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"Yeah I think I do" It’s so soft, I barely hear her over the rain hitting asphalt and the low ruers suddenly slide over my cheek, my nose, my jaw--covered in fresh stubble--until they find ely inti on in this woh I can’t stop the steady clileVery slowly, the shadow in front ofoveris shaky

And then she kisses htly sweeping acrossall the sa her face first It’s both unnerving and strangely liberating If she looks anything like her lips feel, then I’ht now

Finally she finds her place, her lips slightly parted as they gently work againstspell as they slip into ue I don’t even care about the rain or the cold or getting hoe to loosethis and I’m a suspicious person by nature So, I ball my fists and keep my arms to rasps the side of ive up on my mistrust and pull her intoher cal the shield of her umbrella with her The cold rain is a sehdeal Tires takeabout the tire" She’s s too I can hear it in her soft words

Withopen, I watch her silhouette round the car In one fluid motion, she folds her umbrella up and slides into the driver’s seat

And I’ what the hell just happened She doesn’t knohat I look like either We could pass each other on the sidewalk and we’d never know

Maybe that’s the point

Shaking my head, I dart back to hlystrange rets I hope regrets are the worst thing she ever has to deal with

True toainst thenals toward one of Portland’s richer areas A big part of me wants to turn off and follow her the rest of the way Just so I knoho she is

I have nal But at the last rets have a tendency to spread when you tie yourself to the wrong kind of person I’ve learned that the hard way

I hope she finds what she’s looking for

FOUR

Jane Doe

now

"I told you already; she’s not lying She doesn’t reirl’s eyes can see that!"

Dr Alwood’s harsh tone pullsnext to ainst a man with an olive coray at the terim expression, dusted with day-old scruff

"I have to doto catchWith a nod in my direction, he clears his throat

Dr Alwood turns and her scowl vanishes, replaced by a soft s a baby-blue blouse tucked under her white coat It doesn’t do much for her pallid complexion, but it’s pretty all the sa to its typical caled in this ongoing nightesture to the man, she introduces him "This is Sheriff Welles, of Deschutes County"

Thehis head forward and squeezing his eyes shut As if he has to regroup; as if facing me for more than that short period of time is difficult Maybe it is Based on what the s in and out of one down and the deep purple bruising has faded You can even see ain, whatever that limpseone to erto ask you a few questions" She casts a glare his way "Right, Gabe?"

His heavyset brow pulls together as he lifts his gaze to le fleck of gold or brown to break up the near-black color They draw me in and make me hold ations "Right"

Gabe Welles Of course, the sheriff knohat his name is Everyone knohat their name is I’m the only clueless one around here "I don’t kno much help I can be," I say, ained consciousnessmy eyes flicker to the clock to calculateforty-two hours ago I’ve regained nothing else

I still have no idea who I a raped and beaten I i, take any sort of pill or potion, to forget the traurappling with the recesses of , so I re much better than the last tiravelly voice that demands attention

"Gabe--I mean, Sheriff Welles--was the one who found you," Dr Alwood explains

My cheeks heat with color "How bad was I? I mean?" Was I on bloody, nad display for him to see? Do I even want to know if I was? It should be the least of ht churns my stomach

"I’ve seen a lot in my thirty-five years in the police force, butyou were in rough shape" He pauses to clear his throat "Dr Alwood has already infor that I thought , he pulls out a clear plastic package marked "Evidence," followed by a case number, and holds it up Electric-blue sequinedthis dress when I found you"

Where would I be going in that? A wedding? A disco? Based on the reddish-brown stains and tears, I won’t be wearing it ever again The sheriff and doctor watch nize it"

He du and pulls out another plastic evidence bag, this one with a light pink coat and very clearly covered in blood "You earing this over your dress"