Page 26 of Only Girl Alive

Eve knew that was a very bad word and it scared her.

“The devil is in your soul,” he continued, and kicked her down while she was trying to scramble up, her long dress getting caught in her legs.

“I’m as good as you,” she argued back, even though she knew she shouldn’t. “I hate you,” she yelled.

Aaron was chosen by God. He had natural righteousness that Eve did not. She didn’t even know what that big word meant. She did know she was the sinner because Aaron never got into trouble for the things he did.

She was trying to push up with her hand but he shoved her back again and then stomped down on her fingers. She screamed and he ran away. One of her mothers came into the room. She gave Eve a look of disgust, bent down and lifted her hand.

One finger was crooked and it hurt. She continued crying.

“Stop bawling, you wicked girl. God is watching you.”

The threat didn’t work. Her pain was worse than God’s punishment. Maggie arrived and sat on the floor with Eve.

“It’s broken,” Maggie told the other woman, her hand wiping Eve’s tears away, trying to comfort her.

“It just needs to be straightened.” She reached over, grabbed Eve’s hand from Maggie’s, and jerked her finger.

Eve screamed and Maggie carried her upstairs to the bedroom she shared with another of Eve’s mothers.

“I’m sorry, baby,” she said, and held Eve in her arms. “I’m so sorry.”

Her mother could not keep sweet that night and she cried after she thought Eve was sleeping. Eve didn’t like seeing her mother upset. Her finger throbbed but she promised God she would try harder.

Eve glanced down at the finger that had been broken so long ago. She rubbed it with her other hand. They were in her hotel room with the entire team, going over the autopsy findings.

“We know it’s Bart Tanner,” Ray said, his expression controlled, his anger only showing in his hard gaze.

Child molestations were always difficult cases. The sum of horrors done to the women and Elijah was something they needed time to grasp.

Clyde stayed quiet while Eve finished explaining the autopsy findings. Collin paced. Ray clenched his fists.

“How did you live this way?” Bina asked looking straight at Eve. “I’m sorry,” she added before Eve could reply, “I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“It’s okay,” Eve said, rubbing her finger again. “I ask myself that all the time. I was a child and had no choice. At least I got out before I was an adult and didn’t have that excuse.”

She turned away from Clyde’s sudden frown. She’d listened to what he said in the car. It was hard to hear, but what Clyde said was the truth. She wouldn’t blame a child in one of her cases for believing in the fundamentalist lifestyle. She couldn’t blame Elijah for what had happened to him. She needed to accept that she was not to blame for her earlier life.

It bothered her that she didn’t think she would have left if Maggie hadn’t rescued her. Clyde’s faith that she would have was something she needed to think about. But not now. They had to discover what or who Aaron was protecting.

“They’re evil,” said Ray.

Clyde grunted.

“Where do we go from here?” Bina asked, and finally slipped a gummy bear into her mouth now that she was a bit calmer.

“Hannah, the one person who wasn’t home.” Eve’s voice was clipped.

“Oh God,” said Bina, understanding that Hannah was also a victim of Bart Tanner.

“Do you think she’s in danger?” Clyde asked.

“We need to assume she is.” Eve thought about how strange the case was. “We shouldn’t take this to Aaron. He knows something. It’s the same with the police chief. I wouldn’t be surprised if the officers are aware too, possibly every man in this community.”

“Family Services needs to take Hannah into custody,” Clyde said.

“I agree.” Eve nodded. “But you know how difficult that is and it takes time. Hannah is with family and we cannot prove she is in immediate danger. I have an idea.”

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