Page 52 of State of Retribution

“It’s okay.Harlowe knows you’re trying to help.”Archie shook Dr.Trulo’s hand.“Thanks for coming, Doc.This is above and beyond.”

“Happy to do whatever I can to help.”

“This way.”Archie led them to the living room, where Harlowe was on the sofa, covered by a blanket.

Sam noticed the bruises on Harlowe’s pretty face had darkened to a deep purple since Sam had seen her in the hospital.

Harlowe eyed them with trepidation.

“Harlowe, these are my colleagues Lieutenant Holland, Detective Cruz and Dr.Trulo.”

“Th-thank you for coming.Archie says you’re good people.”

They took seats facing her.

“He says the same about you,” Sam said.“We’re very sorry you were hurt in our city.”

“Thank you.”She folded and unfolded her hands, as if she wasn’t sure what to do with them.“I think, before this, I was happy, but I can’t really remember.”

“You were,” Archie said.“You’d made some nice friends and were enjoying your job and yoga classes.”

“I wish I could remember that.”

“I’ll bet your body would remember the yoga,” Dr.Trulo said.“When you’re feeling up to it.”

“Will the rest of my memory ever come back?”

“I can’t say for certain, but it often does when it accompanies a traumatic brain injury.I understand you suffered a concussion.”

She nodded and then winced.“My head still hurts when I move around too much.”

“That’s to be expected after a concussion.As you heal, you’re apt to remember more.”

“Is it possible that I won’t?”

“That happens sometimes, but it’s rare.”

“I’m afraid of what I might remember.”

“What’s the last thing you do remember?”Sam asked.

Harlowe thought about that.“I think I did something with my friend from yoga.”She brightened when she seemed to recall something new.“I decided to walk home because it was the first night that wasn’t freezing.”She paused, frowning as she seemed to struggle to come up with more.“I don’t remember anything after that until I was in the hospital.”

“What part of your head was hurt?”Sam asked.

Harlowe reached up to touch the back of her head.“Here.”

Sam exchanged glances with Freddie.“Do you recall where you went for dinner?”

“I… I don’t remember the name of the place.”

“Joe and Deb might know,” Archie said.“He’s my softball friend, and his wife is Harlowe’s friend from yoga.We met at a party at their house.”

“Do you mind asking them?”Sam said.

“I’ll text them.”

“Would it be possible for us to speak to Joe’s wife?”Sam asked, feeling the buzz that came with a possible breakthrough on a baffling case.

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