Page 214 of Nyx

"There may be evidence—"

"I wasn't sexually assaulted," I whisper. "I'd like to keep my underthings on."

"Okay," she says, not arguing.

I unfold the gown before deferring to her again.

"Open in the front or the back?"

"Whichever makes you feel more comfortable."

I wrap it around me, with the opening in the front because it's big enough to go all the way around, not leaving an opening in the back.

"If you'd like, you can sit on the bed and cover yourself with the sheet," she advises.

"Okay," I tell her once I'm positioned on the bed.

"Is it okay if I turn back around?" she asks, the same level of compassion in her voice that she had when she first crouched in front of me.

"Yes."

She gives me a soft smile as she opens yet another cabinet and pulls out a kit.

I read the letters SAECK on the top before she places it on the table beside her.

Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit.

I wait for her to wash her hands and turn back around to face me before I build up enough courage to speak again.

"He didn't," I say, looking over at the kit.

"We won't use all of the kit," she explains as she rolls a stool over before taking a seat. "It just has all the other things I need. I'll swab your arms, face, neck, and hands. I'll get fingernail clippings and swab under them as well. If at any time you're uncomfortable or need a break, just let me know."

"Okay."

"May I ask you questions about the attack?"

"Yes," I tell her, wishing Nyx was standing beside me right now.

"May I record our conversation?"

I nod, watching as she pulls a small recorder from her pocket.

"Ready?"

I nod again.

She presses a button on the recorder.

"SANE Rachel Evans. I'm working with SAECK TN 26-006524. Patient is Juliet Mercer. Patient has agreed to answer questions, but has been advised she can stop at any time. Do you agree, Ms. Mercer?"

"Yes."

"Do you know who attacked you tonight?" she asks as she opens the kit, pulling out a pair of sterile gloves and putting them on before reaching into the kit once again.

"My ex-husband, Graham Whitmore."

I watch as she pulls out a series of swabs.