Page 37 of Fatal Witness

“And you need to see a doctor,” Alex said as a siren sounded in the distance. “That should be Hayes now.”

Soon a police cruiser turned into the drive, and they waited as two deputies climbed out. While they jogged toward them, Alex turned to Dani. “We need to sit down and go over this in more detail, but that can wait until we get back to Pearl Springs.”

“Good. Do you think I could visit Mae tonight? Or would it be better to wait until tomorrow?”

“They may let you in—we’ll have to check.” Alex glanced toward the woods. “Before we leave, would you show me approximately where the assailant attacked him?”

“What’s wrong with me showing you?” Mark asked.

“You’re going to get checked out—now,” she said as they reached them.

Hayes took one look at Mark and said, “You don’t look too good.”

“I’m fine.” He rose from his sitting position on the porch, but when he staggered, defeat slumped his shoulders.

“Okay.” He sank back down on the porch. “Gem’s in my SUV that’s parked down the hill. We need to stop and get her so we can drop her off at my house—they won’t let her come in with me at the hospital.”

“I’ll take care of Gem,” Jenna said. “And your vehicle.”

Alex introduced the two deputies to Dani, then she turned to Mark. “I’ll check on you at the hospital as soon as we finish here.”

A few minutes later, Hayes helped Mark to the police cruiser. “Men,” Alex said, pocketing a roll of crime scene tape she’d gotten out of her SUV. “You’d think I’d asked him to take a few days off.”

“I think his pride is wounded more than anything else,” Dani said.

“You’re probably right. Are you up to showing me where he was attacked?”

“Sure. Come, Lizi.” The dog came immediately to Dani’s side, and she led Alex to the area where the attack had taken place. “The man was standing over here when Lizi attacked him.”

Alex tied a yellow tape to a branch. “Did Lizi bite him?”

“I don’t know. Possibly. I called her off because at the time I didn’t know if she’d gotten hold of Mark or the assailant.”

“Can you describe him?”

“Like I told Mark, I didn’t see much. He wore a ski mask—the kind that covers the whole face except for the eyes, nose, and mouth—but I can sketch what I saw.” When Alex gave her a puzzled look, Dani said, “I’m an artist, among other things.”

“I’d appreciate that.” Then the deputy turned in a slow circle,shining the light around the area. She tied the yellow tape to several of the trees before she pocketed her phone. “I guess that’s all we can do tonight. I’ll come back in the morning with my crime scene investigators, but thanks for showing me.”

“No problem.” She followed Alex back to the car with Lizi on her heels. After she crated the dog, Dani turned to Alex. “Can we follow you out? I don’t want to get lost again.”

“Sure.” Alex tilted her head. “I know Mark told you the facial recognition company suggested a DNA test. I have one in the SUV, if you want to do that.”

Dani thought a minute, then nodded. “It would answer the question once and for all.”

“I think it’s a good idea. Mainly because I just read an article about these two boys who look like twins and even have the same birthday, but they’d never met. They wondered if their parents had given one of them up for adoption and just wouldn’t admit it. DNA proved they were not even remotely connected.”

“That seals the deal—I don’t want there to be any question in my mind or anyone else’s.”

“Won’t take a minute.” Alex opened the passenger door to her SUV and took a small box from the glove compartment. After rubbing the inside of Dani’s cheek, Alex secured the cotton swab in a paper container. “I’ll get this off tomorrow.”

“How long...”

“Usually a week.”

Dani sighed. She’d hoped it would be sooner.

“I know I said something about you going to the hospital to see Mae, but you look beat, and it’s late. Why don’t you plan on waiting until morning?”

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