Page 27 of Keeping Kara

“I understand. I’d like to get a statement of everything that happened, if that’s all right. Record it so we have evidence.”

“Okay.”

Blackwood looked from her to Chaos, then back to Kara. “I can ask him to step out if it would make you more comfortable.”

“No!”

Her answer was immediate and sounded almost panicked.

Chaos moved before he thought about what he was doing, putting himself between her and the detective.

She took a breath. “I’d like him to stay, if that’s okay.”

“It’s fine,” Blackwood said.

After the detective put a small recorder next to her, Kara took a deep breath and began to tell her tale. Chaos had heard most of it before, but with the detective asking probing questions, she included a lot more detail about what Nolan had done.

It made Chaos want to rage. But he stayed calm, leaning against the wall next to her exam table. He couldn’t believe some of the things she’d lived through. He understood where she was coming from, thinking she had nothing but bad luck, but from where he was sitting, it was the opposite. The fact that she’d survived what she had proved it. She should be dead. Several times over. And yet here she was, battered and bruised but still standing.

“I’m pretty sure I know what the answer to this question is, but I need to ask it anyway. I’m assuming he hasn’t been found? I mean, his body? He didn’t die in that flash flood?” Kara asked.

The detective shook his head. “I’m honestly not sure. I didn’t know his name before speaking with you, and there are a number of unidentified bodies at the morgue. When I leave here, I’ll personally go and look them over to see if any of them are Colins. Can you describe him for me?”

“He’s got dark hair, cut short. He’s tall, a few inches taller than me. And big. I mean, he’s a big man. Not fat, per se, just large. He’s got a wide nose and thin lips. There’s a small gap in his lower two teeth. Um…and he’s hairy. Like, all over. I’d say he’s probably in his mid to late thirties, white, and he has a big freckle, or a small mole, I’m not sure which, on his right cheek.”

“Any tattoos or other distinguishing features?” the detective asked.

Kara bit her lip, then nodded. “On his upper left chest, he has hashmarks.”

“Hashmarks?” the detective asked.

Kara nodded. “I’m not sure if that’s what they’re actually called. But when you count things by putting lines on a page, and when you get to five, you slash through the lines diagonally?”

“Tally marks?”

“Yeah. Those. Seven of them.”

Chaos instantly felt sick.

He exchanged a look with the detective. They both had an idea of what those marks probably meant. And if they were right…this Nolan guy might be a serial killer, keeping track of his victims with tattoos.

The fact that Kara had escaped him was a freaking miracle.

“I’m sorry this happened to you,” Blackwood said. “Rest assured, I’m going to do everything in my power to find this asshole and lock him up.”

Kara nodded.

A metal rapping sound came from the other side of the curtain, and everyone turned to see who it was. Edge entered, carrying an armful of clothes.

Chaos pushed off the wall and strode over to his friend, taking the stuff from him. “Thanks.”

“Not sure if they’ll fit, but I did my best.” Then he was gone.

“That’s my cue to get going myself,” Blackwood said.

“I’ll be in touch with my contact info,” Chaos told him. “And when we get Kara a phone, I’ll send you her info as well.”

The detective nodded and showed himself out. Chaos walked back to the table. He put the clothes down and leaned toward her and asked softly. “How are you doing really?”