Page 64 of Justice for Samara

“Did you find out anything?”

“I went to talk to one of the victims. KandySykes out on Pine Cone Trail. She was very tight-lipped, said she couldn’t remember much, never really saw his face. And then I took out the pic.”

“And?”

“The look on her face totally gave her away. She knows it was him, but she’s not going to talk. Still, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I’m on the right track.”

“You definitely are. Going to another one?”

“In just a few minutes. Almost there now. Where are you next?”

“I’m going back to the office. I left Chadha there alone, so I think I probably should be there.”

“Probably. Okay, I’m gonna get going. Let me know if you know anything else.”

“Will do. Love you, babe.”

“Love you too. Bye.”

Michael hit the END button on the steering wheel and thought about her smile and those beautiful, dark eyes. He’d much rather be sitting beside her right that minute, but he had a job to do, and so did she.

But he’d be glad when that particular case was over.

* * *

“Hi.I’m DetectiveFutrell. We spoke on the phone?”

The young woman seemed to fold in on herself. “Yes, ma’am, but I don’t know what to tell you.”

“Could I come in for just a few minutes? I promise I won’t take up much of your time. I just want to go over your statement and see if everything is correct. That’s all.”

“Sure. I guess. Come on in.” She held the door open and Samara walked into a house that looked like it was trapped in the nineteen sixties. Worn floral linoleum covered the floors, and the avocado green and harvest gold plaid sofa had seen better days.

The girl motioned for her to sit in a chair adjacent to the sofa, so she took a seat and pulled the folder from her bag. Then she took out a sheet of paper. “Your name is DiedraBradley, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And the assault took place here on Crooked Creek Drive?”

“Yes, ma’am. I was coming in from work and he came up behind me. I never saw his face.”

“Says here that it was eleven fifteen at night.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“So what do you remember?”

“I remember him slapping me around and holding me down. I remember that it hurt, and I screamed but nobody could hear me. I remember when he finished, he told me if I ever told anybody, he’d kill me.”

“And your mother was the one who reported the assault, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Could I talk to her?”

“She passed last year.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry for your loss.”