“I do. You’re angry.”
“Hell yes, I’m angry?—”
“Sit down, Jerry. I’ll confide in you what I can. I’ve spoken to the county sheriff and a consultant. They suggested that it’s time to bring in the state police. We don’t believe we have a serial criminal here. The girls were” —he takes a deep breath— “not found in similar conditions.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“It means, Miss Thorne, that what happened to your sister isn’t the same as what happened to Miss Thompson.”
Mom’s fingertips go to her lips. “Oh God, was Marty raped? Did you find semen? Can they do DNA or something?”
The sheriff’s jaw tightens and the muscles in his neck pull tight. “No, ma’am, she wasn’t raped. There are no signs of assault, sexual or otherwise.”
“Then how did she...?” Her words fade as her tears increase.
“That’s why we can’t be certain she was killed by the same person who attacked your daughter.”
“But you’re saying killed, as in homicide?” I ask for clarification.
“How did she die?” Ollie asks.
“Marty Thompson was asphyxiated.”
“With no signs of sexual assault?” I repeat.
“No,” he replies curtly. “If the two girls hadn’t last been seen together, there would be nothing to connect the two cases.”
“Are you saying,” I ask, “that there aretwocriminals in Blue Gil at the same time? Two who happen to each kidnap and assault a seventeen-year-old girl from the same party?”
He inhales deeply through his nose, causing his nostrils to flare. “I’m not saying that. I’m not saying anything at this point.”
I also stand. “Don’t you think you should?”
“Excuse me, miss. Don’t come back to my town?—”
Dad’s hand lands on Sheriff Manes’s shoulder. “Joe, hold up a minute.” He looks my way and back. “You’re right that Jillian has been gone. Nevertheless, Blue Gil is her hometown and more importantly, we’re discussing her sister. Let her speak.”
For a moment, I’m taken aback by my father’s uncharacteristic support. I gather my thoughts and turn to Sheriff Manes. “You’re saying there’s oneor twodangerous individuals on the loose in Blue Gil. They may live here, or they may not.” He doesn’t respond. “Theoretically, if by some weird coincidence there are two, maybe they’re working as a team. Whatever the case, there is one seventeen-year-old dead and another in the hospital, the town needs to be warned—parents and teenagers. Who is to say it won’t happen again? What about the outsiders—the seasonal families that will be here soon? Don’t they deserve to know?”
Sheriff Manes speaks directly to my father. “Jerry, I came by here today out of courtesy to you and Shannon.” He looks at my mom. “Mrs. Thorne, no mother should endure what you’re going through. No mother should go through what Maggie Thompson is living. It’s not right. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that this perpetrator or...” He looks at me fleetingly. “...or perpetrators are caught and brought to justice.” He turns back to me. “As we speak, we have a task force creating a profile. Despite your career, Miss Thorne, you are not in law enforcement. You do not dictate what is done in Blue Gil.”
I let out a breath as I slap the sides of my jean-covered thighs. “Sheriff, I’m not trying to dictate or stepon toes. I just think that the town should know and should be on the lookout.”
“Why? So, we can spend hours following useless leads?”
I shake my head as I sit down again next to my sister.
“Joe,” my mom says. “You’re right.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Thorne.”
Her chin rises. “You’re right that no other mother should endure what I’m going through.” She stands. “And for the love of God, no one should be going through what Maggie is dealing with. Therefore, I need you—the mothers of Blue Gil need you—to make an announcement, to let the town and county know what has happened. Don’t let this all be told through social media and rumors. Set the town straight.”
“Shannon,” Sheriff Manes begins, “Mrs. Thorne, my reluctance is for Julie and for Marty. It ain’t anyone else’s business what those poor girls suffered. Marty won’t have to face this town. Julie will.”
My parents look at one another. It’s Dad who speaks. “We thank you for that.” He nods. “We do.”
Mom takes over. “I’m a mother and a wife. I’m also the superintendent of Blue Gil schools. I have watched our girls in Blue Gil grow up. I walked Jillian into her preschool class over twenty years ago and watched as she and her classmates graduated. I walked Olivia, Ollie, and Julie into those same classrooms. I watched these children play softball, basketball, and football. I sat in the stands and cheered. I baked cookies and worked at the concession stand. We hosted sleepovers. I don’t want others to judge Julie for what was done to her. I don’t.”Mom straightens her neck and shoulders. “I also don’t want one more child, woman, boy, or man hurt because we chose silence over information. Sheriff, speak to the town or I will.”
