AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What happened?” Ellie asked.
“Caller had an intruder. Officer Timmons is with her now trying to calm her.”
“Is she hurt?” Ellie asked.
“Not physically, although she was hysterical when we got here.”
Derrick’s gaze swept the yard then the door. “Any sign of the intruder or another vehicle when you arrived?”
“No.” The officer shook his head. “Ms. Hooper said he ran off when she screamed.”
Ellie took a breath. “I’ll talk to her, Derrick. Call a forensic team and take a look around yourself.”
Derrick nodded and she went into the house. Officer Timmons was sitting on the couch beside the woman who wore a thin cotton robe. He looked flustered as if he had no idea how to calm her. Raggedy brown hair draped her shoulders, and her face was buried in her hands as she sobbed.
Ellie spoke to him quietly. “Let me talk to her. You can help search the perimeter with Agent Fox.”
“Okay.” Obviously relieved, he jumped up and practically ran toward the door.
Ellie slid onto the couch beside the young woman. “Hi, Beverly,” Ellie said softly. “I’m Detective Reeves. I’m so sorry you had an intruder.” Ellie handed her a tissue and Beverly twisted it in her hands. “I know you’re upset and frightened, but I want to help,” Ellie continued. “Now tell me exactly what happened.”
Beverly sniffed, wiping at her nose with the tissue. Red swollen eyes turned toward Ellie. “I w… was sleeping,” she said, choking out the words. “Then I heard a s… sound.” She gulped back another sob. “I woke up and h… he was just th… there,” she cried brokenly. “In my b… bedroom. Standing over me… watching.” She raked a hand over her hair. “Oh, God, he cut off my hair. Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out.” Ellie swallowed hard as she examined the jagged section where her hair had been chopped. The Southside Slasher had cut his victims’ hair. But he was in prison. Maybe this man was a copycat?
“You said he? So it was a man?”
Beverly’s brows rose and fell as she thought. “I… think so. I mean he was big… tall.”
“Did you see his face?”
She swiped at more tears. “No. He wore a black hoodie with his face covered by a mask. All I saw were his eyes through the holes. They were so mean. Like sinister cat eyes staring at me.”
Ellie rubbed Beverly’s back to soothe her. “That must have been scary. Did he say anything?”
Beverly shook her head. “No. I heard him breathing. Real fast like. Then I screamed and… he ran.”
Ellie surveyed the room and noted picture frames turned face down and magazines scattered on the floor. “Did you put those magazines there? And did you turn the pictures face down?”
Fear darkened Beverly’s tone, “No, he must have. But why?”
“Maybe he just wanted to frighten you. Or maybe he was going to steal something and when you woke up, you scared him off.”
“No… he was going to kill me,” Beverly whispered. “He had a knife and he… dropped it in my bedroom.”
“Did you touch it?”
“No,” Beverly said shrilly. “I ran in here to get my phone and call the police.”
“Good,” Ellie said. “I need to look around in there now.” She squeezed Beverly’s arm. “Will you be all right here for a few minutes?”
Panic flashed on Beverly’s face but she gave a little nod, then wrapped her arms around herself and backed into the corner of the couch.
Ellie gave her an encouraging smile, stood and walked down the hall. The space was dark except for the hall light, indicating either Beverly or the officer who first arrived on the scene had turned it on.
She pulled her flashlight from her pocket and shined it on the floor as she searched for evidence. The hall appeared clear. No footprints or signs of trouble. She moved onto the bedroom. The room was somewhat lit by the hall light. Just as Beverly said, the butcher knife lay on the floor.
Beverly was right. This guy was dangerous.
