Becca’s hand moved from her neck to burrow under the sheet covering her bruised and battered body. Her legs began trembling, causing the bed railings to rattle. One of her brothers jumped up and moved over to clasp her hand in his. The other members of her family wore masks of rage, frustration, and helplessness.

‘We’re right here with you.’ Becca’s brother’s voice was gruff and husky with emotion.

The corners of Becca’s lips tipped up slightly as she tried to smile. Then she took a deep breath and turned to face Alyssa. ‘I can do this.’

Once again, Alyssa was struck by the strength of these girls. Maybe, eventually, they would really be okay. From the front pocket of the notebook he was holding, Cord pulled out the photos of Yarmini and Salazar and handed them to her, and she turned them for Becca to see.

Instead of the definite no she’d expected, Becca couldn’t say for sure if she’d seen Yarmini or not, claiming he seemed familiar, but she verified what the others said about Salazar. It was looking more and more like she was the mastermind. Then Becca, too, gave a description of one of her abusers.

‘And you didn’t see this man when you were brought upstairs?’

‘No, ma’am.’ She turned so that she couldn’t see her family. ‘I only saw him twice at the beginning.’ Her voice trembled as she held Alyssa’s gaze. ‘Detective Wyatt, thank you for finding us. Jersey told us you’d be looking, that you’d save us, but I don’t think any of us believed it would happen. So, thank you for not giving up.’

Alyssa reached down and squeezed Becca’s hand, hoping the dim lighting in the room hid the shimmer in her eyes. ‘Thank you for being so courageous and strong. Now, you rest, and we’ll stop by and see you again.’

Out in the corridor, Alyssa inhaled deeply, releasing a quivering breath, but before she could say what was on her mind, Cord beat her to it.

‘These are some pretty incredible girls. Courageous, heroic. Resilient.’

‘That they are.’

Faye and Cheyenne were still under heavy sedation, so Alyssa and Cord tried Katelyn next. Opening the door when they knocked, Mr. Phillipson, with his pale face, wrinkled clothing, and bloodshot eyes, invited them in.

Hovering next to Katelyn’s bed stood Mary. Her face was devoid of make-up, and dark bags circled her eyes, making them appear bruised. One hand brushed over the top of her daughter’s head even as she glanced up to see who had entered the room. ‘The detectives are here to speak to you, sweetheart.’

Katelyn’s eyes clouded over when she turned her head to Alyssa and Cord, and she reached up and covered her face with her hands, her chest heaving as great gulping sobs escaped.

Cord hung back by the door while Alyssa moved forward, opening her mouth to speak, but finding the words stuck in her throat, and realizing she was too emotional to say a word.