her braless breasts squishing against his chest as she whispered a heartfelt “Thank you,” into his ear. The silence between them was deafening, filled only with the sound of their hearts beating in a rhythm that seemed to echo the events of the evening.

Ignoring the sticky warmth between her legs and the faint scent of Freddy’s semen that seemed to cling to her, Lisa nodded and allowed Josh to lead her to her bedroom. She pulled off her disheveled clothes, feeling exposed and ashamed. As she reached for her bathrobe, Josh came running into the room, “Mom, wait,” he said, his tone urgent. “Put your clothes back on. We need to go to the police station.” Lisa’s eyes widened in surprise and panic. “I’ll explain on the way. Just get dressed.”

Josh’s grip tightened on the steering wheel as he glanced over at his mother in the passenger seat, her face a mask of anguish. “It’s not what you think.” Her voice was low, filled with a pain that seemed to echo the ache between her legs. “Freddy ... he just did it. Several times.” The words hung in the air, thick with the unspoken horror of what had transpired at the party. “And where was Freddy’s mom while this was happening?” Lisa hesitated, “I don’t know. In the next room maybe?” Josh turned onto Main Street, “So Mrs. Cox knew what was happening?” Lisa thought for a minute, “Yea, I guess so.”

They pulled in to the police station. Josh turned to his mom, “Mom, did you take the money before or after you were with Freddy.” Lisa looked at Josh, tears forming in her eyes, “After. When I was getting ready to leave.” Josh reached out and took her hand. “Mom, you were lured there under false pretenses. You didn’t agree to having sex with Freddy, right?” Lisa shook her head. “Mom, you were raped. And we need to go into the station so you can file charges and have a rape kit done.”

The stark fluorescent lights of the police station cast an eerie glow on their faces as they walked hand in hand through the doors. The cold, sterile air seemed to suck the warmth out of the car with them, leaving a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. Lisa’s legs felt like jelly, but she steeled herself, knowing she had to do this not just for herself, but for Ben and their marriage. As they approached the front desk, she took a deep breath, trying to gather the words to explain the unthinkable. The officer behind the counter looked up, his eyes flicking from the distraught woman to the concerned teenager beside her. “Can I help you?” he asked, his voice gruff but kind. Josh took the lead, his voice firm and clear. “My mom needs to file a rape report,” he said, not breaking eye contact with the officer. The words hung in the air like a leaden weight, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, with a nod, the officer gestured to a nearby room. “This way,” he said, his voice softer now. “I’ll get a detective.”

As they sat in the small, cold room, the gravity of the situation settled over them like a thick fog. Lisa clutched her robe tightly around her, the fabric feeling like a feeble shield against the memories that threatened to consume her. Josh’s hand was the only warmth in the room, his grip a silent promise of support. When the detective finally entered, she took another deep breath and began to recount the harrowing events of the night, her voice shaking with every word. She spoke of Freddy’s unwanted advances, of the overpowering strength that had held her down, and the agonizing violation she had endured. The detective listened, his expression a mix of professional detachment and barely contained outrage. When she was done, he looked at her with a solemn nod. “We’ll take this very seriously,” he assured her. “We’ll need to collect some evidence and get your statement on record.” The next hour was a blur of questions, examinations, and paperwork.

The tension in the air grew palpable as Fred Cox, his eyes dark with anger and his jaw set, stormed into the station, his expensive suit tailored to perfection, a stark contrast to the dull, government-issue furniture that surrounded them. Behind him, a slick-haired lawyer in a sharp suit and tie, a shark in a pool of minnows, followed closely, his eyes scanning the room for the source of the trouble. “Where is she?” Fred’s voice boomed, echoing through the hallway. Lisa’s heart skipped a beat, her hand instinctively moving to her throat, feeling the invisible noose of fear tightening. The detective stepped out, his own expression a wall of professionalism. “Sir, if you’re here about the Stevens case, I’d recommend you calm down and speak with the officers in charge.” Fred’s gaze zeroed in on Lisa, and the look of rage in his eyes made her tremble. “That bitch,” he spat, “she’s trying to ruin my son’s life.” The lawyer placed a restraining hand on his arm, whispering something in his ear, but Fred shrugged him off, his eyes never leaving Lisa. “This is a misunderstanding,” he said through gritted teeth, “my son is innocent.” The room grew colder as the words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the power dynamics at play. Lisa felt her resolve waver, but a squeeze from Josh’s hand reminded her that she was not alone. Josh stood up,, his eyes meeting Fred’s with a newfound strength. “It’s not a misunderstanding,” she said firmly, “and if you think you can intimidate us into dropping this, you’re wrong.” The detective stepped in, his hand on Fred’s chest. “Let’s all calm down,” he said, his voice a warning, “Why don’t we all step into an interrogation room where we can calmly talk this over.”