Chapter 6: Don't Open That Door

Dustin walked down the hall toward us.

"Officers," he said. "Thank you for coming so quickly."

"Mr. Doherty." The older officer didn't look relieved to see him. "Your sister says Mr. Stender was in her apartment all night."

"My sister," Dustin said, and his eyes landed on me, "has had a terrible weekend."

"Did you see Victoria's face last night?"

"I saw the bruise myself."

"At what time?"

"I got there at twelve thirty."

"And she told you he'd come at twelve ten."

"She did."

"There's a camera over this door," the woman officer said. "We're going to look at it now."

I stepped aside.

The two officers went to the end of the hall.

The building manager had come out in a bathrobe with a tablet.

They bent over it together.

Dustin kept his voice low.

"June. You're making this much worse than it has to be."

"How?"

"You're sheltering a man who has hurt her."

"He hasn't hurt her. He hasn't touched her."

"I saw the mark."

"Did you see the mark on his jaw? Kent's knee put it there."

He flinched.

It was small, but I saw it.

"I'm trying to protect you," he said.

"From what?"

"From him." He lowered his head. "He's a drifter, June. He has nothing."

His voice was tight.

"He's done what a man like that does. He got close to the one person with something to lose."

"I have a hatchback and two hundred dollars."

"You have Dad's house."

I stared at him.

"I'm not the one who talks about Dad's money," I said. "Where are the statements, Dustin?"

He went absolutely still.

"I'll bring them by."

"Tonight."

"I said I would."

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