Truth is in the Darkness (Paynes Creek Thriller Book 2) Read online

  At least someone agreed with me.

  “Linda, leave Coop alone,” Barb snapped.

  “Stay out of this, Mother. My Calla Lily is not your daughter.” She turned back to me. “I want you to leave this hospital room right now and never come back. My daughter is done with you.”

  “Ms. Thomas,” I started, but before I could say more, Lil spoke.

  “Leave him alone, Mother.”

  Linda rushed to her side. “Oh, honey. You don’t need his negative energy in here. You’ve been through so much. What can I get you?”

  Linda always poured it on thick when she had an audience. Not so much the rest of the time.

  “I need to talk to Coop,” Lil said.

  Linda stiffened and crossed her arms. “Great. That’s just perfect.”

  Here we go, I thought.

  “That boy drags you out in the middle of the damn night, puts you in all kinds of danger, and you want to talk to him instead of your mother?”

  Lil struggled to sit up, and I moved to help her. But Linda stuck a hand out and gave me a look of warning.

  “This was not Cooper’s fault,” Lil said.

  “It wasn’t only his fault. If you hadn’t been wearing that revealing top and gone traipsing across town for a booty call at all hours of the night—”

  “Linda Thomas!” Barb took two steps toward her daughter. “I will not have you shaming your daughter. You of all people have no room to judge.”

  “I’m just saying,” Linda said.

  “We all heard exactly what you were saying,” Barb said. “Now pull it together. Your daughter doesn’t need this.”

  I saw tears forming in Lil’s eyes. She needed support right now, not accusations. And it certainly wasn’t relevant what she was wearing. That doesn’t give some man permission to kidnap her.

  Linda must have seen the tears too. “Oh, honey, you know I didn’t mean anything by it. I just think when girls dress inappropriately, they’re asking for trouble.”

  “You think I asked to be kidnapped?” Lily cried.

  “I just think you could make better choices.” Linda shot me a dark glance that left no doubt what choice she was referring to.

  Mercifully, a nurse walked in at that moment, bringing this unpleasant conversation to a halt. She was short and stocky, with a face that said Don’t mess with me.

  “I’m here to remove your IV,” she said. “Now that you’re eating and drinking and well-hydrated, Dr. Bowers says you don’t need it anymore.”

  She maneuvered Linda out of the way. Her manner suggested that she’d already formed an opinion of Linda, and not a good one.

  Linda responded with a crossing of her arms and a roll of her eyes.

  “Does that mean I can go home soon?” Lil asked.

  “I’d say tomorrow morning, but Dr. Bowers will be by to confirm that. How’s your pain? I can give you ibuprofen, or something a little stronger. Something that’ll help you sleep.”

  “I’ll take the something stronger,” Lil said.

  “I’ll get that for you.” The nurse looked around at the rest of us. “Visiting hours are about over. And Lily needs her sleep.”

  Linda crossed her arms. “I’m her mother. I’m staying.”

  “Mom,” Lil said in a weak voice. “You’ve been great to be here all day, but you need to go home. All I’ll be doing is sleeping anyway. Besides, I have an entire team of nurses to look after me.”

  Linda looked hesitant. “Are you sure, honey?”

  Lil nodded. “You and Grammy go. I just need a few minutes with Coop before the nurse gives me the medicine. Then I plan to sleep all night.”

  Linda scowled at the mention of my name, but she didn’t argue. “Well, I really could use a shower. You’ve put me through hell, you know.”

  I balled my hands into fists. Leave it to Linda to make Lil’s trauma all about her. She really was a sorry excuse for a mother.

  “Come on, Linda,” Barb said. “Let’s give our sweet Lil some space.” She leaned down and kissed Lil’s forehead. “I love you. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  I felt unspoken words pass between the two women. Barb and Lil had a connection that Lil and her mother would never have. And a connection that Linda never had with Barb either. I often wondered if Linda resented her daughter for that.

  As soon as Barb and Linda left, Lil leaned her head back against the pillow and closed her eyes. “That woman!” she said through gritted teeth.

  I sat beside her and leaned my forehead against hers. “I am so sorry.” My voice cracked.

  She laid a hand on my head and ran her fingers through my hair. When her hand stilled, I pulled back. Our eyes met, and my fear and guilt and worry suddenly made me shudder. I swallowed against the lump that had formed in my throat.

  “Coop,” she whispered, but stopped before speaking further.

  “I never should have had you out by yourself that late at night.”

  She was clearly fighting back her own emotions. She looked so fragile, here in this hospital bed, but now she also had fear in her eyes.

  “Talk to me,” I said.

  She looked away and squeezed her eyes shut. Tears leaked out and streamed down her cheeks.

  “I was so scared, Coop. The way he spoke to me. And then when he stuffed me in the trunk. He had a plan for me. He made that clear. All I could think of in that trunk was that I’d rather die trying to get away than go where he was taking me.” She met my gaze again. “Linda is wrong. I didn’t ask for that.”

  “Of course you didn’t,” I said quickly. I lay down next to her on the bed and gently gathered her into my arms. “She never should have said something so cruel.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I just want them to find him. What if he comes looking for me again?”

  I pressed my lips into her hair. “That man isn’t going to get anywhere near you.”

  “I’m going to stay with Grammy until I go to school. Linda is always out so late, and I don’t ever want to be alone in the house.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. And your Grammy would love that.”

  The nurse returned with a pill in a little paper cup. “Sorry, sir, but visiting hours are over, and my patient needs to rest.”

  I stood and stepped away while the nurse gave Lil her pill and got her fresh water. When the nurse was gone again, I kissed Lil gently on the lips. “I’ll be back first thing tomorrow. You sure you’re okay alone tonight?”

  “I’ll be fine. I’m not really alone—the nurses are in and out constantly, and they said an officer would be stationed outside my room. But call before you come to the hospital tomorrow—I’m hoping they’ll let me go home first thing in the morning.”

  I studied her face. “If they release you early, I’ll come by your house. Or Barb’s. Wherever you decide to go.”

  Lil’s lips lifted slightly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Okay.”

  I exited Lil’s room. Standing just outside was Officer Bale. He lifted his chin slightly when he saw me.

  “Officer Kale, right?” I said.

  He narrowed his eyes. “Bale.”

  “Oh yeah. Sorry. Mistakes happen.”

  On my way to the elevator, I spotted a television in a waiting area, and on the screen was a police sketch. I immediately realized the news reporter was talking about Lil’s case. I studied the sketch, memorizing the man’s face. I nearly got sick from the feeling I got in my stomach at the thought of that man putting hands on my Lil.

  And instead of getting on the elevator, I settled into an uncomfortable chair in the hospital waiting room for the night.

  Eight

  Lil

  The next day, I told Grammy I wanted to stay at her house. Mom was devastated and threw a huge tantrum, but Grammy calmed her down and made her realize that this had nothing to do with her. Grammy explained to Mom that I was afraid to be alone, which meant if I stayed with her, she’d have to stay at home with me. She wouldn’t be able to go on dates.


  Mom’s attitude shifted rather rapidly after that chat.

  I settled onto the couch at Grammy’s to watch TV. Grammy didn’t hover—not much anyway. I couldn’t blame her for being concerned, but I really didn’t want to talk about what had happened. Besides, I’d already told the police everything I could remember. At this point I just wanted to not think about it. I wanted to move on. I’m sure Grammy knew I was just putting up a brave front, and that I wouldn’t be able to do it forever. So though she didn’t hover, she was never too far away—just in case I needed her.

  The doorbell rang, and Grammy answered it. A moment later I heard voices coming closer.

  “Lil, look who’s here. Coop and Sheriff Daniels.”

  “Hi, Sheriff,” I said. I started to get up.

  “Oh, don’t get up, darlin’,” he said, then thumbed at Coop. “I discovered this kid out in your driveway. Want me to get rid of him?” He chuckled.

  Grammy poked at his arm. “Oh, Stoker, leave the boy alone. Can I get either of you something to drink? Coop, you want a Coke?”

  “No, ma’am,” Coop said.

  “Stoker? I made a pitcher of sweet tea this morning.”

  “I wouldn’t turn down a glass.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Sheriff Daniels turned to me as Grammy went to fetch a glass of tea. “Lil, I’m real sorry to hear about the trouble you had over the weekend. I was out of town, or I would have been to the hospital to speak with you. I hate to do this to you, but would you mind telling me what happened?”

  I lifted a shoulder as if to say, I guess.

  Coop sat beside me on the sofa, placed a steady hand on my leg, and gave me a reassuring look.

  Grammy returned and handed Sheriff Daniels a glass of tea. “Have a seat, Stoker.” She gestured to a wingback.

  “Thanks, Barb.” He sat and took a sip of his tea before setting it on a coaster beside him. “That’s some mighty good iced tea.”

  I glanced over at Coop. He looked as irritated as I felt at how all of the grown-ups seemed to be acting like everything was normal.

  Everything was not normal.

  “Are you up to this?” the sheriff asked.

  It was sweet of him to ask, but I didn’t feel like I had a choice. If I did, I would choose to run from this house, this town, and never look back. I no longer cared about finishing out my senior year with the friends I’d known since kindergarten.

  I nodded.

  “Okay, darlin’. Tell me what happened, and give me details, no matter how small you think they are.”

  Coop held my hand as I told Sheriff Daniels everything. Grammy left the room once, and I knew it was because she was struggling to hold back tears. I hated how much pain I was causing her.

  When I finished my story, it was my turn to ask questions. “Have you talked to the gas station clerk?”

  “Her name is Bree White, and I’m afraid we’ve been unable to locate her. The police got a call around three a.m. that no one was manning the store. A nurse getting off a late shift came in to buy gas, and when she found the store empty, she called it in. But don’t worry, we’re going to find that clerk. And the men who did this.”

  “Did you find any surveillance footage?” I asked.

  “The tapes were missing. Given what you’ve told us, we assume the clerk took them before she disappeared.”

  “What else have the police figured out?” I asked. “Do you know why they were taking me?”

  Sheriff Daniels looked to Barb, then down at his notes.

  “What is it?” I demanded. “Don’t hide things from me. I want to know what it is that I managed to escape.”

  The sheriff closed his notebook and stuck it in his breast pocket. Grammy gave him a nod to go ahead. Did she already know? Was that why she’d been so emotional?

  “Okay,” he said. “The FBI has gotten involved. They believe you might have escaped a human-trafficking attempt.”

  Coop dropped my hand and leapt to his feet in alarm.

  “Human trafficking?” I said. “As in… they wanted to sell me into sexual slavery?”

  “I’m afraid so. We can’t say for certain if this is related, but another teenage girl was abducted last Saturday night in Lexington. She went with a boy to a late-night drive-in diner. After they ate, she got out of the car and went to the bathroom. While she was in the bathroom, the boy drove off. And when she exited the bathroom, surveillance cameras show a man approaching her, putting his arm around her, and leading her away. He fits the description you gave the sketch artist. She hasn’t been seen since.”

  “Where did the boy go?”

  Sheriff Daniels shrugged. “We haven’t been able to identify him. The FBI thinks the man is part of a much larger ring of traffickers who are taking their victims to South America to be sold to the highest bidders. They’re still waiting for positive confirmation.”

  “But why would they be waiting at a gas station in the middle of the night? That man acted like he’d expected me. But he couldn’t have been—no one knew I was meeting Coop.”

  “Maybe someone’s been following you—just waiting for an opportunity when you were alone. Maybe it had something to do with the clerk. These traffickers often have ‘spotters,’ people who spot girls for trafficking. Maybe the boy who abandoned the girl at the diner was a spotter.”

  “Maybe a spotter has been following me.” A shiver started at the base of my neck and traveled down my spine.

  The sheriff stood. “I’m going to do everything I can to catch this guy. This creep will not be coming back for you. There are too many people looking for him—the sheriff’s office, the Paynes Creek police, the Lexington PD, and the FBI. And thanks to your sketch, he won’t want to be showing his face in my town.”

  When the sheriff had finished, I thanked him, and Grammy led him to the door.

  When they were out of earshot, Coop sat beside me again. “God, Lil. I—”

  “Please don’t tell me you’re sorry again. I can’t take everyone telling me they’re sorry anymore.” I heard the anger in my voice, and I felt bad, but I was sick of “sorry.” I wanted answers, and I wanted this asshole caught.

  “I was going to say, I’ll be here for whatever you need. That I’m so thankful you knew how to get out of that trunk.”

  I took his hand. “I’m sorry I snapped at you.”

  “It’s okay.”

  Coop and I watched TV the rest of the afternoon. We didn’t talk about what happened. At one point I heard Grammy crying on the phone. Coop just turned up the volume on the TV.

  When it was time for Coop to go, I walked him to his car. He pulled me close and kissed the top of my head. My sprained wrist, supported by a sling, kept us from fully embracing, so I grabbed hold of his shirt with my good hand and leaned my head against his chest. We stood like that for a long time in the cool spring air, both separated and bound together by a deafening silence.

  Nine

  Coop

  Graduation came and went, and Lil seemed to be slowly getting back to her old self. She was seeing a therapist once a week, which she said was helping. Still, she spent a lot more time by herself, writing and sketching, and she had retreated from a lot of things, including me.

  We got very little alone time. Part of that was because of all the group activities leading up to graduation—drinking beer, camping out. Everyone wanted to see friends one last time before we all went our separate ways. For Lil, that meant spending time with her cousin Bryn. Bryn was two years younger than her, but they were really close—practically sisters for most of their childhood. And for me, that meant spending time with my best friend, Jake.

  Jake had moved to Paynes Creek just before our freshman year. Apparently he had been born in Paynes Creek but then moved away shortly thereafter. He played football, and we had most of the same classes, so we quickly became close friends. He lived on a small farm on the outskirts of town, but he spent much more time with me at my house than he d
id at his. His mom traveled a lot with her job and was hardly ever around. She didn’t even come to football games, despite the fact that Jake was a star on the team and had been recruited to play for the University of Kentucky in the fall. In fact, I’d only ever met his mom one time in four years. And Jake’s father had been out of the picture his whole life. So my mom took Jake in any time he needed a hot meal—which was great for Jake, and for me.

  One Saturday afternoon in early June, Lil and I made plans to meet Bryn and Jake out at the watering hole on the back of Barb’s property. Jake and I arrived first.

  “Has Lil said much lately?” Jake asked while we waited for the girls.

  “Said much?” I repeated, confused.

  “You know. About what happened.”

  I stared out at the water. It would be cold this early in the summer, but we would all jump in anyway. It was tradition.

  “No,” I finally said. “She won’t discuss it. She basically acts like it never happened.”

  “Has she decided where she’s going in the fall?”

  “Not yet. Because of what she’s been through, both schools allowed her extra time to make a decision. The art school in New York is holding her acceptance, but her grandmother had to pay a deposit to UK.” I shrugged. “I’m not sure if she’s any closer to a decision though.”

  “I saw in the paper that she wrote a book.”

  “Yeah, a children’s book. It’s really cool. She illustrated it, too.”

  “She’s one talented girl.” Jake shook his head. “It’s no wonder our senior class voted her most likely to succeed.”

  “Hello, boys!” Bryn sang behind us.

  Jake and I turned to see Bryn and Lil walking toward us. Bryn wore shorts and a yellow string bikini top, twirling her T-shirt over her head. Lil still had her T-shirt on, but the strings of a bikini top peeked out around her neck.

  Lil met my gaze and smiled. A genuine smile. I hated the distance that had grown between us, and I was sure she hated it too. So seeing that smile made my heart leap.

  It also caused something else to stir. It was a shame that our first time making love had been tainted so badly by what happened. It was neither of our faults, but there were times when I wasn’t sure if we would make it through.