Page 17 of Echoes in the Night

“Cute concept. So did you finish the designs?”

“I—I don’t remember. I started feeling queasy.”

My head is suddenly throbbing. Warm hands cup my shoulders.

“It’s okay, babe. I’ve got you. You’re safe with me. Put the pencil down and look at me.”

He kisses my forehead, then my eyes. “I want to kiss you so much. I want you to know that I will always protect you. That you are safe with me.”

“Jax, I really want you to kiss me, too. Please.”

He’s gentle, not tentative, just gentle. His lips are warm and full against mine. I expected the brush of his mustache to becoarse, but it’s soft. The way his palm cups the side of my face is soothing.

“You are so beautiful, Maura. So strong and brave and smart. I shouldn’t do this but I need to taste you again.” His lips find mine.

Then he holds me against his chest. His heart thunders under my palm. When the beat finally slows, he leans back and brushes a thumb over my cheek. “I need you to do something for me. It’s going to be hard, but I need you to look at the sketch you made. Tell me if that’s the man who hurt you.”

Some might say Jax tricked me. But I know he gave me the strength I lacked to confront my enemy. I study the sketch book. “He’s blonde and lanky. His strength surprised me. He doesn’t have muscles like you. His eyes are dark, almost black. Emotionless.

“His voice was… mesmerizing, hypnotic in the beginning. I couldn’t turn it off. He sat down across from me and handed me two tangerines and told me to eat them. I just did it even though they didn’t taste good.”

“I think he drugged your coffee which would have made you more susceptible. The fruit was probably tainted as well. What else do you remember?”

“He shoved everything into my backpack and led me out through the opposite end of the alley. We walked across the park where there was a family restroom, I think his car was parked behind it. I tried to fight him and grabbed his beanie off, that’s how I know he’s blonde. He shoved me against the wall, and I hit my head. I was already groggy. He was furious.”

“Did he touch you? Hit you?” Jax’s snarl rumbles in his chest.

“No, he said mean things but didn’t touch me.”

“What did he say?”

“I… he told me I was fat and ugly. No wonder I couldn’t catch a husband. Then he took me to a car and strapped me in the front seat.”

“Do you know what kind of car? Did you see the plates?”

“I’m sorry Jax. I—I didn’t.” I can’t hold the tears back any longer.

“Shush, babe, don’t cry. Don’t cry. I got you. It’s okay. I’m here.” He stands with me in his arms and carries me to his chair. I straddle his hips, and he holds me against his chest as the tears stream down my cheeks and onto his shirt. A long time later I realize he’s rocking me from side to side, crooning, and rubbing my back.

“I need a hanky.”

He pulls one from his pocket and hands it to me. When I’m done, he kisses my forehead.

“Can you finish?”

“I think so.”

He restarts the recording.

“Can you describe the vehicle?”

“Big like a truck but more of an SUV. Black and so were the windows. It was parked near the restroom. I don’t know how long he drove. I started getting sick and he rolled a window down. He was furious that I was throwing up. I didn’t realize we were on a mountain until he forced me to get out and walk. He used some kind of whip or branch to smack my legs to keep me moving. I don’t remember much except trudging forward and being cold. I’d worn a dress to the coffee shop because the email said the photographer would want nice pictures of me.

“The throwing up must have helped because I wasn’t as groggy when we stopped. He pushed me to the ground. I tried to crawl away. He laughed. He pulled out an ugly looking knife. I thought he was going to stab me, but instead he forced me to take off my dress then tied me to the tree and walked away.”

“Do you remember anything else?”

“At the coffee shop, he had a very expensive camera hanging around his neck. Not one that you see often around here. I think he may have followed me to the restaurant the night before. I’m pretty sure I saw the same camera hanging off a coat hook on the side of a booth. It’s a Canon EOS 400. I know because I’d love to have one but they’re out of my price range.”

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