Page 107 of Deception

“When I moved out on my own. It was that or starve.”

When they finished, she showed Bri to another guest bedroom on the second floor. “You’re about my size—I’ll loan you a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. When we go to see Dani, we’ll pick you up some clothes.”

Bri’s eyes teared up. “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Helping me.”

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

“But I’ve been involved with some bad people and did things you don’t want to know about.”

“What happened to you wasn’t your fault, Bri. How old were you when you were first trafficked?”

She glanced down at the floor. “Fifteen,” she whispered. “They said it was my fault. That I was a bad person.”

“Who said that?”

“The people at the foster home they put me in after I was rescued the first time. I figured life on the street was better than living there, and I ran away.”

“Dani was taking you to a place in Jackson, right?”

“Wings of Hope. And they were going to help me to get into nursing school. I don’t know what will happen now, since I didn’t show up.”

“Dani called them, but if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll call them again and see if anything has changed.” Madison didn’t remember Dani giving her a phone number. “Do you have a number?”

“I think there’s a folder in Dani’s car. But if it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay here long enough to make sure Dani is going to be okay.”

“I’ll ask, but first a shower and clean clothes.”

In the kitchen an hour later, Madison reached the contact person in Bri’s file and discussed her case, asking if the organization could wait until the first of the week to pick Bri up. She gave Bri a reassuring smile as she disconnected. “Someone will pick you up here at the house around noon Tuesday. And the person I talked to said your scholarship isn’t in jeopardy.”

Bri brushed tears from her cheeks. “Thank you! I was sure everything was messed up.”

“Nope.” Madison hugged the young woman. “Just keep on believing in yourself.”

“I will. And Jesus.”

“And Jesus,” Madison echoed. Her cell phone rang and she checked the ID. Clayton. “I need to get this.”

“I’ll go upstairs,” Bri said.

“No need. It might be about Dani.”

Bri settled on a stool at the island and scrolled through her phone while Madison answered.

“Good morning,” she said, putting an upbeat spin in her voice.

“Good morning.” He sounded a little surprised. “You sound as though you may have gotten a good night’s sleep.”

“I did. Even slept until eight.” She refused to think about Emerald Mound. “I haven’t talked to Hugh this morning. Have you?”

“Just got off the phone with him.”

“Did he say whether the neighbors saw anyone here at the house yesterday around noon?”

“Unfortunately, most of the neighbors were at work or shopping. And he didn’t find any new prints in the judge’s study.”

---