Julie swallowed and winced at the movement against her stitches. “Been better. However, I’m alive, and I guess that’s more than I can say for the other women.”
Jordan gave a slight nod in agreement. “So, do you feel like talking?”
Julie’s eyes left hers and landed on Susan's face. There was a slight tinge of red in her cheeks, and Jordan was alert enough to know that Julie didn’t want to talk in front of her partner. Jordan couldn’t blame her. Right now, the anger and hatred in Susan’s eyes were enough that she thought Susan possible of murder herself. Hearing the details would only aggravate the situation.
Jordan stepped over to Susan and held her gaze. “Listen, why don’t you and Matt grab some coffee? I got this.”
Susan looked as though she was going to refuse, but in the end, she let Matt drag her from the room. Jordan watched her leave then shut the door behind them quietly. She preferred the details of her conversation stay in this room. It wasn’t unlike reporters to lurk in hospital hallways trying to get the scoop.
Jordan pulled a small tape recorder from her pocket. She held it up to Julie and raised her eyebrows questioningly. “You mind if I tape this?”
Julie shook her head from side to side. Her lip quivered and she sucked her bottom lip into her mouth in an effort to hide her fear. She may have looked okay, but she wasn’t. She was sure she may never be okay again. She couldn’t close her eyes without reliving her attack, smelling her attacker, feeling him inside her.
Jordan pushed the record button. “Listen, we can stop whenever you want. We don’t have to get this all done today. If it gets to be too much, just stop me.”
Julie nodded.
She rewound the tape and played back what she just said to verify that the tape recorder was working. Jordan didn’t do notes. That seemed to make people uncomfortable and besides, most of the time, she couldn’t read her own chicken scratch. “Let’s go back to that night. Just try to remember as much as you can.”
“Okay.” Julie flinched subconsciously, the feeling of a cold wind ran through her. As much as she could remember? Better to ask her what she didn’t remember. The details were crystal clear. Remembering wasn’t the problem.
“Take me through everything that happened and remember, if at any point you need to stop, just tell me.” Jordan’s voice dropped an octave and had taken on a soothing quality. That was one thing that she used to her advantage. She could put people at ease, get them to open up. It made her invaluable as an interrogator.
“I was coming home from work late, so it was already dark. I remember how cold it was, so chilly for November. All I wanted was to be home in a hot bath. Normally, I walk home, but that night it was sleeting, so I decided to call a cab. The wait was ninety minutes.”
“So, you walked anyway?” Jordan broke in, feeling the need to calm Julie down. She watched her hands grow increasingly fidgety, and she could tell that already she was anxious.
Julie shook her head. “Yes. I remember thinking that I felt like someone was watching me, following me, but I was certain it was just my mind playing tricks on me. I should have listened to my gut.”
Jordan squeezed her hand. “It is hard not to look back and think that. Most people are born with a sixth sense that alerts us to that, but we aren’t trained to listen to that inner voice, to use it to protect us. Don’t chastise yourself for that.”
Julie smiled warily. “By the time, I finally figured out I wasn’t crazy, it was too late. He was already there. I remember trying to scream and no sound coming out. There was no one around to hear it anyway. I tried to run, but I stumbled and fell. Damn high heels.”
Jordan could hear her voice quiver, and it broke her heart. She couldn’t imagine what Julie was going through, had no way to comfort her. Instead, here she was making her relive the whole thing. “What happened next?”
“The pain, I remember the pain in my stomach and praying to God that my baby…that my baby was alright.” Julie tried to swallow the sobs threatening to escape, and every word shook as she spoke. “I’m sorry, it’s just…”
Jordan grabbed her hand again. “It’s okay. We can stop.”
“No.” Julie swiped at her eyes and took a drink of water. “I need to get this out, so I can start to heal.”
Jordan didn’t let go of her hand, and subconsciously she rubbed her thumb over Julie’s hand protectively. “He…he held me down on the ground with his knee. He cut my throat and then he…he…ripped my hose off and he…his…he…” Julie's voice disappeared, the memory paralyzing her ability to speak.
Jordan stopped her. She didn’t need to make her say it. Most likely, the tape would never be used as evidence, only for Jordan in her investigation. “Do you remember anything about him? Did you get a look at him?”
Julie shook her head. “It was too dark. I didn’t get a look at his face. I know he was tall and skinny, probably six or seven inches taller than me and not much heavier. But he was strong, freakishly strong. His voice was odd in a way. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
“You heard him talk?” Jordan asked, surprise evident in her voice.
“Yes. He asked me if I really thought I was special, and told me that I was a fucking bitch, and that I needed a penis to get pregnant.”
“Anything else?” Jordan leaned forward and pushed softly.
“No, that was it.” Julie’s hand was clenched around Jordan’s so tightly, she was starting to cut off the circulation to her fingers but Jordan didn’t pull away.
“So, what happened to scare him off?” Jordan knew, but any little bit of information could be helpful.
“I don’t know. I'm sorry. I passed out and when I woke up, I was here. I didn’t know what happened, that is until Susan told me. That homeless guy died for protecting me. It’s just not fair.” Julie’s lips were a narrow, thin line, and she bit back tears.
Jordan reached over and turned off the recorder. “I’m sorry to make you have to do that again. If there’s anything else you remember, even if it’s something you don’t think is important, let me know.”
A soft knock sounded at the door, and Jordan opened the door. She could see the silent question in Susan’s eyes, and she nodded. It had been hard, but Julie had given her everything she could. Now it was up to Jordan to find the killer. Given the lack of details, no DNA evidence and the number of people in Chicago, it somehow felt like looking for a needle in several haystacks.
Jordan looked back over her shoulder. Susan had already assumed her protective position at the side of Julie’s bed. Anyone could see they were united in their grief, agonizing over their loss and trying to build on the positive. Jordan knew, if at all possible, she would find justice for them and in doing so, hopefully give them much- needed closure to move on.
Chapter 10
Rebecca stood opposite the M.E., watching her make her first visual pass of Elizabeth Hudson’s body. They still had not located her husband, which hadn’t bothered Rebecca at first, but seemed eerily suspicious now.
There was a camera recording the entire process, and the M.E. noted every step of the autopsy.
Rebecca watched Sylvia study the body, noting every bruise, cut or other mark that appeared out of place. When she mentioned the pregnancy and subsequent loss of the child, Rebecca bit back tears. She couldn’t help but see the woman Elizabeth Hudson was just hours before, filled with energy and no doubt ecstatic about her upcoming birth. Now, she was a pale shadow of her former self, the blood that was once life-giving had been shed
