“I know Elijah,” I replied with a small smile. Although, I would, if it saved me from having to go with her. It was a gut feeling: I couldn’t go with my mom, no matter whathappened.
“Did you get your shopping done?” Joslyn asked as she closed the scrapbook and set it on the sidetable.
“For the most part,” Elijahanswered.
“Maybe Dawn will have to go with you when it’s safe,” Emilyhinted.
“Hopefully that will be soon, so I can take her out and show her around,” Elijah smiled. “We really aren’t sure when that will be, since once the case is closed, it will go to trial, and then the news media will be all over her, wanting moredetails.”
“We’ll have that covered so no one bothers you at all,” Zack grinned. “Emily will have to testify at the trial. So will you, Dawn, so you’ll be safest with us wherever wego.”
“Okay,” I said, taking everything in. I was comfortable here. I didn’t want to see those men, but knew I’d have to face them sometime—either here or somewhereelse.
When I was first taken from Joan, I wanted her, begged to see her and go back to her. Now, after all this time, I wasn’t sure I wanted anything to do with her. From what Elijah had said, she wasn’t the same, and since I’d changed just by being here, things were different. I had achoice.
“Could my dad’s murder be connected to Morgan, or even my . . . mom?” I asked, hating the idea as I said it. I didn’t think I could face my mother if she did have something to do with it, but it would explain why things happened the way theydid.
“That’s a good question—I hadn’t thought of that,” Elijah said, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll give the idea to Kaleb when I talk to him next, and see what he can find. The killer was found not far that night from where it happened, but it’s possible it’s all connected. Your dad’s body wasn’t found, but presumed dead, with the amount of blood at the crimescene.”
“Morgan may be able to tell you something if you ask,” Zacksaid.
“Yeah, but I don’t want to ask too many things. He may not be too bright, but since I’ve asked him a few things about Dawn already, I’m not sure how much will push him into suspecting something’sup.”
“Kaleb may come up with something better,” Zack said as he helped Emily from the chair they were sitting on. “Come on, it’s time togo.”
I looked over at Emily and her nervousness was showing again—more so now. I reached over and squeezed herhand.
“I have a therapy session,” Emilywhispered.
“It was all her idea,” Zack stated proudly with a smile. “She needs someone who can understand better than me, and to help her get over a few issues I have no idea how tohandle.”
“Yeah, but now I’m not so sure I can do this,” she said, looking anywhere but at the people who were in theroom.
“Of course you can,” Joslyn said, just as proud. “You’ve been through so much, and you can dothis.”
