Page 36 of Nowhere to Hide

“Of course.” She gave me a soft smile before her face transformed into what I could only call a mama bear as she shot the officer a look. “You have until I come back, Officer Stone, and not a minute more.”

“Understood.”

He waited until Rachel left before coming closer. “Hello Miss Barlow, do you remember me?”

“Are you guarding me? I hope you’re a little better than the last guy.”

His jaw flexed. “No, there’s a new officer on the door. That won’t happen again.” He paused for a moment as if searching for words.

“Did you get the man who did this to me?”

“No, I’m sorry. I was hoping I could get some details of the attack.”

I frowned. “I already told a female detective what happened. I’m sorry, I can’t remember her name.”

Everything felt like I was one layer removed. I closed my eyes and tried to push back the fog. When I opened them again, the officer was sitting next to me.

“There you are.”

“Sorry.” I didn’t realize I’d faded again. “Whatever is in this stuff is seriously potent.” I lifted my arm with the IV.

“You had all of us worried.”

I frowned. “All of us?”

“I was on the docks from the 911 call.”

“Oh. Of course. And...” I knew the name but it was just out of reach. Safety. Safety Locke. “Locke?”

He nodded. “Mr. Jordan found you.”

“I don’t think I knew his full name. He came in to visit me yesterday...well, I guess the day before. It’s all pretty fuzzy.”

“I was wondering if you remembered anything from that night or from when you were attacked here in the hospital.”

“You can’t get that from the detective?”

He shifted his gaze. “I was hoping you remembered more.”

I sighed. “I only remember snatches.” I coughed, my throat still raw. I reached for the cup, and he refilled it before pushing it toward me. I took a few sips. “I was on the rooftop bar at the hotel on the wharf.”

“Were you drinking?”

I licked my lips. “I was. I wasn’t drunk, Officer Stone.”

“There’s no judgment here, Miss Barlow. I’m just looking for facts.”

“Cilla.”

He gave me a gentle smile. “Cilla. What happened next?”

“I was over the bar scene.” I swallowed hard and picked at a pill on my blanket. “If I hadn’t left maybe I wouldn’t be here right now.”

“Or another woman would be dead.”

My eyes flashed to his. “That’s true.” With that sobering thought. I shifted in my bed. “I wanted some quiet and I heard the water lapping at the docks. I suddenly just wanted to get away from all the people.” Being alone in a crowd was much different from actually being by myself.I took a fortifying sip of water.

“Where did you go?”