Page 10 of Jacques

She nodded. “They ran a drug test and found ketamine in my system.”

“So, it was all documented?”

“For what it was worth.” She raised her hands, palms up. “I kept a copy in case it ever goes to court.”

“Why didn’t you tell them who it was?”

“For one, I felt ashamed, like somehow it was my fault.” She shook her head. “I must’ve done something to lead him on.”

“You can’t blame yourself,” Jacques said softly. “It’s all on him. Drugging someone isn’t consent.”

Her lips twisted. “I wasn’t even given the chance to say no.”

The anger burned in Jacques’ gut. His free hand curled into a fist. He had no doubt the man who’d drugged her had raped her. Jail was too light a sentence for an animal like that.

She blew out a breath that billowed her cheeks. “Please, forget I said anything.”

Jacques shook his head. “I can’t forget.”

“See?” She laughed without humor. “That’s another reason why I don’t tell anyone. Now, you’ll look at me differently. I felt used and dirty enough. I don’t need pity.”

“I don’t feel pity,” Jacques said. “It’s all anger. A desire to tear him apart. No man has the right to do what he did to you.”

“No,” she agreed. “But they get away with it all the time—even when the female blows the whistle on him. We’re accused of wearing the wrong clothes or leading them on.”

“It’s not you,” Jacques said. “It’s the men who have no respect for women and think they have a right to do whatever they want, immune to consequences. Why did you think that telling who it was would impact your brother’s career?”

“Because the man who attacked me said, As far as you’re concerned, this never happened. If you even think otherwise, your brother’s career ends the day you open your mouth.” She looked up into his face. “My brother had just been promoted and assigned to duty in the Pentagon. He had a top-secret clearance and was going to work in a sensitive area.”

Jacques cursed beneath his breath. “He blackmailed you. Who was it? Give me a name. I might be able to help. The Brotherhood Protectors have access to a lot of information. Just give me a name, and we can nail the bastard.”

She shivered. “That’s just it,” she whispered. “I don’t know who it was. His face was a blur. Whatever drug I was given incapacitated me. I could do nothing to defend myself, and my memories are nothing more than a dark haze.” She closed her eyes. “All I remember is a voice. Even that isn’t enough to go on. I thought I heard it almost a year ago and again tonight.”

“Was that what happened the night I found you in the cooler at the Crawdad Hole?”

She nodded. “All it took was a voice to trigger me.”

“And the trigger earlier wasn’t Bobby Ray being a dick,” he concluded. “You’ve managed handsy customers before without having a panic attack.”

“No, it wasn’t Bobby Ray,” she said. “I heard a voice that sounded like the memory I had of my attacker. I just wish I could’ve seen who was talking when I heard it.” She pulled her hand away and rested both hands on her legs. “It might not matter anyway. The last time I chased down the voice, I thought I’d found the man. He’d been at Fort Benning when I was. He was a Ranger instructor. We had Louisiana in common. He came here a year ago to buy a fishing camp in the bayou.”

“Are you talking about Dale Pruitt?” Jacques asked. “Retired Army Sergeant Major? I remember he stopped in the boat factory to talk with Remy.”

Danny’s lips twisted. “Yeah. It lined up. He was there when I was. His voice triggered my memory. But after a little digging, I realized it couldn’t have been him.”

“Why?”

“He was the duty NCO that night. He couldn’t have left his post long enough to drug me and take me to a motel. Someone would’ve noticed. He logged several incidents of people coming and going from the barracks throughout the night.”

“Could he have had someone cover for him?” Jacques asked.

“I doubt it.” She shoved a hand through her hair and released a heavy sigh. “My attacker didn’t have to worry about me turning him in. I don’t know who it was. My brother went on to his assignment and is scheduled to retire with honor in a few weeks.”

“Your attacker won’t have any hold over you once your brother retires. You could put him away.”

She nodded. “All the more reason for me to remember.” Danny’s forehead creased. “And it’s always bothered me that he’s still out there. If he did what he did to me and got away with it, how many other women has he violated or will he violate? I can never feel safe until he’s locked up. Other women won’t be safe either.”

“Has anyone threatened you, other than customers like Bobby Ray?”