Vigilantes - Volume 1 Chapter 46 Is He The One Who Killed Her?

When I woke up in the hospital there were police officers in the room. I frantically searched for Cindy but couldn’t see her. If I was hurt, why wasn’t she here? Why were there police? What was going on? My head throbbed and I couldn’t think straight.

“Loretta, do you remember what happened?” the female officer asked kindly.

“No, Imy sister, where is she?” Tears formed in my eyes. “Please, where’s Cindy? She should be here with me; I was supposed to meet her at the gym.”

The female officer sat down near me with an overly sympathetic expression. I didn’t like it one bit. “My name is Detective Lopez. Can you tell me everything that happened on Saturday?”

I took a steadying breath, trying to remember. “I was at the high school most of the day taking the SAT and ACT. I wanted to get them over with instead of taking them on different days. Cindy wished me luck and said she was going to the gym. When I got out of the test, I started walking to the gym to meet her.”

My memory started to clear and I continued. “I was walking by an alley near the gym. There was a woman calling for helpshe looked at me like I was a ghost. She told me not to look but I did anyway.” I remembered it all now. Tears coursed down my face and my throat seized so I couldn’t breathe. “Cindy. It was Cindy. She was dead.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Officer Lopez said, patting my arm gently. “I’d like you to think, Loretta. Is there anyone who seemed particularly interested in your sister? Anyone who followed her around?”

Though the tears continued, my throat finally opened enough to speak again. “Why are you asking me this? What happened to her?” I still felt numb, like it wasn’t quite real. That was probably the only reason I was able to talk about it at all.

The male officer sighed and approached my bedside. “Loretta, I’m Detective Hayc.o.c.k, I’m working on your sister’s case. You’ve been in and out of consciousness for a few days. While you were asleep, we discovered that your sister had been s.e.x.u.a.lly assaulted shortly before her death. We have reason to believe this attack wasn’t random, that your sister was targeted specifically. If you can remember anyone who seemed interested in her activities, it would help us find who did this terrible thing.”

I wracked my brain and couldn’t think of anyone out of the ordinary. Who was always around Cindy? She didn’t interact with boys at school. There were some men at the gymwhat were their names? Why couldn’t I remember?

Tears were still coursing down my face but I spoke in a detached voice. “I can’t remember, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Detective Lopez soothed. “We’ll come back and talk to you later. If you remember anything before then, call us.” She placed a business card on the table next to my bed.

I had to rememberCindywho would do this to you? Though the tears had been nonstop, all of a sudden the calm was gone.

“CINDY!” I bawled. “CINDY!” Over and over I shrieked her name, getting out of bed and breaking things in the room. Eventually someone heard the ruckus and several nurses restrained me. I was still screaming her name when something cold trickled through my arm and I was out again.

***

“There were a few men who hung around the gym. Cindy mostly ignored them but there was one who still talked to her every time he saw us. Mostly stuff like “how’s your day” and “your training is coming along really well” but she never answered him. She’d act like he wasn’t even there and keep walking,” I told Detective Hayc.o.c.k.

“What can you tell me about him?” the detective asked.

I thought hard about it. I’d never heard anyone at the gym say his name. “He’s probably in his twenties. His head is shaved and he has ice blue eyes that seem to stare right through you.” Those eyes had creeped me out more than once. Was he the one who killed Cindy?

“Is this the man?” Detective Hayc.o.c.k held up a picture that looked like a mug shot. It was definitely him.

“It’s him,” I said, icy fury surging through me. “Is he the one who killed her?”

“We need more evidence, Miss Latham. I’ll inform you of any further developments. Thank you, you’ve been very helpful.”

I knew I was dismissed but I was so angry I punched a wall on the way out. To my surprise, a small dent was left behind.

***

I sat at computer in the library furiously typing an essay. Homework was the only thing that kept me sane. I couldn’t bear to go to the gym, where Cindy spent so much of her time. I couldn’t bear to be at home withhim. Whenever I wasn’t crying or breaking things, I was doing homework. I had been accepted to multiple universities but I needed to keep my grades up if I wanted a scholarship.

I had to do it for Cindy. She was proud of my academic achievements. Studying was all I was capable of anymore. It distracted me. Not enough for me to be okay, but enough that I didn’t end up back in the psych ward like I had after breaking too many things and threatening to kill myself in the hospital.

My phone rang and I recognized Detective Hayc.o.c.k’s number. There must be news. I pounced on it. “Hello?”

“Miss Latham, this is Detective Hayc.o.c.k. We’ve arrested Liam Harrison as your sister’s killer. As a key witness to the harassment, you’ll need to testify. I’ll contact you with the details before it goes to trial.”

“Thank you Detective,” I said emotionlessly. “I’m glad to hear it.” I ended the call and snapped my phone in half. Before I could do any further damage, I stalked out of the library without saving my work.

Liam Harrison. The man with the terrifying icy eyes. I’d testify all right. I’d make sure he rotted in prison forever for what he did. Maybe then the nightmares would stop. I couldn’t stand another night of seeing Cindy’s dead eyes accusing me for not protecting her in my dreams.

Cindy. She was so beautiful, so full of life, and so angry at men. It wasn’t fair that a man took away her chance at a better future. That man wouldn’t have a future either. I’d make sure of it.