Page 9 of Force At Third

“I don’t understand what?—”

Pope wraps his arm around his wife and pulls her close, his face showing he’s already caught on. “Whit, you will.”

I’ve been doing a hell of a job not getting emotional, but right now, my eyes are on fire, and that sick feeling I’ve had since learning about all of this makes me feel like I may throw up.

“She tried to turn him in, but he was a wealthy and famous lawyer. He ended up institutionalizing her for mental health issues and not wanting her behavior to affect Allison. Allison was questioned. Being a kid, and no doubt threatened by him, she told the caseworkers he wasn’t abusive. Case closed. Eleanor was placed in a facility for unruly teens.

“Eleanor was found to be pregnant and told the facility it was her boyfriend from school, and the information wasn’t given to William. Apparently, she had rights when it came to that, but not the right to justice as a rape victim. When Eleanor was forced to choose to give the child up for adoption or it would be placed into foster care, it wasn’t a difficult decision. She was even able to help pick them from people on a very long list.

“She stuck a note in the baby’s blanket, and it was the adoptive parents of her little girl who were able to confirm her allegations. No court in the country, not even in California, could deny DNA. The people who adopted her child also helped her find a foster home for her and her sister.

“When they were taken to collect their belongings, Eleanor was able to shove valuable belongings, like designer bags, several pieces of jewelry, and other valuable items, into her bag. She sold it all online and had enough money to buy fake identification for both girls and bus tickets so that she and her little sister could find a home of their own, where no one knew them or their story. Their new beginning started in Walton, Texas.”

Tears falling, Whit wipes them away and whispers, “Chloe.”

I continue, “Old man Summerland rented her the camping trailer, no questions asked, and Pope’s mom convinced Nancy to hire who she thought was a relative of his, a fifteen-year-old girl, to wash dishes at the diner.”

“Of course she did.” Whit sniffs. “All of that, and then she gets mixed up with an abusive boyfriend and—” Whit stops and lets out a pain-filled sob. “Thank God she’s loved, safe, and?—”

She stops talking when I shake my head.

I continue. “William Center was released from prison. Marks and one of the guys we hired have eyes on him. She’s afraid he will try to find her baby doll.” Another tear falls. “That’s what she calls the child she had at fifteen—baby doll.”

“Does she have contact with the adopted parents?”

“She knew their names, but it was a closed adoption. And then everything with William …” I lift a shoulder. “No. After the court hearing, her parents changed their names and left California. Chloe asked that they never tell her the truth. She just wanted her to have a good and loving home and never to know anything about William.”

“She’s so strong.”

“She’s amazing,” I agree. “And being Chloe, she needs to know that her baby doll is safe, which brought me here. We have reason to believe that the family moved to Trenton or the surrounding area.”

“Does she want to meet her?” Whit asks.

“She wants to make sure that son of a bitch can’t touch her, or CeCe.” I exhale a sigh. “Cecilia’s life is going to be turned upside down. She doesn’t even know their secrets had secrets.”

“Jesus,” Pope sighs.

“CeCe will understand.” I pick up my cup and take a sip, hoping the lavender will calm my nerves.

“You going to be able to find her?” Pope asks.

“With the internet, my mom, and her …” I pause because we all have little secrets, and I’m not ready to divulge all mine, not yet, maybe never. But this part of my life, it’s not something I need to hide anymore. They’re a couple. “Her Annie is back in Walton, living their best lives and doing all my grunt work.”

“Deborah and Annie official?” Whit asks, and I damn near choke on my tea.

“We’re not blind.” Pope chuckles.

“They are what they are—happy. So happy.” I smile. “And even after four years, in their words, ‘We are not going to be flying rainbow flags or attending marches; leave that for the younger people.’ They love each other as millions of other people do, but they’re at an age and place where they no longer need to explain it, nor do they want to deal with ignorance that may come with their explanation. They don’t need affirmation or to be labeled as bisexual, or lesbian, or whatever. Both have loved men, and both have loved one woman.” I roll my eyes. “Plus, the whole pronoun thing confuses them.”

“Love is love.” Pope nods.

That makes me smile. “Yeah, love is love.”

“So, does that mean you’ll allow yourself to?—”

“Whitley, I will cut you,” I warn.

“Knowing that’s not something I have to worry about”—Pope arches his brow at me as he kisses the top of Whit’s head—“I’m going to head to bed and give you two some girl time.”

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