"Could be I guess,"Mari replied. "Since I didn't see anything but the zoo uniform from the back."
"Now that you've remembered the heavy set man, is the back of this retreating person the right shape? And was the uniform what the keepers wear? Aren't there differences between what different employees wear? Your intern shirt is different from the landscape personnel's for example, right?"
"Yes. Yes, it was a larger person, and probably a man from the way he moved. The uniform was the keepers' too. Why didn't I put these things together?'
"That's part of my job, Mari, excuse me, Ms. Nuclett."
"No, please call me Mari. Everyone does. Except my late mother and Jeannie, who call me Marigold."
"Yes I saw that on your driver's license and passport. Unusual name but pleasant."
"I like it."
"I don't want to put any more stress on you than you already have, but I would like you to go over the events that happened the night before last when you were run down."
She went over the event in detail once more and it made her feel the fear all over again. Cass came to stand behind her chair and was patting her shoulder, and Owen was lying across her feet, by the end of the account. She had twisted a paper napkin almost to shreds.
Lt. Wilson was satisfied, "for the time being," he said, "I can arrange for a wheel chair, Mari. Now, Cass, I'm going back to the zoo, do you want a lift to pick up Mari's truck?"
"Thanks Lieutenant,"Cass answered.
Mari wasn't sure she liked the wheel chair idea. Her self-image was as a strong woman, but hobbling around was awfully painful right now. She'd go along with the program for now.
As they were leaving, the lieutenant made her promise to keep him informed of anything that happened. He said he would have undercover police come with them to the zoo.
When Cass returned with her truck, he got her set up with a pot of tea and she picked up her Dick Francis re-read. It reminded Cass that he'd brought her a book to read. He'd become addicted to the Harry Potter books and had been urging her to start the series. He'd brought the first in the series, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." He told her the fourth book was due out this summer. Her ribs were sore and her ankle throbbed so she took a pain killer and settled down to read. Cass wanted to go shopping for 'domestic necessities'.
Owen wanted to go with him, but it was too hot to leave him in the car, so Cass took him for a nice walk around the block first.
When Cass got back, they settled sleeping arrangements so that he would use her twin bed, since she could prop her ankle up easier using the arms on the couch. Owen took the opportunity to snuggle next to Cass and she had to admit she had a twinge of jealousy over it.
She woke many times during the night with pain and tried to keep her ankle elevated. The next morning she had a lingering memory of unpleasant dreams.
