Linda Warren - The Right Woman

“I’m not sure. I—”

“Listen, Ms. Welch,” Russ interrupted in a scathing tone. “This girl is the only person alive who can tell us anything about the rapist. That sicko is on the loose and we need information and we need it now. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, I understand you, Detective Devers, but if you go barging in there and bombard her with questions, she’ll shut down completely and you won’t get a thing. She won’t talk to her parents and she’s barely talking to me. I need more time.”

“Goddammit.” Russ swung away in anger.

“Calm down, Russ.” Daniel looked at Sarah.

She felt her insides tighten. She’d seen that compassionate gaze before and she didn’t need Daniel’s concern, nor did she want it.

“Sarah, it’s crucial that we speak with her,” Daniel said. “Two girls are dead and she’s the only link the detectives have to the rapist. We need your help here.”

Sarah knew how the cops felt about her and it didn’t bother her. What bothered her was their disregard of the victim’s feelings. What they didn’t realize was that she wanted the creep off the streets as much as they did. They just disagreed on how to go about doing it. In this case, though, she was aware that time was of the essence.

“I’ll see what I can do.” With that, she went back to Brooke.

BROOKE WAS IN THE SAME POSITION, but this time she turned when Sarah entered. Before Sarah could say a word, Brooke said, “They want me to talk, don’t they?”

“Yes, the police are waiting.”

“I can’t,” Brooke cried. “Please don’t make me.”

Sarah resumed her seat and reached through the bed rail for the girl’s trembling hand. “I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

Brooke took a deep breath and Sarah tried to think of a way to reassure her yet convey how imperative it was for her to talk. “Have you read anything about the other rapes in the paper?”

“Yes. He killed them.”

“That’s right, and he will continue with his crimes until he’s caught.”

“You mean, he’ll rape another girl?”

“He’s what’s known as a serial rapist and he won’t stop until he’s put behind bars.”

The silence dragged as Brooke thought about the situation. “They want my help, but I don’t know anything.”

“You might and not realize it.”

“Did you have to tell your story?”

“Yes,” Sarah said. It had taken all the courage she had.

“I—I…” Brooke stopped and started again. “I don’t think I can, but I don’t want this to happen to another girl and…”

“And what?”

“Will you stay with me while I talk to them?”

A sigh of relief escaped Sarah. “Yes, I’ll be right here.”

“Okay,” Brooke said. “I want the police to catch him.”

Sarah patted her hand. “I’ll get them.”

Outside the room, she addressed all three detectives. “She’ll see you, but please take it slow and don’t push her.”

“Ah, Ms. Welch, I wouldn’t think of doing that,” Russ replied with his usual sarcastic wit.

Sarah didn’t respond as they entered the room, but she went to the girl and held her hand. “Brooke, this is Detective Devers and Detective Garrett. I’m sorry—” she glanced at the other cop “—I didn’t catch your name.”

“Joel Sims, ma’am.”

“They’re going to ask you some questions.”

“Okay,” Brooke replied.

Daniel decided to take the lead and stepped in front of Russ. “Can you tell us what happened, Miss Wallace?”

Russ glared at him, but he didn’t care. Russ had no tact, no propriety. After seeing the shattered innocence in the girl’s eyes, Daniel broke the rules for the first time in his career. He knew this wasn’t his case—it was Russ’s job to do the questioning. But the sight of this traumatized girl made him protective, gentle.

Brooke’s hand gripped Sarah’s. “I—I went to this party and there were older college students there doing drugs, drinking and having…and having sex. The party wasn’t like I thought it would be and I was uncomfortable and left. As I was walking to my car someone grabbed me and pulled me in the bushes and…”

Daniel waited a minute, then said, “I know this is difficult, but we need to hear what happened next.”

Sarah squeezed her hand and Brooke continued. “I screamed and he hit me a couple of times and told me to shut up. I kept screaming, but no one heard me because the music was so loud. Then he…” Brooke visibly swallowed. “He ripped my clothes off and something stung my arm then he…he pushed my legs apart…and…he hurt me. He hurt me.” Brooke wept silently and her body trembled.

Silence filled the room.

“It’s okay, Brooke,” Sarah said, comforting her, rubbing her arm. “Can you continue?”

Brooke nodded and brushed away tears. “When…when he was through, I felt something around my neck and it grew tighter and tighter and I couldn’t breathe. I was choking and he was laughing…then someone began talking by the parked cars and he let go and ran off. I tried to scream, but my throat was too sore. I managed to get up and I was dizzy and felt weird. I stumbled over to a couple talking by their car and they called 9-1-1.”

“Did you recognize the man?” Daniel asked.

“No. It was dark and I was scared.”

“Besides telling you to shut up, did he say anything else?”

“He, uh, kept asking how I liked it. Did I like it now? It…it was awful and I was sick to my stomach with revulsion. Please, I can’t talk about it anymore.”

“It’s okay,” Daniel told her. He glanced at Russ and received a cold stare in return. Russ wasn’t pleased with Daniel’s intervention and Daniel didn’t care—sometimes he had to do what he felt was right.

Russ moved to the bed. “Then let’s back up to the party. Was there anyone there you knew?”

“Yes. My friend, Whitney, and I went together, but she left with some guy.”

“Any other people?”

“Yes, several students from the university.”

“Did you speak with them?” Russ was doing his usual—firing questions. The girl seemed to be holding up, though.

“Yes.”

“What about?”

“Mostly about drugs. Everyone was doing them and they wanted me to do them, too, but I told them I didn’t do drugs.”

“Who are they?”

“A guy named Neal, and Brian Colley who gave the party.” Russ and Joel scribbled names on a pad.

“Anyone else?”

“An older guy who brought the drugs, but I don’t know his name. Neal pointed him out to me and said he was going to be offended if I didn’t participate. I refused again and left.”

“Now think, Miss Wallace,” Russ instructed. “You heard the voices at the party. Can you identify any of those voices as the rapist’s?”

Brooke shook her head. “No. I was so scared. I don’t know who he was.”

“Are you sure?” Russ kept pushing.

Brooke nodded.

“Now, Miss Wallace, that’s hard to believe, you spoke to several guys at the party. Surely you can remember something.”

“I can’t.”

“Did you drink anything at the party?”

“A glass of wine.”

“Did you make out with anyone?”

Brooke’s face crumbled. “No.”

“You did nothing but watch. You didn’t participate in—”

“The questions are over,” Sarah broke in. “She’s told you all she knows.”

“Ms. Welch…”

“The questions are over, Detective Devers,” she repeated firmly.

Russ’s eyes narrowed.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Wallace.” Daniel intervened before Russ could do any damage.

“Please catch him.”

“We’ll do our best.”