Suffer II Page 12

  “Come on, Em,” said Brittany, dropping her shoulders. “You know I’m kidding. But you’ve been cooped up in your house taking care of your mom since our sophomore year. The only guy you’ve done anything with now lives a thousand miles away and may never come back. You deserve to have someone take you out and do nice things for you.”

  “I’m not much of a dater,” said Emily. “I just want to get through my senior year and into college. It’s what my dad wanted for me, and so do I. I’m going to make that happen.”

  “What about your mom?” asked Brittany. “Who’s going to take care of her?”

  “She is,” said Emily, turning away. “She needs to work through this. I’m not going to be in Boudreaux forever making her life better and missing out on my own.”

  “I’m glad to hear you say that, Em. I really am. I just hope you mean it.”

  “I do,” said Emily. “I hate the thought of her being alone, but I can’t do this anymore. She needs to snap out of it and move on with her life. She’s too young to just give up.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” said Brittany. “I’ll help you.”

  “You already are,” said Emily, smiling at her. “More than you know.”

  “Hey, Brit,” said Mr. Greene, standing behind them. “Your mom and I are heading out shortly. I promised her a date night.”

  “Aw,” said Brittany. “Aren’t you sweet?”

  “It’s a curse,” said Mr. Greene. “Your mom wants you to come inside and help her pick out an outfit.”

  “Okay,” said Brittany, standing and walking up the stairs.

  “You need my help?” asked Emily.

  “No, it won’t take long,” said Brittany. “I already know what I want her to wear.”

  Brittany and her dad left Emily alone with her thoughts. She leaned her head back into the water, but her face was still above the surface. She looked up into the cloudless sky and saw a flash of sunlight reflect off the wing of an airplane. Emily wondered who was onboard and where they were going. Wherever it was, it had to be a better place than Boudreaux. She closed her eyes and felt the sun on her cheeks. She opened them again when the sunshine was replaced with a shadow and a stare.

  “What are you doing?” asked Emily, lifting her head and looking up at Conner with a smile.

  “Waiting to talk to you,” said Conner, stepping down into the water.

  “About what?”

  “I need your help with something, but you have to keep it between us,” said Conner, looking around. “Seriously, you can’t tell anyone.”

  “Sounds intriguing.”

  “It’s not that intriguing,” said Conner. “It’s actually a little embarrassing.”

  “Even better.”

  “Funny,” said Conner. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

  “I promise,” said Emily, sensing his seriousness. “What is it?”

  “Chemistry,” said Conner, exhaling. “It’s kicking my ass. I had to go to summer school because of it. I just told everyone I was going to more football camps. It’s still kicking my ass. I was wondering if you could help me with it.”

  “Of course,” said Emily. “It’s no big deal. A lot of people have trouble with it.”

  “I know, but if I don’t keep my GPA up, I may not get the scholarship,” said Conner. “My parents don’t have that kind of money, so that’s my only shot. It’s kind of embarrassing, so I don’t want anyone to know, especially Brittany. You’re her best friend. You know that girl can’t keep a secret.”

  “She actually can,” said Emily. “But I understand. Yes, I’ll help you and I won’t tell anyone.”

  “Thank you,” said Conner, beaming. “I’ll tell her after I pass the class. You have no idea how much this means to me. You’re the best, Em.”

  Again, Emily found herself being pulled into hug. The difference being that Conner’s was genuine and sincere. She returned the hug not realizing there were two sets of eyes watching them. One set belonging to Tyler and the other belonging to Brittany.

  “I told you that wouldn’t take long,” said Brittany, walking up behind them.

  “I have to head to practice now,” said Conner, standing. “I’ll come back by when I’m done. Thanks again, Em. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “What was that all about?” asked Brittany, reclaiming her seat next to Emily.

  “We were just talking about school starting next week. What did you pick out for your mom?”

  “Something my dad’s going to like very much,” said Brittany, watching Conner walk away, but then seeing him turn to look at them.

  “Really?” said Brittany. “He’s staring at you.”

  “No,” said Emily, “he’s staring at you.”

  “What’s going on?” asked Brittany, turning to her friend. “Why did he wait until I was gone before he came over here and then leave when I came back?”

  “We were talking about stupid school stuff, Brit,” said Emily, looking down at the water.

  “Oh my God,” said Brittany. “You’re lying to me. You can’t even look me in the eyes. Did he ask you out?”

  “No!” said Emily, turning to Brittany and clenching her teeth. “He likes you. I’m not lying. We were just talking about school stuff. Drop it, Brit. I have no interest in Conner or Mark or Tyler or anyone else. Stop it, right now. I’m serious. If he was hitting on me, I would tell you and it would make him the dumbest guy I know. You’re my best friend and I’d never do anything to hurt you. I don’t need this crap right now.”

  “Okay, okay,” said Brittany, backing down. “I’m sorry. You know how I get. I believe you. I’m really sorry, Em. It’s just I know that a lot of girls are after him because he’s going to be a football star.”

  “And you thought I was one of those girls?” asked Emily. “I’ve never even been to a football game.”

  “I know,” said Brit. “I’m being stupid. Do you forgive me?”

  “This time,” said Emily, splashing her with water.

  They spent the next few hours floating, listening to music, and talking with friends. Emily was relieved when Conner returned and pulled Brittany to the side. They were laughing and hugging in the corner of the pool away from the others.

  Emily wrapped herself in a towel and found Tyler sitting alone at one of the tables. She grabbed a plate of food and went to join him. When she smiled at him, he turned away from her.

  “What’s wrong with you?” asked Emily.

  “I’m not starting,” said Tyler, lowering his head.

  “Starting what?”

  “The first game,” said Tyler. “Coach told me today. I’ll be second string unless someone gets hurt. I’ll be the only senior on the team riding the bench.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Emily, reaching over for his hand. “Maybe you’ll start the second game.”

  “That’s not how it works,” said Tyler, pulling his hand away from her. “And you.”

  “What about me?”

  “Flirting with every guy here,” said Tyler, glaring at her. “I’m the only one who really cares about you, and you don’t even give me the time of day. You’d rather be with Mark or Conner or anyone else except me. What’s wrong with me?”

  “Nothing is wrong with you,” said Emily, furrowing her brow. “You’re one of my best friends. And for your information, they were flirting with me. Well, except Conner. He wasn’t flirting with me at all. He was just –”

  “Never mind, Emily,” said Tyler, standing. “You just don’t get it, do you?”

  “Get what?”

  “I said never mind.”

  “Why is everyone being so weird today?” asked Emily. “I came here to have fun and relax. As you’re aware, Tyler, I don’t get to do that very often.”

  “Believe it or not, neither do I. You’re not the only one who’s ever lost a parent,” said Tyler, walking away.

  She sat and watched him leave. Her first reaction was to knock him out of his chair, but decided she had ca
used enough drama for one day. None of it was intentional.

  “He got some bad news today,” said Conner, startling her. “Sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

  “It’s okay,” said Emily. “Yeah, he told me about not starting the first game. He told me a few other things as well. People are acting a little strange today.”

  “Tell me about it,” said Conner. “I just got an earful from Brittany about being careful around other girls. She thinks they’re all after me.”

  “I know,” said Emily. “Your girlfriend gave me the same speech.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend.”

  Chapter 19

  Gagged

  Neither Kate nor Grey expected the truth from Brittany or Tyler about what happened to Emily at her surprise birthday party. Their intent was to separate them, get their stories, and then find the inconsistencies. What they didn’t expect was the intense level of fear from both of Emily’s best friends.

  “Would you be more comfortable speaking with me and Abby alone?” asked Kate, noticing Brittany’s trembling hands.

  “I think that’s a good idea,” said Jim. “I already know what happened.”

  “Brittany,” said Kate, “are you okay with that?”

  “I am.”

  “It’s all right to tell them everything, Brit,” said Jim. “Go ahead and take Abby out back with you. The fresh air and sunshine will help. Kate, would you mind staying for just a moment?”

  “Of course not,” said Kate, nodding to Abby to go with Brittany.

  “I want you to know that I’m the reason Brittany stopped seeing Emily,” said Jim, waiting for the others to leave.

  “Why?” asked Kate. “I thought all of you were close.”

  “I loved Emily like she was my daughter,” said Jim. “But Brittany is my daughter. When I started to see the changes Brittany was telling me about, I needed to protect her while I tried to help Emily.”

  “What changes?”

  “You’re right,” said Jim. “We were close. We were all very close. Normally, she would come into the house and sit with me and Donna and talk for a while. Mainly about her mother’s condition and how school was going, but she always talked to us. After her birthday party, she’d come in and walk right by us with her head down and wouldn’t say a word. Then things went missing around here.”

  “Like what?”

  “It started with Donna’s jewelry and small pieces from her silver collection. We kept a little cash in the top drawer of the china cabinet in case Brittany needed anything when we weren’t here. All of it was taken.

  “One day I left my wallet on the kitchen table. I had two hundred dollars in it. Emily stayed over that night. When I left for work the next morning, it was gone, along with Emily. At that point I sat Brit down, and we had a long talk. That’s when she told me everything that was going on.”

  “Did you think she was stealing for drug money?”

  “I didn’t suspect,” said Jim. “I knew it was for drug money. After Brit and I talked, I went up to the spare bedroom that Emily has used since she was a little girl. I found her stash and her kit. I had the residue tested. It was positive for cocaine and heroin.”

  “Did you confront her?”

  “I did,” said Jim, shaking his head. “She tried to tell me it wasn’t hers. It was one of the worst days of my life. I never thought she’d lie to my face. That was the last day she ever set foot in this house. It’s also when I told Brit to stop seeing her.”

  “You said you tried to help Emily,” said Kate. “How?”

  “Brittany doesn’t know this, and I’d like to keep it that way,” said Jim.

  “Of course,” said Kate.

  “I went to her house twice to talk to her mother. The first time I knocked and didn’t get an answer. I knew Karla was there, so I looked through the front porch window and could see her on the couch. She was passed out. I went back a few days later, but that time Emily answered the door. She was supposed to be at school.”

  “Did she let you in?”

  “She did and she looked happy to see me,” said Jim. “At that point I was very hopeful I’d get through to her. Karla was still on the couch, but at least she was sitting up and seemed somewhat lucid. Emily wanted to talk to me alone before I spoke with Karla, and I agreed. We went out to the back porch where she continued to deny that the drugs and paraphernalia in my house were hers. It just went downhill from there. I’m talking all the way downhill.

  “She came up with this crazy story that people were after her. Emily said all of this was a set-up and that nobody believed her, including the sheriff. My God, I felt so sorry for her. She was delusional.”

  “How so?”

  “She told me she didn’t remember anything about her birthday party,” said Jim, lowering his eyes and taking a deep breath. “She said she may have been drugged and taken advantage of by some boys that were there. Brit had to fill in the blanks for her about what really happened. I’ll let her tell you about that.”

  “Taken advantage of?” asked Kate. “Do you mean some type of sexual assault?”

  “I do.”

  “And you didn’t believe her?”

  “It was hard to believe anything she was saying, Kate,” said Jim. “She went on to tell me that she was forced to take heroin. She said a group of guys were threatening to hurt her mother, Brittany, and a list of others if she didn’t do what they said. Emily told me they would come into their house at night and aim a gun at her passed out mother if she didn’t smoke or shoot heroin. I knew then that there was no reasoning with her. All I could do at that point was to make sure my family was protected.”

  “I don’t know Emily like you did,” said Kate. “But don’t you find it odd everything bad that has happened to her seems to have started here at her birthday party?”

  “I did,” said Jim. “Can I trust you, Kate?”

  “Only you can answer that.”

  “No, I need you to tell me,” said Jim, leaning forward in his chair and looking Kate in the eyes. “Some of what I’m about to tell you is included in the gag order. If it comes back to me, my daughter could be in serious trouble as well. I have to trust you with my family’s safety and Brittany’s future. Do I seem like the type of man that would take that lightly?”

  “You do not, Jim,” said Kate, holding his stare. “Yes, you can trust me. Anything you say will never come back to you. You have my word.”

  “Kate, I want you find Emily,” said Jim. “I want to help you do that for so many reasons, but I’ll tell you two of the most important. I want you to find her so Karla can have a proper funeral and lay her child to rest. I also want you to find her so my child can move on with her life and never have to go through this again. They both need to start healing, and the only way for that to happen is for you to do what others couldn’t.”

  “I understand how important those reasons are for you,” said Kate. “More than you know.”

  “I went to the sheriff after Emily told me her side of the story,” said Jim. “He informed me that, if a sexual assault had taken place in my home, he would’ve been at my front door as soon as any charges were filed. He said there was a brief investigation and that there was no evidence that supported a crime had taken place. Witnesses came forward, including Brittany, saying that any sexual activity between Emily and those boys was consensual.”

  “I’ll spare you crossing the line with the gag order, Jim,” said Kate. “One of those boys involved in the activity was Mark Hall, son of Federal Judge Cassandra Hall.”

  He didn’t need to say a word. Kate knew the lack of any reaction was his confirmation. She also knew Brittany wouldn’t have given up that name.

  She thanked Jim for his candor and for trusting her with the information. Kate reassured him that she wouldn’t push Brittany during their conversation. She joined her and Abby at a table next to the pool.

  “Brittany,” said Kate, taking a seat next to her. “I want you to know
that anything you say to me will be held in confidence. Nobody will ever know this conversation took place, except for us. I want you to be able to speak as freely as possible with no fear, okay?”

  “That’s easy for you to say,” said Brittany. “You don’t know how it works around here.”

  “We’re not here to get you or your family in trouble, Brittany” said Kate. “We want the same things all of you do. We want to find Emily. Just tell us what you can about that night.”

  “Okay.”

  Brittany took a moment to collect her thoughts. Both Kate and Abby could see her hand shaking as she reached for her drink. She took a sip and they could hear the ice rattling against the glass.

  “She showed up with Tyler around seven,” said Brittany. “I knew she was having a tough time with her mother, so we were all looking forward to giving her a fun evening. It was going great until a group of guys showed up. I can’t tell you their names.”

  “It’s okay,” said Kate. “I know there are some things about that night you’re not allowed to talk about.”

  Abby looked over at her sister. She wasn’t used to Kate being so accommodating when trying to gain information from someone who was deceiving them. At that point, she realized Kate wasn’t impressed with Brittany’s attempt at self-preservation.

  “I wish I could, but I just can’t,” said Brittany. “When they showed up, Emily started acting different. She went outside with them and was sneaking beers from the back of a truck and smoking cigarettes. As the night went on, you could tell she was getting drunk.

  “I started talking with a few other friends and then noticed I hadn’t seen her in a while, so Tyler and I went looking for her. We found her upstairs in the spare bedroom.”

  Brittany paused again and reached for her drink. Her hands were shaking so badly Abby thought she was going to drop it. Kate helped her move the story along.

  “Were the boys in there with her?” asked Kate.

  “Yes,” said Brittany, taking a long drink before setting it down. “They were having sex.”

  “She was having sex with all of them?” asked Abby.