One reporter laughed a little. Izabel felt ridiculous, but Paz looked pleased when Izabel glanced back at her.

“What did he do when you ran up to him?” another reporter asked.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing at all?”

“No. And, uh, I thought he was a coward.”

“Would you have fought him?”

“Yes,” Izabel said, and that felt true.

“Could you have overpowered him?”

“Probably not.”

“How large is he?”

“Taller than me.” Then she added, “But not very tall.”

“Did he say anything to you?”

“No.”

“Did you say anything to him?”

“I don’t think so, but I don’t remember.”

“Why haven’t you said anything about this until now?” another reporter called out.

“The police asked me not to while they continued their investigation.”

“Then there’s been some development in the investigation?”

“You would have to ask Inspector Paz.”

Inspector Paz came forward again. “I can begin taking questions now if you’re done asking questions of Ms. Kalloe.”

Everyone shook their heads and waved her off.

“Did you see his face?” someone asked Izabel.

“No.”

“What was it like to save the girl?”

“It was hard. She had passed out. I could feel myself having trouble breathing.”

“Where were her parents?”

“Near her.”

“Were they already dead?”

“Yes,” she lied. “I think so. She was the only one I knew I’d be able to move.”

“Where is she now?”

“Again, you would have to ask Inspector Paz.”

Paz leaned forward, and they all shook their heads again.

“Have you tried to contact him?”

“I don’t know how.”

“Has he tried to contact you?”

“Not that I know of,” she said, but she thought about her dead neighbors as she said it.

“Would you contact him if you could?”

“Yes.” She took a breath. “I would tell him he’s a piece of shit and I bet he has a terrible mother who raised him to be a piece of shit.”

Paz stepped in front of her. “Okay,” she said. “I think that’s enough questions for now.”

“Izabel, where are you going now?” one reporter called out.

Izabel looked to Paz, and Paz nodded.

“I’m going home,” Izabel said.

As Izabel left the room, she heard Paz fielding questions about the investigation. Officer Evans took Izabel to the front doors, where they waited for a car.

“What if he wants to come in here,” Izabel said, “and stab me before I even leave?”

“That’s why I’m here.”

“Are you worried about that?” She was pacing, but Officer Evans stood perfectly still.

“No. He hasn’t been able to kill anyone face to face, and from what I’ve read, that’s not an easy escalation to make.”

“You’ve read up on this stuff?”

“Yes. I think I’ve read everything in the online library that Paz highlighted as relevant for us.”

“I didn’t know she’d done that.”

He nodded and looked at his watch again.