Left alone, Abigail backed up until she was against the wall and slumped down to sit on the ground, arms wrapped around her knees, which tucked in against her chest. She closed her eyes and tried not to imagine every sound was the man returning, struggled not to see the scene over and over again her head. When an officer spoke to her to announce his presence, she jumped.

Still, he spoke quietly to her. He was older, and the way he looked at Abigail made her think he had a daughter. He was gentle in coaxing out the details from her, which she gave as best she could. She hadn't seen the man well, just his build. He'd wanted money, and the girl had refused. (She couldn't tell someone from the outside about the whole truth. That would just mark her as a target for the Night Council and as insane to the officer.) He'd stabbed her, taken her purse, and gone.

At some point, Abigail started crying. Because she knew how this ended. Even a normal mugger might never be caught. Someone with Redbright or the Night Council? They'd close ranks. This girl -- whoever she was -- was just a dead dark witch to everyone. No one would care.

She gave her name, phone number, and addresses to the officer. If there was an investigation, she wanted to help as much as she could. Then, when the man offered her a ride home, she accepted. She didn't want to think about being alone in her flat tonight. So, she told him to take her to Geap Manor. Nothing could hurt her there.