All night, my mind tosses and turns even though my body can’t. I thought my world was going to be back to normal now that Dan is in custody. I thought my home, my “nest,” would be safe—with Mom and Dad and Sarah and Finn and the chance to get to know my sister Jodi too.
I can speak. I told Mom to let Olivia stay, and they’ve sent her away. I told Sarah I wanted her to stay and I love her—but it made no difference. So what is the point?
I am awake when Mom comes to turn me. I realize Sarah may never do it again—never turn me, never read to me, never paint my nails, never confide her secrets. In the morning, Mom puts my sniff-controller tubes up my nose, but I have nothing to say. I can’t stand what’s happening, and I don’t even answer when Mom asks me if I am okay. Sarah doesn’t come down for breakfast. Mom takes up a tray with coffee and toast.
“Talk to me, Jemma,” Mom says gently when she comes down. “You can tell me how you feel and what you’re thinking now. Let me try to help.”
I know I am being mean, but I don’t feel like communicating. It is an effort to do it, and I don’t even know what to say.
“Are you upset about Sarah?” Mom asks me.
I rouse myself to sniff Y and then select YES from the predictive text.
“I know,” says Mom. “We got her back, and now she’s going again. It’s so hard, isn’t it? But we’ll get by. This is what she needs—and whatever happens, she’s part of our family. And we’ll make sure you always have the care you need, Jemma.”
She’s looking at me as if she’s waiting for a response. I want to ask, “Are you going to stop fostering?” but I’m too scared. What if she says yes?
I watch as Mom empties the dishwasher. I feel like I have been emptied too.
“Come on, I’m taking you somewhere,” says Mom.
“WHERE,” I sniff.
“Wait and see,” says Mom.
I am soon in the car with Mom. I want to know where we’re going. We drive for about ten minutes. I am shocked when she parks outside the police station. I can’t believe there are more questions. I’ve told the police everything I know. Mom lowers the ramp and wheels me out of the car, pushing me toward the entrance.
“WHY HERE,” I sniff. “GO HOME.”
“You’ll see,” says Mom.
Mom speaks to the woman behind the screen, and a police officer comes out.
“Mrs. Bryant! Jemma! I’m so glad you’re here.”
I recognize his voice before he comes around in front so I can see him. It’s Officer Hunt, the one who said I invented my story. He’s the last person I want to see. He may be glad I’m here, but I’m not.
“Come this way,” he says.
“NO,” I sniff, but Mom ignores me. Officer Hunt smiles at her as he holds a door open and she pushes me through.
He’s got nothing to smile about as far as I’m concerned.
He leads us into a room and moves a chair aside to make room for my wheelchair. He holds a chair out for Mom and then sits down opposite us and strokes his chin.
“GO HOME,” I sniff.
“I can understand why you’re not eager to be here,” says Officer Hunt. “But I asked your mom to bring you for a reason. I have something important to say to you.”
I had something important to say to you last week, I think. But look how that turned out.
“I wanted to apologize to you, face-to-face,” he says. He’s looking straight into my eyes, and he looks serious. “This crime has been solved thanks to you. I know you heard some things I said on the phone to your mom, things I should never have said. I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“YOU DID,” I sniff. I’m not letting him off that easily.
He smiles awkwardly. “You found Sarah—and Dan and Billy are locked up now, thanks to your help.”
“I SAID DAN,” I remind him. “NO LISTEN.”
“Yes, you were right—and in more ways than you know.”
What does he mean? I am interested now. “Although Dan didn’t actually kill Ryan Blake,” he goes on, “we now believe Dan got Billy to do it for him.”
I begin to sniff. “DAN MADE.”
Officer Hunt nods. “Exactly. Dan made Billy do it. Billy has finally agreed to help us with our investigation. He says he was working for Dan, and Ryan was too. He told us that when Dan found out Ryan was keeping some of the stolen goods, he was furious. He wasn’t going to allow it—and told Billy to kill him.”
“Sounds like Dan was a complete control freak,” says Mom. “And yet he could be so charming…”
Officer Hunt nods solemnly. “Billy is not the brightest guy around. Dan had him wrapped around his finger. Billy admits that he panicked after stabbing Ryan and went running to Dan, who took the knife and said he’d deal with it. He must’ve been visiting Sarah and took the opportunity to stash it in your backyard. We’ve charged Dan with conspiracy to murder.”
“I’m just glad you’ve got him,” says Mom, “and Billy too.”
“Jemma,” says Officer Hunt. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. I was wrong.”
I am shocked. He actually means it.
“But you didn’t give up. You were determined to prove your theory right. And you did! We’ll do our best to make sure Dan and Billy are both locked up for a long time. I hope you can forgive me, Jemma.”
I am stunned. I don’t know what to say. His eyes look desperate now, pleading with me to let him off the hook. I didn’t think he cared, but now I believe he does.
“OKAY,” I sniff.
“Thank you,” he says, his shoulders sinking with clear relief. “That means a lot.”