She had opened a folder with at least one hundred files. DeMarco picked one at random and opened it. It was a video. In it, a woman was on a bed, totally naked, on all fours. Another woman was beside her, stroking the other womans back, holding what Kate assumed to be a sex toy that she had never seen nor even heard of before.

As if all of that wasnt shocking enough, the next thing that registered in her mind was what did it.

These were not women. These were young women. The one on all fours might be fifteen or sixteenright around Mercy Fullers age.

DeMarco clicked another one. It was another video. This time, there was one female and three males. All of the males looked to be of ageone maybe as old as fifty. The girl, however, was easily underage.

My God, Kate said, closing the laptop lid. She looked down to DeMarcos face and saw that she was absolutely fuming.

Kate…that last girl…she couldnt have been older than fourteen.

I know. Go on outside. Dont even think of going in there with Lee. Catch up to Barnes before he leaves and send him back in here.

DeMarco moved slowly as she did as she was asked. She glanced in the direction of the interrogation room as she walked toward the front doors. Kate saw reporters and camera people still clambering around out there.

One thing after another, after another, Kate thought, looking to Edgar Lees laptop. What the hell else could possibly happen today?

She knew it was a dangerous question because it was barely even noon yet. She got her bearings straight, doing her best to erase the images of those two videos from her mind.

It was a bit easier than she expected because while she did so, her cell phone rang. She took it out of her pocket and saw that it was Melissa. She nearly ignored it, considering everything that was going on. But something in the back of her head said otherwise. Melissa rarely ever calls you, much less during the day…

Suddenly, a ball of worry dropped into her stomach. She found herself growing nervous as the phone continued to ring. The flurry of motion around her and the buzzing of reporters outside seemed to make it about one hundred times worse.

She answered the phone, Edgar Lees laptop suddenly the last thing on her mind. Hey, Lissa. Whats up?

I, um…I just wanted you to know that were at the hospital. Its…its Michelle. Mom…it might be really bad.

That ball of worry exploded and for a moment, the world seemed to go still. Absolutely motionless. What is it? she asked, having to stifle back tears.