I hesitate a moment longer, then Sadie and I go inside the store. It’s warm and a little busy. I wend my way to the snack aisle and select a bag of Oreos and a couple of giant-size Milky Way bars. Might as well go whole hog while I’m at it. I pay for my treats, and Sadie and I head outside.

I hear a woman shriek behind me, and I freeze, but she’s laughing, I realize. Sadie and I start back down the sidewalk, away from the lights of the gas station. There’s an alley, then a vacant commercial building, before the houses start up.

It’s full dark, and there are places between the streetlights, lengths of sidewalk completely in the shadow. I hurry Sadie along when I hear footsteps behind me. I pick up the pace, but the person behind me matches my stride. My heart drums loudly, and I walk more quickly. He’s too close. I hear his heavy breath. Then a strong arm circles my waist and a gloved hand crushes my mouth. I try to scream, but my breath is trapped, my heart racing. Is he my caller or someone else? I drop Sadie’s leash and struggle to pull away. I kick, but his grip only tightens, and he’s pulling me into the alley.

No, no, no! I won’t let anyone hurt me. Not again. I make a sound like a rabid animal and reach back and tear at the man’s face, but my gloves shield my fingernails. He rips my jacket away, and I take a step to run, but then I feel a sharp jab in my arm. Cold waves surge through my veins, and I know I’m sinking. I stagger a step or two, but he pulls me close against his chest. I slip through his grasp and tumble face-first to the ground, unable to right myself, unable to move. I taste dirt. Just like before.

CHAPTER 60 - Rita

CHAPTER 60

Rita

I WAS IN COURT YESTERDAY AND ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO THE STATION and get back to work on the Bradley case. Unfortunately, I got tangled up in one thing after another, as sometimes happens, and Friday was a bust. So I came in this morning, hoping to make up for my unfruitful day yesterday.

Joe came in after noon and worked in the conference room for a while. We all feel a sense of urgency over the Robb-Bradley case, but a certain malaise too—looking at each other for something, anything that’ll move the investigation along. Nothing much has happened all day, and I collect my things to go home.

Joe pops his head in my office. “Want to go for a drink, Rita? Saturday night, after all.”