Page 72

The officer asked Tyler to step into the hallway. This time, I was able to hold the panic at bay, knowing Tyler was within hearing distance. Moments later they returned, along with another man dressed in a suit with a badge at his hip. “Miss Mitchell, this is Detective Mike Bentley. He’ll be the one asking you some questions.”

Tyler resumed his position next to me while the detective pulled a chair alongside my bed. “Miss Mitchell, I’m aware you just survived a very traumatic event, so I’ll try to keep this as short as possible. I just need you to tell me in your own words exactly what you remember.”

I recounted everything as I remembered it. I stumbled when I got to the part where he pulled the knife and threatened to cut me. Tyler stared out the window most of the time it took me to tell my story. His jaw was set and his shoulders were stiff, but he gently rubbed my hand with his thumb the entire time. At certain details his hand tightened on mine, but he remained quiet. I looked at Tyler. “He said he was going to mark me so you’d never want me again. He even made a joke out of using his name.”

Tyler’s eyes were shimmering when he looked back at me. “That would never happen, baby.”

“I was so scared,” I faltered. “I thought I’d never see you again. I thought I’d never have the chance to tell you how much I love you, and I was afraid you’d walk in the room and find me, just like you did your mom, and I was so worried about you, and, and . . .” My words were coming in between sobs and gasps for air. “I kept hearing your voice, telling me I was strong. I saw our starfish, and I was reaching for it to give me the strength to live through . . . well, whatever Mark was going to do. It was like a miracle, Tyler. God must have been listening because my hand landed on the corkscrew I had just pulled out to open the wine for our dinner instead of the starfish. He was too caught up in trying to pull our clothes off that I had just enough room to turn around, and I shoved it as hard as I could wherever it landed. His eyes looked so horrified. And then he fell. I remember how heavy he suddenly felt on me. I remember us both falling, but that’s all. The next thing I remember is waking up here.”

He smoothed the hair back from my face. “Shh, sweetheart. You did great. You did what you needed to do to save yourself. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there sooner. I wish I could have saved you from all of this.”

I shook my head “No, Tyler. You couldn’t have known.” She looked at the officers. “But that reminds me. Mark mentioned creating a diversion for Tyler so that he wouldn’t come home on time.”

I was startled when Tyler leaped to his feet with a harshly spoken expletive.

Detective Bentley looked up. “Did something happen to you today, Dr. Cranston?”

Tyler rubbed a hand over his tired features. He explained about his car. “I thought it was just some form of revenge on me. Now I know it was designed to keep me from going to Jen’s apartment too early. That bitch better not ever come near me again. You’re going to arrest her, right?” Tyler was almost snarling as he paced the small room. He turned and knelt beside me next to the bed. “God, baby, I’m so sorry. I should have known something was up.”

I cupped his face in my hands. “You couldn’t have known. He was very sneaky.”

“Miss Mitchell, have you had any contact with Mark Sloan recently?” Detective Bentley asked.

I shook my head vehemently. “Not since I last saw him over a year ago. I’ve tried to keep a very low profile so he couldn’t find me.”

“Are you on any social media outlets?”

I shook my head.

“Any large events you’ve attended recently? Maybe something in which you might have been photographed?”

Tyler and I immediately looked at each other. The wedding.

Detective Bentley nodded after we explained. “Mr. Sloan might have been tracking other people who know you, and it was easy to trace you to his area and eventually find where you live or work.”

Detective Bentley put his notes away after marking down Natalie’s information. “We’ll certainly be questioning Mrs. Cranston. She might be able to fill in some of the blanks, as well as questioning her role in this.” He stood up. “Miss Mitchell, I’m sorry for all you went through, and it might not feel like it, but you are a lucky woman tonight. As far as I’m concerned, this is an obvious case of self-defense, but the DA might take an interest in this case. You may know that he is running for re-election and is going to want to make sure no stone has been left unturned. You may want to consider legal representation just to cover yourself, especially now that . . .”

I didn’t miss Tyler shaking his head at him.

“What?” I asked. “What are you keeping from me?” Tyler sat down at the foot of the bed and took my hands in his. “Jen, I just found out in the hallway that Mark didn’t make it through the surgery. He’s dead.”

“Oh.” My first feeling was one of relief. Then panic set in. “Oh, God, that means I killed him!” I started to shake. I hated him, but killing him? I felt sick.

“No!” Tyler spoke urgently and squeezed my hands. “No, baby. You defended yourself, or he would have raped and probably killed you. It was self-defense. You did what you had to do.” His blunt words sunk in. Logically, I knew he was right, but it didn’t stop the shivering.

“He’s right, Miss Mitchell, especially since he had a weapon, you were in a lot of danger. You were very brave. You probably don’t need a lawyer, it’s just a precaution.”

“She already has one,” a voice boomed from the doorway.