Page 53 of The Quiet Witness

Kate felt every eye in the room turn to her. Not used to being the center of attention, she shifted slightly on her feet. Even so she stared right back, realizing that even through the laugh lines and the crow’s feet etched into their skin, some of them still had a forlorn look in their eyes. She couldn’t help but feel like she… knew them.

“This is Kate. Unfortunately I have to inform you all she is not here to stay. Shame because she has quite the personality.” Kate rolled her eyes, earning another laugh from the crowd. “But I wanted her to have a look around the place you all call home!”

Not here to stay, that’s one way to put it. If she’d been in this place, she might as well have been one of them, gaping up at him like he was some kind of savior.

“We have to move on, ladies but—,” Lucien’s hands clasped together. “Enjoy your carrot cake and I will see you on Saturday. Don’t miss it.” With a final teasing wink thrown their way, he turned to follow Georgia into the next room.

It was vast.

Wooden bunk beds lined the walls, double and single beds in various colors placed evenly in the middle. What surprised her most was how clean the place was. There was nothing out of place, and her nose didn’t sting from disinfectants. Instead, the soft smell of cinnamon floated around the room, calming even her own nerves.

Baffled, Kate followed Georgia into another room, a mirror to the one they just left. She waited for the door to fall shut behind them. “How many people are sheltered here?”

Lucien’s deep voice cut in. “Two hundred and forty-nine women, not including the kids. Last I checked.”

Georgia nodded once as she stopped in front of the next set of doors. Swiping a card out of her faded jeans, she sent Kate an apologetic look. “This is the area where our new members are given space to heal. We don’t usually let… outsiders in here. For reasons you can imagine. Do you mind waiting here for a bit while Lucien and I pop in?”

She was already nodding her head in understanding when Lucien’s deep voice resonated through the room once more. ‘‘We’ll make an exception this once, Georgia.’’ His tone left no room for negotiation. And the older woman nodded, relenting.

What even was Lucien to this place? Owner? Or more likely, a donor to the cause?

Hypocritical, considering his line of work and the things he had done to her. And yet, the warmth that radiated off him… made her wonder, when was he wearing a mask?

Trying to solve the puzzle that was Lucien made her head spin. With a click her musings were stopped short and the door swung open.

Chapter 22

To

This. This was what she had expected.

A pale-faced woman sat doubled over while a staff member held a bucket in front of her, soothingly rubbing circles across her back. Another woman, cheeks red with fever, sat alone on a bed. Hugging her arms around herself, desperately trying to hide the black and blue bruises that littered her arms. Her eyes fixed on the floor as all three of them passed by.

Lucien passed by Kate, murmuring, “I’ll catch up with you.”

Kate halted mid-step. Unable to break her eyes free from Lucien as he knelt down in front of the first woman. Whispering words she couldn’t quite catch.

But the woman, no older than her, backed away from him. Eyes glinting with the fear only a survivor bore.

Georgia offered her an arm, ready to escort her out of the room. It was true, the sounds, the smell of agony. It deafened her ears and made her eyes water. It wanted to send her running straight for the exit.

But Kate shook her head lightly. Leaving Georgia behind to join Lucien, who had stepped back to give the woman her space. Her eyes lingered on his face… it didn’t show pity, she didn’t even know if Lucien held that emotion in his arsenal. But… it showed genuine sadness.

But he was a man nonetheless. Not what the pale woman shrinking in on herself needed right now. Lucien saw it for what it was. Murmuring a low, “I understand.”

Kate was already moving to bypass Lucien when he stopped her with a hand on her elbow. Drawing her closer. “Kate…” He halted, searching for his words. “She looks so much like you.”

“What, what do you mean?”

He merely shook his head. Letting her pass him by to see it for herself.

The woman turned. Blue eyes like chips of ice focused on Kate, who froze in place.

Right. Lucien was right.

Her skin was as pale as the pages of a book, with the same pronounced cheekbones and fatigue weighing down on her shoulders. The color of her long slightly tousled hair, greasy and unwashed, mirrored hers. Dark brown with streaks of light brown running through it. Speckles dusted her nose.

They looked at each other. Recognition lighting up in the woman’s eyes.