I really think we should have an in-house nurse all the time for the first few weeksday and night. With me at school and you taking this case, its just too much. What if Im in the bathroom when he tries this again? We need to have the ability to get groceries or take a walk and know hes safe.

Jessie nodded.

Youre right, she said. In fact, Kat texted something similar to me earlier. I guess I thoughtmore like hopedthat we could handle the nights. But that was clearly overly optimistic, at least for now. After I get him squared away for the evening, Ill call the service. This will be the only night we have to honcho this alone. I promise. He wont love it but hell just have to deal.

She paused for a moment before changing subjects.

How was your day?

Hannah gave her a youre kidding, right? look.

Maybe we should just talk about your day, she suggested. Interesting case?

Jessie decided to forgo her usual closemouthed attitude toward cases in the interest of changing subjects.

Its certainly high profile, she answered as she got out the smoothie fixings. A woman was murdered at the Otis Estate.

Otis Estate as in Jasper Otis, the rich jerk?

The very same, Jessie confirmed.

Is he a suspect? Hannah asked, animated in a way she hadnt been moments earlier.

You know I cant get into that. But I promise that once we solve the case, Ill share all the juicy details.

Can you at least tell me who the victim is?

No one famous, Jessie said. Its just a normal woman. But what was done to her was pretty awful. The bastard who did it is going to rot if I have anything to say about it.

Her thoughts drifted to the anonymous Marla. She wondered if shed ever get to be so definitive about the punishment for her abusers.

What arent you telling me? Hannah asked.

Jessie continued to be amazed at how perceptive Hannah was at picking up on nonverbal cues and how often she still underestimated her own sister.

I was actually thinking about something else, she said as she tossed protein powder and fruit into the blender. I stumbled across another potential case while working this one, involving potential sex trafficking of teenage girls, right here under our noses. They supposedly even house a bunch of them at a fancy mansion. Im just wondering how much of that sort of thing sneaks below the radar, maybe in schools like yours, because these girls have been indoctrinated into a culture of silence, made to feel like this is what they deserve.

Hannah seemed to be seriously pondering the question.

Have you ever thought of putting undercover cops in the schools where you think its happening? Maybe you need someone with street level perspective to see what you cant.

Jessie considered the idea. It wasnt a bad one.