Page 52 of Scar

It washours before the fire was out. As soon as Tom escorted her over to the police line and informed an officer that the restaurant’s owner was there, Tally was taken down to the police station for questioning. Thankfully, they allowed Tom to go with her, even though he wasn’t a lawyer or an employee. It was at the police station that Tally learned the fire marshal’s prediction that the building would not be a total loss. The interior was done for, everything except the brick structure.

But there was hope of rebuilding.

Tally felt like she was on the phone with either Simone or her father between every line of questioning by the detective. A body was discovered in the alley behind the restaurant, along with a black town car.

Fear gripped her that it was her mystery man until she learned that the man’s hands had been speared through and his throat slit. After that, she had no doubt who hadkilledthe man. The question was why and if he had anything to do with her restaurant being set on fire. Additionally, where was her mystery man now?

She could not sense him anywhere. Would he have even followed her inside the police station? After her initial phone call to her dad, she was very surprised her mystery man wasn’t sticking to her more than usual. Wouldn’t her dad have ordered her bodyguard to watch her even closer now?

It was nearly seven in the morning by the time Tom and Tally were walking through her apartment door. The police had finally allowed her to go home. Should Tally be glad or offended that the police did not believe a blind woman could set fire to her own restaurant? At least, not without help? She could have done it. She didn’t—but she could have. The fact that the police hadn’t even considered her a suspect bothered her, which was messed up on so many levels.

Tally froze as she entered her apartment. She sensed the presence of someone but knew immediately it wasn’t her mystery man.

“What is it?” Tom asked from behind her, having nearly walked into her when Tally had stopped so abruptly.

Tally clicked her tongue, trying to locate the person. A small fearful gasp and tiny feet on her hardwood floor had her head turning towards her living room. Definitely not her mystery man. From the quick mental image she’d gotten of the person, they were short, like a child.

What was a child doing in her apartment?

Not sensing anyone else, like an adult, Tally called out, “Hello? I know you’re there. Come out please.”

Another gasp, this time more shock than fear. Then she sensed the boy standing up from his hiding place beside her couch. She kept her clicks low, so as not to startle the little boy. Because it was a boy. Either that, or a girl with really short hair.

“Jesus,” she heard Tom breathe out before hearing her apartment door close. “Tally, it’s a boy. He’s maybe six. Very thin and,” Tom lowered his voice as he added, “he’s very dirty.”

Tally had already guessed who the boy was from his smell, but Tom’s description confirmed it. “You’re the little boy who comes to my restaurant in the mornings for breakfast.”

The boy’s voice was small, “You know about that? But you’re blind!”

Right. She’d fakednotknowing about it so she didn’t scare him off. “I knew,” she confirmed gently. “And I’m not mad. I was happy to feed you. What’s your name?”

He hesitated before answering, “Grayson. Is this your house?”

“Nice to finally meet you, Grayson. I’m Tally and this is my friend, Tom. He’s married to my best friend, Simone.” Tally approached her kitchen, not wanting to scare the little boy by walking into the living room. “What are you doing here, Grayson? How did you get into my apartment?”

“The man with the scar on his face brought me. The one who brought me some of your food.”

Her mystery man. Grayson had specifically said that he had a scaron his face. The one her mystery man had shown her was on his neck. He had another? And it was on his face? Recalling the feel of the ragged skin running horizontally along his neck, Tally could only imagine what he’d suffered through to have received it. And he had one on his face too? Had he gotten them together?

“What man with a scar?” Tom’s question brought Tally back to the situation at hand.

“My bodyguard,” she said offhandedly to Tom. He’d followed her into the kitchen. “He works for my dad.” To Grayson who was still by the living room couch, she asked, “Do you know why he brought you here?”

“He’s shaking his head,” Tom said under his breath.

“I saw the man start the fire. I wanted to tell someone, but he caught me.”

“Your bodyguard started the fire?” Tom’s voice was much louder this time, angry. Like Tally had done something wrong.

“No,” both Tally and Grayson said at the same time. “Another man,” Grayson told Tom. He picked something up off of the coffee table and started to nibble on it. Tally clicked her tongue, specifically at the table. Something glass came back at her. Sniffing the air, she got a whiff of cheese and something salty. Maybe crackers? She was too far away to tell. “He was dragging me to his car…so I bit him.” That last bit was said with shame. “He hit me.”

She felt Tom rush past her and heard Grayson’s feet scurry away. Tom stopped, standing just inside her living room. “It’s okay, son,” he said in a low, soothing voice. “I just want to take a look. Can you show me where he hit you?”

Tom was standing between Tally and Grayson, so she wouldn’t have caught the motion if she tried.

Helpfully, Tom said, “He hit you on your cheek? Can I take a look?”

Grayson must have nodded because Tom started to approach again. Tally walked forward too, wanting to be closer if Grayson would allow it. Despite the fact that she’d been feeding him for months, she’d never interacted with him before.

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