Page 50 of Guarded By a Monster

Her face went serious, like a switch had been flipped. “While we’re in there, don’t go anywhere without me. We’re just friends, and I’m there to support you, but I’m your security blanket in Thurl’s absence. Don’t let them separate us.”

I nodded. “Got it.”

I couldn’t imagine Detective Chambers or his partner trying to separate us. They’d both been nice to me. Her presence seemed to keep the panic beneath the surface, but as we walked through the front door I felt my muscles tighten.

Luna grabbed my hand. “You got this.”

“Okay.” I focused on breathing as we made our way to the detective’s floor. Chambers was leaning against a nearby metal desk when we stepped off the elevator.

“I’m glad you brought someone with you this time. How are you?”

“About like you’d expect.”

He mock grimaced. “That good, hunh?”

“How is Emma?” I talked to her on the phone, but hadn’t been able to see her since her attack, and I felt awful. She assured me she was fine, but it was still my fault she got hurt.

I tilted my head when a blush spread across his cheeks. “She’s good. I’ve checked in on her a couple times. She’s a strong lady.”

When I wasn’t knee deep in shit, I’d have to ask her why the detective blushed.

He led us into the same spare conference room I’d been before, but this time, there was another man besides Detective Drake. Balding and somewhat round, his face held a world-weary expression but he smiled as we walked in.

“Ms. Massey, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Bradley Laurent, the district attorney here in Tayki county.”

His hand was slightly clammy and I resisted the urge to wipe my palms on my jeans. “Not an assistant, then?”

He shook his head. “This case deserves my attention. Please, have a seat.”

We sat, and for the next hour and a half, I answered questions. Laurent was no nonsense and seemed competent enough. The hope that Vale would be arrested—so thoroughly smashed the day before—started coming back to life. Surely this man wouldn’t just let him walk.

As the interview drew to a close, he sat forward.

“One more thing, Ms. Massey. How is your eyesight without your glasses?”

“Dismal, but I was wearing them that night.”

“And you’re sure you can positively identify the man you saw?”

“Yes. Like I told Detective Chambers, I don’t believe anything is one hundred percent, but that is the man I saw that night.”

“There wasn’t enough light for him to see you.”

“No, but I was next to a dumpster at the end of the alley, and he was at the entrance where the streetlights were.”

“I see.”

He stood and I followed suit. We shook hands. He thanked me for my time, and then he left. To be honest, it was a little anti-climactic. I thought maybe he would tell me they were going to arrest Vale right away on the strength of my witness statement. Maybe that only happened on TV.

I excused myself to go to the bathroom before we left. Luna followed, but stayed outside the door of the small, one-toilet restroom. The actual toilet was enclosed in a partition, with the sink beside it, which seemed weird, but I guess it was so if someone was peeing another person could wash their hands.

As soon as I pushed open the door of the partition a dark shape flew at me, slammed me into the wall and pressed their forearm into my neck. I struggled against their hold, but they were strong and I started seeing stars. I tried to yell, but couldn’t. In a desperate attempt to make any noise at all, I swung my leg to the side and hit the enclosure door, causing it to thwack against the wall.

I slid to the floor when the pressure left my neck. Luna fought with my attacker in my peripheral vision, but it wasn’t long before she knelt in front of me. She turned my head from side to side as I winced.

“I don’t think there’s any serious damage. You’ll have one hell of a bruise, but you’re breathing. How’s your eyesight?”

“Blurry.” At some point, my glasses had been knocked off my face. Luna retrieved them and slid them on.

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