Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
My parents’ living room is uncharacteristically tense as the members of my family all take seats, murmuring among ourselves.
I choose one next to Liv on the long sofa.
Mom is on her other side. Dad is in one overstuffed chair, and Ollie is in the other.
We all turn to the man who called us away from the hospital.
With his hat in his hand, pressed against his uniformed chest, and his fingers softly tapping on the brim, Sheriff Manes stands before us.
After Dad received his call, all of us except Matt returned to Blue Gil. Currently, Matt and his mother are sitting at Julie’s bedside in Bronson Hospital. As one of the few non-family members that my mom trusts, Matt has a direct line to Liv and our parents if anything changes.
As of six o’clock this evening, the doctor reported that Julie is healing.
Her white blood cell count has decreased, indicating that the infection is lessening.
Dr. Chaudhry is hopeful that tomorrow they will be able to cut back on the heavy sedation medications, allowing Julie to wake.
She said it’s important for her muscles to begin moving.
Julie’s level of pain is the doctor’s greatest concern.
Currently, the medication sedating her is also managing pain.
Before we left Julie’s room, I squeezed her hand.
Her fingers were warm and donned with bandages.
Her other hand was connected to the IV and tubes.
The hand I held lay still in my grasp. “Julie, I’m sorry I didn’t take you up on your invitation.
I wish I had been there for you.” My whispered words weren’t meant for anyone but her.
Though I’m anxious to begin the research Echo recommended, the sheriff’s summons came first. When Dad asked us all to be here, I couldn’t refuse.
The room settles in a hush as we all wait.
“I...wanted you to be told,” Sheriff Manes begins, “I wanted to be the one.” He appears to be practicing until he finds the right words. “I thought I should be the one...”
“Joe,” Dad says. “Tell us what?”
“It’s Marty Thompson.”
The room takes a collective breath, holding it in our lungs, the air burning as we anticipate what he is about to say.
“We found her.”
I exhale.
He lifts his hand. “She’s dead.”
“Oh...” Each of us mutters something as I reach for Liv’s hand. She’s also holding our mother’s. “Was she...?” my mother asks.
“This information has only been shared with her parents,” Sheriff Manes says. “Out of respect for the Thompsons, I’m limited on what I can say. They did authorize me to talk to you folks.”
“Joe,” Dad begins again, “our girls were friends. We watched Marty grow up. Hell, she and Julie have been friends since grade school.” He stands. “Was she...did he...? Hell, Joe, is this the same sick bastard who hurt Julie?”
Sheriff Manes shakes his head. “I can’t tell you that. The county sheriff’s department sent a forensic team to the shed. After we found Marty, I called the state.”
I would assume it is a big step for Joseph Manes to call a higher and larger force.
“They’re sending officers down here first thing in the morning.”
“In the morning,” my father rages as he stands. “In the morning? We have two teenage girls hurt. One is dead. The other is in a drug-induced coma. This can’t wait until morning.”
Sheriff Manes lifts his hand holding his hat and uses it as a shield as Dad steps closer. “Jerry, I understand what you’re thinking.”
“Do you?”
“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 are two criminals 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 one or two dangerous 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 step on 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.”
“It’s not your place, Mrs. Thorne.”
She nods. “It is, Joe, and you know it.” A silent pause fills the air before Mom continues, “As superintendent of Blue Gil schools, the safety of my students is my place. If you need people to man the phones to take in tips, ask. If you need people to follow leads, recruit. I don’t care what it takes.
I want to tell Julie that we did all we could. ”
Sheriff Manes lets out a breath and nods to my mom. “I’ll need the gymnasium. I think we should suspend classes for another day and keep our children home.”
“I disagree.”
We all watch our mother.
“Class is where they need to be,” she says.
“Each boy and girl needs to be present and accounted for. No more school days canceled. Many parents will be at work. You and I both know that the kids, especially the high school ones, won’t stay home.
Let the community know that everyone is being watched for their own good.
It’s getting too late tonight. Send word.
I’ll contact the custodians to set up the gymnasium.
You may have it tomorrow for an announcement.
Let everyone know now so they can make arrangements, and anyone who can attend should be at Blue Gil High School gymnasium tomorrow at the time you choose. ”
“I need to speak to the Thompsons,” Sheriff Manes says.
“I know Maggie,” Mom responds. “She won’t want anyone else to die.”
“There’s no guarantee that will happen,” he says.
“Is there any guarantee it won’t?” I ask.
He offers a quick nod. “Ten a.m.”
“Let me walk you to the door,” Dad says as he steps away from all of us.
Mom walks into the kitchen as the three of us siblings sit in stunned silence.
“Dead,” Liv finally says. “Oh shit, Marty is dead.”
“Why rape Julie?” I ask.
“It wasn’t rape,” Ollie quickly responds.
“Sexually assault,” I correct.
“And nothing to Marty,” Liv says, thinking aloud.
“Plastic bag,” Dad says as he returns. “Joe said she was found with a plastic bag over her head and secured around her throat. She suffocated. They’re doing tests for drugs and to determine time of death.”
“Where did they find her?” Ollie asks.
“In a ravine—a swale—beside County Road 62, between here and Lawton.”
I never heard the exact location, so I didn’t make the connection. Mom did. She walks back into the living room with a wine glass in her trembling hand. “County Road 62?”
Dad nods.
“That’s where Craig was found.”