Double Jeopardy

25

Carly Riggs slid into her desk in class; Tim Scott was already in the next desk. “Are you ready?” she whispered.

“We’re all set,” he whispered back. “My car is on the right-hand side out of the front door, a tan station wagon. We’ll leave separately and meet up there.”

Somebody rapped sharply with a gavel, and the large room fell quiet.

An hour later, in the car, Tim turned down a dirt track and drove for half a mile. They emerged into a small clearing, hemmed in by trees on three sides and open to a beautiful view of the lake on the fourth.

They got out, and Tim retrieved a picnic basket and a blanket from the rear of the wagon and spread the blanket on the thick grass. “Lonely enough for you?”

“Perfect,” she said. They sat down on the blanket and kissed. “Don’t you want lunch?” she asked.

“I want an appetizer first,” Tim said, unzipping her jeans and pulling them off. The thong took only a second longer.

A few minutes later, they lay dozing, his head on her belly. They heard a car door close somewhere.

“What was that?” she asked.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“What if we’re disturbed?”

“So what? They’ve probably seen a naked girl before.”

“Ouch!” she said.

“What’s the matter?” Then something stuck his back, and he didn’t seem to care what it was anymore.

Carly woke first, just a little. She became aware that she was spread-eagle on a bed, her hands tied on each side and her legs apart, secured at the ankles.

“How was it?” a male voice asked.

“Sweet. It’s a pity we can’t save some for later.”

“We need to get them out of here.”

“I know. First, another shot.”

Something stung her right buttock, then he moved away. “Him, too.”

“Have you got the thing rigged?”

“It’ll let in about a quart a minute. Nobody’s out there at night.”

Carly drifted off, before she could ask her question.

She woke up in cold water. Someone had her by the hair.

“Hang on,” he said. “Can you help pull yourself up?”

She flailed with one arm and made contact with something wooden and slippery.

“Stay on your stomach,” he said, “and hang on. We’re about fifty yards from shore.”

Carly held on for her life, while somebody rowed slowly. She faded again, and this time, she woke lying wrapped in a blanket. Someone brushed her hair out of her face.

“I’ve called for an ambulance,” he said. “They should be here soon.”

“Where’s Tim?” she managed to ask.

“All I saw was you, just an arm draped over the gunwales of a sinking boat. I got hold of your wrist and held on. I’m sorry you were uncomfortable, but there’s little room on a one-man racing shell. I like to come out here and row at night, when there’s a moon. You don’t have to deal with powerboats’ wakes.”

“You didn’t see Tim?”

“I didn’t see anything but your arm. Are you stoned?”

“Not in the way you mean. I was drugged, though.” She felt herself drifting off again. “Tell them something for me.”

“Tell who?”

“The ambulance people.”

“What shall I tell them?”

“Tell them I want a rape kit.”

“What?”

But she had already fallen asleep again.

This time it was daylight, and there was a whirring noise, as her bed sat up. Somebody put a glass straw in her mouth.

“Suck,” a female voice said.

She sucked in water greedily. “I want a rape kit,” she said, when she had slaked her thirst.

“Already accomplished,” the woman said. “Your rescuer relayed your message.”

“Where is he?”

“Around somewhere. He’s only a teenager, but he got you aboard his shell and hauled you to shore.”

“A friend was with me. Tim Scott.”

“No word of him. Were you in a boat together?”

“I think so.”

“You’ve been out for about nine hours. I’ve sent samples to the tox lab, and your rape kit is in the hands of the police.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you hungry? Would you like some soup?”

“Yes.”

She pressed a button on the bed, and a nurse brought in a tray.

There were two cops; the woman did all the questioning. She had already asked for her name and address. “So you were in class. Tell me what happened after that.”

“We had planned lunch together. Tim had a picnic basket in his car. He drove us out to the lake and to this little clearing. It was sheltered and had a nice view. We...”

“Did you make love?”

“Yes, sort of. He went down on me.”

“Go on.”

“I think we... me, anyway... I must have dozed off. Then I was stung by something, I thought a bee. Then he was, too.”

“Was the sex voluntary?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Then why did you request a rape kit?”

“It wasn’t for him. I’m sore. I feel like I was penetrated.”

“We’ll know when your kit comes back. Do you think Tim did it?”

“No, I think Tim was out, like me. He was stung, too.”

“Then you were taken. Both of you?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Do you remember what the man you saw looked like?”

“Two. There were two of them. They wore masks, like surgical masks. They both had very blue eyes. I remember that. I heard them say a few words. I think Tim was raped, too. Is it possible he’s still alive?”

“If he got out of the boat and made his way to shore. You were about fifty yards out.”

“He wouldn’t have left me. He’s not like that. Where’s the boat?”

“It went down. Tim probably went with it. They’re out there, dragging the lake. Perhaps they’ll find it.”

“Are my clothes here?”

“No, you were nude when you were found.”

“Let them know I had a handbag. I’d like that back, if possible.”

“I will. I’ll go make a call. You eat your soup.”

Carly was torn between the soup and sleep. The soup won.