Page 19 of Make No Mistake

He shook his head again, and I let out a tight breath.

“No, that was a very exaggerated version from the county reporter.”

“So what do we know as fact?” I pulled my laptop to me and waited. Reading these rumors wouldn’t help us.

“The victim was struck from behind with some sort of blunt object, presumably a bat. When she felt forward she was struck again in her ribs and back.”

I cringed at the thought of what the poor girl had endured.

“Her attacker never touched her directly. Only with the object.” I typed that and nodded.

“He never spoke and ran off before she had the chance to get a good look.”

I kept typing then stopped. “How do we know it was a man that attacked her?”

It was the more obvious option, but I wanted to make sure we were only using facts, not assumptions.

“She watched him run off. She described him as tall and thin with short hair. He was wearing dark clothing but no mask.”

I narrowed my eyes and finished typing. “He didn’t try to conceal himself?”

That was another strange aspect.

“No. It’s doesn’t look that way.”

“That’s why he struck from behind.” I was thinking aloud, but Jay nodded in agreement.

“Those are the facts we have so far. I want an article to go out with the school’s official statement at one. Can you have it done by then?”

“Of course.”

Jay nodded and stood. “Thanks, Mac. Let me know if you have any questions.”

I stared down at my notes and began planning my article. There wasn’t much there, but it was enough to warn students to be on the lookout. As of right now, the attacker was still walking free. He could be on campus right now.

Jay circled backafter I’d submitted my article for review. He was carrying two bags and offered one to me.

I narrowed my eyes at the familiar symbols.

“You got me Thai?”

He sat down across from me and smirked. “I got me Thai.”

“And they accidently gave you …” I opened the bag and pulled out exactly what I was expecting. “Pad thai?”

“I ordered that for me.”

“Liar. You’ve never once ordered that for yourself.”

“Fine. I thought you would be hungry too.”

“Much appreciated, Jay.” I opened the box and dove in with my chopsticks.

He smiled while pouring his green curry over rice.

“The article looked great. Way to work with the little facts we had.”

I smiled and covered my mouth. “Thank you.”