The Dark Places by R. Whitfield (novel24 TXT) 📕

Miller nodded and stepped aside to let them pass. Surin opened the door quietly, and they slipped silently into the room.

The young girl was beautiful. Long thick hair fanned out on the pillow framing an angelic face — the size of the metal hospital bed dwarfing her delicate frame. Her eyes were closed tightly. There was a large gash on the side of her head which, if Surin had to guess, was caused by being struck hard with the butt of a handgun. She had a few other scratches on her face, all superficial and probably due to being dumped face down on the bitumen. Surin glanced down at the girl’s hands. No defence wounds that she could see; ambushed, she thought. Surin sat down beside the bed on the chair provided, Parker leaned up against the far wall, and they waited. The constant beep of the heart monitor was the only sound. They both seemed to be holding their breaths, not wanting to wake her. The doctor’s warning flashed in Surin’s mind, and she knew they didn’t have much time. Clearing her throat, she leaned in and gently picked up the girl’s hand, clasping it softly.

“Lana?” she said in a whisper. The girl stirred, blinking, her eyes opened slowly and focused on Surin. She immediately felt Lana’s entire body tense as the beeping of the machine increased.

“Please, don’t be scared, it’s OK,” she continued and reached into her pocket with her other hand and held out her badge. “I’m Detective Surin Elliott and over there,” she said, gesturing behind her without breaking eye contact, “is my partner Detective Parker Rhodes.” She watched as the girl’s large doe-like eyes absorbed the information, and she seemed to calm down a fraction.

“We’re here to ask you a few quick questions about what happened if that’s OK?” Surin added, waiting for the girl to give her permission to continue. After a beat, Lana nodded, let go of Surin’s hand and shuffled up the bed into a sitting position.

“Yes, that’s OK,” she whispered, her voice sounded raspy and hoarse. Surin reached for the jug of water beside the bed and poured her a glass. Lana took it appreciatively and had a long sip from the straw. “Thank you,” she replied, handing the cup back to Surin. Her hands clasped together, and she subconsciously started picking at the skin on her fingers.

“I didn’t see him,” she stated, tears instantly forming in her eyes.

“Just start from the beginning, Lana, every little detail helps,” Surin encouraged.

“I had just finished work and was walking to my car. I was totally oblivious to everything until I noticed the lights were out.” Surin shifted forward listening. “That frightened me, but I honestly thought I was being a complete head case!” She continued tucking her hair behind her ears. “He was in the back seat of my car.” She sniffed. “I didn’t even know he was there until it was too late.” She fingered her hospital bracelet, flicking it back and forth. “He pressed a gun to my head from behind and told me to drive, so I did.” She looked up. “I know I should have fought and screamed right then, but I was frozen, completely immobile.” She wiped her nose. “All I could think was that it had to be a mistake or a practical joke, it just didn’t feel real,” she added, staring at nothing.

Surin leaned over slightly to get her attention. “You did the right thing, Lana, he had a gun to your head,” she said.

Lana nodded, reassuring herself. “We were only just out of the parking lot when he started screaming at me.” Her voice picked up. “I didn’t know what was going on.” She started sobbing loudly. “I hadn’t said or done anything! He was so angry at me, calling me a liar and a fake, banging his gun against my head.” She pulled the blanket up over her chest, unconsciously protecting herself. “I have never been so scared in all my life.” She paused, catching her breath. “Then he screamed at me to pull over, I did, and I started begging, begging for my life,” she continued. Surin interrupted.

“You still hadn’t seen his face?” she asked gently. “Not even a glimpse in the rear-view mirror?”

Lana shook her head sadly. “The mirror was gone; he must have ripped it off when he got in the car.”

Surin briefly looked at Parker, who was jotting all this down in his notepad. “Please, go on,” she said.

“That’s it. The last thing I remember was him throwing something around in the back seat, and then he must have hit me because I woke up on the road beside my car.” Her hands were shaking slightly as she reached for the water again.

“Lana, I promise we are almost done,” Surin said. “Can you tell me if you saw or felt anything strange in the last few days?”

Lana looked at her, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Surin thought carefully before answering; she didn’t want to scare the girl any more than she already was.

“You didn’t notice anyone following you?”

Lana’s eyes immediately registered alarm. “You don’t think this was random!” she said, her voice rising in panic.

“No, I do, it’s OK, I just have to ask,” Surin replied quickly and grasped Lana’s hand again to calm her down. Parker’s shifted his weight off the wall, and Surin knew he was telling her they were done.

“There is an officer sitting outside your door. You’re safe, so get some rest,” Surin said, standing. She placed her card on the table. Lana eyed it suspiciously.

“If you think of anything else, or if you just want to talk, you can call me day or night,” she added.

Lana nodded and pulled her knees up to her chest.

“Thank you for talking to us. I know it