“I was startled and jumped back. Spilled my coffee.”
Her voice pitches higher, and her words come faster with her spiking emotions. “And he just stood there, staring at me. So cold. No life in his eyes. Terrified, I ran in the other direction. But then I slammed into her.”
“A female was with him?”
“Yes.”
“Was she dressed similarly?”
“Identical.”
I scribble a reminder on my notepad to circle back to the clothing before we go. “What happened when you collided with her?”
“She had a totally different vibe than him. She seemed much kinder, even grabbing my shoulders gently to steady me. The mask had a mouth hole, and she smiled at me. Not a sneer or smirk. An honest smile I found oddly comforting. I’ll never forget it. Plus, her tone was soft and friendly. Although her grammar made her seem somewhat uneducated, she genuinely seemed kind. It was baffling.”
“What did she say?” Andrews asks, unable to resist sating his curiosity.
Mrs. Ross’s eyes narrow into thin slits. “I don’t remember her exact words, but they were all reassuring. Making it seem as if nothing was wrong. Looking back, I wonder if that was her role in their littleBonnie and Clydeduo. Keep me calm while he did his thing. Whatever that was.”
Despite my frustration with her glacial pace, I let her take all the time she needs.
Considering patience isn’t my forte, this is the worst part of an investigation for me. Over the years, I’ve honed the necessary skill. Not only do the victims deserve to be heard, but sometimes there’s gold in their ramblings.
I still fucking hate it, though.
“Anyhow, her demeanor did the trickinitially. I stood there like a statue. Didn’t even scream.” Her nostrils flare with a deep inhale. “That changed, though. He pressed himself flush against me from behind. Not sexually. It was dominant. It snapped me out of the paralysis, and I shoved her out of my way and tried to run. But he trapped me in a bear hug. He was so big and strong, and I couldn’t…” Her voice cracks.
I exchange a look with Andrews while she fights to hold back her tears.
“He threw me onto the floor, face down, and I banged my knees and elbows.” She points to a spot in the middle of the living room. “Then she climbed onto my back and grabbed my arms while he went for my ankles to tie them. I kicked backward and heard him grunt from the blow. The bookcase clattered over, and he was cussing up a storm.”
“Hell of a kick you must have landed,” I muse.
She lowers her head and shrugs. “It was adrenaline and luck. I was fighting for my life and most likely got him in the family jewels.”
Andrews gives her a sympathetic pat on her forearm and a warm smile. “You did good.”
“I almost got free, but I couldn’t shake the woman off my back. She wrapped her arm around my neck to choke me. I scratched and tugged at her arms to no avail. Then he came and took over choking me. And he wassostrong. There was nothing I could’ve done to fight him off. Believe me, I tried until I couldn’t. I thought I was going to die.”
Her voice trails off, melting into whimpers and quiet sobs. My eyes catch on the fading bruises around her neck, which back up her story.
I shift back in my seat and skim the case file. I have follow-up questions, but given her current emotional state, they’ll need to wait.
Andrews passes her the box of tissues from the coffee table. Thankfully, he’s here to handle the touchy-feely shit. As I study their interaction, my clenched jaw softens. I should probably try some of that comforting shit.
Another day.
For now, it’s taking all I’ve got to not growl at her to get her shit together. Of course, I’d never let any of that show. She’s been through trauma, and this is hard for her. I’m not a total asshole. I only play one on TV.
Once she regains her composure, I resume questioning. “Right, so he was choking you, and then what happened?”
“Everything went black. I guess I passed out, and when I woke up, I didn’t know how much time had passed. My wrists and ankles were bound, and my mouth was taped.”
“That must have been terrifying,” I offer, trying to emulate my partner. “What happened next?”
“Initially, they didn’t realize I’d awakened. I heard them giggling in the kitchen, and believe it or not, I think they were kissing. Not a lot. Just a few quick ones in between breaking things. They were ransacking the house.”
Bonnie and Clyde reference makes more sense now.
