Page 24

Detective Warren moves forward first, taking a seat on the couch opposite me. The living room is the biggest room in the house. Trina says that’s important because it’s the space you should spend most of your time in. With the two detectives here, it feels a little cramped.

“As I said, my name is Detective Warren. This is my partner, Detective Thane.” He glances at him.

He’s still standing in the same spot he’s been in since I exited my bedroom. It’s silent, and he keeps his gaze on me for another long moment before finally walking over to the couch and sitting beside his partner.

Detective Warren looks at me. “Thank you for speaking with us. We’ve been trying to track you down to ask you some questions. Can you tell us—”

“Why are you running?” the other one blurts out in a tone that tells me it was meant to be firm, maybe slightly fresh, but he didn’t hit the mark.

“Because I was scared,” I answer.

“Of what?” Detective Thane asks.

I pick at the skin around my nail, trying to push away the nerves. Trina is here with me. These men don’t feel like they’re here to hurt me. I just need to give them the honest truth so they will leave me alone.

“I found someone who was close to me, who I've known most of my life, bleeding to death on his kitchen floor. Wouldn't you be scared?”

His jaw tightens, but he doesn't respond.

Detective Warren leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Raewyn, can you tell us what happened when you went into Theodore's house? From the beginning.”

I glance at Trina, who's sitting in the chair she pulled over from the kitchen. She’s close enough that I feel her comfort, but far enough away that she’s not impeding. She gives me a reassuring smile.

“I was delivering his food rations, like I do every morning. He didn't answer the door, so I went inside. He always told me I could leave his basket in the kitchen if he wasn't home.”

“And that's when you found him?” Detective Warren asks.

I nod.

“Was he already dead?” he adds.

My throat tightens.

“No,” I whisper, my voice coming out raspy. “He was still alive.”

Both detectives straighten, and Warren’s eyes narrow slightly.

“Did he say anything to you?” Detective Thane asks.

I shake my head. “He tried, but I couldn't understand him.”

It's not entirely a lie. I didn’t catch anything he said, other than when he told me to run, and they didn’t ask if he gave me anything.

“What happened next?” Detective Warren asks, once again shifting on the couch.

“I heard someone coming, and I got scared.”

“Who?” Detective Thane demands.

“I don't know.”

“Did you see them?” he adds.

My stomach twists.

I did. And I saw their badges.

But I can't tell them that. They could be working together. If they’re involved, the last thing I want to do is let them know that I know their secret. The entire reason they’re here could be to see if I saw anyone in the house. I can’t give that information away. It could be a death-sentence.