“How did you get here?” She was fairly certain Carrie didn’t have access to a car.

“I took the boat,” she said in a monotone. “Bobby and his brother are working. Mother Petrie visits a couple of other families who live out on the islands every week. Today’s the day. Normally I would go with her, but I couldn’t hide this. When she left, I took the old boat out and came here.”

She went silent again.

Lila finished her work and studied Carrie’s face. “I think I’ve got the stitches tight enough that it shouldn’t scar, but you have to understand how close this was. If he’d hit you an inch higher, he could have seriously compromised your eyesight.”

“It was an accident.” The words were hollow. Carrie had been almost silent since Lila had entered the room. All she would say was she’d had another accident.

Her stomach twisted and what had happened with Maryanne was right there, bumping up against the surface, threatening to break through. But what the hell was she supposed to do? She had legal obligations. “It wasn’t, and I’m going to have to tell the sheriff.”

Carrie’s jaw went stubborn. “You don’t know that it wasn’t an accident.”

“I know someone’s fist met your face.” There were some injuries that couldn’t be explained away, and Lila had made damn sure she’d detailed every single element of this one. She had X-rays and pictures. The fact that Carrie had allowed her to document her injuries made her think she was on the edge of admitting what was happening. “This wasn’t a door or you falling down. You were in a fight and you lost.”

Carrie was silent for a moment, staring down at her hands. “You told Sheriff LaVigne about the other day and Bobby was so mad.”

At least she’d admitted it. She needed to get Carrie talking. “I have a legal obligation to talk to the sheriff if I think you’re in danger, and I definitely think you’re going to keep getting hurt if you stay where you are.”

Carrie’s stare was on the floor. “He said he won’t do it again. He brought me flowers this morning.”

“But he didn’t bring you to see me.”

“He put a bandage on my face. He tried to take care of me when he realized what he’d done.”

“Then why did you come in here? You risked a lot to come to this clinic.” And that’s why she had some hope that she could get through to the younger woman. She wouldn’t be able to cover up the fact that she’d gotten medical attention. “He’s going to know you came here. You couldn’t do those stitches yourself.”

“It wasn’t closing up right.” She brought her hand up to touch her cheek.