Page 215 of Nyx

"Do you know why he attacked you?"

"I-I think he wanted to kill me," I whisper.

She lifts my right hand, swabs the back of it, and inserts the swab into another tube before grabbing another tube for my other hand.

"Does he have a history of violence?"

"Yes," I answer, not bothering to explain that he only hurt me once.

"Has he hurt others in front of you?"

"Yes. He stabbed Kayla in front of me tonight."

"Do you know the extent of her injuries?" Rachel asks.

"Sh-she's dead," I whisper, tears streaking my eyes.

"You witnessed her murder tonight?" she asks as she looks up at me, a sadness in her eyes as if she hates asking the question as much as I hate being asked.

"Yes," I tell her as she takes another swab and rubs it on my forearm.

She packages the swabs, changes gloves, and pulls out a nail stick.

"Any personal injuries you have concerns about tonight, Juliet?"

"No," I tell her honestly.

She's silent as she scrapes under each one of my fingernails, collecting the blood and debris on a napkin before inserting it into an envelope and sealing it, writing her name, the date, and the time of collection on it.

"You have a minor cut on your neck," Rachel says. "It has been cleaned and bandaged."

"It has," I say.

"You said earlier that you don't know if you have any other injuries. Can I check you over and make sure?"

"Yes," I tell her.

"I'm going to start on your arms."

I hold one arm out as she checks it, pulling the sleeve of the gown up as high as it can go.

I cooperate as best I can as she checks my arms, palpates my abdomen, looks over my legs, hips, and thighs.

She's gentle and patient, not commenting on the way I'm being scrutinized as I tremble under her touch.

"Do you have any other concerns?"

I shake my head. "No."

"Okay, Juliet." She reaches for the tape recorder and hits a button to stop recording. "Do you have any questions?"

I shake my head.

"You're free to get dressed," she says. "I want to give you some information on victimization and domestic abuse."

"I know it word for word," I tell her. "I work at Juniper House."

She nods, giving me a soft smile.