by Janie Marie
Luc pulled out a chair at the head of the table. “Sit, Logan.”
“You don’t have to be here.” Kylie glared at Luc.
He smirked. “Your sister asked my brother to send a representative on her behalf.”
Detective Parvati blew out a deep breath. “Kylie, Luc Godson is the State’s Attorney and one of the most powerful lawyers in the United States. At the request of Ryder Godson, he’s agreed to provide Maura with any legal assistance she may require.”
Kylie’s jaw dropped.
“If you’d like, I can ask Kevin to send his lawyers.” Detective Parvati tapped her pen on the table. “Or, as I would suggest, seek your own counsel. Once Kevin learns of your involvement in Maura’s abuse, it’s possible he will reconsider. Or you can simply cooperate and give a statement, which Mr. Godson will surely take pity on considering your age at the time of these accusations.”
Luc’s malicious gaze said it all: You’re going to burn.
Logan cleared his throat. “Kylie.”
No Hood? He had the nerve to call Janie baby, yet now he was treating her like a stranger? He might as well have slapped her.
He tiredly rubbed his face. “Luc is going to be fair. Maura needs representation, though. Your father’s dead, but she’s aware your case against her could lead to her being institutionalized or imprisoned.”
“She deserves to be.” Kylie slapped the table.
Logan stared at her, his dark eyes burning with disbelief.
“What, Logan? Does my abuse not matter?” She let out a hysterical laugh. “Oh, that’s right, getting sexually abused wins over physical abuse in your mind. I bet you’re all real bummed my dad is already dead because Janie can’t take a shot at him too.”
Logan got up and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
“Foolish girl,” Luc said with a shake of his head. “If you will, Miss Parvati, I have other business to attend to this evening.”
Kylie wiped away a tear. What was she supposed to think? Everyone acted like her abuse was nothing compared to Janie’s and now Maura’s.
These are not things you compare, Kylie. There is no winner. No prize.
“Before we start,” Detective Parvati said, “I want you to understand you can stop and request a lawyer. You’re not being charged, but you will help Maura get what justice she can. I understand you’re conflicted about the situation because of what you’ve revealed about Maura’s treatment toward you. She hasn’t commented too much on her actual actions concerning you, but she admitted to using the bat at least once.
“This whole situation is complicated. Neither of you should have been exposed to such horror, but think of Maura. You’ve been getting help while she’s suffered inside her own mind to the point of trying to end her life. She gave up, but then she reached out to Ryder Godson. He’s taken steps to see she gets help—much like he’d already done for you.”
“He ruined my life.” Kylie wiped away another tear. “Just like every one of you.”
“Kylie,” Than said, “I realize you feel no one cares about your abuse. We do though. We were drawing up charges against Lorelei and Maura before everything happened. None of this means you will not receive justice. We’ll continue our investigation into your parents’ deaths, and the alleged abuse you endured.
“Still, Maura revealed horrific events. We don’t blame you for your hatred toward her, but she deserves to have her side told alongside yours as we take steps that will alter her future.”
He paused, his eyes skirting to Luc for a moment before he continued. “I have delivered justice for longer than you can imagine. I have taken lives, and I’ve had the privilege of seeing some get a second chance. We want each of you to receive justice, but both of you need more than simple justice.”
Kylie glared at him. “You mean you want to let her and Lorelei get away with everything because you believe this story. Because you only care about sexual abuse.”
A tight smile came and went on his mouth. “Your emotions are ruling you. We let no crime go unpunished; that is our duty. As far as you’re concerned, you have become a person who only sees herself as a victim and doesn’t want to take any responsibility for her own wrongdoings. That isn’t how life works. There is always a consequence. We”—he pointed to Luc, the detective, and himself—“deliver those consequences.”
“I was just a kid. He was my dad,” she cried.
“So be an adult,” Luc said, sounding bored. “Face the truth; your father was a monster. And you were the little girl who let another innocent child suffer because of your jealousy and self-righteous personality. It’s a horrible truth that caused the ruin of two innocent girls—Maura and yourself. This is not that she is more important than you. This is about righting a wrong. It spun out of control because of the choices you made back then. You put yourself here.”
Her chest heaved; her blood burned within her veins. “Why does me being a kid mean nothing? Maura was old enough to know hitting me with a bat could kill me. And Lorelei knew what had happened, and she lied. But all of you are ready to excuse that because Maura’s sister was killed because her dad was a disgusting monster. Is that why you’re fine with her sick justice?”
Detective Parvati opened her mouth, but Than held a hand up and allowed Luc to speak.
“Being a child does not give you a pass.” Luc’s gray eyes flashed silver under the light. “Being abused does not give you a pass at carrying out your own abuse. And being the mother of a dead daughter, a sexually abused one, and a self-absorbed stepdaughter does not give that mother a pass for any of her crimes. However, it does put her motives into context. Were they intentionally malicious, self-defensive, fear driven, or forced? None of you get excused. You’re refusing to hear that, which only confirms something is very wrong with your mental state.”
He paused, letting that sink in. “We are questioning, seeking truth, and will punish each of you the way you deserve. You have the chance to tell your story now, and when we find Lorelei, she’ll tell hers. None of you get to walk away.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she screamed. “I’m her stepchild. She was supposed to protect me, too!”
“How do you know she wasn’t?” Luc smirked. “Have you not yet learned your words have a way of coming back to bite you?”
“Then I want a lawyer.” She would not sit here and be talked down to; she was the victim. “None of you are being fair.”
The corner of his mouth tilted up in disgust. “Very well. Let me give you something to think about while you wait around.”
“I don’t have to listen to you.” She wanted to stand up and walk out, but his stare left her paralyzed.
“I will first point out you call Maura’s father a disgusting monster, but not your own. Curious, don’t you think?”
She stayed quiet, her chest heaving.
“A child can commit the most monstrous acts,” he said softly. “They’re especially horrific when said child is not taught empathy for others. I would almost see my brother’s perspective and call you the big bad wolf in this tale, but I feel you became something else. Something more monstrous.
“You’re the unknown character who watched from the shadows—who stayed silent and knew the wolf awaited an innocent girl. You ensured he could eat whenever he liked. You hid your smile when she screamed to be saved. Then the unexpected happened, and you got what was coming to you. Then you became the poor victim who did nothing to deserve your pain.”
Once again, his features became more defined. “Everyone, if they survive first, eventually hits back. They don’t all fight the same way. Some come out swinging, destroying those who’ve wronged them with a single blow. Some, unfortunately, have little fight in them, and they fall back down, never to rise again. Then you have those truly great souls who get knocked down, but they get back up again and again and again. These souls are often called attention seekers, weak, liars. I call my favorite, my queen.”
He smiled, genuinely, then
continued. “Then there are those who either slowly become the victim or were one from the start, but then they choose the dark path very few return from. The villain’s path. The victim who’s changed so much that all anyone sees is a monster. They no longer remember there was once an innocent soul there.
“You’ve wandered deep onto that dark path, Miss Hood. You cried wolf so the heroes would come running. You did this because you became addicted to being the only victim in your little story. Your desire to have everything about you—being the perfect daughter, perfect student, the golden girl—shifted because it would reveal a very nasty truth. So, innocent victim offered a more appealing escape and reward.
“Unfortunately, you don’t get to be the only victim in this story. You don’t get to throw a tantrum because you don’t like the attention another victim receives. And you sure as fuck don’t get to decide who supports them or what type of support they are given.”
His words hurt worse than any injury she’d ever received. She finally turned her head away to stop herself from bawling.
“Mr. Godson, I think that’s enough,” said Detective Parvati. “And, Kylie, you must understand none of us are saying you were not wronged. We’re asking you to do your part to save what’s left of your sister before she’s lost forever. Your refusal to do so is what changes how you’re perceived. We were already trying to save you from them—we still are. It’s just now we realize there are others who needed our help too.”
A knock on the door sounded, and Damon King’s voice filled the room. “Luc, Ryder requested you stay with Janie while he and Logan attend to private matters. Tercero got caught up with something.”
Kylie jerked her head up. “Logan’s leaving? But I’m supposed to stay with him.”
Luc stood, fixing his sleeves as he stared her down. “Damon, did Mr. Grimm include a message for Miss Hood?”
Damon sighed as he handed Kylie a handwritten note.
Her eyes stung as she unfolded the paper.
Kylie,
I’m staying with Janie tonight. I need time to figure out what future you and I can have together. I can’t decide that with you talking shit about her every chance you get. You brought me here to see her, but I see now that’s only driven by this need to get me to let her go.
I didn’t want to walk out, but you’re so full of hatred for her, for anyone like her or Maura, and I can’t deal with it. Whatever is going through your head is wrong, and I’m distracting you because you can’t let go of things with Janie.
I’m making up for my own lies and the pain I’ve caused, and I won’t let you pull me down the path you’re showing me you’re going to take.
I promise I’ll contact you soon, and I’m sorry I’m not strong enough to sit there and smile at you while everything you say destroys me. So I choose not to be around you right now. Luc can help you get somewhere safe, or you can call Kevin. But this is where I’m staying. And I don’t blame Ryder or my father for saying this, but you’re not welcome here or at my dad’s home.
And don’t blame Janie for this. This was all on you.
-Logan
One tear after the next fell onto the paper.
“Miss Hood,” Luc said, looking like he couldn’t care less about how broken she was, “I’m sure you will decline, but I still offer you safe accommodations should you wish to stay away from your stepfather. He will be informed of Maura’s accusations against you and your father within the hour, so it’s up to you on whether you’d like to wait and face him, or seek sanctuary at a guarded facility. You can be fed, housed, receive private counsel for your own case, and even receive therapy, should you desire it. I think you need quite a bit of therapy.”
“I want nothing from you.” She crumpled Logan’s note and threw it at him. It flew directly over his shoulder, and he didn’t so much as flinch.
“Very well,” he said, cool and collected. “In the meantime, a restraining order will go into place against you. You are not to be within fifty yards of Maura Payne’s location. So, unless you are a patient, staying at the hospital is prohibited. Damon will stay close by until you decide whether you will try your chances with Kevin or if you’d like to take the help being offered to you. I suggest one or the other until we apprehend Trevor Grimm. He could very well have his sights on you, so don’t let your stubborn attitude put you in danger.”
Detective Parvati cleared her throat as she handed Kylie a tissue. “The jail is not ideal, but you have that option tonight as well. We can isolate you as much as possible from those in custody until we can make other arrangements.”
Kylie glared at Luc and Than before focusing on the detective. “Do you know they helped cover up Janie killing the guys she accused of raping her? Do you know Luc helped Ryder plan to kill those boys? But Janie did it!”
The detective leaned away, her gaze darting to Luc and Than. Their expressions gave nothing away.
“Kylie, it’s unwise to throw out accusations like this,” Detective Parvati said, pulling out a card. “If you’d like to give a statement about a matter you know very little about, you are welcome to contact me. I suggest you have a lawyer present before making such claims.”
Luc chuckled as he walked toward the door. “Farewell, villain.”
Five
DARKNESS
Logan paced by the bench Ryder was sitting on. Neither paid attention to the other; they were focused on the phone lying face up in front of Ryder. It had just started playing the video of Maura’s interview with Luc and the detective.
“Do you remember the first time you met Kylie?” Detective Parvati asked.
“I was seven,” Maura whispered. “We were moving in with her and her dad.”
“Did you know Mr. Hood had been married before? That he had a child?”
“Not at first,” she answered, her tone so innocent that Logan couldn’t believe he’d considered this girl evil. “My mom didn’t know either. They argued because he’d asked her to marry him, but she’d seen him with a woman she used to know. He told her they were getting divorced.”
“How soon did you move in after you heard them fight about that?”
“About a month later, maybe less.”
Logan glanced up at Ryder.
“He killed his wife,” Ryder said, not looking away from the screen.
“You don’t know that,” Logan said, but that’s exactly what he was thinking.
“Did you know about Mrs. Hood’s death?” Detective Parvati asked Maura. “Did you ever see her with your mom or Oliver?”
Maura shook her head. “I didn’t know she was dead at first. I thought they just got a divorce.”
“I see.” The detective scribbled down a note. “And that’s when you met Kylie?”
“Yes.”
“And tell me what happened?”
Maura’s voice was small, like a child’s. “My mom told me not to wander the house, but I heard crying, and I saw a girl my age. I thought she was my sister because of her blond hair. I thought maybe she’d woken up, because when she died, she had just looked asleep. I ran to her, holding out her doll. But when she turned around, it was wasn’t my sister. It was Kylie; she was angry. She told me I wasn’t welcome in her home. I didn’t understand why she was so mad at me, so I tried to give her Angelica’s doll to make her happy.”
Maura’s voice cracked. “She said it was ugly. I told her it was my sister’s, and she laughed and threw it in the fireplace. It burned up,” she cried. “I screamed, and Mama came. She stopped me from trying to get Sissy’s doll—it had a picture of Sissy inside it. I told her Kylie had thrown it in there, but Kylie said it was an accident. Mama cried, but she told her it was okay. Kylie smiled at me when my mom wasn’t looking.”
Logan sat down, holding his head. That wasn’t exactly abuse, but it painted a different image of the Kylie he thought he knew. Not a sweet girl. Instead, a manipulative, mean one. Hurt and grieving, maybe, but not the innocent girl he’d imagined.
�
�You already knew Oliver Hood, though?” the detective asked.
“He worked at the hospital. He took care of me when I got sick. I guess he knew my mom from high school. He asked if he could take her out to dinner.”
Ryder exhaled loudly. “I wish that bastard was still alive just so I could kill him myself.”
Detective Parvati spoke again, “Do you recall the first time you were ever alone with Oliver Hood?”
“The first night at his house.”
“Christ,” Logan whispered, his eyes glued to Maura’s face because he already knew it started right away.
“And what happened?” Detective Parvati asked.
“I’d been crying because my mom believed Kylie instead of me. I screamed at her to leave me alone, then he came when it was dark. I woke up to him smelling my hair.”
Logan’s stomach turned.
“And what did he do when you woke up?”
Maura sat frozen.
Luc touched her hand. “Shh . . . It’s all right. You’re not there anymore. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
Logan could barely watch, but he couldn’t look away either. And Maura calmed enough to keep going. Barely.
“He—” She cried, her breath hitching. “He told me I was pretty like my mama. He told me I would hurt Mama if I said anything. That she would go to sleep just like my sister and Kylie’s mom, and it would be my fault. If I loved Mama, I’d be a good girl.” She gasped, shaking. “He—he. He pulled out his penis. He said he knew my daddy showed me what to do.”
“Oh, God,” Logan whispered as Ryder’s expression emptied.
“He put my hand on it and told me to be Daddy’s girl. And he shoved his finger in my mouth again and again.” Maura was sobbing now. “He made me put my mouth on him when he was about to come. He said it was good for me. ‘Daddy’s girl loves Daddy’s cum.’”