Page 41 of Flame's Fight

“I think I prefer Ms. Wagstaffe.” I tell him.

He frowns and shrugs. “As you wish. Ms. Wagstaffe, I understand you believe Mr. Anthony Younger attempted to kidnap you. Is that correct?”

“He didn’t just try to kidnap me. He succeeded.” I respond coolly.

“Did you see him abduct you?” Billings asks.

I stare at him and then look at Harding, who doesn’t meet my eyes. Narrowing my eyes at Billings, I respond. “I didn’t see his face. He came up behind me and knocked me out using chloroform.”

“How do you know he used chloroform?” Billings asks. “Or did you get that from television?”

I sneer at him. “I’m a nurse. Therefore, I know what chloroform smells and tastes like. I also know its effects.”

“Right.” Billings says, making a note in his notebook. “So you didn’t see Mr. Younger abduct you, but you claim your abductor used chloroform.”

“No. I’m stating outright that Anthony Younger kidnapped me using chloroform.”

“But if you didn’t see him, how do you know it was him?” Billings presses as Harding shifts in his chair. I glance at him, but the other detective is still not looking at me.

“Because I woke up on his boat, locked in one of his cabins.” I reply.

“Mr. Younger claims you asked him to take you out on his boat.” Billings says.

“Well, Mr. Younger is lying.” I reply. “I didn’t even know he had a boat and even if I did, I would never have asked him to take me out on it. I also would not have accepted an invitation.”

“You don’t like boats?” Billings asks.

“No, I don’t like being kidnapped.” I retort. “I liked Angela Westbrook’s yacht. The woman who rescued me?”

At this, Harding looks right at me. “Wait, what?”

“Angela Westbrook fished Ms. Wagstaffe from the water after she jumped into the bay.” Billings says, waving his hand as if to dismiss his partner. “This has nothing to do with her.” He turns back to me. “If he locked you in the cabin, as you claim, then how did you wind up in the water?”

“I found a spare key hidden above the doorframe and used it to open the door.” I state.

“So, in fact, no one locked you in, since you had a key?”

“The door was locked.” I tell him. “Finding the key was serendipitous. I doubt Tony knew it was there.”

“It’s his boat, though.” Billings presses. “You don’t think he knew where the key was?”

I sit back and glare at him. “Why lock the door?”

“Maybe he thought you were in danger?” Billings suggests. “Maybe he saw someone abduct you and he rescued you and took you to his boat?”

I narrow my eyes and take a deep breath. “Are you suggesting that Tony Younger did not kidnap me?” I ask him.

“We’re simply trying to find out what happened.” Billings says, giving me a smug smile. “Your statement of events doesn’t mesh with that of Mr. Younger.”

“Do you honestly think he’s telling you the truth?” I ask, flabbergasted. This is going worse than I expected. “Is this how you usually treat victims, Detective? As if they are the criminals?”

“I’m simply trying to get to the truth.” He replies.

“Then here is the truth. Mr. Younger invited me to his office to review open positions at the hospital. When I arrived, I knocked, but he didn’t answer. A man dressed in black and wearing a black ball cap came through the side door and knocked me out using chloroform. When I woke up, I found myself locked in a cabin on a boat heading out to sea. I found a key and used it to unlock the door. When I saw Mr. Younger steering the boat, wearing the same outfit as the man who had abducted me, I slipped over the edge and swam toward land. An associate of Ms. Westbrook used a dingy to rescue me from the water before taking me aboard Ms. Westbrook’s yacht. That’s my statement. That’s what happened. Now I’m leaving.” I stood up to leave.

“Sit down, Ms. Wagstaffe.” Billings orders. “I’m not done.”

“Well, I am. You can’t hold me. I’m not under arrest. To inform you, I will file a complaint against you.” I look at Harding. “Both of you. I’m the victim here, and I find your attitude and your questions insulting.”

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