Page 62 of What She Saw

She glanced at the shirt. Confusion cleared. “I found it in the woods.”

“You found it?”

“I didn’t steal it,” Amy insisted.

“Where in the woods?”

“On a tree branch.”

“Did you see the woman who was wearing it?”

“No. It was just there.”

“Can you let me go?” the boyfriend demanded.

In the military police force, Taggart had seen his share of domestic abuse in the base housing. Those cases left a sour taste in his mouth. A home was supposed to be a safe place.

Taggart straightened and turned to the man handcuffed to the tree. “What’s your name?”

The man rattled the cuffs. “Let me go.”

Taggart shook his head. “You’re in my world now. You answer my questions.”

“Let me go!”

Paxton reached in his pockets. “I can’t find the key.”

Taggart shrugged. “Looks like you’re stuck, pal. Now give me your name.”

The man rattled the cuffs, scraping the metal against the wet bark. “Billy Walton.”

“You have identification?”

“In the tent somewhere or maybe my car.”

“Where’s your car?”

“Parked on the hill, I think.”

“Who is the woman in the tent?” Taggart was exhausted and holding on to his patience was a struggle.

“Amy Wheeler.” Billy rubbed the cuffs against the bark as if they’d somehow break. “She’s my girlfriend. She got drunk, and some guy tried to take advantage. I saved her. I didn’t hurt her.”

Taggart had heard a hundred versions of this story before. “Who tried to take her?”

“I don’t know. Some guy who was creeping around in the woods. I heard her scream, and I went running. I found her like this.”

“And the torn T-shirt?”

“I don’t know.”

Taggart sensed he was lying, and until Amy could tell him more about the mystery man, Billy would wait it out in jail. “Paxton, uncuff him from the tree, but secure his hands behind his back.”

“What the fuck!” Billy shouted.

“I’m arresting you for assault,” Taggart said.

“I didn’t hurt her. I told you I saved her.”