Page 44 of Set My Soul Ablaze

“W-wow.”

My heart pounded in my chest. I could barely hear Steven as he explained all the findings from the investigation.

“I know this is a lot to process, but we also have video footage of the suspect in various security videos, fleeing the scene. I’m going to play a zoomed in compilation of all the clips we could find of the suspect if you’re up for it.”

“I can do it.”

He turned the screen for me to see, put the video on full screen, and pressed play. The grainy quality of the first video made me squint my eyes, but by the third clip, the suspect became clearer, especially since I could see the eyesore of the truck as clear as day.

My blood boiled. My stomach flipped. My heart pounded.

Juda.

Every clip showed him plotting, planning, and scheming.

He tried to kill me.

Joylei was right.

It was Juda who sent the text. It was Juda who set the fire. It was Juda who tried to cry his way back into my life like he wasn’t a fucking idiot.

“Miss Flowers?” Steven’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.

“Hmm?”

He held out a few sheets of facial tissue. I didn’t know I was crying until I dabbed the soft cotton paper against my cheeks.

“Thank you,” I croaked out.

“I’m so sorry you had to watch this. Do you know the man in the video?”

I nodded.

“Could you provide his name?”

“Juda Rainey.”

“What is his relation to you?”

“Ex-boyfriend.”

Steven nodded. He turned his computer screen back toward himself. He clicked and clacked away at his computer.

“I will submit the new information to the police officers who assisted us with the investigation. Would you like to press charges?”

“Yes.”

My whole body shook with the combination of emotions. I couldn’t even focus on the things Steven said. My mind kept going over the last decade of my life. How had I not seen the signs? How had I been so naive to let this go on for so long?

I should have known when he didn’t want to do things with my family.

I should have known when he didn’t help with bills while being at home all fucking day.

I should have known when every moment we spent together ended in an argument.

He cheated.

He lied.