Sweet Arrest by Jordyn Tracey Page A

still fresh in her mind. It might give us more to go on."
    Connor nodded. “Fine. Go ahead, but make it fast.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “If she cries, the interview is over."
    "Damn, Connor. She's had a rough time. Of course, she'll cry.” Carl's eyebrows shot up, a look of disbelief in his expression. “One would think you were in love with her, but that can't be. You've just met."
    "Just question her!"
    Connor leaned forward and brushed the hair from her face. His light touch caused her eyes to drift open again. She first looked at him and then Carl. Not giving a damn what Carl thought, he slipped his hand in A'isha's willing her to take some of his strength.
    "It's okay, baby. He just wants to ask you a few questions,” he encouraged her. “If you tell the detective all you can remember, it will help us catch this guy."
    "Woman,” she whispered.
    Carl's eyes narrowed. “Come again?"
    She drew in a shaky breath and tried to sit up. Connor pressed her down, but used the mechanism to raise the bed higher.
    A'isha went on. “It was a woman. She acted like she knew me."
    "What did she look like?” Carl's voice was too sharp, making her tremble. She nearly cut Connor's circulation off as she gripped his hand. He guessed she was afraid they wouldn't believe her, would think she had set the whole mess up. But that raw skin on her wrists wasn't staged. In some places, the rope had cut through, and she bled. From her wrist to half way up her forearms bruises discolored her skin.
    "I don't know what she looked like. She kept a blindfold on me the whole time. It wasn't until I got away from her that I got it off by scraping my face on the ground.” She began to sob. Connor stood, but she waved him off. “It's okay. Sh-She asked me about some papers. I didn't know what she was talking about. I have nothing of value at all. Nothing."
    Connor reached for her. He didn't care what Carl thought. He tucked her onto his lap and rocked her gently. “It's going to be okay."
    Carl was not to be put off. “You said you didn't recognize her, her voice. Could she be an old friend? She first struck at the bakery, which used to belong to your mother. Maybe she was an ex-partner or—"
    "Partner!” A'isha struggled out of Connor's hold. “Yes, my mother did used to have a partner. That was eight years ago. They had a falling out. Ma never said what it was about, but I just assumed she couldn't take Mil's baking anymore. The woman had no business being in my line of work. She couldn't cook worth a damn."
    Carl took down the information in his notebook. “Her name is?"
    "Mildred Servant.” A'isha rolled her eyes. “She was anything but. Loud and obnoxious. I can't believe I forgot her, but then she was ditzy. I don't believe she was involved. This woman couldn't have been Mil."
    Carl snapped his book closed. “You'd be surprised at the masks people wear. We'll find her. Don't worry.” After a few more questions, he nodded to Connor and left as quietly as he had entered.
    * * * *
    A'isha's injuries weren't great, just the bruising and somewhat sore muscles, but Connor wouldn't allow her far from his side. He assisted her up the stairs to his apartment and insisted she lay down. He made sure she was comfortable, and he hovered.
    She gritted her teeth and scowled at him. He offered an innocent look. “What?"
    "You know what!” she snapped. “Connor you're driving me crazy. I'm much better, still scared mindless, but not panicky and weepy like yesterday. You don't have to hover like a mother hen."
    "A'isha, if I had been doing my job, been on alert, this wouldn't have happened to you.” He lifted her chin and planted a kiss on her lips. “She could have—"
    "Don't.” She covered his mouth with a fingertip. “Could have but didn't. I got away. How I found the courage, I don't know, because I could have wet my drawers."
    He burst out laughing despite the seriousness of the situation. “Your drawers?"
    "Yeah, drawers,