The paramedics were walking back to the ambulance when light suddenly illuminated Lexi’s front yard. Everyone’s focus turned to where her porch light, along with a few others inside the house, were now working. Everyone’s except Trevor’s.
Not caring about the lights, he took the opportunity to get a better look at Lexi’s condition. Her hair was bedraggled and her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. He saw the bruise on her right cheek the paramedic had mentioned and wanted to put his own fist through her attacker’s front teeth.
“Found the issue with the lights,” a voice called from the side of the house, pulling his attention away. They all waited as one of the officers came walking out from the shadows, flashlight in his hand.
“Someone cut somethin’?” Derek asked.
The older officer shook his head. “The main disconnect from the outer box was pulled.”
****
“That explains why noneof the breakers were tripped,” Lexi said quietly.
When Trevor looked down at her, she answered his unspoken question. “I’d just gotten out of the shower when the power went out. I grabbed a flashlight from my nightstand and went downstairs to check the breakers.” She shrugged a shoulder. “It’s an old house, and sometimes when I blow dry my hair, one flips and I have to go reset it.”
“What happened after you checked the breakers, Lexi?” Eric asked, pen in hand.
Only then did she notice it and the notepad in Eric’s hands. “Right. You still need my statement.” She gave him a small smirk and added, “Seems like we just did this, Detective.”
Derek’s brother responded with a sympathetic smile. “Yeah, we really need to break this habit of yours.”
Taking a deep breath, Lexi began to tell them all what happened. “So, I came downstairs and checked the breaker. When I realized none had been tripped, I walked over to the window...”
Her voice trailed off for a second as she glanced at the gaping hole where her window used to be. The memory of her being lifted and flying toward Trevor had her heart racing again.
“Can we just do this tomorrow, Eric?” Trevor grumbled. “I’ll bring her down to the station, and...”
“No!” Lexi snapped out of it. “I’d rather do it now, and then just forget it ever happened.”
Trevor looked down at her, his dark brows turned inward. “You sure?”
She nodded and began speaking to Eric again. “I checked the breaker then went to the window. I wanted to see if the neighbors’ lights were off, too. I thought maybe there was a power line down somewhere, or something. I noticed Mrs. Siemens’ porch light on and then glanced down both sides of the street to the other houses. That’s when I started to get an uneasy feeling.”
“What did you do, then,” Eric asked quietly.
“I checked to make sure the front door was still locked, which it was, and then turned and started to go into the kitchen to check the back door. That’s when I saw him.”
“Can you describe him for me?”
“He was tall. Much taller than me.” She gave a silent chuckle. “Of course,everyone’smuch taller than me.” Eric smiled back at her, and so did Trevor and Derek. Trevor’s seemed forced, though, and she hated that.
“Anyway, he wasn’t quite as tall as Trevor...I’d say he was more about your height,” she motioned to Eric. “He was dressed in all black and had on gloves and a stocking cap. And he was strong. I remember thinking how solid his muscles felt as I tried to fight him off. A shiver raced down her spine and Trevor drew her closer to him.
“Okay,” Eric said softly. “Let’s back up a minute. Tell me what happened after you saw him.”
“I screamed. At least, I think I did. I spun around and ran for the front door. He grabbed me from behind, and I began to fight.” She tilted her head up so she could see Trevor better. “I fought as hard as I could. I even got loose at one point.”
Trevor’s mouth tilted up a little as he began gently rubbing his hand up and down her arm for comfort.
“Tell me about that. How did you get loose, and what happened after?”
“I took advantage of being short and rammed my elbow back into his crotch as hard as I could.”
Derek groaned and grimaced, and Eric’s brows creased slightly at the thought. Pride filled Trevor’s expression, which put her slightly at ease.
“The man’s hold loosened and I managed to duck underneath his arm and slide out from his grasp.”
“Smart,” Eric nodded with approval.
