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“What would you say about gender fluidity, Dr. Brown?” Sarah Shepard cocks her head and goes further off-script. “Most of your material is geared toward heterosexual men and women. But what about people that fall outside of the so-called—” she pauses and makes air quotes “—norm?”
Ali recognizes what Sarah is doing, but she can’t very well stop it now. “Genitals are mostly the same, no matter how a person identifies. It’s only the language that changes.”
“So are you denying that maybe your work is not as progressive as it could be?”
“My work helps people have more fulfilling sex lives. My only agenda is to help people feel better.”
“But they can’t feel better if they don’t feel accepted, isn’t that right?”
“Of course. I see clients in my personal practice that are grappling with a variety of issues.”
“And yet in your seminars you still use outdated terminology to describe male and female anatomy?”
“I wouldn’t call it outdated. It’s scientific. It’s anatomy and physiology 101.”
“Science changes though, doesn’t it, Dr. Brown?” She turns to the camera, but she speaks to Ali. “Can you imagine if we still taught our doctors some of the practices that physicians learned a century ago?”
Ali hates being ambushed, and this is exactly what this is. “Sex is still sex. My mission is the same as it has always been. To help people—all people—anyone whowantshelp. My goal is to help them find pleasure and to be open and honest about how it happens. But it’s fair to say that some people don’t want help, Sarah. And those people, they like to complain. But rarely does casual effort provide extraordinary results.”
“Let’s shift gears,” Sarah Shepard says, and the camera pans out. “What would you say brought on this obsession with sex? Were you interested from a very young age?” She touches her face and her expression morphs into a sort of mixed curiosity. Ali can see that Ms. Shepard has also perfected her facial expressions. “Tell us. What brings one to this line of work?”
Ali smiles because she understands what is happening. This interview is not about her. It’s not about ratings. It’s about advertising dollars. And the best way to get ratings? Controversy.
“Like I said, I’ve always wanted to make people happy. And sex has always been this sort of taboo topic that leads to a lot of pain. But underneath that is shame.”
“Shame. It’s interesting that you bring that word up. Do you think your chosen career path has anything to do with your past?”
Ali thinks Sarah Shepard is about to grasp at straws and ask if she’s sexually fulfilled. It won’t be the first time an interview or a fan has demanded answers about her personal life. But that’s not what happens at all. “Your father,” Sarah says, pointing at her notes. “He molested you. Surely that has had an immense effect on your work.”
Ali feels her face grow hot. The lights are suddenly burning holes in her skin. “No,” she shakes her head. “You must be mistaken.”
“That’s interesting.” The host double checks her notes. “I’m sorry. Somehow my producers must have gotten that wrong.” She seems flustered, but Ali knows it’s an act. “You work with a lot of victims of sexual abuse. Maybe it was implied—”
“Through my foundation, yes.”
“Incredible work you do there.” A promotional clip plays on the screen of Ali in jeans and a T-shirt working with human trafficking victims.
“Do you have anything you’d like to say? I mean, if someone out there who is a survivor—or worse—is currently in a situation where they are being abused, and they’re watching, what would you say to them?”
Ali sits up a little straighter and the camera moves in close on her face. “I would tell them they are not a product of their circumstances—that the abuse is not their fault and that it’s important to talk to a trained professional. But most importantly, they need to make sure they’re safe. It’s vital they make plans to get out of their situation, as difficult as that may seem. It’s possible. I’ve worked with thousands of survivors of abuse.”
The outro music starts and the lights go up. “Well, you’ve certainly done exactly that. Everyone, let’s give it up for Dr. Ali Brown!”
Canned applause cues up. “Thank you for being with us today, Dr. Brown.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
It’s hard to prove a murder when you don’t have a body. Damn near impossible. So when I kidnaptheSarah Shepard, the nasally talk show host? I’m not exactly—how do you say—trying to keep her around. Trust me, no one wants a woman like that. Sarah Shepard is the stench of reality in your nose: the hard facts, the lessons you didn’t want to learn. It takes a lot of mental energy trying to figure out what to do with her. Too bad employers aren’t interested in people with a knack for that. It ought to be a desirable skill set, the kind you could somehow work into a resume.Excels at knowing how to make a person disappear.
Alas, Sarah Shepard will not be found. She was a problem, and I am what you could call a problem solver. Like a lot of women in her profession, Sarah was a workaholic and a fitness fanatic. I couldn’t exactly go for her at the station. Lights, camera, action, and all. Good thing she liked to jog. Alone. On rural roads. With earbuds in. Not the brightest. But I didn’t want to go the hit-and-run route. I really like my car.
So I took a chance and asked for help. And, well, if you know anything about murder, then you know this is usually where the real problems start.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ethan
Nadia is positively glowing when I walk through the door. She hands me a cup of coffee, wearing a smile the likes of which I have never seen. It’s certainly not her typical greeting. I can’t say I’m surprised given the morning I’ve had. I’m not exactly batting a thousand where women are concerned.
