Lisa glanced at Yancey, who immediately came to her rescue.
"Because he was trying to dig up dirt on me so she'd leave."
It wasn't true, and Len wasn't buying it, but he said nothing. "Why didn't Howard call for help?"
"I don't know," Lisa answered honestly. "I guess because his focus was on Allen."
"While you lay there choking." The statement was delivered unemotionally.
"I don't know," she repeated. "Maybe he didn't realize how bad it was." She started to cry again.
"Len stood." Why don't you come down to the station and file a report. Then get a restraining order on Allen."
She glanced up at Yancey and wiped her eyes. His expression was unreadable. "I don't know," she said. If he was concerned about the police, he gave no indication. Her attention swung back to Len. He was watching her in a strange way.
"Why do you look at Mr. Giddon? Are you frightened of him?"
From the corner of her eye, she saw Yancey look sharply at Len.
"No." Len suspected or knew something. To his credit, he was keeping his questions and attitude professional.
Yancey cleared his throat. "I think you should file a report, Lisa. If Howard hadn't come along when he did, Allen might have killed you."
Lisa gazed up at him. Either he was sticking his neck out to protect her, or he wasn't involved in anything illegal. She shook her head. "No, a restraining order wouldn't stop him from finding me if he wanted to, and it might just make him mad enough to do something worse."
"Worse than strangling you?" Yancey asked.
Len stood. "Well, I guess there is nothing I can do." He glanced up at Yancey. "You might want to watch out for him too."
Yancey nodded. "I will." He offered a hand and Len accepted it. "Thanks. Since your radio isn't on, I'm guessing you're off duty."
Len smiled amiably. "You'd be guessing right."
After Len left, she was feeling better. Yancey went inside to get her pictures and mail. By the time he returned, she was waiting at her car. He handed her the pictures and mail.
"Don't be too hard on Howard. He did save your life, you know."
Strange he would want to defend Howard after he had tried to dig up information on him. Maybe he was glad Allen had been exposed and he had not.