Page 11 of Make You Mine

He also didn’t ask why I was there. Why was I walking home from my bakery that night?

My answer to his inquiry was a resoundingnobecause I remember every last detail.

This isn’t my first rodeo with this investigation, and after going through the events of that night multiple times, I’m not the slightest bit desensitized. There’s no forgetting. No way to bleach his stomach-turning smirk from my memory.

My recap of the events before, leading to, and after haven’t changed, either.

Not when the detectives asked for my initial recollection and then my formal statement. Not when I picked Jason Ripley’s picture out of a lineup of twenty, and after the administratorwrapped up the procedure, I spoke to the head investigator again.

Over and over, and not once has my account of the night changed.

“We’ve gone through the night of the attempted murder and then his persistence in asking you out.” The DA picked up his water bottle and took a deep sip before placing it back beside a chain-store coffee cup. “But we haven’t discussed your earlier ties to the accused.”

My brows furrowed, and I shook my head. “I have no ties to him.”

“You went to school together, Miss Perry. Do you not remember?—”

“What do you mean wewent to school together?” It comes out a bit shrill, and I slip my hands to my lap, clenching my fingers tight. Breathe in deep to try and calm my racing heart. “No. That can’t be right. I’d remember if?—”

“From our investigation, we uncovered he attended the same high school as you. Jason was a senior during your freshman year at Twin Rivers High.”

“B-But I don’t remember him at all.”He has to be wrong. Has to be.

“Noted.” His eyes shift away from the screen for a second before flicking back. “How about the name Anthony Salcedo?”

“My old neighbor?” The DA nods, and the defense writes something down, but neither says another word while I swallow hard. I remember him. The guy one of my closest friends had a huge crush on.What happened that year... “He was on the baseball and soccer teams…always nice to everyone. Huge manga fan, too.”

“How do you know that?” This time, it’s the defense lawyer who chimes in.

“Because he spent hours at the same comic book shop one of my friends worked at.” It wasn’t my scene, and I never really visited the place, but Rose never stopped gushing about him. “She was sweet on him, but he never really noticed her. Not the way she wanted, anyway. Anthony was busy spending his time between sports and hanging out with two other guys from our school, but I never paid too much attention to them.”

“Why not?” the DA asks.

I shrug. “Didn’t want her to think I was attracted to him. It’s girl code.”

Both men let out a low chuckle at that, but it’s the prosecution that responds. “Understood. I’ve got twin daughters in college now, and I’ve heard it all. To be honest, they scare me a little bit.”

If he was trying to make me laugh, he failed, but it did pull a small smile from me. “We can be ruthless…”

“I plead the fifth here.”

“Smart man.” This segue from the truth smacking me in the face calms me a little bit. Enough that I’m able to exhale slowly, and the constricting feeling in my chest eases a bit with each breath that follows. “But to answer your earlier question, I don’t remember him. Not the other guy, either. They mostly kept to themselves. Didn’t hang out with others—no clubs or school activities. Anthony was the only trio member who stood out. Popular and nice, most of the girls in our school liked him, especially after he took the baseball team to state, and they won.”

“Would you happen to have a yearbook still? Or access to one?”

Before I can respond to the district attorney, Silvia, taps her watch. “We need to call it. Miss Perry and I deserve some food and fresh air.”

“Agreed. But I’m going to request we end her deposition here.” The defense sits forward and meets my stare through the screen. “Miss Perry, thank you for your time.”

“You’re welcome.” What else can I say? Can’t tell the man simply doing his job to go fuck himself for defending a despicable animal because no human being would torture and kill innocent women for pleasure.

“Good day.” He exits the cyber meeting, and Silvia holds up a finger, making sure he’s disconnected and the log-in passcode changed. It’s not the first time I’ve seen her do this. She’s been in charge of everything—from recording the deposition via an old-school tape recorder, to documenting every word in that short-hand typing they do. There’s also her kindness toward me—going out of her way to make me as comfortable as possible.

“We need to wrap this up, Devin. I’m hungry.” There’s a coyness in her eyes, and he smirks for a second before shaking his head.

“Forgive my wife. It’s our anniversary, and she wants to duck out early.”

Wait.” My eyes volley between the two, and they couldn’t be more different. She’s vibrant to his subdued. Sassy to his serious. “How is that possible? Should you be working on the same case? Will I get you in trouble?”

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