Mel already had a seat in the coffee shop; I was talking to her on speaker phone when I parked. We were early, well ahead of Cory arriving, so be sure we had choice of good seats for our arranged plan. I got a bagel and large latte and selected a table near the front, across the shop in full view of Mel. She was disguised, wearing a brunette wig, dark sunglasses and a floppy hat, pretending to be working on a laptop.
Cory arrived, I waved, he looked puzzled, so I approached him.
"I'm Detective Teresa Jones." I extend my hand.
"Oh, hi, I guess I'm old school, I stereotyped, sorry I was expecting a man, OOPS." He giggles. As I turn and return to my chair. Cory is very handsome, dirty blonde hair, blue eyes, his short shirt sleeves are tight around his large biceps, he appears to be weightlifter, surfer type fellow.
Cory got a coffee and apple fritter, sitting across from me, a side view to Mel, who I could see was recording with her cell. I got my mini recorder from my purse and set it on the table.
"Cory, first off thanks for meeting. I don't think there are any issues with the case, this will basically be cautionary, often times a second interview might reveal some small detail." I turn on the recorder smile and speak.
"Please, from the beginning, tell me what happened that day."
"Ok, uh, I was scheduled to work afternoon shift, I wasn't feeling well and booked off sick. I was in bed sleeping, I was awakened by loud, frantic banging on my door, checking through the peephole, I saw a gal I recognized from the building, I didn't know her, but she seemed quite distressed, frenzied.
I opened the door, she rushed past me, 'You're a cop right' she was definitely in a panic, 'help me; he's trying to kill me.'
Not only was she distraught, but she's soaked with wine.
"Whoa easy, calm down, I tell her. Yes, I'm an officer, please sit, are you hurt?"
'He hit me with a bottle of wine and when he turned and grabbed a knife; that's when I ran.'
She was emotional, I dialed 911 and reported a domestic violence at our address. I then asked her, 'where did he hit you?'
'He broke the bottle over my head. Here, she touched the top back of her head. I looked she was cut, bleeding, but not profusely. I suggested she needed to be professionally examined, but not likely requiring stitches. I told her I'd take her to E.R.
She requested to shower first, being sticky and stinky. So, I took several pics and a video first, just to confirm her state.'
When she's in the shower, I call the precinct and tell them she's with me and I'm taking her to Mercy hospital.
As I hang up from the call and head for the bedroom to change. Someone enters my apartment, first thought it's her attacker found her. I turn; it's my girlfriend Mel, with a stunned look on her face. At that exact moment, the victim comes out of the bathroom towel drying her hair, in my sweatshirt I lent her.
'Oh, Cory thank you, that was terrific, I really needed that.'
Mel screamed at me, threw her key and stormed out. I called out, tried stopping her, but she ran, before I could explain. I was in boxers, had a victim I needed to take to the hospital." He finished his fritter.
I asked, "So you took her to the hospital, curious did you later explain the situation to Mel?"
"I've tried so many times to contact Mel, even used a buddy's phone; she's ghosted me." Cory was visibly distressed, fighting tears. "I need to explain to her what happened. She's the love of my life. I was stunned at the coincidence." He sniffled, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "Sorry, that has nothing to do with the case."
I felt his pain. "It's ok. Uh, I'd like to give you a hug, may I."
"Yes, I could use one, it's been a rough few days without Mel, such a terrible misunderstanding; my heart hurts, I know she was the one; I may have lost the love of my life; over the timing of an innocent misunderstanding."
We hug and I turn off the recorder.
"Cory, did Mel recently become a new detective?"
"Yes, she just transferred, that's another part of the problem, I don't know where she was transferred to, I'm searching for her."
"Cory, I know her, I think I can help you; I suggest you write a letter to Mel, explain what happened, the misunderstanding, and how you really feel about her. Buy a bouquet of flowers, attach the letter and send it to my detective department and I'll make sure she gets it."
We hug again and I assure him all will be fine. We exit together.
A few minutes after Cory leaves Mel comes to my Jeep.
"Teresa that was great, thank-you, you even got a hug; I have proof, he's such a cheating jerk."
"No Mel, you've got it all wrong, meet me at the station, we've got to hurry to prep for stakeout, but I've got a lot to share."
We leave the station in an old Ford from the compound, once parked, settled in on the stakeout, I speak.
"Mel, being a detective, your intentions should be to gather all pertinent information and evidence, then make an intelligent decision based on facts. You were emotional, and stormed out of Cory's apartment, before you listened to his side; you didn't get all the facts; he's attempted to explain, you've ghosted him?"