They started with basics and she automatically answered the easy questions like her name, date of birth, and address. She showed her boarding passes for her flights and the Paduskys’ name and address. She tried to focus, but her gaze kept flicking toward the car parked in the wrong spot.
“My suitcases.” She groaned. “I hope they’re still there.”
“Excuse me?” Coben glanced up from his clipboard.
“My suitcases. And my purse. They’re out by the curb, behind that car that’s illegally parked. I was looking for a taxi when that man was shot.”
He snapped his fingers and gave an order to another. “We’ll get them for you.” He cleared his throat. “Tell me what happened.”
She did even though there wasn’t much to tell. She recounted every detail she could remember.
“You didn’t see the shooter?”
“No. I didn’t even think about the shooter, which was probably really stupid.”
“So you didn’t position yourself in any specific way?”
She frowned. “I was focused on whoever that man was. It didn’t even occur to me that the shooter could still be around until I had been with him for a couple of minutes. If someone was going to shoot me with an arrow, they had plenty of time.” She paused. “What do you mean by position myself?”
“We suspect the shooter was on the roof, and the way you positioned yourself, it would have been difficult for them to take another shot. You were blocking the target.”
Her brows rose. “Well, that was helpful, I assume, but completely unplanned.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“I already told you everything that happened.” Bryn was suddenly exhausted. “Lars. He wanted Lars, who I assume was the warrior man that took him away.”
“Warrior man?” That earned her a faint lift of his eyebrow, but he kept writing.
She snorted. “He reminded me of a wrestler that my dad used to like. The Ultimate Warrior. It was the first thing that came to mind.”
He chuckled. “Well, I’m sure Lars would be pleased to hear that.”
“Do you know who they were?”
Coben shifted in his seat. “We’re aware. They’ll take good care of him.”
“Do you know whoheis?”
He turned his full attention to her. “You don’t?”
“Should I?” Realization swept through her. “Do you think I had something to do with this?”
“Oh, no,” he held up his hand. “We’ve already cleared you. It was simply a question.”
“Who is he?”
The second officer arrived with her possessions. “Luckily they were close enough to the car that no one dared touch them.” He gave her a shrug. “But no luck on any ring. We’ll keep an eye out for it though.”
“Thank you.” His words echoed in her ears. “What would that car out there have to do with anything?”
They both ignored her question. Another group of officers motioned for the director.
“Excuse me, Ms. Matsen. I need to attend to this.” He ushered the second officer away.
Bryn frowned. “Do you at least know where they took him?”
Coben’s answer was careful. “Couldn’t say, ma’am. Probably to a private medical facility.”
