Chapter 500

"Ah!" The attacker's scream pierced the night air as Evelyn's foot connected with his ribs.

Gasping for breath, Evelyn delivered three rapid kicks to the man's temple. "You'll pay for this, bitch!" he snarled through clenched teeth, blood trickling from his nose.

Her vision blurred as another kick landed. The world tilted dangerously. Staggering backward, Evelyn barely registered the sedative's effects taking hold. Across from her, the assailant groaned as he pushed himself upright.

Every movement sent fresh waves of pain through the man's battered body. His murderous advance halted when approaching footsteps echoed nearby. Glaring at Evelyn's defensive stance, he spat on the pavement before limping into the shadows.

Evelyn collapsed against a park bench, her chest heaving. That last confrontation had drained her completely. Without the timely interruption, she might not have survived - the drugs made her limbs feel like lead, and her attacker had been frighteningly strong.

"Miss? Do you need help?" A young woman's voice cut through Evelyn's haze.

Looking up through sweat-dampened bangs, Evelyn saw a concerned couple hovering nearby. "Please," she rasped between coughs, "call the police."

The woman already had her phone out. "Already dialing!"

Police sirens wailed within minutes. Two officers took Evelyn's statement with growing concern. "Ms. Hartley," the senior officer exchanged a look with his partner, "we need you at the station. Your description matches a suspect in our current investigation."

Evelyn's fingers trembled as she nodded. "Of course."

Her legs buckled the moment she stood. Strong hands caught her before she hit the pavement. "Easy there," the officer murmured. "We'll get you medical attention first. Our detectives can take your formal statement at the hospital."

"Thank you," Evelyn whispered, leaning heavily on the officer's arm. Every muscle screamed in protest.

At the emergency room, doctors documented the angry red ligature marks circling Evelyn's throat - deep enough to draw blood in places. They swabbed beneath her nails for DNA evidence while an IV dripped fluids into her arm.

Captain Dominic Kingsley of Major Crimes arrived as the nurses finished their work. "Ms. Hartley," he said gravely, "your attacker matches the description of a serial rapist we've been tracking." Evelyn's IV line trembled as her breath caught. "Three victims in the past month. You're the first to fight back."