Page 21 of Saving Meadow

“Hi. Thanks for letting me borrow Sally. She’s a really good dog, you’ve done a great job with her.”

“Thanks. I’m gonna be sad when she has to go. But then, I always am. I’m glad she helped.”

“Did…umm… you watch too?”

“I did. Mandy explained that the session was going to be recorded, right?” Meadow’s face drained of all color, and she immediately looked away from me. “Hey. Don’t do that. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You did great. I know how difficult that was for you. How are you feeling?”

“Foolish. I can’t believe I blocked out a woman had attacked me. Did you know?”

“No. Only recently, when the case reopened, did we consider the unsub could be a woman. However, it wasn’t until you confirmed it that we knew for sure.”

“How did you figure out I was the first… you know,” she asked.

“I ran a search for women who had similar wounds to the victims, crossing that with assaults that took place on the seventh.”

“Why didn’t she kill me?”

Meadow’s tears were my undoing. I couldn’t stand to see them fall down her pretty cheeks.

“Sally, up.” When Sally stood I knelt in front of Meadow, grabbing her hands in mine, I squeezed until she lifted her eyes to mine. “She was interrupted by one of the bar staff.”

“Some days I wish…”

“Don’t say it,” I interrupted. “Don’t even think it. We’re gonna catch her, Red, and she’s gonna pay for what she did to you.”

“I better get to work. I only took half a day off.”

Work? Was she crazy? She needed to go home and relax.

“Any way you can take the rest of the day?” I asked.

“No. I’m hourly. If I want to continue to buy five-dollar coffees and pay my rent I need the hours.”

That was going to change. In the very near future, she wouldn’t have to worry about her five-dollar coffees; I’d be buying them for her.

“What time are you done with work?” I asked.

“Five.”

“Perfect. How about I pick you up at five-thirty and we go grab some dinner?”

If her cheeks had not been stained with tears, I might’ve laughed at how wide her green eyes got before she squinted and shook her head.

“What? Why?”

“I could tell you that I want to take you to dinner because I want to make sure you are okay. But that’d mostly be a lie.”

“So, you don’t care if I’m okay?” Her lip twitched, and I was relieved.

“I’m quite sure you’ll be more than okay after dinner.”

“What makes you think I want to have dinner with you?” Fuck. I overplayed my hand. “I’m kidding.” And for the first time since I’d met her, Meadow Holiday graced me with a smile. A real one that hit her eyes and made the green shine.

Goddamn, she was beautiful.

“All joking aside. I’m fine. You don’t have to waste your night having dinner with me.”

“Red, not a moment would be wasted; I get to spend time with you.”