Chapter Forty-Six

Sunday, May 26

After leaving Rachel’s room, Alyssa found Cord near a vending machine. ‘How are you holding up?’

Cord shifted his gaze from the window to his partner. ‘Me?’

‘Yes, you. I’m sure seeing Rachel reminded you of Shelley’s ordeal. So, I repeat: are you holding up okay?’ She watched as he shoved both hands into his front pockets, his head tilting toward the ceiling.

‘You’re right. All of this reminds me of her. But I’m not worried about me right now.’ He swallowed, then leveled a steady stare at her. ‘I just don’t want any of those girls to end up feeling so hopeless that they do what Shelley did.’

Alyssa placed her palm on Cord’s arm. ‘We’ll do all that we can to ensure that doesn’t happen. Now, you ready to hear what I found out?’

‘I wish I didn’t have to be, but yes, I am.’

She shared what she’d learned, and then together, they went to visit Jersey. From her daughter’s friend, she learned much the same as she had from Rachel, except that Jersey gave her a very detailed description of one of the men who’d abused her, one who Jersey hadn’t seen at the scene when they were rescued. She didn’t recognize Yarmini, but she did recognize Tatiana Salazar, although she couldn’t tell them what her name was.

And then, in excruciating detail, stopping every few minutes to get her breathing back under control, she described the torture she’d gone through.

Jersey’s words and listening to her struggle as she mentally relived her torturous ordeal tore at Alyssa’s heartstrings. This was her daughter’s friend and someone who had slept over at her house. More than once, she had listened to Holly, Sophie, and Jersey giggle all night long over silly things. She’d watched them give each other pedicures and French-braid each other’s hair. She’d overheard them whisper about secret crushes and worry about whether or not a boy liked them back. And because of that, Alyssa found herself hiding her hands inside her jacket pockets so no one could witness the way they shook or how they clenched in anger at what had happened.

Jersey stared across the room at the blank screen of the television as she described what had happened just before she found herself in the cell. ‘The last thing I remember was leaving the duck pond, hearing footsteps, and then someone tackled me.’ A flicker passed over her face. ‘Whoever it was whispered “nighty-night,” and I thought I recognized the voice, but now I’m not so sure.’

Jersey’s mom stiffened.

‘I need you to think, Jersey,’ Alyssa said. ‘Was it a male or female voice?’

Jersey closed her eyes, and when she opened them, tears formed in her lower lids. ‘I don’t know,’ she whispered. ‘Why can’t I remember?’

Alyssa removed her hand from her pocket and placed it over Jersey’s. She chose her words carefully. ‘Sometimes, when a person experiences a traumatic event such as you and the others have had, they experience a form of amnesia. I’m not a medical expert, but I’ve been told it’s a way for the brain to protect itself. You’ll remember when you’re ready.’ She gave Jersey’s fingers a light squeeze. ‘And I’ll be here when you do.’