Page 13 of Savior
“Yes.” It’s just like recalling it from a dream. “I didn’t drive and wanted to walk, thought the air would help clear my head. When I got home, I thought I heard something in the alley beside the house.” I look up at him and blink back tears. “I was scared. I thought it could have been the same person who attacked Carly, which is stupid, right? Anyway, I went up the steps and started to unlock the door when he—he came up behind me and put his hand over my mouth. He told me not to scream.”
“Did you get a look at him? Recognize anything?”
I shake my head. “No. He pushed me inside before I knew what was happening.”
Manning nods and gives me an encouraging smile, which bolsters me for the next part.
“He pushed me into P-Paige’s room,” I manage before my voice breaks.
My mother chokes on a sob somewhere across the room, and I squeeze my eyes closed to rein in my wildly fraying emotions.
“It was dark. There was a little light coming in, but I couldn’t see much. Then he pushed me down on the bed and picked up Paige’s bat she kept from high school.”
“Could you tell how tall he was? Short?” Manning prompts.
I force myself to remember the feeling, his arms around me and the scrape of his beard on my neck. His chest against my back. A shudder of revulsion rolls down my spine.
“Taller,” I croak out. “I’m five eight so he would be about six feet tall, I think. Muscular. Strong enough to lift me easily. Pin me down.”
“Did he say anything? Did you recognize his voice?”
“He told me not to scream, but no, I didn’t get a good look at him. It was too dark and everything went so fast. I’m sorry.”
“You’re doing just fine. Do you think you would be able to recognize his voice if you heard it again?”
I press my lips together and shake my head.
“That’s okay. Was there anything else about the attack that you can remember?”
I forced myself to remember, to track through the nightmare for any detail that could help. “He had facial hair of some kind. And during the struggle I knocked him out with a bookend. He was only out for a few seconds, though. I also managed to slam his fingers in the door. So he’d definitely be injured today, and I think he had dark hair. His cologne was pine-scented, I think, but I can’t tell you the brand. It wasn’t familiar”
“Can you tell me more about your boyfriend, Gavin Lance?” Manning asks.
My brows furrow. “Ex. We broke up around the time Carly was . . . around the time Carly was found.”
“You said you saw him at the club? Did you argue?”
“We talked, like I said. He wanted to get back together, but I blew him off.”
“Was he upset?”
I glance between him and my parents and sit up a little straighter. “What’s going on?”
“Honey, just answer the question,” my mom says.
“He seemed a little angry when I wouldn’t stay and talk with him, but he couldn’t,” I brush a hand through my hair, “he couldn’t have done anything like this.”
“We’re just covering all bases,” Manning reassures me. “Did you change your mind? Make plans to meet at your house later?”
I shake my head. “No, not at all.”
“Do you know what he was doing at your house last night?”
My hand goes to my forehead to rub at the dull ache growing just behind my eyes. “No, I—I have no idea. He probably came by to try and make up with me.” My voice is small and choked with tears. “He’s not hurt is he?”
Manning shares a look with my parents.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I demand.