Page 63 of Recklessly in Love

They move on to reviewing bail, and I’m pleasantly surprised when the judge denies Ned bail. But again, looking at Joanie’s deep frown, I know there’s something else I’m missing here. Once they set the pre-trial hearing for this Thursday, Joanie grabs me and quietly pulls me out of the courtroom.

“Based on the look on your face, I’m going to guess Ned is in some deep shit?” I hazard as we head back to the car.

“Deep, deep shit,” she confirms. “The good news is, he’s likely to go away until he’s a very old man. Going after women was bad enough. But Federal charges for involvement in the sexual exploitation and assault of minors … that’s one of the deepest levels of shit there is.”

My jaw drops. “I’m sorry, he did what now?” Minors. The words rattle through my head, and my stomach turns. Not even knowing exactly what she means by that, I’m already disgusted by the thought that I could ever be related to someone who would hurt kids.

Joanie stops at the car and turns to face me. “On top of drugging and raping both adult and minor females, they’re accusing him of being involved with criminals that sell kids for sex.” My jaw drops even further, and she holds up a hand. “I doubt he’s that dumb. Or that far gone, as it were. But who knows? Anyway, my guess is he used their services, and, in turn, the legal system is using him to flush out the people behind that operation.”

Fuck. Holy fuck. Holy fucking shit fuck. I take a long, deep breath as I process that. The depth of his depravity is … astounding. That his parents have denied and covered up his behavior all these years has clearly only fed his sick nature. This is exactly the kind of thing I’ve been worried might have been going on. Still, now that he’s been caught, there’s an end in sight. And I’ll focus on that so I don’t beat myself up over what I should’ve done sooner. As the shock passes, Joanie’s words sink in.

“They’re trying to scare him into taking a deal,” I realize out loud.

“Bingo,” Joanie confirms. “Even if he’s not involved with organizing it, for them to find evidence that fast that he was involved …” Her face takes on an uncharacteristically furious look. “However that went down, he deserves whatever he’s got coming to him.”

“Well, now I’m doubly glad they denied him bail,” I murmur angrily.

She shakes her head grimly. “Can’t have him alerting anyone. Or assaulting anyone else.” We share a heavy look.

“Come on,” I say, opening the passenger door for her. “Let’s go home.”

One side of her lips tips up ever so slightly, but I can tell it will be a while until the clouds that have formed over her break up — probably not until at least after the pretrial hearing in three days. It’s a feeling I understand. I’ve long felt responsible for him knowing he was a creep — even if I didn’t know exactly how much of one — and not being able to do a damn thing about it.

Unfortunately, when Joanie contacts the court for the exact time and location, she’s told it’s a closed hearing. Which means we won’t know what goes down until after the fact. Joanie doesn’t seem surprised. I guess I shouldn’t have been either, given her suspicions. There are some serious stakes here, and I can see how sensitive information might come out that they’d want to keep a lid on.

But we don’t talk about it. We don’t talk about much. Joanie seems withdrawn, and God knows I’ve got enough on my mind between keeping momentum at the community center and surreptitiously researching my luxury town idea. It’s slow going, with intrusive thoughts of Ned getting off the hook breaking through constantly.

I can tell Joanie is anxious, though. And God knows I am, too. Everyone wants to see Ned go away for a long time so he can’t continue terrorizing the women of Alpine Ridge. He likely will, though the waiting and anticipation leave plenty of room for doubt.

Finally, Thursday, the pre-trial hearing day, arrives. If the past three days have felt long, it’s nothing on waiting out the day for news. But we don’t hear anything. Well, not until Friday anyway, when someone from the sheriff’s office calls.

Joanie answers and listens intently for a few minutes, asking very few questions that don’t reveal anything. Her face is blank when she hangs up.

Her shoulders sag with either relief or despair.

“Ned has accepted a plea bargain. He’ll be held at the county jail until he’s transferred to federal prison in a few weeks. And that he’ll be in for a minimum of twenty-five years.” She huffs a wry laugh as tears start to spill down her cheeks.

It was relief. Definitely relief. She climbs into my lap and wraps herself around me. I hold her tight.

“Thank God,” I murmur, squeezing her against me. “Thank fucking God.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

JOANIE

As news of Ned’s sentencing spreads through Alpine Ridge, a collective sigh of relief seems to wash over the town. The dark cloud over us all dissipates, and life feels normal again. Better than usual, even.

I’m further bolstered by the finalization of the protective orders against Ned and Greg’s aunt and the news that the initial boundary review meeting for the incorporation will be held at the end of the month. Things are moving forward on all fronts, and I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and possibility.

My relationship with Greg is blossoming, too. Today, Valentine’s Day, he surprised me by taking the day off and suggesting we hike back to our special lake. The weather is still brisk, but the sun shines, and the snow sparkles like diamonds as we make our way through the pristine wilderness.

When we arrive at the lake, Greg pulls out a picnic basket he’d stashed in his backpack. He spreads a blanket, and we settle down, enjoying the sandwiches, fruit, and chocolates he packed.

I can’t help but reflect on how we got here as we eat. And there’s still a question I haven’t had the courage to ask until now.

“So, about that whole thing where you were planning to marry your ex,” I say, trying to sound casual.

Greg smirks. “What about it?”

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