CHAPTER 22 #2
Isaac nodded. “We’ll be pressing charges.” Anna stiffened in his arms. “We’ll help,” he said, “But he can’t get away with this again. He hurt you.” She leaned back against him with a sigh and nodded. He looked at the hotel manager. “It will help if it’s caught on camera.”
Two police officers in black and tan uniforms arrived minutes later, a paramedic in tow.
Isaac helped Anna move from the floor to the hallway, where it wasn’t such a confined space.
There were too many people for the small change room.
The manager blocked off the hallway, closing it for the duration of the police stay.
Isaac took Anna’s hand, standing beside her while she told the officers what had happened.
“Austin Spencer tried to rape me.” She’d recovered her poise and could speak for herself. She explained she was on the spectrum and had been overwhelmed by the assault. “It’s the first time my meltdowns have ever been helpful.” She bit her lip as she stared at the floor.
“Helpful?” said one of the police officers, glancing up from her notebook. “He smashed your head on the counter and hit you.”
Isaac wasn’t sure the officer believed Anna’s story.
Anna must have thought the same thing. Her body stiffened and her fire returned as she spoke.
“He attempted to rape me, but we fought. I elbowed him in the stomach and screamed so loud, he might have worried that he’d be caught, so he left.
My screams saved me.” She met the officer’s gaze.
“I was really loud.” She took a deep breath.
“When I slapped him, my ring cut his face. Can you get DNA from it?”
“Indeed, we can,” said the first officer. “I’ll send someone over to collect it.”
The second officer swabbed her ring, dropping the sample into a sealed bag.
Then, he took photos of the change room and of Anna’s face, showing her swelling goose egg, split lip, and the purple and red bruise forming across her cheekbone.
Bruises bloomed on her wrist as well, so the officers took additional photos.
Once the damage had been documented, the paramedic carefully checked her injuries and passed her an ice pack.
“Do you have any idea where Spencer would have gone?” asked the first officer.
“To the track. He and I are supposed to be at the same practice.” Isaac glanced out the window toward the Phillip Island circuit. The practice was more than half over.
“Who are you?” said the officer with the notebook.
“Isaac Vasquez, Anna’s fiancé.” Saying the word brought out his protective side, and he slid his arm around Anna’s waist. She shot him a grateful smile.
After collecting all the pertinent contact information from Isaac and Anna, the police and paramedics left, promising to take care of everything else. One of the officers accompanied the manager to collect the security footage.
Catarina left after she hugged Anna. “I’ll see you later.”
Isaac returned Anna’s phone, and when she saw the time, she gasped. “You need to go back to the track. You’re missing FP1.”
“I’ll head back to the track later for FP2.
I want to stay with you for a while.” He watched the seagulls swooping over the nearby shoreline.
The track was closer to the ocean than any of the others that they raced.
Because he’d missed FP1, he hadn’t set a time for the session and risked a poor starting position.
It would be the first time this season he hadn’t automatically qualified in the top ten.
Taking a breath, he ran through the familiar course in his mind.
It settled his jittery nerves, which would help Anna stay calm.
Besides having a hill, it ran anti-clockwise, like COTA, Aragon, the Sachsenring, and Valencia.
It would be difficult to beat Vince here, with or without this problem with Spencer that remained foremost in his mind.
“I’m going to the track.” Anna’s announcement surprised him, slowing his walk toward the elevator. Her voice was hoarse. Maybe they should get her some tea.
“We can wait awhile.” He searched for signs of continued distress, but she’d calmed down. While her injuries would discolor her face, he was thankful that they were no worse.
“I won’t ruin your championship hopes. We can’t let Spencer affect the outcome.”
“I don’t care about the race,” Isaac said. Right now, it didn’t matter.
“You need track time if you’re going to fight for the win on Sunday.” She nudged him toward the elevator, her jaw set in a stubborn line.
He’d never loved her more than for this selfless resilience after the attack.
“I’ll have to go through Q1 either way.” He shrugged, then pushed the button to call the elevator. He wouldn’t change his decision to come back, even if he could.
“You’ll get into Q2. A top-six start. I have faith.” She smiled as the doors opened and tugged him inside. “Let’s go.”
“What’s the hurry?” He narrowed his eyes. Why was she rushing back to the track?
“If we’re lucky, Spencer will be arrested today, and they’ll disqualify him from the race on Sunday.
I don’t want to miss that. If we go now, I can watch the cops arrive.
” Her jaw flared. She wasn’t quite as fine as she insisted, but if she wanted to see Spencer arrested for closure, that’s what they would do.
It might help her sleep tonight, knowing Spencer was behind bars. Isaac nodded and took her hand as they headed for the exit. Besides, it would be satisfying to see Spencer in handcuffs.