Page 81 of Carter

“I was walking home from work, like I did after every shift. I always took that alley because it was quicker than going around. Enough people used it that it didn’t worry me much, but that night… someone was waiting for me.”

“Waiting for you? So this is someone you know?”

It takes her a moment, but she finally nods. “Yes. That’s why I quit.”

“It was someone who worked at the facility. At Rayne,” I say. It’s not a question because I’m already piecing the puzzle together.

“I tried to go back to work, act like nothing happened. My husband… he’s strict. And quitting for no reason, it would have set him off, and—” She whimpers softly, wiping tears from her eyes. “I had to think and figure things out.”

“He doesn’t know what happened?”

She huffs a disbelieving laugh, wiping more tears. “No.” She looks up at me. “And he can never know.”

I don’t worry about that now. There are other people who will work with her on that. Right now, I need this confession. I need her story so I can do my part.

“What’s his name?” I ask.

I expect to have to ask more, to have to pull it out of her. But she hands it right over.

“Jason Mercer.”

I recall the name from the list of employees. Once I was sure she was the victim, I’d gone through that list a hundred times to check backgrounds and records. Nothing popped out to me on any of the employees.

“Can you tell me the rest?” I ask.

Nodding, she shifts in her seat and takes a slow breath.

“He grabbed me.” Her voice is emotionless, her gaze still on that cup of coffee. “He pulled me over by the dumpster and he covered my mouth so I couldn’t scream. I fought, but he’s biggerthan me, and I… I just couldn’t do anything. I remember his cold hand on my stomach as he tried to…” Her voice cracks. She takes a breath. “As he tried to shove it into my pants.”

“That’s when Ryan Kinsley stepped in?” I ask.

“That’s when that man saved me.”

“I’m sorry this happened to you, Lilianna. No one deserves this. And I can’t thank you enough for coming forward now.”

She looks up at me, her eyes so damn tired. “He really killed that man? The one who helped me?”

“Yes,” I say seriously.

She grabs another napkin from the dispenser and wipes more tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I… I’m just so sorry. I didn’t know what to do, and I… I panicked. If my husband knew. If—”

“Hey,” I say firmly but gently. She looks up at me. “You’re talking to me now. You’re doing the right thing. I’m sorry you have had to carry this for so long, that you don’t have anyone to support you through this. It’s a lot. I can’t even imagine.”

She nods, then looks back at her cup.

“You do know that other people will be in touch, right? You’ll have to give a formal statement at the precinct.”

Again, she nods, but says nothing.

“We can keep this discreet. I’ll make sure everyone knows, so your husband doesn’t find out, but Lilianna, you need to decide if you want to keep this secret for the rest of your life.”

“Peter is a good man, he’s just… a bit old fashioned.”

No fucking excuse in my opinion. What kind of man acts a certain way that his wife can’t even get help for being sexually assaulted? It’s repulsive.

“I’m not here to judge. I just want to help. If you need anything at all, please call. No matter what. And again, thank you so much for this.”

She forces a small smile. “Can I give you a ride somewhere?”