A Changed Life Page 15

  Detective Westphall began to speak, “Nicolette, thank you for telling us your story. Considering what you have been through, you are an incredibly strong young woman. As your doctor explained to you, a rape kit was performed. We have a substantial amount of evidence collected that will put your attacker away for many years. You fought him with everything you had, Nicolette. You will survive this, and Michael St. Clair will be prosecuted for his assault on you, I can promise you that.”

  I just nodded at the detectives, and they walked outside with my parents to talk. My father was so angry. He wanted to find Michael, but Det. Westphall advised him to please stay with me, and let the police handle it. My father reluctantly agreed “for now”, he told the detectives.

  “Mr. And Mrs. Vanelle, I have to make you aware that once Michael is arrested, and charged, the media will soon find out. You may want to obtain security until the media frenzy, that I’m sure will surround you, dies down a bit. Michael’s father is not just the head of a movie studio; he has business connections throughout all of California. I honestly don’t see how this can be contained. I am truly sorry, and we will assure you on our end to be discreet as possible. We will only release a statement, once we have your permission to do so.”

  While my parents were still speaking with the detectives, my nurse had brought in a tray of food for me. I tried to eat something, but pushed the tray aside. I wasn’t hungry. All I wanted to do was sleep. My mind was plagued with memories of Michael raping me. I kept hearing Michael’s voice over and over again, “You’re mine, Nicolette.” I gripped at my blankets and squeezed my eyes shut as I tried to fall asleep.

  “Mason, we have to call Jack, and let him know what has happened with Nicolette.”

  “No. We are not calling my brother, Christina!” he shouted.

  “Mason, Jack has a right to know what happened to Nicolette.”

  “She’s our little girl, and we will take care of her, not him!”

  “Mason he’s been calling all our phones, and if we don’t reach out to him soon, he’s going to get worried, and fly out here. Do you want that? We can’t afford to have Jack flying off the handle.”

  “Of course not Christina but I can’t deal with Jack right now. Just when he was finally beginning to accept our decision to move here, this tragedy happens to Nicolette. The minute Jack finds about Nicolette, he will go insane, and you know what he is capable of Christina. We can’t tell Jack about Nicolette.”

  “What about Nicolette, and what she wants Mason? She is going to want to speak with him, and how are we going to explain to Nicolette why she can’t talk with her uncle?”

  “I don’t know Christina, I just don’t know! I will not lose my daughter.” My father fell to his knees, and cried holding his head into his hands. My mother knelt down to comfort him, she cried along with him.

  Holding him in her arms, she whispered. “Mason, she’s his daughter, too, we have to call Jack. You know it’s the right thing to do.”

  I had awakened from my nap, and my head was still fuzzy from the pain medicine I was given. I thought I had heard voices outside of my room, but everything sounded mumbled. I rolled over to my side, and saw a note sitting on the table addressed to me. It was from Simon, it read:

  Peaceful? I was far from feeling at peace. Leave it to Simon, for trying to make me feel better. I clutched his note to my chest, and sobbed again into my pillow. How could Simon still love, and want me after what Michael did to me? I felt sick just thinking about him when my stomach rumbled. I grabbed the bowl off the table, and emptied what I had in my stomach. I needed another shower. I felt dirty, and wanted to wash away Michael.

  “Thank you for calling the Neighborhood, this is Tommy speaking.”

  “Hi, Tommy, this is Christina Vanelle calling.”

  “Well, hello, stranger, how are you? And how’s California these days?” I didn’t have time for chit chat. I wasn’t ok and neither was my daughter.

  “Tommy, I need to speak to Jack, is he there?”

  “Yeah sure, let me get him for you.”

  Jack’s tone was short, and clipped with me. He was angry. “I have been calling you for days, Christina. Why haven’t you returned any of my phone calls? It’s not like Nicolette, to avoid me.” It was too late to turn back now. I was dreading what I had to tell my brother-in-law about Nicolette, but he needed to know. Please Mason forgive me.

  “Jack, please let me speak and don’t interrupt me. This call to you is hard enough and yelling at me will just make it more difficult to tell you.”

  “Oh hell, I’m sorry Christina. I’ve been worried. When I don’t hear from any of you, especially Nicolette, it stresses me out. Talk to me, Christina. What’s going on? Struggling to speak in between her sobs.

  “Jack.”

  “Damn it woman, you are scaring the hell out of me. Just say it!

  “It’s Nicolette, she’s in the hospital.”

  “Hospital? Is she ok? Was she in an accident? Sighing deeply and trying to calm down, Jack asked again. What happened to my girl?”

  “She was raped.”

  No need to say anything else. My mother knew Jack heard her right, and then she heard sounds of glass shattering. Waiting for Uncle Jack to say something, he got back on the line and simply said, “I’m on my way.” Leaving my Aunt Sara behind without even an explanation, Uncle Jack took the next flight out to California.

  “Is he up yet? Det. Westphall questioning the doctor treating Michael. Dr. Donaldson replied, “He’s beginning to come around, but still a bit groggy.”

  “My partner and I need to question him.”

  “Due to the injury he sustained to the back of the head, I can’t give you a guarantee on how lucid he will be. It may be difficult for him to answer your questions detective.”

  Det. Lewis answered, “We will take our chances doctor. We’ve waited long enough and we have a warrant.”

  My vision was blurry as I opened my eyes. I was struggling to focus on my surroundings. On top of my pounding headache, I took notice that my hand was handcuffed to the bedrail. My door flew opened, and two people walked in along with who I could only assume to be my doctor. The woman was scowling at me, while the other in his cheap suit smirked.

  “Hello, Michael, I’m Dr. Donaldson. I’ll give you an exam, and then I will leave you with these two detectives who are here to speak with you.”

  “My head hurts.”

  “I’m sure it does. You suffered two blows to the back of your head, resulting in a serious concussion. You have twelve stitches in total. Your ribs are not broken, just bruised. They may be tender and should heal in several weeks.”

  “Gee, thanks doc, is that all?” My doctor ignored my comment and left me with the detectives.

  “Enjoy your nap?” the male detective asked me.

  “You’re fucking hilarious, dude,” was all I managed to say, earning yet another dirty look from the woman.

  “I’m Detective Westphall and this is my partner Detective Lewis. We are here to place you under arrest for the sexual assault on one Nicolette Elizabeth Vanelle, and the physical assault on Clayton St. Clair. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Michael St. Clair, do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”

  “Yes,” I replied.

  “With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”

  I remained silent as I understand what was happening.

  “Mr. St. Clair, I will ask you again, with these rights in mind, do you wish to speak with me? We can talk now or down at the station.”

  “I understand and will talk to you now,” I responded. The detectives began questioning me, when they were interrupted by my lawyer.

  “Do not say another word, Michael. My client will not be answering any questions today. I need to see the warrant.” Detective Westphall handed o
ver the warrant and waited while my lawyer perused the document.

  “John, I will cooperate with the cops. I have nothing to hide.”

  “Michael, you don’t understand what you are saying right now.”

  “Yes, I do, John. Once I explain this misunderstanding, all will be cleared up.”

  Detective Lewis began to speak, “Mr. St. Clair, you are being charged with sexual assault, and are being accused of raping Nicolette Vanelle, on the evening of December 12th, 2008.”

  “I didn’t hurt Nicolette. I love her. She is my life. I would never hurt her for anything in the world.”

  “Ms. Vanelle gives a different account on the events that took place that night.” Detective Lewis continued to question me. My answers were the same, telling the detectives I loved her, and would never hurt her. I went as far as saying that it was our first time together. I explained that anytime we argued, she would run away to avoid talking with me.

  The night on the boat was no different. I was taken by surprise and never expected her to hit me.

  “I forgive Nicolette, and we will move on from this unfortunate mishap.

  Detective Lewis put her hands up in shock on how I calmly explained my version on the night in question. “Mr. St. Clair, you call raping a young girl a mishap?”

  “I did not rape Nicolette! We had a fight, and things got out of hand. Now release me from this handcuff.”

  “I’m afraid we can’t do that, Answered Det. Westphall. First thing in the morning, you will be taken into police custody.” They walked out without saying another word to me.

  “Amy, I don’t believe this guy. He actually is going to try to play the mental card. If he thinks that what he did to that girl was consensual, then we have one mixed up individual on our hands. St. Clair is more dangerous and delusional than we thought. Keep security on his door. No one is to be permitted in without approval, from either me or you. I don’t care how many lawyers his rich father has on retainer, no one is to enter this room.”

  I was wide awake and feeling better after another hot shower. This time I didn’t scrub off all my skin. Dr. Jonas was waiting to speak with me, as I came out of the bathroom.

  “Hi, Nicolette, how are you feeling today?”

  How can I even begin to answer her question? I sighed and simply said, “My body is still a bit sore.” Anything else would have been a lie. My heart was broken and my mind was still reeling from what has happened to me.

  “It will take a few weeks before all the tenderness subsides. If you are feeling up for a talk, I wanted to discuss a few things with you if I may?”

  Shrugging my shoulders, “Okay.”

  “As I have explained to you, Nicolette, we took many samples from you on the night you were brought into the hospital. We collected blood, and semen samples from you. Your fingernails had Mr. St. Clair’s D.N.A. under them, along with hair and fibers from him.”

  I sat quietly and listened to Dr. Jonas give me a detailed account of my rape, like it was the most natural topic to discuss.

  “Nicolette, he didn’t wear a condom. You will have to be tested for S.T.D’s along with a pregnancy test. When was your last menstrual cycle?” My mind went blank. I think I said before Thanksgiving, but it was just a blur to me.

  “Nicolette, I have to make you aware that you could be pregnant if you were ovulating at the time of your attack. We will just have to wait until it is the right time to test to be sure. I would like to put you in contact with the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network also known as R.A.I.N.N. You would be able to get some help and support by a professional counselor. Do you know the organization I’m referring to?” she asked.

  I replied, “Yes I do.”

  “Do you have any questions you’d like me to answer?” Fighting back the tears I knew were going to fall if she didn’t leave soon, I just shook my head no.

  “I’ll let you get some rest.” Dr. Jonas, giving me a sympathetic smile as she exited my room. I took the card and the information packets Dr. Jonas handed to me.

  I began to silently cry as I held the brochures in my hand. How did I get here? A few days ago I was blissfully happy, and now I’m in the hospital recovering from being raped.

  I want to scream at the top of my lungs as to why this happened, but I have no voice. Shoving it all away, I try to close my eyes and sleep when I hear raised voices outside of my room. My parents were arguing again, no doubt about me. I put my head phones on and blasted my I pod to drown them out.

  “You did what, Christina?”

  “I had to call Jack. He had a right to know, Mason!”

  “Christina, you can’t even begin to comprehend the catastrophic mistake of what you’ve done by calling my brother. Oh my god! Jack is going to be out of his mind and lose all control.” Just then the look on my mother’s face explained it all. My father could feel his presence slowly approaching him. Turning around my father faced dark brown piercing eyes of Uncle Jack, glaring back at him with anger and coldness.

  Not one word was spoken between the brothers when Uncle Jack, lunged forward at my father pinning him to the wall. My mother cried out to stop him, but her efforts were futile against the brawny man that stood before her.

  “How could you let this happen to my girl? How could you?” His voice was menacing, while still clutching my father’s throat.

  “Jack, get your hands off of him!” My mother screamed at Jack. Security officers were rushing toward them. My mother explained the “misunderstanding” to the security guards, and they were allowed to remain in the hospital. My father fell to the floor gasping for air, as Jack just tightened his fists. Standing back on his feet and supported by my mom at his side, dad just let out some calming breaths. Trying to keep her voice down from the now curious onlookers that were in the hall. Mom tried to reason with Uncle Jack.

  “Jack, I didn’t call and tell you about Nicolette, so you could fly out here to beat the hell out of your brother. What the hell is wrong with you?” My mother asked, and slapped his chest.

  “How did you expect me to be, Christina? You all avoid my calls for days, and then when you finally do call me, I’m told that my beautiful girl has been raped by some animal. How the hell did you think I was going to react? You should know me better than that.”

  “I didn’t think this way, Jack,” My mother answered.

  “If you thought I was going to be anything else, than you don’t know me at all woman. I love that girl more than my own life!” After the hallway brawl, all three left the hospital to speak in private. They had put a large enough show on already, and didn’t want to call any more attention to themselves.

  “Mason, I need to see Nicolette. She needs to know that I’m here.”

  “Jack, after the way you just behaved up in there, you are in no shape to see her. You need to calm down, and let us take care of our daughter.”

  “No Mason, that’s where you’re wrong, Nickel is as much my daughter as she is yours. I have played it your way all these years and today we are going to do it my way. You failed her, but I will not. I never should have agreed to let you take her here to this place. She would have been fine had she stayed with me and Sara. You insisted that she would be okay out here, and you would always protect her.”

  “Jack, she has been protected from the minute, I held her in my arms. What happened to Nicolette, was beyond my control. I had just found out what was going on the night she was raped.”

  “That is bullshit Mason! Where the hell were you? How could you be so oblivious to what was going on in Nicolette’s life? Beyond your control…my ass. You’re her father for god sakes, and yet you did nothing! Why Mason? Explain it to me! Why didn’t you protect our girl? Was it because you were too busy with your career?” Uncle Jack had mocked him.

  “Please Jack, stop this. Blaming Mason, will not change what happened to Nicolette. Please don’t reveal the truth to her. She has been put through hell. I don’t know if she has the strength to take another shock t
o her system. Jack, I am begging you to wait, and give us time to explain it to her.” Jack ran his hands through his hair, and sighed.

  “Christina you have had nothing but time. Eighteen years to be exact, and I will not wait any longer. I will seek justice for Nicolette, my way.”

  “No, Jack. Please don’t go after Michael. How will that help her if you’re in jail?”

  “Don’t worry about me, Christina. I will do whatever it takes to right this wrong for my daughter. You sure as hell can count on that.”

  “That’s your answer for everything, right Jack? Hit first, think later. The police are taking care of Michael, so you need to stay out of it.” My father screamed at his brother. Jack, quietly spoke to my father so my mother couldn’t hear.

  “Remember who you are brother. Papa may have changed our names, but that doesn’t change who we are and where we come from. You, Massimo Anthony Vanelli, remember who you are. Stop hiding and stop running! Remember who you are!”

  Stepping back from his brother, Mason turns to his wife, Christina. “Honey, will you please give me a moment alone with Jack?”

  “Are you sure that is a good idea?”

  “I’m sure. Please go sit with our daughter, and I’ll be along soon.”

  “Come with me, please?”

  “Christina, go to Nicolette, now! You were the one that called him here, and now I have to deal with this.” Already regretting his harsh tone with her; he watched her turn away from him with tears in her eyes.

  “Jack”

  “I don’t want to hear it, Mason. There is nothing you can say to me right now that will change my mind. That fucker has to die!”