Tracy rushed to the medical unit. Ashley was propped up in bed, drinking a glass of water.
“Ashley.” Tracy ran over to her bedside. “It’s so good to see you sitting up.”
Ashley kept drinking, barely looking up at Tracy.
“Feel better?” Tracy sat down on the chair next to the bed.
“How should I feel?” Ashley turned her face slowly toward Tracy. “They’re taking me back to my room in a few minutes. Who knows what will happen then?”
Ashley seemed disturbed, and Tracy could certainly understand that.
“I’m so sorry this happened, Ashley, truly I am,” Tracy started talking quickly.
“I warned you, didn’t I?” asked Ashley, slowly turning her face toward Tracy. “You’ve done absolutely nothing to help me.”
Tracy wanted to tell Ashley about the visit to her family last night, but something stopped her. This certainly wasn’t the time to tell Ashley that her parents didn’t want her coming home. But thankfully, Hunter was now on the scene. He would help Tracy find a way to get Ashley out of here. Tracy wanted to wait until it actually happened before saying anything.
“Did you contact my family the way I asked?” Ashley said then.
“Yes, I did.” Tracy didn’t want to lie to her.
“Really?” Ashley could barely believe it.
“It’s too soon to say what will happen, though,” Tracy said lightly.
“It’s not true. You’re lying to me, aren’t you?” said Ashley.
“Not exactly,” Tracy replied.
“You either never contacted my family or they said they don’t want me to come home.” Ashley sat up straighter. “Nobody wants me, no one ever did.”
“I want to help you,” Tracy shot back. “And I have real help now, finally. We’ll get you out of here soon.”
“Not soon, immediately!” Ashley demanded. “And who’s your help, Aldon? You need a man? Can’t do it alone?”
Despite herself, Tracy felt stung.
“You’re weaker than I realized,” Ashley muttered to herself. “But me, I can get a job in a minute and take care of myself. I’ve held plenty of jobs in the past, I told you.”
Tracy thought of how Ashley’s family said she never could hold down a job. For a moment it was impossible to know which of them were telling the truth.
“My helper and I will be able to find a safe place for you to stay in,” Tracy assured her, ignoring the nasty remark.
Ashley smirked. Tracy could understand why Ashley didn’t trust her now and felt entirely alone. Ultimately, none of this mattered, though. Tracy needed more information about Ashley’s attack, and time was of the essence. She couldn’t afford to wait to ask until Ashley was in a better mood.
“Do you remember anything about the attack, Ashley?” Tracy asked in a soft voice. “Anything at all? Even a small detail would be so helpful.”
Ashley put her glass down and stared at Tracy. “Nothing,” she replied. “Why?”
Tracy was surprised. Ashley hadn’t been totally unconscious when she’d found her.
“You’re positive you remember nothing?” Tracy pressed on.
“What am I supposed to remember?” Ashley was miffed. “I was alone in my room, reading a magazine, and then the next thing I knew someone’s arms were around me and I was on the floor. After that everything went black.”
“Male or female?” asked Tracy quickly.
“I have no idea.” Ashley’s eyelids fluttered.
“I’m so very sorry,” Tracy breathed.
“But sorry isn’t enough, is it?” Ashley grimaced.
“Thank goodness you’re alive,” Tracy replied.
“No thanks to you!” Ashley added. “And right now, I’m still in danger. I feel it all around me, everywhere.”
“You’re not in danger,” Tracy continued. “You’re going to be guarded closely night and day.”
“I don’t want to be guarded night and day,” Ashley snapped.
Tracy wanted to give Ashley hope. “And besides, we have a suspect in custody now and physical evidence as well.”
Ashley looked dazed. “Who’s the suspect?” she asked, unbelievingly. “What’s the evidence you’ve got?”
Tracy didn’t know if she should say anything further. It could needlessly upset Ashley and besides, this was sensitive information she was dealing with. And none of it was as yet confirmed.
“We’re not ready to speak about it just yet,” said Tracy.
That was unacceptable to Ashley. “Tell me who!” She sat up more stiffly.
“I’ll tell you the moment I can,” Tracy promised.
“You won’t tell me!” Ashley was upset. “You’re playing games with me.”
“I’m just being careful,” Tracy insisted, as Ashley turned beet red.
“You don’t think I know that you have the knife with fingerprints all over it?” Ashley blurted out.
Tracy was stunned. How could Ashley possibly know a knife had been left behind if she hadn’t seen or remembered anything?
“What makes you think we have a knife?” Tracy jumped on it, not wanting to let Ashley see how disturbed she was.
“Because I know more than you think I know,” Ashley said between gritted teeth. “I always have, and I don’t like you treating me like some kind of fool. I told you I’m different from the others here.”
“I know you’re different, Ashley,” Tracy spoke in a confidential tone. “I’ve always recognized that.”
At that Ashley seemed to calm down.
“Whose fingerprints do you think are on the knife, Ashley?” Tracy quickly continued. “And why do you think the killer left the knife behind this time?”
“You’re trying to trick me again, aren’t you?” Ashley glared at Tracy. “You’re closing in on me.”
“Not at all,” breathed Tracy.
“Oh yes, you are.” Ashley looked stricken. “And I thought you were my friend.”
“I am your friend,” Tracy insisted.
“Some friend,” Ashley breathed.
The doctor walked into the room then. “Everything going okay?” he asked pleasantly. “We’ll be sending you back down to your room in just a few more minutes, Ashley.”
“I want to be alone right now,” Ashley said to him then, casting a cold glance at Tracy. “I didn’t ask for visitors, did I?”
The doctor looked at Tracy kindly. “Patients often prefer to be alone right after they’ve been wounded,” he said softly.
Tracy got up from the chair. “I’m sorry you were hurt, Ashley. I truly am,” she said, “but I am your friend. I want the very best for you.” Then she slowly left the room.
*
Tracy walked out of Ashley’s room shaking. A great deal here was amiss. There was no way Ashley could have heard that a knife had been left behind. That news had not yet been made public. Perhaps she had not been totally unconscious and had somehow remembered it? Ashley’s sudden bitterness toward Tracy disturbed her, as well as her saying that she’d held down many jobs. Her family had said that she couldn’t hold down a job at all. Either Ashley or her family was lying. Suddenly, Tracy didn’t think it was the family. Ashley’s story didn’t add up. If she’d been able to hold down a job and take care of herself, why would her family insist upon her being here?
Tracy decided to go down to the FBI offices immediately and talk it over with Aldon and Hunter.
*
The mood down in the FBI offices was festive. Everyone was overjoyed that Enid was being taken into custody and the case would soon be closed. A bottle of wine had been opened to celebrate and the news was being blasted all over the TV. Not only did FBI have a suspect, they had clear physical evidence, including fingerprints. But it had all happened too quickly and conveniently for Tracy. And it was also now strange to Tracy that Ashley was the only victim who hadn’t been killed. How had she escaped that fate?
“Tracy, come in.” Aldon ran to the door as soon as she arrived. “Here’s our star!” he announced to all in the room. “Tracy’s responsible for our discoveries.”
Tracy smiled to everyone, including Hunter, who was in the corner on the phone.
“I’ve got to speak to you alone, Aldon.” Tracy pulled him to the edge of the room.
“Any time, it’s my pleasure,” he laughed. “Take me anywhere you want alone, any time.”
“No, here’s fine,” said Tracy, soberly.
“Okay, what is it?” Aldon moved closer and gazed into Tracy’s eyes. “I hope you’re going to tell me that you miss me and have been thinking about the two of us day and night?” He smiled playfully.
“Enid didn’t do it.” Tracy moved a step closer. “You’ve got the wrong person in custody.”
“What?” Aldon looked blindsided.
“I’ve just come from speaking to Ashley,” Tracy went on. “She’s up and talking now.”
“Good,” he answered. “Thank God Ashley’s okay.”
“Aldon”—Tracy’s sense of urgency grew deeper—“I believe Ashley’s involved.”
Aldon looked bewildered. “Involved in what way?”
“Ashley knew that a knife had been found,” Tracy continued methodically. “There was no way she could have known that.”
“She must have remembered what happened,” Aldon replied.
“In the beginning she told me she didn’t remember a thing,” said Tracy. “And I pressed her about it.”
“So what?” said Aldon. “Ashley went into shock after she was attacked, blocked out what happened. Later on memories come back and then drift away. You know that better than anyone. Part of her saw what happened, part forgot.”
“That’s not it,” said Tracy grimly, holding her ground. “Ashley knew exactly what happened, I’m positive of that. She was trying to throw me off track by saying she didn’t remember anything. Then she suddenly got mad at me and blurted everything out.”
“Mad about what?” asked Aldon, disconcerted.
“She was mad that I hadn’t gotten her out of the hospital yet. Now she blames me for everything,” said Tracy.
“Tracy!” Aldon put both of his hands firmly on Tracy’s shoulders. “You’re obsessed with Ashley and it’s getting worse.”
“I’m not obsessed with her.” Tracy tossed his comment aside. “I’m obsessed with finding the right killer.”
“And now you think it’s Ashley?” Aldon was stunned.
“I know it for a fact!” Tracy insisted.
“You’re obsessed and you’re not thinking clearly.” Aldon looked alarmed. “We have the weapon with Enid’s fingerprints on it. We also have the letter that warned of another killing. It was written in Enid’s handwriting! You can’t discount that.”
“But I do discount it,” Tracy exclaimed. “None of it adds up! Why would Enid write a letter warning of another killing and then hide it in her own file?”
“You’re the psychologist, you tell me.” Aldon wasn’t budging an inch.
“It’s all a huge detour, designed to take us off track,” Tracy insisted. “Every step was planned out carefully.”
“Stop it!” Aldon demanded. “This is making you crazy. You’re denying reality.”
Tracy felt a deep, sinking feeling. So far the evidence was definitely against her, but she’d get to the truth, nevertheless. There was other evidence waiting somewhere and Tracy would find it. She had no other choice.