Page 81 of Savage Obsession

Lily regards him anxiously but manages a small nod. “I don’t know how much I can remember. We were locked in a room…”

“Did you see the farmhouse from the outside, when you arrived?”

She hesitates, then, “Yes. Just for a moment.”

“How big was it?”

“Not big.”

“How many windows were there? Just close your eyes and try to imagine.”

She does as he asks, then, “Two. There were two windows, but one was boarded up. That was the bedroom where they kept us. And a door.”

“That’s good. You’re doing so well. Now, was there an upstairs?”

She shakes her head. “No, no, there wasn’t.”

“Any other buildings? A barn, maybe?”

“No, I don’t think so. I never saw…” Her eyes fill with tears again. “I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s fine.” Kris straightens. “So, a single-storey, two-roomed cottage.”

“The walls outside were wood, and painted white,” Lily blurts. “And there was a tree at the side.”

“Thanks, that’s good. Really good. Now, can you tell us anything about the vehicle they used?”

“It was a van. A white van,” she sniffles.

“Was there anything written on the side?”

“Yes, but it was in Spanish. I couldn’t read it. The words were in red, though.”

“What about the vehicle they used to take you home? Was that the van or something else?”

“It was a car, a black one.”

“Make? Model?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know.”

“Okay, but think back to when they brought you back outside, to get in the car. Was the van still there?”

Her brow furrows in concentration. “I’m not sure. I wasn’t taking any notice. I didn’t want to leave my mom…”

Kris keeps his tone low, and gentle. He’s really very good at this. “I get that, sweetheart, but could you try to think back? It’s important.”

She closes her eyes and is silent for a few moments, then, “Yes, it was there. It had been moved, though. It wasn’t in front anymore. It was around the side, between the tree and the house. I just saw the back of it.”

“Excellent. Thank you, Lily.” He straightens and strides over to where Henio is beavering away with his buttons and levers. He leans over him, providing the more detailed description of the property that might narrow down the search.

I crouch in front of Lily, reluctant to apply more pressure, but there’s more information we need. “Can you remember how long it took to get to the farmhouse?”

She shakes her head. “I was too frightened to even notice. We were tied up and trying to keep our balance. Every time the van turned a corner, we fell about. Mom banged her head…”

Right, the black eye… “There were a lot of corners, then?”

She nods. “But, when they took me home, it was different. I was blindfolded, but it didn’t seem to take long. Just a few minutes…”

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