Page 56 of Property of Quake

“Never mind,” he says, shaking his head. “I’m fine, I promise.”

“Then whose blood were you covered in?”

“Keith’s.”

“Oh.”

“He confirmed that Tom was who hurt Melissa.” I don’t say anything, so he continues. “He also confirmed that he was trafficking Jackie, but he wouldn’t give up who he works for.”

“What will happen to Jackie now?”

“Someone will go talk to her, one of the brothers. We’ll make sure she knows she’s safe now. At least from Keith.”

“And what do we do about Melissa?”

His face falls. “You’re not gonna like it.”

Anxiety rolls my stomach. “We need to get her to talk,” I say.

“Yep,” he confirms. “I hate it, but we need her.”

I take a deep breath and nod. “I know. I just wish we didn’t.”

“Me, too.” He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, and I sway into his touch. “How do you want to handle this, Whitney?” he asks, severing the moment.

“As gently as possible.”

We return to the living area, and Melissa’s face lights up. It kills me that we’re about to diminish that light.

“Ready to start the movie?” Melissa asks cheerfully. “I picked Toy Story.”

“Can we talk first?” Quake asks, sitting next to her while I sit on her other side.

Her joy immediately disappears. “About what?”

“Do you remember me telling you that we’d need your help because you’re so smart?” I ask.

She nods.

“Well, we need your help again,” Quake tells her, pulling his cell phone out of his sweats pocket. “I’m going to show you a picture, okay?”

Melissa nods again, and he flips the screen around. Immediately, all color drains from her face, and my stomach drops. She recoils so violently that Stella barks from her place on the floor, sensing the child’s distress.

“It’s him,” she whispers, her voice cracking. “It’s him.”

Tears fill her eyes, and panic becomes prominent as she scoots as far back on the couch as she can. Stella jumps up onto her lap, trying to help in the only way she knows how.

“It’s him,” Melissa repeats.

Quake and I remain still because even though he got confirmation from Keith, Melissa identifying Tom somehow makes it more real.

“It’s okay,” Quake soothes, but it does nothing to calm her.

“It’s him,” she repeats, over and over and over.

I slowly stand, my vision narrowing.

Tom.