“Could you press the button, so that I can sit up a little more in the bed?”
“Of course.” Jenny adjusted the bed, as well as the pillow behind Leslie’s back, then waited quietly for her to begin.
“Brian and I didn’t really know each other all that well,” Leslie said. “We’d been corresponding through email for several weeks before we met and went out on a date. I liked Brian, and it seemed as if he really liked me. We were strongly attracted to each other, so we decided to spend some time together. Brian booked a two-night stay at the Copper Star, which was just far enough away from Phoenix to make it feel special, kind of a two-day getaway.”
“I remember seeing you when you and Brian checked in.”
Leslie’s eyes filled. She wiped away tears with the back of her hand.
“We both liked the hotel right away. You could tell it had been remodeled, but it still had a cozy historical feel. We went out for supper, but came back early. We wanted to be together, you know? So, after dinner, we went up to the room. Brian had drunk a little more than he usually did. He was nervous, I think. We were still in the first stages of a relationship.” More tears fell.
Jenny reached over, pulled a tissue out of the box, and handed it to Leslie, who dabbed it beneath her eyes.
“We fell asleep after we . . . made love. Everything was perfect until . . .” She shook her head. “I’m not exactly sure what happened. I remember something woke me in the middle of the night. I don’t know what it was, but at first I thought there was someone in the room.”
She dabbed at her tears. “The moon was out that night. The door to the bathroom stood open. I could see there was no one in there or anywhere else in the room.”
When Leslie didn’t continue, Jenny squeezed her hand. “What happened then?”
“I realized Brian was . . . was also awake. He was sitting up in bed, staring straight ahead. The next thing I knew, he was on top of me, gripping my wrists next to my head, pressing me down in the mattress. I-I told him to let me go, that he was hurting me, but all he did was laugh. Then he slapped me, and I knew I was in trouble. I tried to scream, but he covered my mouth with his hand.”
“You must have fought him,” Jenny said.
“I-I struggled. Somehow I managed to shove him off me. I ran for the door, but Brian . . . Brian was right behind me. I grabbed the pitcher on the dresser and smashed it over his head, but it . . . it didn’t stop him. He just whirled me around and shoved me back down on the bed.”
Leslie swallowed and dabbed at fresh tears. “Brian started hitting me over and over. Then he climbed on top of me and he . . . and he . . .” She glanced away.
“He forced you to have sex,” Jenny said, remembering the journal.
Leslie’s hazel eyes found hers. “Yes. I could feel his fingers wrapping around my throat, and I thought he was going to kill me.”
“How did you get away?” Cain asked. Jenny hadn’t heard him approach.
Leslie blew her nose. “I’m not exactly sure. When he started hitting me with his fists, I remember thinking I had to do something or I was going to die. I shoved him as hard as I could and jumped out of bed, but then I tripped and fell, and I guess I hit my head. That’s the last thing I remember.”
Jenny felt a burn behind her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Leslie.”
“I remember thinking this man . . . this man couldn’t be Brian. He was vicious and cruel. His eyes were like two black holes, and his features were twisted. He was trying to kill me, and I had no idea why.” Leslie started crying.
Jenny leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Whatever happened, it wasn’t your fault.” She thought about the journal. “Maybe it wasn’t even Brian’s.”
Their eyes met and held. “You . . . you believe me?”
“Yes,” Jenny said, and her own eyes welled with tears. “Take care of yourself.”
Leslie just nodded.
Cain was waiting when Jenny reached the door. He didn’t say anything, just took hold of her hand and led her back to the elevator.
Neither of them spoke on the way to the truck.
CHAPTER TWENTY
CAIN DROVE THE STEEP ROAD BACK UP THE HILL TOJEROME. IT WASstarting to rain, a rhythmic patter against the windshield that continued to build, forcing him to turn on the wipers. He was glad Leslie Owens seemed to be on the mend, but Jenny’s talk with the woman hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped.
He flicked a sideways glance to where Jenny sat rigidly in the passenger seat. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Jenny shifted to look at him. “You heard what Leslie Owens said. Brian’s attack was completely out of character. She said it was like he was a totally different man.”
