Harper’s hand dropped.
“Hi, Cody. Harper.” Eastern’s voice was all business. “It’s nice to see you again, although I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances. This is Deputy Cally, another officer from the station. Cody said you were attacked in the alley behind the bar?”
She nodded. “Yes, but I don’t know if I’ll be much help. I didn’t see his face.”
“That’s okay. How about you tell us what happened.”
She took a breath, her chest rising and falling. When she didn’t say anything, Cody slipped his fingers through hers. Her gaze flashed up at him before switching back to Eastern.
“I went out there to feed Tommy and took a bag of trash with me. I’d just dropped it into the dumpster when I heard something behind me. I started to turn but someone grabbed a handful of my hair and shoved me against the wall beside the dumpster.”
Cody’s muscles tensed, and it took too much goddamn self-control to stay exactly as he was. To not show on his face the absolute fury that was alive inside him.
Her brows creased together. “He said something, but I couldn’t make out his words because my ears were ringing. Then Cody came out and he let me go.”
Eastern nodded while his partner took notes. “Size? Frame?”
“Big,” she said quietly. “Cody may know more. He probably got a better look.”
“About six-two. Wide shouldered and built.” His fingers tightened around Harper’s hand. “It was dark, so that’s all I got.”
“That’s helpful. Harper, do you know anyone who may want to hurt you?”
Her eyes widened. Only a fraction and only for a second, but it gave her away.
Yes. Someonedidwant to hurt her. But then, Cody already knew that because she’d alreadybeenhurt. She’d walked into his bar with a goddamn black eye the first night he’d met her.
“No one who knows where I am,” she eventually said, not exactly answering the question. “I don’t know if this is anything, but about a week ago, there were some muddy footprints on my cabin porch and some noises outside.”
Cody’s chest clenched. What the fuck? “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“It may be nothing. It could have been Ali. She usually starts the fire in my cabin shortly before I get home at night. Or someone staying in one of the other cabins. Or hell, a wild animal.”
Yeah…or it could have been the person who’d attacked her tonight.
Eastern looked like he wanted to push, but he didn’t. “We’ll look into it. A car is already patrolling the streets for anyone skulking around. We’ll also have a car do some rounds near the cabins. In the meantime, don’t go into any alleys by yourself. Try to stick to busy areas while out around town, and don’t walk alone at night.”
“Okay.” Her voice was low, almost defeated.
“Do you have a way to get home?” Eastern asked.
“I brought my car.”
“No,” Cody said.
At the same time, Eastern said, “Not a good idea.”
Harper frowned.
“After a head injury, you shouldn’t be driving. At least not tonight.” Eastern looked at Cody. “No signs of a concussion?”
Cody shook his head. “But I’ll still drive her home. Unless you want to stay here.”
Her brows shot up. “Here?”
“I have a spare room upstairs.”
She was shaking her head before he’d finished speaking. “I can’t do that.”
