“No, you said that with—”
But Tessa plowed on before he could protest. She was so close now. She could sense his resolve crumbling with each new lie she told. “I want to dance with you, Blair. Just you and me. It’s not too late. Untie me so we can dance.”
THE INTERROGATION
(FRAGMENT 10) December 31, 2016 9:17 p.m.
Case #: 124.678.21–001
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF POLICE INTERROGATION
—START PAGE 10—
INVESTIGATOR: We’re almost done, Tessa. I’m resuming with the next message in the thread. Are you OK to continue?
HART: Please just get it over with.
INVESTIGATOR: I’ll go as fast as I can. I know this isn’t easy for you. The next time stamp is 12:09 a.m. The message reads, and I quote:
“The last thing I remember, I was drinking at some party, and then I woke up in a room I didn’t know.” End of message.
“I don’t know how long I’d been lying there. It was pitch-black outside, and I couldn’t find the lights. I was still pretty woozy.” End of message.
“But I felt…him. I felt his presence. He never actually touched me, I don’t think. But I could hear his breathing next to me. Slow and even. I could tell he was asleep.” End of message.
“He had a very distinctive odor. Kind of like chemicals. It’s hard to describe.” End of message.
“That’s what I remember most about him. The smell. When I have flashbacks, it’s always with that smell.” End of message.
INVESTIGATOR: Tessa, can you give me any more details about the odor you were describing? You said it was a chemical smell?
HART: I don’t know. I think it might have been photo-developing chemicals, but I only realized that afterward. After I found the lights.
INVESTIGATOR: So you woke up in this dorm room, and you switched on the lights, and you saw—
HART: I don’t want to talk about the rest. I really, really don’t.
INVESTIGATOR: There are just a few more messages here that I need to get into the record. I’ll skip to the important ones. I’m resuming with the message at time stamp 12:15 a.m. The message reads, and I quote:
“Every single square inch was covered with photos. Just photos, everywhere, floor to ceiling. I couldn’t even guess how many. Thousands of them.” End of message.
“Pictures of me.” End of message.
“Dancing at the clubs…” End of message.
“Walking down the street…” End of message.
“And in my room too. In my own room. In my underwear. Asleep.” End of message.
“It wasn’t just my imagination. It was him. That whole time, he’d been—”
HART: Stop! Stop it. Please. Please stop. I don’t want to hear anymore.
INVESTIGATOR: OK. I have most of what I need now. Take a deep breath. I just have a few more details I need you to confirm. Am I correct that after you saw the pictures, you then fled the premises?
HART: Yes.
INVESTIGATOR: You did not get a good look at the perpetrator’s face. Is that correct?
HART: No. I mean, I don’t…I don’t think so. Maybe. I don’t know, OK? I don’t remember.
INVESTIGATOR: You never went to the authorities?
HART: Can we please stop? I don’t feel good.
INVESTIGATOR: We’re almost done, Tessa. Are you certain that the individual in New Orleans was the same person who held you captive tonight?
HART: Yes!
INVESTIGATOR: But you didn’t recognize him when he first approached you tonight?
HART: He had the rabbit’s foot. I didn’t know… I didn’t think… How is that possible? How could I not realize?
INVESTIGATOR: No one is blaming you for what happened, Tessa. You’re the victim here. I need you to remember that.
HART: I know. I’m trying.
26
SEE YOU LATER
Blair cupped Tessa’s elbow to keep her upright as she rose from the chair. He’d used his knife to cut through the cord around her upper body, but he left her wrists tied together. She looked up into his face, plotting her next move.
She could try to make a run for it, but she doubted she would make it to the door. No, she needed to bide her time, wait for the right moment. If he figured out she was lying to him before she could get free, he might lose it completely. And he still had the butcher knife clutched in one hand.
“Blair,” she said, glancing down at the eight-inch-long blade. “Do you think you could put that down? It’s really big.”
His face had softened before, when she told him she wanted to dance, but now she saw him tense and pull away. “I don’t think so, Tessa.”
She hadn’t won his trust. Not yet. She still needed to tread carefully. Tessa kept her voice light and cheerful as she took a tiny step in his direction. “Well, try not to stab me by accident, please. My mom will kill me if we get blood all over the upholstery.”
He chuckled, but he still held the knife as firmly as ever. “I would never hurt you, Tessa. You know that.”
She nodded and forced herself to smile. Now what? Maybe she could get her phone somehow. He must have slipped it into his own pocket after he took it from her. Was it that bulge in the front pocket of his jeans? But then the only way for her to get it would be to… No way. She couldn’t even finish the thought. Just the idea of dancing with him made her skin crawl.
“Should we put on some dance music?” he asked, grinning at her playfully. “A little bird told me you like ‘Snowflake.’”
“No!” Tessa drew back at the suggestion. Not “Snowflake,” she prayed silently. She couldn’t bear to ruin that song with this memory. Not that she’d be in a position to remember much of anything if she didn’t get help soon.
If she couldn’t get the phone, then she would have to scream for help. But not in here. Somewhere Dr. Regan would be sure to hear her. Outside somewhere. How could she get him outside?
Blair eyed her skeptically. “I thought you liked that song.”
He reached out to touch her hands, and she shied away in spite of her best efforts. “Sorry,” she said, stumbling a step backward. “I do. It’s just… I’m just… I think I’m going to sneeze!”
The new idea came to her, triggered by the overpowering fragrance that swirled in her direction. Tessa covered her face with her hands and faked a sneeze. Then another, and another.
“Are you OK?”
“I think it’s allergies,” she said, sniffling. “It might be all the cologne.”
“Cologne? I wore this for you!” The knife blade glinted dangerously as he threw up his hands in frustration. “I went and bought a whole bottle of this stuff. Honestly, I can’t win with you!”
“No, no!” Tessa backpedaled, keeping one eye on the knife. “I love it. That was so sweet and thoughtful. It’s just a little strong.” She sneezed again. “I think fresh air might help. Maybe we should dance outside? Under the moonlight. Oh, Blair, it’ll be so romantic!”