AJ checked his blind spot as he pulled off the entrance ramp and onto the expressway. Then he looked over at Nick. “I called Brian and Howie while you were with Celeste. They’re gonna break the party up.”
Nick’s head whipped to meet AJ’s eyes. “NO!” He blurted out. “We can’t let them leave.” He spoke in a panic.
AJ glanced back at the road, then over to Nick again. “Why not?”
Nick’s eyes grew wide. “Because then we’re letting whatever asshole did this, leave. That’s why not.” He pounded his fist on the armrest.
“And what are we going to do? Go back and find them ourselves?” AJ countered. “How do you suppose we do that, Nick?” He shook his head. “Besides, I’m sure that whoever did it is long gone.”
Nick sighed and raked a hand through his hair.
AJ nodded. “Exactly. The best thing to do is let the police handle it.”
“What if she doesn’t want to tell them?” Nick stared out the side window.
AJ shrugged. “Yeah, but it’s a rape case. I’m pretty sure the hospital has to report it.”
“That doesn’t mean anything’s gonna happen. The police have more important things to deal with.” He picked at his jeans.
AJ shrugged. “Even so, there’s nothing we can do.”
Nick turned to AJ. “Can’t we get the cops to check your bed.” When AJ sent him a confused look, he continued. “You know, for evidence. They find some stuff and then they search their computers and they find who it was.”
AJ chuckled slightly. He shook his head. “Nick, that’ll only work if whoever did it has a criminal record. If it’s someone who was never arrested, then they won’t have any information on file.” He shrugged. “And I don’t think I had any criminals at my party.”
Nick shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know about that. Eminem was there.”
AJ looked sharply at Nick. “He was?”
Nick nodded. “Yeah, I saw him with Fred Durst.”
AJ snorted. “I wonder who invited him?”
Nick shrugged then leaned back in the seat. “Okay, so what do we do?”
AJ shrugged. “We clean my place up and burn my bed.” A chill ran down his spine. “Man, that’s so sick!”
“Maybe we should save it and take it to the police for evidence.”
“I thought you said the cops were too busy.” AJ glanced over at him.
Nick shrugged again. “I don’t know. I just don’t want this sick bastard to get away with this. He needs to be caught. Maybe we should go to the police.”
AJ sighed. “Do you, or don’t you?”
Nick mulled the possibilities over. “Do you think I should ask Celeste first?”
AJ nodded. “Um…yeah.”
“Okay, but what if she’s not up to talking for like another week?” He smacked his hand against his leg. “Then all the evidence is gone.”
AJ shrugged. “Like I said, I’m pretty sure the hospital has to report it. So they will already know.”
Nick looked at him. “Do you think they’re gonna send some cops over there tonight to talk to her?” A look of fear passed over his face. “What if they scare her more? What if they send her into more shock?”
“She’ll be okay, Nick.” AJ reassured his friend. “I doubt anyone’s going to go tonight. Besides, Dr. Niln won’t let them in there.”
Nick nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.” He settled back into his seat again. “But we should save the sheets off your bed, and her clothes.” He added. “I remember seeing some show about a rape, and they said to save the clothes.”
AJ nodded. “Okay, but you get to put it all in one bag.”
“I can do that.” He sighed. “I just can’t believe this happened to her. I feel so responsible.”
AJ looked over at Nick. “Ah Nick. It’ll be okay.” He reached over and patted the blonde’s shoulder. “Yeah, sure this was a horrible thing. But you can’t blame yourself. You didn’t force whoever did this to rape her.”
Nick nodded as he picked once more at his pants. “I know. But if I had paid more attention to her…not let her wander off, she’d be okay.”
“Not necessarily.” AJ countered. “I could say it’s all my fault. If I had checked to see if that had been her, not just left the room. Then she’d be okay too.” His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “I could have stopped the dickhead. Caught him in the act and beaten the shit out of him.”
Nick smiled. “That’d have bee nice.” He closed his eyes and took a breath. “I just wanna know who it was.”
AJ nodded. “Me too bro, me too.”
Nick growled. “If I ever find out who did it, and I get to him before the police do….I’ll kill him.” He clenched his fists tightly.
“First he has to buy me a new bed.” AJ said, sending Nick a playful smile.
Nick nodded. “Okay, but then he’s dead.”
AJ nodded in agreement. “Okay Frack, it’s a deal.”