The pain lingered though, raw and deep in her voice.
“Actually, that’s the reason we’re here. We have new evidence that suggests otherwise.”
A strained heartbeat passed. “What are you talking about?” Yolette asked in a trembling voice.
Ellie struggled for calm. “Have you heard of the young woman Minnie Benton who recently died at Midnight Ridge?”
“Yes, of course. It’s all the talk around here. But what does that have to do with Nina?”
“There were similarities in the girls’ deaths,” Ellie explained. “We now believe that Minnie was murdered. And that your daughter was as well.”
Yolette grabbed the edge of the table as if she was about to pass out. Shondra quickly rose and retrieved the glass of water on the counter while Ellie clasped the woman’s hand.
“I’m so very sorry. I know this comes as a shock,” Ellie said. “But we thought you had a right to know.”
“My baby… her baby… murdered… but why… who?” Yolette’s voice trailed off and she reached for the water, but her hand was shaking so badly she knocked it over and water trickled across the table and onto the floor.
Shondra righted the glass, then jumped up and grabbed paper towels to mop it up. Yolette stared at the water dripping off the side of the table and burst into tears.
FIFTY-NINE
Mystic Church
Tilly made mental notes on each of the men in the group so she could relay the information to Derrick and Ellie, hoping it might lead to a suspect.
Poor little Iris had been missing for days now and every hour that passed, fear for the child intensified. The group took a short break, and everyone grabbed more refreshments. When they reconvened, a woman named Priscilla introduced herself. She’d started drinking after her husband died and was struggling to pull herself from her grief-induced depression.
A young woman, possibly around eighteen, had come in late and looked so nervous that Tilly immediately wanted to fold her into a hug. She glanced at Tilly then the other women but seemed to avoid eye contact with the men.
The leader, Gil, addressed her. “Welcome back, Dana Jo. Glad you could join us tonight.”
Dana Jo tugged the sleeves of her sweater down over her hand and chewed on her bottom lip until it turned red. She didn’t speak, just simply nodded at Gil in acknowledgement of his greeting.
“Would you like to share?” Gil asked.
The girl wrapped her arms around herself then stared at her sneakers.
Tilly wondered about her story but knew individuals couldn’t be pushed, not when in recovery.
And judging from the pain in Dana Jo’s eyes, she was definitely having a difficult time. Was she afraid of something or someone? Or was she fending off the urge to use again?
SIXTY
Dana Jo wrung her hands together, tugging at the sleeves of her sweater. Still self-conscious about the scars on her arms from the attack in the mountains, she always covered them, mostly because she didn’t want people in public or the street staring at her with curious, probing eyes and asking questions. Questions she had no answer to.
What happened to you? Who hurt you?
“Remember, this is a safe place,” Gil said in a comforting tone. “We’re glad to see you’re back, Dana Jo. You look upset tonight. Want to talk about it?”
She darted furtive glances around the circle then her eyes fell back on her jittery hands. She rarely talked about what happened, but when she’d passed the liquor store around the corner, she’d been tempted to go inside and buy a fifth of vodka.
Remembering her daughter, she’d ducked inside here instead.
She inhaled and spit it out. “I’ve been having a hard time, ever since that girl Minnie Benton was killed and her little girl went missing.”
“That’s understandable,” Gil said softly. “You have a daughter, too, don’t you?”
Dana Jo nodded, her breathing erratic. “I’m terrified something will happen to her. That I’ll lose her.” She hesitated, hoping someone else would speak up and save her from having to continue.
