Page 18 of Zale's Little Girl
Even after he left, time seemed to drag slowly. Finally, the door reopened. This time three people entered, the original officer along with a man and woman dressed in suits. The original officer hung back, leaning against the wall as the others took a seat in the chair on the opposite side of the table.
“I am Detective Moore, and this is Detective Wilcox,” the woman stated. “We’re going to review your statement with you before we have you sign it. If there are any additional details or any corrections, let us know.”
“You’re detectives? Does that mean you’re going to arrest him?” Pippa asked.
“Right now, we’re going over the report,” Detective Wilcox answered, revealing nothing. “Let’s start with how you applied for a job.”
They asked questions and jotted notes on the original statement. Pippa remembered some things she’d forgotten to tell them. Now, seeing tiny warning signs, she couldn’t believe how dumb she’d been.
As if he knew what she was thinking, Zale stated firmly, “You did not ask for or deserve any of this. His criminal intentions are completely his.”
“It is very clear that you are the victim here,” Detective Moore echoed before refocusing on the statement.
Finally, Detective Wilcox sat back. He handed the statement to the officer observing and asked him to update it and return for Pippa’s signature. When he had left, the detective stated, “Off the record, I will share that Jacob Scroggins, Jr. is no longer a patient in the hospital. The woman who he struck with his car contacted the police station and informed us yesterday afternoon that Mr. Scroggins had voluntarily funded the repairs on their van. They will not press charges. The ticket for causing the accident can be paid electronically if Mr. Scroggins does not wish to contest it. I expect he will choose to do that.”
“So, he’s gone. He gets away with keeping me captive in his car?”
“There is no evidence that links you to the accident. The responding MPs mentioned that there was possibly a passenger, but that they had not found that person at the scene or during a cursory search of the surrounding area. They did have a bloody zip tie as evidence, but that it was handed to them by a medicwho stopped to help. It’s dubious that it could be admitted into evidence in a legal proceeding.”
“What about the car? Can’t you see the grooves in the door handle? Most of those were there before I was in the car. He must have done this to more women,” Pippa pointed out.
“The car was towed from the scene and its whereabouts are unknown,” the female detective told them. “The Scroggins family is very powerful. We’ve investigated them in the past and they’ve skated free. You are very lucky to have escaped.”
“I should have come directly here,” Pippa said.
“That would have been better, but he would have skipped out even if you’d come in yesterday. By the time we’d been called in, chances are he’d have already left,” the male detective told her.
“So, what happens now?” Pippa asked.
“We’re going to gather every bit of information we can. I’m going to take pictures of your wounds and add them to your statement. We’re going to search for possible cameras along your route and see if they captured any images that can corroborate your report. The initial report mentions that the windows were tinted. That may obscure you, but if we’re lucky, we’ll find something. We will investigate this fully.”
“You know Pippa isn’t the only victim,” Zale stated bluntly.
“I cannot comment on any other active investigations or previous ones,” Detective Moore said.
Pippa knew she didn’t need to say more. Others had preceded her and would probably follow her. She shivered at the close call she’d had.
“I’m figuring you can protect Ms. Twinner,” the male detective stated. “We do not know if Scroggins has left the area or if he has any associates here.”
“Pippa could still be in danger,” Zale guessed. “Can you help her recover her ID? That would allow me to take her on base. She’d be safer there.”
“Yes. We can assist with that. We will also alert the local authorities as a routine professional courtesy,” Detective Wilcox said.
Reading between the lines was easy. The two detectives were going to do what they could to ensure no one else was taken, like Pippa. She crossed her fingers under the table, hoping that the criminals would be stopped.
When they walked out with a printed copy of her driver’s license, Pippa scanned the parking lot. The thought that the man who’d abducted her could still be lurking in the area was scary. Zale put his arm around her and hugged her to his side.
“We’re going to the base now that we have your ID.”
“I thought you took a personal day,” she asked, looking up at him.
“I did. I have an idea. Let’s talk about it on the way,” Zale suggested, helping her into the car.
When he slid behind the driver’s wheel and closed the door, Zale pushed his seat as far back as possible. Not understanding what he was doing, she leaned away as he wrapped his arms around her.
“I need to hold you, kitten. Do you need a few hugs?” he asked quietly, not forcing her to allow him to scoop her up.
Pippa crawled eagerly onto his lap. She rested her head on his chest and sighed with relief as his powerful arms wrapped around her. The sound of his steady heartbeat under her cheek helped her relax. As the tension ebbed from her shoulders and upper back, Pippa realized how tense her muscles were.
