Jossy hesitated, swallowing hard. Her hands trembled as she reached into her bag, pulling out her phone. "I..I took pictures before. And some videos when he..when he hurt me last time. I don't know if they will help, but I..I kept them."
Noah's hand found hers, squeezing gently. "You did the right thing," he murmured.
Detective Ramirez took the phone carefully, nodding. "This is extremely helpful, Jossy. These show a pattern, and that's important. You're helping us build a case that will keep you safe."
Jossy's throat tightened. "Will he know where I am?"
"No," Mendez replied firmly.
Jossy nodded slowly. She was scared, but she couldn't take it all back. She didn't want to.
***
Later, Jossy lay there quietly. She was stable now, but her mind was a storm. Every time the door opened, she squirmed and her heart raced. What if it was Damien? What if he found her here?
Noah sat beside her bed, shoulders tense, his large frame taking up the narrow chair. He hadn't moved since the nurses finished with her, his hand resting close enough for her to reach if she wanted.
"You can go to sleep, Jossy," he murmured, his voice low and certain. "He won't find you here. We will make sure of it."
She tried to speak, but no words came. Instead, she reached for the phone on her tray table with trembling fingers. She pressed it into Noah's hand, her grip a little weak.
"Call Hazel," she whispered, her lips moving with a lot of effort. "Tell her I'm here at the hospital. I need to apologize for today.. I need her to know I made it alive from my marriage ."
Noah looked at the phone, then at Jossy. He knew Hazel, she was Jossy's friend from college. The two of them were inseparable back then. They were still friends? That was admirable.
He nodded slowly. "I'll call her."
Her swollen eyes fluttered closed, exhaustion pulling her into deep sleep. Even in sleep, her body flinched as though bracing for a blow, and Noah's chest burned at the sight.
Stepping out into the hall, Noah scrolled through her contacts until he found Hazel's name. His thumb hovered a bit before pressing "call."
The line rang, once, twice, then a soft voice came through: "Hey Jossy."
"Hi Hazel. This is Noah Lennox," he said, his tone gentler than his usual business voice. "I'm with Jossy, long story. She's safe now, at the hospital. But she asked me to tell you she is sorry. And that she made it out of her marriage."