Page 11 of Spice's Halloween

“Spice!” I cried, and tears leaked down my face.

“Sweetheart, I’m here. Shhh now, nobody’s going to hurt you again,” Spice soothed as I heard his boots clump across the floor.

“Julie told me you were arrested,” I sobbed.

“Yeah, I was, because I found you. But there’s camera footage showing my arrival and your attacker running away. Shit, Lindy, if only I’d driven by earlier,” Spice said, and his voice was full of guilt.

“Not your fault,” I muttered as tears ran down my face. A gentle finger wiped them from my cheek.

“Baby, I’ll find him,” Spice promised.

“Spice, he wore a Halloween mask. I recognised it from that horror movie with the chainsaw,” I informed him.

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? Leatherface?”

“Yes.”

“You need to tell the police,” Julie insisted, and I realised I’d forgotten she was there.

“What? After they already arrested the wrong man?” I snapped and winced. My lips hurt.

“Well, I’m sure they had good reason,” Julie said primly.

“Yeah, I wear a cut, and that’s a crime,” Spice retorted.

“Go away. I don’t need judgemental bitches around,” I added.

“How rude!” Julie exclaimed, but she left.

“Don’t like people like her,” I muttered.

“Jesus, Lindy, do you have any idea who did this?” Spice asked. He was holding my hand, and his thumb was stroking me.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Tell me, baby girl, I’ll take care of him,” Spice murmured.

Did I trust Spice or the cops? The question was a hard one. I’d been a law-abiding citizen all my life.

“Spice, what happened with the police?” I asked.

“Are you sure you want to know?”

“Yes.”

Intently, I listened as Spice explained what had happened when the cops had arrived. I was appalled that they’d deleted the footage but glad Bart had copied it. As Spice ended, a knock sounded, and my door opened.

“What are you doing here?” a man demanded.

“What do you think?” Spice snapped.

“Intimidating the victim?” the guy accused.

Spice laughed. “Sweetheart, are you frightened of me?”

“Me?” I asked, startled. “Hell no.”

“Does that answer you, Ventor?” Spice inquired.

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