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“Anything about that stand out to you?”
“Nothing. To me, it was just another re-entry day, as we called the day I landed back on Oahu.”
“So she left. What then?”
I peered down the dark staircase, the events that unfolded next playing like a slow-motion movie in front of me. “I fell asleep. Was startled awake a few hours later when the exterior door opened. I thought it strange, since Piper usually came in through the main door. But I figured maybe she’d gotten back from the store and was going to join me for a nap. I mentioned something to that effect, but there was no response. So I got out of bed and went into the kitchen. Next thing I knew, someone swung a bat at my leg, then my head, knocking me out.”
“How long were you unconscious?”
“Roughly ten minutes. The doctors told me it was a miracle I survived, receiving only a concussion and a broken patella.”
Nikko hesitated, then softly asked, “What did you do when you finally regained consciousness?”
“This is all in my written statement.”
My voice pleaded with him, the idea of rehashing the last few moments of Piper’s life like a knife twisting in my heart. The same knife that pierced through my chest when I watched the final breath leave her body. It had been there ever since. Reliving it only dug it deeper into the wound that had never healed.
“Do you really need me to tell you again?”
“You might remember something you didn’t before.”
“I don’t.” My tone grew harsh, annoyed. I leaned toward him, eyes on fire. “I woke up and saw my sister lying a few feet away, a large gash in her stomach. A knife wound.”
“When did Claire arrive?”
“Obviously when I was unconscious. Earlier in the day, I’d texted to let her know I was home, but since she was taking a summer class at U of H, I didn’t think she’d come over until later, if at all. Unfortunately for her, that class was canceled.”
He nodded, pausing before asking his next question. “And Piper?” His Adam’s apple bobbed in a hard swallow, his own emotions breaking through. “Where was she?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to erase the image from my memory. But even dousing my eyes with bleach couldn’t remove it.
“In the bedroom. When I first woke up, I’d hoped she hadn’t yet returned from the store. That whoever assaulted me and Claire left. But then I heard noises coming from the bedroom of the rental unit.”
“What did you do next?”
“My knee was fucked, but I managed to drag myself across the room toward Claire. Checked her pulse and breathing. When I found a pulse, I dug through her purse for her phone. That’s when I noticed the small pistol she often carried.”
“And that’s when you called 911, correct?”
“Yes. I desperately wanted to get to the bedroom, but I knew Claire wouldn’t survive much longer, so I dialed 911 and dropped the phone, praying it was enough for the operator to send help.”
“So after calling 911 and grabbing Claire’s pistol, what did you do?”
“I dragged myself into the bedroom.”
“What did you see when you got there?”
“A strange man was on top of Piper on the bed.”
His jaw tightened, posture becoming tense. “How would you describe the man in terms of height and build?”
“A few inches shorter than me. Medium build.”
“Which was consistent with Caleb’s height and build.”
“Correct.”
“When you saw him on top of Piper, what did you do?”
