“Yes.”
Lilly threw the tablet at her mother’s chest, where it landed with a thud. For the first time ever, Ben saw June cry, although it was silent. Big fat tears ran down her cheeks. Ben touched June’s arm and she looked away.
“Can I have a word with you, please?” When they were out of Lilly’s earshot, he whispered, “I can handle this. I’m not gonna overload her with details.”
“What are you going to tell her?”
“That she was attacked. She knows it wasn’t a car accident. Give me a chance, okay?”
June wiped her eyes. “Just a few minutes—and nothing, nothing, about the rape.”
“Fair enough.”
She left the room, but lingered outside and that was certainly her right. Ben went back to Lilly and handed her the tablet.
I feel bad.
“Do you want me to call the nurse for more pain medication?”
Not that kind of bad. I feel bad for throwing the tablet at her. I know she’s worried.
“Are you worried?”
Should I be worried?
“You’re going to need more surgery, Lilly. And voice therapy.” When she didn’t answer, Ben said, “I’m so sorry.”
She still didn’t answer. Then she wrote: What happened?
Ben exhaled. “The truth? You were attacked. But we got the guy who did it. He’s behind bars and he’s never going to see freedom again. So you’re safe. Absolutely safe.”
Lilly’s hand went to her neck. He cut my throat?
“Yes.”
She didn’t write anything for a few minutes—a very long time to sit in tension. Finally, Lilly scribbled, I don’t remember. Tears fell onto her cheeks. Ben pulled out a Kleenex and gave it to her. I don’t remember anything!
Barnes had no doubt knocked her out in order to get her into the car. It wasn’t surprising that she had no recollection of the kidnapping. “That’s a good thing, Lilly. It’s a self-protective thing.”
Who was he? Ellen’s killer?
“Yes.”
You caught him?
“The police did, yes.”
How did you get hurt?
“He stabbed me with the same knife that he used to attack you. We’re blood brothers . . . blood siblings.” A small smile played on her lips. “You’re not going to have to testify, if that’s what you’re worried about. We got his DNA matched to my sister and three other murdered girls. There might even be more. So like I said, you’re safe. He’s never getting out.”
So you fought him off?
“I fought with him, yes, but by that time the police were all around, so he knew he was doomed. My only regret is that I didn’t shoot him when I had a chance.”
You had a gun?
“I did.”
Again she didn’t immediately respond. Then she wrote: I’m glad you didn’t shoot him. Why ruin your life?
“That’s what everyone kept telling me. Lilly, you should know that Ro saved you. She kept you going until the ambulance got there.”
You were with Ro?
“Yes.”
She paused a long time. This happened the day before graduation, right? The graduation rehearsal.
Ben’s eyes moistened. “So you do remember that day.”
Only that we went to the library. Another protracted silence. Nothing after that. A pause. Except your face. I remember your face.
“We were in the ambulance together speeding off to the medical center. I was talking to you and you were looking at me the whole time.” He stood up. “Now that’s enough questions. Don’t ask me anything else ’cause I won’t answer you. I’m gonna go get your mom, okay?” She held his arm. “What is it, hon?”
She waited a few moments, then she wrote: Am I still a virgin?
Fury swept through his body. His vision went blurry for a few moments. “Unless you know something that I don’t, of course you are,” he snapped. “Stop asking silly questions.”
She held his chin and brought his face in front of hers, staring with big, black eyes. Determined eyes, but he certainly wasn’t going to be the one to tell her.
The sad truth was he didn’t need to tell her, because deep in her heart, she already knew. She could read his eyes and that made him feel low. But Lilly was always one to throw a curve ball.
She managed a smile for his benefit. She picked up the tablet and wrote one word.
Dang.
Day Seven
With her fever gone and her vitals stabilized, Lilly was allowed to go home. June and George had fixed up her room with enough medical equipment to staff a small hospital—IVs, oxygen tanks, monitors, and a fridge filled with juices and sports water. Even though June took a leave of absence from her job, she and George hired a full-time nurse for Lilly.
Outside the house were banners and balloons welcoming Lilly back home. Inside the living room, there were more flowers than were blooming outside in the garden. As she was wheeled out of the hospital, Lilly smiled and waved, and then George made an announcement.
No one was permitted to visit her until after the weekend.
The no one extended to Ben. That was okay with him. The Sabbath was a day of rest.
Chapter 19
The summer passed in a heartbeat.
A nationwide scan of missing girls uncovered possible links to three more victims whose bodies had yet to be discovered. In exchange for the whereabouts of the bodies and of course with the permission of all of the families involved, the D.A. took the death penalty off the table. Barnes was allowed to plead out the seven murders and the attempted murder for seven life sentences without the possibility of parole. Ben figured it was good that he hadn’t whacked him. It gave three other families a chance to bury their dead.
Before he could blink, he was at the Sunport in Albuquerque, standing in the security line with Ro and JD and other kids from his class, waiting to catch planes, to take the next step. Families were fussing over their children and Ben’s mom and dad were no exception. Ro’s mom had actually wanted to come and help move Ro into her dorm, but Ro insisted that after all that had happened, it would look funny to have her mommy there.
It was never an expectation that JD’s parents would help him move into his dorm. It wasn’t an expectation for Ben’s parents as well, although his grandfather really wanted to come. Ben figured he was more curious about Caltech than he was concerned about Ben, but that was Grandpa Ed. Parents’ weekend would come very soon and Grandpa and Grandma were invited. His buddy Grant was going to meet Ben at the airport and show him around L.A. Ben knew he’d be in good hands.
Ben was healed but still a little raw around the edges. He couldn’t bike or run or lift weights, but he did take lots of long, long walks alone, thinking and planning and just trying to figure it all out. He couldn’t move as fluidly as he wanted, but with a little time and patience, he knew he’d be fine.