“Okay, tell me what you remember from Friday afternoon,” Chuck said.
“During my last class of the day, I told my teacher I had a headache, and she let me leave early.” Ariel stopped and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Presley asked.
“I feel a little queasy,” she said and visibly swallowed.
“Do you want some ginger ale?” Presley asked. “Or we can ask your nurse for something for nausea.”
“I’ll try some ginger ale first. Can I have crackers yet?”
“I’ll check,” Presley said, and quickly left the room.
I thought Ariel would wait for Presley, but she continued telling her story. “When I leave school, I usually turn to the left, but I turned to the right that day so I could stop by the store on the way home. Anyway, I wasn’t far from the school when I got a flat tire. I stopped to change it but couldn’t get the lug nuts off. I called Mom first, but she didn’t answer, so I called Ink. While I was waiting for him, my phone rang. I assumed it was Ink and answered without looking at the screen. It was Elsie Nelson. She said, ‘Gotcha,bitch!’ right as something hit my windshield. The next part is a blur.”
“That’s okay,” Chuck assured her. “Just tell what you remember, even if you only remember parts of things.”
“We were just on vacation for spring break, and my grandfather must’ve left his knife in my car. I don’t remember seeing it or grabbing it. After something hit the glass, the next thing I remember is being out of the car and on the ground with Papa’s knife in my hand. A man came over and grabbed me by my shirt to pull me off the ground. I pushed up when he pulled, knocking him off balance. I think he hit me with something. But I’m not sure. This is where it gets blurry again.”
“You’re doing great,” Chuck said.
Presley stepped forward and placed several packs of crackers on Ariel’s bedside table. “Start slowly,” she said.
Ariel nodded and nibbled on crackers as she continued. “I kind of remember someone yelling, maybe someone else screaming. I’m not sure. I do remember my head felt like it was going to explode, and sounds were coming in waves. Like my hearing was fading in and out. I’m not sure how long that lasted, but the next thing I clearly remember is the man who attacked me on the ground with my Papa’s knife sticking out of his chest.”
“Did you recognize the man?” Chuck asked.
“No, I didn’t recognize any of them.”
“How many people were there?”
“I’m not sure,” Ariel said. “I thought it was just him until Ink got there. I watched a guy walk up and hit Ink with a metal pipe or something. That’s when Ink told me to run.” Ariel’s lip trembled as she turned her tear-filled eyes to me. “I shouldn’t have left you.”
“Aw, kiddo, no,” I said and nearly knocked Presley out of the way to get to Ariel. “You did exactly what you were supposed to do. Iwantedyou to leave me, and I’m glad you did. You got away, and that was all that mattered to me.”
Ariel nodded and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“If it makes you feel any better, your mom ditched me, too. You Calloway women are harsh,” I teased.
Presley inhaled sharply.
“What? Too soon?”
Presley wrinkled her nose. “Maybe just a little.”
“Ariel?” Chuck asked gently. “Are you ready to continue?”
She nodded and took a sip of her drink. “There’s not much more after that. Ink told me to run, and I did. A third guy appeared and grabbed me before I got to the trees, but I kicked his knee like Batta taught me. He fell, and I kept running. I don’t remember much after that.”
“Thank you,” Chuck said. “Your statement fills several holes in the timeline for us. I have a few more questions, and then I’ll be on my way. Is that okay?”
Ariel nodded, followed by a yawn.
“You said the unknown call was Elsie Nelson. How do you know it was her?”
“I guess I don’tknowit was her. When I answered, she said, ‘It’s Elsie. Elsie Nelson. Gotcha, bitch.’ I’ve talked to her on the phone before, and it sounded like her.”
“Do you know what she meant by that?” Chuck asked.
