“Katie met me halfway back to our spot, and I told her to run. We both got onto her paddleboard, and she rowed us back. I left everything there. I couldn’t… I was too scared. What if he came back? I shouldn’t have left our stuff there like trash. Am I going to get a fine?”
I took Cammie’s hand and squeezed it gently. “You did everything just right, and your dad’s gonna be so proud of you. I’ll send some deputies to get your belongings. Don’t you worry.”
Young stepped forward. “Ruiz sent techs that way just before you got here. They can retrieve everything.”
“See, already being dealt with.” I patted her hand. “I need you to think really carefully. Can you describe the man who attacked you?”
Cammie’s eyes flared, panic setting in. “I-I don’t know.”
I met her gaze. “Squeeze my hand.” She did as I ordered. “I’m with you. No one’s going to hurt you. Just close your eyes and tell me everything you remember. There’s more there than you think. Was he bigger than you? What about his hair?”
“Dark, I think. There was dark hair on his arms.”
“Good. That’s really good, Cam. What about his build?”
Cammie’s eyes stayed closed, but she trembled beneath the blanket even though it was almost ninety degrees out. “Bigger than me. Really strong. And fast. I…I didn’t see his face. I didn’t want to. If I saw it, I was scared he would kill me.” Her eyes flew open, tears spilling over her lashes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see anything else.”
I laid my free hand over hers as her nails dug into my palm. “It’s okay. What you gave us helps. We’re going to do everything we can to find him.”
“Cammie!” Her father charged past Officer Williams, headed towards us. “Oh, God, are you okay?”
“I’m okay, Dad. Really.”
He pulled her into a hug. I stepped away but I couldn’t seem to move my gaze. Sobs wracked Cammie’s body as her father held her. The only thing I could see was my father holding Shiloh as EMTs inserted an IV. He’d had to lie on the gurney with her because she refused to let go of him.
Ruiz appeared to my left. “Boss? You okay?”
I shook my head and turned to him. “I’m fine. Do we have anything yet?”
“Nothing much. Techs think they found the site of the attack, but they haven’t found any sign of the attacker.”
I checked my watch. Whoever did this could’ve made it around the lake by now. “Has anyone come off the trails?”
“I don’t think so. No one has been able to leave the parking lot, at least.”
“Okay. I want two four-person teams. One takes the north side trail, the other the south. If he’s coming back out this way, I want us to get him. And check all the male onlookers’ hands. He could’ve slipped into the crowd.”
“You got it.” Ruiz looked up at me, trying to choose his words carefully. “I can take point if you need me to.”
My back molars ground together. “I’m fine. But thank you.”
Ruiz nodded hesitantly as if he didn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth. But I was fine. I had no other choice.
13
Everly
I washed down the last bite of my egg salad sandwich with a drink of my soda. I had a feeling Spoons would become the lunch spot I treated myself to whenever I needed a pick-me-up. I needed to bring lunch from home as much as possible, but today being the first day of my new job meant that I deserved a little treat.
A young woman who’d introduced herself as Jill gave me a warm smile as she stopped at my table. “Are you all finished?”
“I am. That was delicious. Thank you.”
“I’m so glad I didn’t steer you wrong. The egg salad is my favorite.”
I looked down at my empty basket as she picked it up. “You certainly didn’t, and the focaccia it’s served on is amazing.”
She beamed. “We make it right in-house.?