Amanda's Wolves(110)

Sawyer grabbed a plastic cup next to her bed and tucked his hand behind her head to help lift her enough to get a sip.

It felt like her mouth was filled with sand. “More.”

Logan smiled at her. His hand trailed up her arm.

As she took longer swallows of the cool liquid, she watched his expression as it turned from relief to concern. His brow furrowed. “There are a few deputies that need a statement from you, baby. They’re waiting outside for you to wake up. How much do you remember?”

She closed her eyes as Sawyer lowered her head back to the pillow. “I think I remember.”

“Can Trace come in, hon?” Sawyer asked.

She nodded.

Logan released her to head for the door. Moments later she felt his presence return without opening her eyes.

When she blinked them open again, Trace was there. Another deputy was with him. “I’m so sorry, Amanda. We’re going to do everything we can to catch whoever did this to you.”

She nodded. Her eyes burned. She kept blinking, but that made it worse, so she resorted to squinting.

“What do you remember?” Trace asked.

Sawyer grasped her left hand, and Logan held her right. They made her feel safe. Secure.

“My fault,” she whispered. Tears came to her eyes.

“What was your fault, hon?” Sawyer asked.

“I shouldn’t have gone out of the condo alone. You told me not to. I’m so sorry.” Her voice grew stronger, but it hurt to speak.

“All that matters is you’re safe now, baby.” Logan lifted her hand and kissed the backs of her knuckles.

“Tell Trace what happened, hon.” Sawyer held her tighter, leaning closer.

“I went to the college to fill out some forms. The elevator wasn’t working, or at least it was slow. It took too long. I should have waited… But I took the stairs instead. I made it about halfway down, and then I ran into a man in the stairwell. It all happened so fast.” She felt her heart rate increase as her memory flooded back.

“It’s okay, Amanda. Take your time.” Trace held a pad of paper and was writing notes on it. “What happened next?”

“He grabbed my arm and stuck a needle in so fast I didn’t have time to process or react.”

“And then what?”

“And then I woke up in the shed at the logging site.”

“How well did you see the man? Was he someone you knew?” Trace asked.

She shook her head. “No. I’ve never seen him before.”

“What did he look like?”

She closed her eyes again and transported herself back to the stairwell. “Dark hair. Thick. Glasses. Black rims.”

“How tall was he?”

“I’m not sure. He was standing on a lower step, making us closer to eye level.”

“Skin tone? Darker, lighter, any particular obvious nationality?”

“No. Average guy. Caucasian, but with some coloring.”

“Eyes?”

“Lord, I don’t know. I didn’t catch that detail.”

“What was he wearing?”

“Mmm, something nice. He was too old to be a student and had on khakis and a light blue dress shirt. Not your average student. He looked more like a professor.”

“Did he say anything to you?”

“No. Just said my name. But he was gentle. He eased me into his arms as I went unconscious and held me against his body. Even after I could no longer move, I was aware of him carrying me for several more seconds.”

Trace glanced at Logan. “Toxicology reports back?”

Logan shook his head. “Not yet.”

Trace shut his notebook. “Amanda, again, I’m sorry this happened. If you think of anything at all that might help, please have Logan or Sawyer call me.”

“Okay.”

“I’m going to go through the database and put together a list of people in the area who fit that description. As soon as I have some photos, I’ll come see you.”

Amanda licked her lips and nodded again.

Trace turned to face Logan. “I’m heading to meet a team of people at Roger Barkley’s place now. He doesn’t fit that description, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t hire someone to kidnap her.”

“Who’s Roger Barkley?” Amanda rolled her head toward Trace again, trying to place the name.

Logan squeezed her hand. “Owns the logging company working that site.”

Amanda nodded. Why would this Roger guy have her kidnapped and leave her to die in a fire? It didn’t make sense. After all, if he wanted to make more money off the site by over-logging, what good would that do when the fire came?

She stiffened.

“What is it, baby?” Logan asked.

“Do you suppose he was holding me there and then abandoned me when the site got evacuated?”