Page 76 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

“We were waiting just past the crossing guard just like every other day. But she didn’t show up right away.”

“Was that normal?”

“She was late a lot. She liked to dawdle.”

JP waited.

“We left.” She didn’t sound defensive.

Alana stared at the ground for a moment. “Because we were tired of waiting,” she said. “Hannah was always behind packing up, talking to people, or something. We all wanted to get home, but Tyler was especially anxious because he had a new video game he wanted to play. I’m not blaming him. We didn’t need to listen to him, but we did.” A pause. “And Tyler said she’d catch up like she always did.”

“So, you had left her before?”

“Only when we knew she was behind us. And Tyler saw her come out of the building, so I thought she was there.” Alana’s fingers tightened against each other. “I didn’t argue with him. That’s the part I keep coming back to. Maybe if I had, she’d still be with us today.”

JP stayed still for a moment. Then he asked, “What do you remember about her? What was she like?”

Alana looked up, caught off guard by the shift. “She was a cute little kid. She had these extremes.”

“Like what?”

“She would chatter non-stop sometimes. Other times, she would completely clam up. She would get really quiet, but not shy exactly. It was like she was just being careful. And she didn’t rush into things. She was very curious about everything, but she paid attention first.” A sad smile flickered. “She noticed stuff the rest of us didn’t.”

“What kind of things?” he asked.

Alana shrugged. “People,” she said. “She noticed who was around and who wasn’t.”

“What was home like for her?”

Alana’s expression shifted. “She didn’t talk about it much, but when people asked or when her stepdad’s name came up, she’d go quiet.”

“Quiet how?”

Alana searched for the words. “Like she pulled back. Like she wasn’t really there anymore.”

“That happened more than once?”

“Yeah,” Alana said. “Whenever someone said his name. Or asked about her house.”

“It seems like you don’t want to say his name either, but I need to make certain I know who you’re talking about.”

She cleared her throat. “To honor Hannah, Megan, Tyler, and I made a pact to never say his name. I still have trouble saying it.”

JP waited.

She took a deep breath. “Victor Hayes.”

A breeze moved through the branches above. Alana shifted, then looked out across the campus. “There was one time,” she said, almost to herself. “Hannah told me something, but I didn’t think much of it then.”

Alana glanced at JP briefly, then back away. “She said there was someone who made her feel safe.”

“What did you think she meant?” he asked.

Alana shook her head. “I asked her who, and she wouldn’t tell me.”

“Do you think it might’ve been her attorney?”

“It could’ve been.”