Divine Evil

badly damaged and her eye.” He waited until Clare pressed her lips together and nodded. “There're some internal injuries and a lot of bruising around the throat. Clare, can you tell me how hard you hit her? How far the impact tossed her?”
    “They asked me all that.”
    “Tell me.”
    “It seemed like kind of a bump. I was nearly stopped. I thought I'd be able to stop in time. I swung the car hard,to the left. I swear, it felt as though I'd be able to stop. But then, when I got out of the car, she was lying there, and there was blood.”
    Cam's eyes narrowed. “She was right beside the car?”
    “Yes, she was almost under the damn tire.” She pressed a hand to her mouth. “I didn't know what to do. She begged me to help her.”
    “She talked to you?”
    Clare only nodded her head and rocked.
    “Okay, take a minute.” He put an arm around her shoulder, pressed a kiss to her temple. But he was thinking quickly. “Do you want some water?”
    She shook her head. “I'm okay. It's only that I keep seeing her, in that instant she was caught in my headlights.”
    He would question her about that as well, but he wanted to give her time. “Just listen. The intern on E.R. duty said her clothes were torn. There were leaves and twigs stuck to them and tangled in her hair. The bruises on her neck indicate attempted strangulation.”
    “But… ”
    “You said she ran out of the woods. Would you be able to show me where?”
    “I won't forget it anytime soon.”
    “Okay.” He smiled, noting some color was seeping back into her cheeks. “I'd like to take a look at your car before I take you home.”
    “I can't go. Not until I know.”
    “You're ragged out, Slim.”
    “Not until I know.” She took a deep breath before she turned to look at him. “She was running away from someone. It didn't click in before. I was so scared. I didn't want to move her, but she tried to climb into the car. She was terrified, Cam. The pain must have been awful for her, butshe was actually trying to crawl into the car. She said we had to get away before they found us.”
    He brushed a kiss over her brow. “I'm going to find you a bed.”
    “No, I don't want-”
    “That's the condition, or I put you in the car and take you home. You need to relax.” He sighed. “Clare, we'll have to take a blood test. For alcohol.”
    “Alcohol?” The color faded again. “Christ, Cam. I hadn't been drinking. You know. I'd just left-”
    “Slim, it's for the record.” He took her rigid hand in his again. “For your own protection.”
    “Right.” She stared up at Leno, hooting over some sophisticated joke. “Do what you have to do, Sheriff.”
    “Fuck that.” He wanted to shake her, but she looked as though she'd rattle apart at a touch. Patience, he warned himself. He wished it came easily to him. “Clare, I'm here to help you. There's a procedure, a necessary one. I'll make it as easy on you as I can.”
    “I know. Sorry.” But she didn't look at him. “I'll cooperate. Just tell me what you want me to do.”
    I want you to lean on me again, he thought. “I want you to take the test. Try to relax. Try to trust me.” She didn't respond, but she did look at him. “And I need you to give me a statement.”
    “Oh.” She turned away again. “As a friend or as the sheriff?”
    “I can be both.” He took her face in his hands and turned it back to his. “Don't pull back on me, Slim. I'm getting used to you.”
    She pressed her lips together, afraid she would blubber and make things worse than they already were. “Are you going to leave after you get the statement?”
    He studied her, brushing his thumbs gently over hercheekbones. “I figure you've had a rough night so you're entitled to one stupid question. But that's the last one.”
    As the relief worked its way through her, she nearly managed to smile. “I probably wouldn't think of any more if you'd just hold my hand for a while.”
    He cupped it in his. “How's that?”
    “Better.” She leaned her head against his shoulder and shut her eyes. “Lots better.”

Chapter 16
    S HE MUST HAVE DOZED OFF . When Clare dragged herself out of sleep, her heart was racing. The dry, sour taste of fear coated her mouth as she scrambled to sit up. For a moment, dream struggled against reality, and the hard table with the gauzy curtain surrounding it became a coffin, the image screaming through her brain.
    Then she remembered Cam leading her back through the E.R., into the little