Det. Salvatore looked at his phone to be certain it was still recording, and Melody went into as much detail as she could. 

     “I don’t remember everything he told me while he was hurting me,” she said, “but it was in Pazeh*.” 

     “What?” interrupted Det. Fang. “Did you say ‘Pazeh’, the dead language?” 

     “It was declared dead but there are still speakers in Taiwan,” she corrected him. 

     He grinned. “I’m aware, Melody. I have family in Taiwan. I’m curious how you know of Pazeh.” 

     “Cultural studies was one of my majors,” she answered. “I went on an expedition to Nantou to learn about the struggle of the indigenous people.” 

     “And they taught you their language?” he said with a tone of doubt. 

     “What am I missing?” Det. Salvatore asked as he watched his partner’s recognizable expression of distrust. 

     “A lot has happened to the Pazeh people from outside threats,” explained Det. Fang. “They’ve struggled for decades to be recognized and reclaim their culture. I just find it doubtful they would have taught a foreigner their ways.” 

     Melody gave a small nod. “You’re right. They almost didn’t but they liked me, I guess, and wanted to talk to me. They wanted to teach me about them so I could help expose their struggles to the rest of the world.” 

     “So you’re saying your attacker spoke to you in this dead language,” Det. Salvatore remarked for clarity. 

     “It surprised me but I didn’t really care at the moment,” she replied with a bit of impatience at the diversion to her story. “I don’t know if he knew I understood him, but thinking back on it, he spoke to me as if he did. It’s strange, come to think of it.” 

     “Your attacker was Asian?” Det. Fang suddenly blurted. “You didn’t mention it. Seems an important detail, wouldn’t you agree?” 

     Melody stared at him a moment in disbelief of his attitude. Tears formed again at the corners of her eyes, but they were out of anger this time. 

     “Why are you speaking to me like I’m a criminal keeping secrets from you?” she said with a trembling lip. “Do you think any of this is easy for me? Do you think I just woke up from a daydream and I’m recounting a family day at the zoo? 

     You’re making me remember what I want to forget for the rest of my life. You have no idea … NO idea how much I wish I could forget. How much I wish what he gave me made me unconscious the whole time. 

     You said it yourself that he wanted me to live. It’s like he wanted me to remember. There’s no way you can begin to understand how much worse that makes everything!” 

     Her loud crying and frantic shouting brought her mother and her friends running into the room. 

     “What have you done to my daughter?” Mrs. Norah demanded as she pushed past the detectives. 

     She held Melody while she cried, and the other three women stood around the bed as if to protect her. 

     Det. Salvatore glared at Det. Fang, who seemed to realize how badly he’d behaved. 

     “I’m sorry,” Det. Fang told them. “It was my fault. I’ve been so driven to catch this man, I’ve lost sight of my duty to his victims. Miss. Taskle, I hope you can forgive me. I truly am ashamed of my words and attitude. 

     Melody watched as Det. Salvatore motioned for Det. Fang to leave, but she called him back. 

     “Don’t go,” she told him. “I still have more to say, and I would like for you to have the answers you need to catch him and help me.” 

     Det. Fang brushed his hand across his dark hair and cleared his throat of the nervous lump that had lodged there. He recalled everything had been recorded and feared he would be removed from the case. He was regretful for how he’d treated a victim, but being removed from this case would devastate him. 

     He returned and sat on a chair against the wall as she continued. 

     “What did he say?” wondered Amy as she glared angrily at him. 

     “I told him the man spoke to me in a dead Taiwanese language, and he was angry we hadn’t mentioned him being Asian,” Melody explained. 

     The three young women looked at one another and Lauren shook her head in wonder. 

     “The Jade Monkey is an Asian fusion club. Most of the people there are Asian,” she sneered at him. “Shouldn’t you know that since you’re obviously Asian, yourself?” 

     “Dae and Jae are Korean,” Bridgette told them. 

     “I’m sorry I didn’t mention it,” Melody told the detectives. “Because of my studies, I meet people of every background, every culture. I just don’t think about describing people based on their ethnicity, but I understand it’s important for investigations. I was only trying to get through the hardest part of my statement.” 

     Det. Salvatore sighed and nodded in relief of having more clarified for them. “I know, Melody. You were doing great and I hope you can continue. Is it all right?” 

     She loosened her hold around her mother’s waist and sat straight again. She nodded and continued.