Page 31 of One Night Years Ago

“Hunter Fowler has an ironclad alibi for Lanie Jones’s death,” Natalie said, her voice strong, “and we also have reason to believe some mistakes were made thirteen years ago. What’s important now is that we, as a community, need to make sure the attacker doesn’t strike again.”

“So you’re saying it’s not Hunter Fowler,” James Brody insisted. He wrote furiously on his little pad of paper, flipping the page.

“Hunter Fowler did not hurt or kill Lanie Fowler. Somebody else did,” Natalie said loudly. Hunter felt something gritty in his eyes. To hear Natalie of all people defending him like that flayed his heart alive. “I will not divulge more details of an open investigation, but if you want to write something useful down on that notepad of yours, Mr. Brody, please write that down.”

James Brody bristled at being told what to do.

Natalie Bowmann went on. “This attacker targets young women. All women between seventeen and twenty years old need to be particularly cautious.”

“So our girls aren’t safe?”

“I’d rather be safe than sorry, Marge. That’s why I’m saying this. This man may be somebody they know. We’ll know more as the investigation progresses, but in the meantime I would like everybody to be cautious. You all need to keep an eye out and call the station if you see anything that strikes you as odd. Anything at all. That’s all on my end. Any other questions before we get back to work?”

The crowd asked a few more questions, and eventually people started dispersing. The last people to leave were James and Jill Jones, escorted by Aaron Bowmann.

Hunter made it out into the corridor before the crowd came out. He leaned back against a wall and waited until he saw Natalie step out.

“I saw you back there. How’re you feeling?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I’m fine.”

“Your nose doesn’t look as bad as I expected. I did a good job, clearly.”

He chuckled lightly. “You did a good job just now.”

“I don’t like speaking to crowds. I don’t like it when people look at me.”

“You did amazing.” His eyes swept her face. “I’m grateful for what you did for me, for what you said about me. I think it will help keep Jesse and my mother safe.”

She nodded, her expression far way.

“Did you get what you wanted from this?”

“What do you think I wanted?”

“I’m not an idiot. I know you were hoping he’d be there.”

Her intelligent eyes looked at him for a moment, and he knew she was debating what to say to him. Finally, she nodded, her eyes never leaving his face.

“I had Rob and Susan watching the crowd. I spoke to an FBI psychologist. They couldn’t help in an official capacity, but she suggested this might be the kind of person who enjoys the limelight. There are … similarities between Lanie’s rape and mine that can’t be a coincidence. But I survived and Lanie didn’t, which may mean he’s escalating, growing bolder. He’s killed now, and there’s a chance he liked it.”

He marveled at her trust in him.

“You really do believe me when I said I didn’t do it.”

“I do. There’s another angle we need to consider, however.”

“There is?”

She nodded. “You. This … man … he waited twelve years until you got out of prison. And as soon as you get out, he strikes again. You need to think of who might hate you that much.”

Chapter 13

Natalie

The next few days went by in a blur, but despite the frenetic activity and best efforts, Natalie feared the investigation was at a standstill.

The biggest success of the week was when she got to know the FBI psychologist on a first-name basis and managed to get ahold of her direct number. From that point on, Natalie pretty much had Lorraine on speed dial.