A bucket of cold water washes over me. “What the fuck about that fucking asshole?”
“The prosecution wants to drop the case.”
That bucket of water turns into a goddamned waterfall. “What the fuck?” I snap. “We have sworn affidavits from a half-dozen guys, along with Ivy, Claire, and Ava. And me. Plus, I sat down andfilmed a fucking deposition detailing exactly what I saw, and you’re telling me that’s not enough?”
“I’m telling you that the prosecution wants to drop the case.”
I grind my teeth together, the nightmare days of what happened to Kylie, the guy getting off, all that happened afterward welling up and choking me.
“We have all of that,” I manage to grit out. “And it’s not fucking enough?”
Tera sighs. “I’ve offered all assistance necessary to the prosecutor, interns to research and help with filings, funding, fucking coffee and lunch deliveries, but he’s not convinced he can win this. At best, he wants to float a fucking plea bargain with no teeth. At worst…”
“He wants to let it all go,” I supply.
“Yeah.”
“Fuck,” I mutter. God, this is exactly the same shit that happened to Kylie.
“I know.”
“So what’s our next move?”
She sighs. “I’ll keep pushing the prosecutor, but we need something else, Damon.”
My stomach starts churning.
Because I know something else that would help?—
And I will never—fuckingnever—offer it up.
“What kind of something else?” I rasp.
“More people who can come forward with evidence of misconduct—sexual or otherwise. They can be anonymous reports or something that’s workplace related. How was he with the coaching staff that remained? Have Joey or Tommy or Dave reported anything?”
Yes.
But fuckingno.
“Damon?”
I blink, realize I didn’t reply and manage to grit out, “No.” A silent breath as my mind spins, remembering the hell that Kylie went through, a hell that was completely for naught. “No,” I repeat. “I haven’t heard anything from them, but I’ll check in.” Another breath, one that helps me begin thinking clearly. “Let’s also go back through his employment record. If he did this with the Sierra, then there are likely victims from his other teams before who can add to the prosecutor’s case.”
“Likely the statute of limitations has passed on most of those,” Tera says.
“It’s ten years in California.” I clench the phone hard enough for it to creak in protest. “He was only with the Sierra for five. That still leaves time for us to find something.”
“That’s a good idea,” Tera murmurs. “I’ll get the team on it.”
“I’ll let you know if I hear anything from the coaching staff.”
Anything except for?—
I slam the door shut in my mind, say goodbye, and we hang up.
I sit in silence for a long time, trying to breathe, to calm, to bury that anger inside me again.
It doesn’t work.
