“The assailant was not apprehended, correct?” Kraus asked.
“That’s right…” Hena said slowly as a dread pooled inside her. “Why?”
“We are trying to determine motive,” Kraus said. “And we can’t help but notice the physical similarities between yourself and the victim.”
Hena steadied herself as the implication of their words sank in. They didn’t look alike, not really, but Gita wasn’t much older than Hena. They had the same build. The same dark hair and olive skin. To someone who did not know them well, they could certainly be mistaken for each other.
“There is also the similar manner of her attack,” Steen said.
“She was…she was struck from behind,” Hena said. “I saw the blood. Was she…was she strangled too?”
Steen nodded. “There are signs consistent with strangulation. Our guess is she may have struggled, which led to her head trauma.”
Hena drew in a sharp shallow breath. The room blurred.
“Hena, do you need to sit?” Haris watched her worriedly.
Sitting wouldn’t make this better. Someone had assaulted Gita. They’d left her for dead.
They’d thought she was Hena.
Rapid footsteps. Reza hurried toward her, his brow creased with worry.
“Hena, what’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Gita was attacked,” she said in a hollow voice. “A few hours ago.”
Reza’s eyes widened with alarm. “Where? The premises were deserted when I headed out this morning.”
His attention shifted to the officers. Haris.
“Sorry,” he said quickly. “I’m interrupting.”
He started to turn away, and Haris pursed his lips.
“Where exactly were you heading?” he asked, his tone deceptively casual.
“What?” Reza gave him a startled look.
“You said you were heading out this morning. Where did you go?”
Reza’s eyes flicked to Hena, then back to Haris. He slowly shook his head.
“I didn’t see anything, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Not an answer to the question,” Haris observed.
Reza frowned. “No offense, but I’m not sure why I need to explain myself to you.”
Haris didn’t respond, but his eyes didn’t leave Reza’s. Hena shifted. The tension vibrating between them was so thick she could cut it with a knife.
Reza was new. Sure, he was Khaled’s friend, but he wasn’t from their community. She understood Haris’s protectiveness. Before she could speak up, one of the officers did.
“We’ll be asking everyone where they were. It’s protocol,” Kraus told Reza. “If you don’t mind sharing where you were around eight this morning, it would be enormously helpful.”
“I was at Publix. Seven miles up the road. Grabbing groceries. I returned shortly after nine o’clock.”
“You were at the grocery store,” Haris repeated.
