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“Let’s sit down. You can tell us everything that happened,” Nan says, walking me over to the loveseat.
Levi comes back with two more cups of coffee and a roll of kitchen paper under his arm. “Would you like one?” he asks me.
“Please.”
He looks at Banner, who nods. “Coffee. Easy on the coffee this time. I couldn’t sleep for a week after the last one you made.”
Levi chuckles. “I didn’t make it. Mark did.”
We all wince, and noticing our expressions, Banner looks at us warily. “What?”
“Never let Mark make you coffee,” I tell him.
“I couldn’t sleep for a month straight after he made me one once,” Granddad chimes in.
“Mine was so thick I couldn’t swallow it,” Nan adds.
“Doesn’t have trouble with other things,” Granddad mutters, looking away when she slaps his chest.
“Oh, you.”
I’m going to be sick.
“Why didn’t either of you say anything?” Banner asks, slightly annoyed.
“I didn’t know he made you one,” I tell him, although I might not have warned him if I had. It’s funny to see how people will react. Lake was so hyper one time, it took medication to calm her down.
“I thought you knew.” Levi shrugs, but I can see he’s lying.
“Fucker,” Banner mutters when Levi leaves for the kitchen.
“Right, tell us what happened and what the police are doing to catch this son of a bitch,” my granddad orders, before looking at Banner with a questioning gaze. “Then after, you can tell me what your intentions are with my grandchild.”
“Only good—”
Granddad holds his hand up, stopping Banner before he can finish. “After.”
When he looks at me, I shrink back into my cushions, smiling my thanks when Banner tucks the blanket over me.
I explain everything that happened leading up to the attack, and my plan. I don’t go much into the attack, already telling the police what happened enough times already. Instead, I tell them of my injuries, and some of the things he said to me when he had me.
“Have the police got no leads?” Granddad asks, looking worried.
Banner is the one to answer. “They are looking into it, but so far, they can’t find him. They’ve got ads on Facebook, the papers and everything, since he has ties to Wales and Scotland. They want to make sure it’s spread over that area in case he decides to escape there. Hopefully, if anyone recognises him, they’ll call the helpline.”
“And he’s done this to other girls?” Nan asks, her shaking hand above her heart.
I nod sadly. “Yeah. Once it got out about me, more students, present and past, stepped forward, telling the police their stories. Most of the girls either left or dropped his class before it got as far as it did. So far, no one has come forward that he sexually assaulted them.”
“What on earth were the university thinking? Surely one of those girls reported him.”
I can hear Banner’s teeth grind together. “Two girls did, but because of the funding his family donated to the university, they swept it under the rug, saying there wasn’t enough evidence and it was their word against his.”
“He needs to be shot,” Granddad growls.
I’m still getting used to this side of him. He’s usually really laid back.
“I’ve written a letter to the university board panel, wanting answers myself. I’ve also told them I want your tuition money refunded, that you weren’t paying to be assaulted or sexually harassed.”