Simone nods. “I’m scared, too. There are like a million things going through my head. What if he comes after me later for this? What if I ID the wrong guy? What if he sees me?”
June gives a wan smile. One of her lips is split. He must have gotten a punch to her mouth. “Yeah. That’s what’s going through my head.”
“But we don’t want this to happen to anyone else,” Simone adds. She sounds so level-headed and strong. Brave. She’s sitting tall. Her voice is not wavering. The Little girl who was freaking out in the car is gone now that we’re about to enter the room where she will identify her attacker. The same man who attacked June last night.
Maybe Simone is moved by June’s injuries and it has given her strength. No matter what, she’s present and willing.
It shakes my foundation that I know June. It would be easier if she were a nameless, faceless victim we had not run into. But she’s a real person. A woman who took my classes and did well in school. I don’t know what she does now, but she didn’t deserve what happened to her. No woman does.
Simone is talking softly, and June is nodding at whatever she says. She sits taller and takes deep breaths.
“I’ll go first,” Simone declares, standing.
Someone stops Colton in the hall, and he moves down the corridor with them, talking.
The officer who was with June was called away while Simone spoke with her.
Blade looks at me. “I’ll wait here with June.” There’s no one else at the moment. She needs someone. Whether she’s Little or not is irrelevant. Blade is the perfect person to sit with someone who has been hurt. He can do so without letting his emotions get involved.
Blade takes Simone’s seat. He’s a big guy. Six-three. Even sitting doesn’t make him look any smaller.
June looks nervous. I wonder how she got here and if she came straight from the hospital. Why isn’t anyone else with her?
A door opens next to us, and another officer leans out. He glances around before meeting Simone’s gaze. “Simone Lighton.”
“Yes.”
The man steps back. “Come on in.”
I enter the room with her, my hands on her shoulders. I’ve never been through anything like this, so I’m little help as far as what to expect. But it looks pretty straightforward.
The officer introduces himself and explains the process exactly as Colton did in the car. He’s very kind and ends by saying, “Take your time. There’s no rush.”
I continue to stand behind Simone in the center of the one-way glass. She’s trembling as five men are brought in. They take their places along the white wall. Height markings are on the wall behind them. I’m shocked by how similar they look. In addition, it didn’t occur to me until now that Simone’s assailant not only had his face gouged by her but also by June last night. So, four of these men are wearing makeup to make it look like they also have scratch marks.
I say nothing. I don’t want to interrupt Simone. She’s breathing heavily, and she sets her palms on the windowsill.
“No rush, ma’am,” the officer repeats.
Simone’s gaze moves back and forth slowly. She’s taking this very seriously. I would expect nothing less. She can be sassy and jovial when the situation allows, but she can also be stern when necessary. She was always serious about her schoolwork and tests.
“So much pressure,” she murmurs. “What if I’m wrong?”
“It’s best that you only identify someone if you’re sure. If you’re not, don’t say anything,” the officer tells her.
The men are all wearing jeans, dirty white T-shirts, and tennis shoes. They all have short-cropped brown hair and day-old beards. I don’t honestly know how the hell anyone could pick one of them out of a lineup.
After several minutes, Simone’s breathing pauses.
I hold her shoulders tighter, saying nothing.
She turns her head to look at the officer and exhales. “It’s number two.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.” She looks back through the glass. “He’s the right size and build, but also, he’s the only one with a unibrow. I remember staring at it when he got in my face.”
Wow. I’m impressed and so fucking proud of my girl.
