Several officers and three paramedics moved inside the small enclosure to assist the other girls while crime scene technicians snapped photographs and documented evidence.

A young paramedic with light brown hair and soft blue eyes squatted down so she could address Jersey, but Jersey burrowed her head further into Alyssa’s shoulders, her sobs crushing Alyssa’s heart as her tears soaked through her shirt.

‘Jersey, sweetie, you need to let the paramedics check you out so we can transport you to the hospital.’ Holly’s friend tightened her grip, her cries changing to low moans. ‘I’m going to be right here with you, I promise. No one else is going to hurt you. You trust me, don’t you?’

Alyssa didn’t take it personally when Jersey hesitated. She couldn’t blame her. How would she ever trust again? Slowly, gently, she coaxed Jersey’s arms away from her and into the waiting arms of the kind paramedic. But as the paramedic tried to guide her away, Jersey struggled, her eyes wide with fear, and Alyssa stepped so that she was back in Jersey’s line of vision. ‘Jersey.’ Her voice was gentle but firm. Jersey stopped squirming and stared at Alyssa, her lower lip quivering. ‘We need to get you to the hospital where you can get checked out. Can you be brave just a little longer?’

Jersey’s gaze clouded over. ‘Brave?’ The word was nothing more than a whisper of sound.

Alyssa cupped Jersey’s cheek and tilted her face up. Holding her gaze, she repeated, ‘Brave. You and the others have been very brave. And we need you to do that a little longer. Don’t quit on me now. Can you do that for me?’

Slowly, Jersey nodded, her mouth once more forming the word brave as she allowed the paramedics to assist her upstairs and out to the ambulance. Alyssa hated that the girls would have to pass by the men who’d tormented them, but she also trusted that the professionals here would shield the girls as much as possible as they escorted them out.

After a quick glance to make sure evidence was being preserved, Alyssa climbed the stairs and headed outside. As each girl was loaded onto a gurney, she asked her name, age, and who they could contact to let them know they were safe. She knew it would be a long time before they believed that word ever again, but still she used it. They needed to hear it as often as possible.

The second she had the information, the ambulance doors closed, and then they were gone in a caravan of urgency. When the last one disappeared down the road, she tugged at Cord’s arm and indicated he should follow her back inside. She spotted Joe and Tony and motioned for them to join her.

‘Before we do anything else, before they hear it on the news, I want the families notified.’ They divvied up the task with Alyssa contacting Jersey’s mom, Katelyn’s parents, and even though it was against protocol, she opted to call Rachel’s brother instead of her parents.