Chapter 1062
“What do you mean?” Zada asked.
Halsey squared her shoulders. “I mean exactly what I said. You ready to bet me?”
Zada thought for a second. “Why not? Sierra keeps saying she wants to patch things up with you and stay friends. I believe she’ll say yes.”
“Great. It’s a bet, then. I’ll be waiting for good news,” Halsey said, and she walked off.
Zada stood there for a moment, planning to go find Sierra.
Just then, she saw three familiar figures–the same guys who had tried to assault her that night. They were loitering, arms over each other’s shoulders, sitting outside a little BBQ joint and eating ribs and fries. Zada couldn’t be mistaken–she would recognize them anywhere.
She pulled out her phone and dialed 911. “Hello? Is this the police?”
That night, those three had cornered Zada while she was out for an evening run, and Sierra had happened to walk by and save her. The men had run off then, but now seeing them again made Zada determined to get them locked up.
Inside, the three guys clinked their beer bottles together.
“Alright, one more round!”
“Cheers!”
Zada stayed hidden nearby until patrol cars screeched up. Officers jumped out and quickly pinned the three men to the ground.
Caught off guard, one of them panicked. “Hey, officers, what’s this about? We’re good citizens! We haven’t done anything illegal!”
“Don’t move! Someone called and said you tried to assault a young woman,” an officer said.
“No, we didn’t do anything!” they protested. “Where’s this girl now? Are you sure it isn’t a prank call?”
Zada stepped forward. “Officer, I was the one who made the call.”
She looked each man in the eye. “Do you remember me? You might not, but I remember you.”
The three blurted, “Who are you?”
They had truly forgotten.
“We never tried to assault you! Don’t slander us!”
“Got any evidence?” one demanded.
Zada’s jaw tightened. “On June 15, around eight in the evening, I was running at Derman Park. You three jumped out and tried to assault me. A friend rescued me, and you ran off. Do you think that was the end?”
Recognition flashed over their faces. “Oh, that was you!”
Zada kept her voice steady. “Yes, that was me! Officers, I recorded part of it when these guys tried to grab me. 1 have the audio right here. This is real evidence. Arrest them and take them in!”
Panic hit them hard. “Don’t take us! Please, we’re sorry for what happened that night. Forgive us!”
“No way! You managed to escape that night, but you’re not getting away today!”
The officers said, “You’re coming with us.”
Half an hour later, all three were behind bars. Zada, as the victim, filed an official statement and pressed charges. She had brought a lawyer with her, and she was adamant.
“No settlement,” she told the attorney. “I want them prosecuted so they can’t hurt anyone else!