Page 76 of Little Stolen Memories

“Can I ask you a question?” I asked. “Did Jackson know you were being abused?”

“He didn’t. I did everything I could to keep it from him.”

“Assuming Jackson was abused, do you think it’s possible he allowed it to go on because he thought the same way you did? Maybe he allowed it because Ray said if he did, he’d leave you alone.”

“Ray wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t have hurt Jackson. He just wouldn’t. Believe what you like, but he loves me.”

I crossed my arms, knowing what I needed to say next would sting even more.

“I believe Ray has been using you to get ahead in life,” I said. “Your father’s business was supposed to go to your son, and if not to him, then to be managed by you. I’m guessing Ray runs the show. Doesn’t he? Seems convenient, like it just fell into his lap. Makes me wonder … a guy like Ray, I bet he’d do whatever he had to in order to get ahead.”

Valerie narrowed her eyes, staring at me in disbelief. “What are you saying? You’re not … you couldn’t be suggesting Ray had anything to do with what happened to those kids?”

“I’m not suggesting anything. I’m just stating the obvious.”

“Ray has a temper at times, but murder? He’d never kill anyone, let alone a group of teens.”

She’d been brainwashed for so long, I wasn’t even sure she knew the man she was married to or what he was capable of doing. And I wouldn’t know either, not until I had the chance to speak to him.

“I’ll tell you what Ray loves,” I said. “He loves the life you provide him. You’re his ticket to ride, his gravy train.”

“Stop it! Stop saying things you don’t know anything about.”

“I’m not trying to upset you, Valerie. I’m trying to make you think. I asked one of my associates to look into Ray’s past. Ray came from nothing. His family was poor. Before he met you, he worked minimum-wage jobs, and even then, he never stayed in any one position for long.”

“Who cares about his past? I don’t. I-I want you to leave.”

“I know you want me to go before Ray gets home, but maybe I should stay and talk to him. I don’t need to mention the abuse or the fact I know about it.”

“No, you need to leave. You need to leave now.”

I stood a moment, trying to decide my next move.

I decided to respect her wishes and allow time for the conversation we’d had to sink in.

“I’ll leave,” I said. “But I’d like to say one last thing before I go.”

Valerie rolled her eyes and said, “Fine, make it quick.”

“Abuse of any kind is never acceptable. I’m just a phone call away. You don’t have to do this on your own. I want you to think about that and to think about your son. You may not have known Jackson was being abused back then, but you know now. The question is … what are you going to do about it?”

CHAPTER 32

“I figured you’d be back,” Xander said. “I just didn’t think it would be so soon.”

I peered over his shoulder, looking to see if anyone else was home.

“Are you alone?” I asked.

He nodded. “My daughter is playing at a friend’s house, and my brother is at divorce mediation with his soon-to-be ex-wife.”

“Can I come in? I’d like to continue the conversation we started yesterday.”

“Why? Has something changed?”

“I just have a few followup questions for you,” I said.

Xander stood there a moment and then shrugged. “Guess it would be all right.”

---