Page 16 of Break Away
Zoey drew up her feet to tuck beneath her.“What are your questions, Levi?”
“Not so many questions, but more of anexercise. I’d like to take you through a process that might helpyou remember some details from the time you were hit. Thatokay?”
“Brad and Jack both questioned me. I alreadytold them everything I remember.”
“And now I’m doing the investigation. I wantto try this my way and see if it shakes something loose. Humor me.Close your eyes, bring up a mental image of what you were seeingand hearing before the car hit you.”
She closed her eyes. Her long, dark lashesfanning her cheeks.
He forced himself to ignore the pull ofattraction. “Once you’re there in your head, visualizing the scene,pay attention to impressions—images, sounds, smells—they’re allimportant if they give us a clue.”
She’d opened her eyes as he’d spoken. “Tryit. Close your eyes and concentrate. Think about getting out ofyour car, walking toward the intersection.”
“Fine.” This time, she tipped her head backagainst the cushion as she closed her eyes. “If I fall asleep, giveme a nudge to wake me, okay?”
Her tone said she was doing as he’d asked toplacate him. He shook his head. “Put yourself there that evening.You were going to a yoga class?”
“Yep.”
“What were you wearing?”
“Stretchy exercise pants, t-shirt,sweatshirt, Uggs.”
“Were you carrying anything?”
“I was carrying my yoga mat in my big hobobag. Everything in my bag went flying across the intersection whenthe car hit me.” She opened her eyes to look at him. “It knocked myshoes off.”
He’d seen the police photos. Zoey, sitting ona gurney, scraped and bruised. The dazed look on her face, herthings strewn across the pavement. Anger twisted in his gut. Thememories couldn’t be fun for her, either. “Eyes closed.”
He caught the eye roll before she closedthem, and held back his chuckle.
“Where had you parked?”
“In the parking lot behind your sister’scafé. It’s not open in the evening, and Maddy doesn’t mind.”
“Visualize the scene. Was there anyone on thesidewalk, coming in or out of any of the shops? Were there othercars in the café parking lot or on the street that yourecognized?”
Her brows dipped and he was relieved she wastrying.
“No, I don’t recall seeing anyone, and Idon’t remember anything in particular about cars in the area.”
“What about the shops near the intersection?Did any have their lights on like they were still open?”
“No. That late in the evening and before thesummer season, most close early.”
He pushed back against the frustration.“Okay, think about when you were crossing the street. Give me allthe sensory images. What you saw, heard, felt, and smelled.”
“Okay.” She blew out a breath. “I was usingthe crosswalk. I’d waited for the ‘walk’ sign even though there wasno traffic. But honestly? I was kind of on autopilot. Wait for thelight to turn, look both ways, start walking. I was irritated.”
“Irritated, why?”
“There’s this woman in the yoga class. She’scompetitive, passive-aggressive, and targets me with her attitude.It’s a damned yoga class. Yoga is supposed to relieve tension, butshe’s all about showing that she can do these crazy poses that Idon’t even know how to pronounce. I mean, good grief, it’s abeginners’ class.”
“Had you seen her outside of the yogaclass?”
“No.” Her eyelids snapped open. “But she wasobnoxious enough that I had debated not going. That’s why I wasirritated. I’d seriously considered not going to the class I’d paidfor and would otherwise enjoy because of her snide attitude.”
“What’s this woman’s name?”
