Still, it was far better right now to focus on working. She needed to find this Steven guy and shut him down before he did more damage to people she cared about. But given that they were drawing blanks trying to identify him, she might have to call the president. Surely, the government had secret spy technology that could find someone who didn’t want to be found.
Especially when the president was an agent ofDominatus.They definitely crossed lines, undermining people’s privacy, and they’d claim it was all for the greater good. Meanwhile, so many people who worked for the government in good faith didn’t have a clue they were following a dangerous world power.
No, she would wait and not call in the big guns. Not yet.
Ellayna’s voice cut across her thoughts. “Then he came. While she was standing there. He walked in.”
Steven said, “The Seventh Day Killer—Ricky. He showed up?”
“He came into the room. She fought him like a superhero.”
Kenna smiled to herself, thinking back through the tools she’d used that day. Ways she worked to account for the injuries she’d sustained to her forearms years ago. Surgery hadn’t fixed it, butDominatusdid. She almost wanted that part of her life back. Without the constant ache, she almost didn’t feel like…herself.
“She took him down?” Steven asked.
“Yeah. Then she carried me out. All the way to the ambulance.”
Kenna remembered the slight weight of the girl and how her arms had ached afterward. But she’d done it. She’d carried Ellayna to safety because she had to. God had sent her to rescue Ellayna, the way He sent Jesus to rescue the world.Thank You.He had given her the ability to sweep that child out of a horrible situation and a hundred others besides that one. And yet, how much more had God stepped in to save people—whether they thanked Him in return, or not.
“She called my mom, and I went home.”
“And Gerald Rickshire went to prison,” Steven said. “It’s a pretty amazing story. You were very brave.”
“I didn’t feel brave.”
“Bravery might not have anything to do with how you feel. It’s more about what you do.”
“Like Kenna fighting him off?” Ellayna said.
“And you keeping your cool. Knowing you could trust her. And leaving with her. Letting her save you from that. You were very brave to take that chance and trust her, Ellayna. You should be proud of yourself.”
Ellayna was quiet for a long moment. Then, she said, “Thanks.”
“I’m sure it’s been hard. But you have a therapist, right? You mentioned them.”
“I’m supposed to talk about it.” A smidge of teen attitude peeked through in her tone, making the corner of Kenna’s mouth curl up.
Steven said, “We all need someone to talk to about things that have happened to us, so thank you for talking to me today.”
“You’re welcome.” Ellayna sounded in that moment every bit like the little kid in that basement that Kenna had found.
But that wasn’t what gave her pause.
It was what Steven had said—about things that happened. She’d heard it in his voice. Something had happened to him, and maybe this podcast was his way to talk about it.
The ending credits music began to play, but it cut off abruptly. Kenna opened her eyes and looked at her phone screen on the arm of the chair.Amara calling.
She slid a finger across the screen. “Morning.”
“Are you even awake?” Her mother’s smooth alto tone had some cracks in it, but it always made Kenna feel better. Of course, Amara wasn’t her mother any more than Zeyla was really her sister. But she wanted to claim them as such anyway, becauseDominatushad taken plenty from her. She was keeping this for herself and for her baby.
“Mostly.” She explained about Ellayna on the podcast.
“A child? That’s unconscionable.”
“And we’re surprised by that now?” Kenna figured they’d seen enough in this world that what should be unthinkable had happened right in front of their faces in a way they couldn’t deny.
“Careful you don’t hit a point where you aren’t surprised by anything. It’s a rough place to be.”
