Page 12 of Twisted Devil

I spoke as I walked toward the pig pen. “Have you ever spent much time around pigs?”

Kennedy shook his head. “Nope. Whatcha thinking?”

“Fuckers will eat anything. My uncle had a farm out west, and he'd lectured my brothers and me about the importance of staying away. They would attack humans if they were scared... or hungry.”

I remembered watching The Wizard of Oz as a kid and wondering why everyone had freaked out about Dorothy falling into the pen with the pigs. But seeing them rut through their food and destroy everything in sight had answered that question.

A sick feeling curled through my stomach as I regarded the hogs. “See those teeth? They'll cut through just about anything.”

Kennedy's face hardened at my implication, then he yelled over his shoulder at the techs. “Can we get someone over here?”

We assembled the team and came up with a plan to remove the hogs and dredge the pen. Though the animals would have obliterated most of the bodies, there had to be something. Hours later, their hard work paid off in the form of a tooth. Only one so far, but it was a start. The knowledge that the women had been here—that Wainwright had disposed of them right where I stood—stoked the fire simmering in my veins. I was going to do everything in my power to make sure justice was served.

Whatever I felt for Chloe, I needed to set it aside. She deserved better, and I couldn’t afford to ruin this now. I had to keep my distance—for both of us… No matter how much it hurt.

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHLOE

I drew in a deep breath and wiped my sweaty palms on my dress pants. Next to me, my attorney laid a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You're going to do great.”

I shot her a little smile and tried to shove down the butterflies battering the insides of my stomach.

“Just remember what we practiced,” she said. “Ignore him and just tell the jury exactly what happened.”

I gave a shaky nod and swallowed hard. I knew the defense attorney would try to trip me up; it was his job. Fortunately, there seemed to be quite a bit of evidence stacked against Jeffrey Wainwright. When they had searched the house, they apparently found jewelry from multiple other victims, along with the remains from six other women. My testimony would help to put the man behind bars, hopefully for life. But first I had to get through it.

Part of me wanted to go in there, look him dead in the eye, and demand he admit everything he’d done. But the other half of me was terrified. Even though nearly a year had passed, I still remembered it like it was yesterday. Wainwright had never made bail, and today's trial would determine whether he was ultimately guilty of the crimes he undoubtedly committed. I hope the jury would listen to my version of events and charge him accordingly.

“You ready?”

I nodded to Jennifer. “Yeah, I'm good.”

“Let's go.”

The judge called me to the stand, and I climbed into the small booth where I laid my hand on the Bible and repeated the vow to tell the truth of that day. My heart felt like it was lodged in my throat, and I swallowed hard as I stared out over the sea of faces. I was looking for one in particular, and relief flooded me as Jason's dark eyes stared back at me from halfway across the room.

Though I'd only seen him a handful of times since that day at the hospital, he promised he would be here with me every step of the way. I knew he was incredibly busy, and it meant the world that he'd been able to take time away from his other cases to support me.

Jennifer launched into her line of questioning, and I answered each one as thoroughly as possible. I focused on Jason, like I was speaking to him as I relayed the events that started it all. Leaving the coffee shop. Waking up in the basement. Then everything that came afterward. I could feel Wainwright’s icy gaze on me, but I kept my eyes locked on Jason’s.

Jennifer ended her questions, and I felt exhausted emotionally, having relived it over and over again. I was the sole survivor; six other women before me depended on my help today for justice. Jason nodded encouragingly at me as the defense attorney stepped up next. He began his questions, tinged with enough doubt to make the jury reconsider. I watched a dark look flit across Jason’s face, and I stumbled. He blinked away his anger and gave me another curt nod. He was here for me. I could do this.

I released a shaky breath as soon as the defense attorney announced his line of questioning was now at rest. Now it was just up to the jury to decide how to proceed. We took a brief recess as they deliberated, and Jennifer and I retired to the back room. Nearly two hours later, they had apparently come to some sort of conclusion.

I sat there, my heart in my throat as one of the members of the jury stood to address the judge. As the guilty verdict went up, a combination of tears and grumbles rose around the court room. I glanced to my left and met Wainwright’s gaze head on.

I stood and hugged Jennifer, then greeted my mom and dad as they cheerfully threw their arms around me. I pulled away, my eyes searching the room for Jason’s. I met his dark gaze, shooting him a smile and a tiny wave. Before I could do anymore, he was swept away by the crowd and I lost sight of him.

Today had been bittersweet. Though we’d put the man behind bars, this was officially the end of my relationship with Jason. Not that there’d been anything to begin with anyway. But now I had no reason to see him anymore. Over the past year he’d never given me any kind of indication that he wanted anything more. He’d been there for moral support; that was all.

I’d hoped that he would want to continue our relationship from before. I thought he’d been attracted to me once. But that felt like a lifetime ago, and whatever feelings had been blossoming between us had died with my abduction. He’d stopped by to check on me from time to time, but I now realized he’d done so out of obligation…. not desire.

He would move on with his life, keep working. And I would… I wasn't sure what I would do next. I had put off finishing college, and I still got anxious going out at night or in large crowds. But life kept going in the world kept turning, and I had one or two choices. Either stay stuck in place or move on.

I knew I needed to put all of this behind me and focus on the future, but that was easier said than done.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

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