Page 53 of After Tonight

“All over the state. The Midwest even,” Riley said. “But, Mom, it’s happened everywhere. There are local girls affected. Guys too. It’s not just females.”

“No Sapphire Falls girls have been sex trafficked,” Erika said resolutely.

And she was right. “Yet,” Riley said.

Her mother’s eyes widened. “Don’t say that.”

“It’s true. Anyone could be a victim. Even kids from Sapphire Falls.”

Erika shook her head. “We would know.”

Riley leaned in, but she took a breath before she launched into a rant. Erika wouldn’t listen to that. She needed to present the facts calmly and clearly. “These victims don’t go into it knowing what’s going to happen,” she said. “These people use all kinds of things to lure them in. Sometimes it’s a call for models or actresses. Sometimes it’s job offers—like nanny positions that will allow them to travel to amazing places and see the world. Sometimes they’re tricked by someone they meet and get to know and think they can trust.”

Erika swallowed. “The kids here don’t think about things like modeling or traveling the world.”

Riley laughed at that before she could stop herself. “They’re kids, Mom. They think the same things that kids in other places do. And yeah, I realize it’s never been easy for you to believe, but sometimes people want to leave Sapphire Falls.”

“Yes,” Erika said coolly. “I’m aware. I’ve been told many times.”

Riley felt a little pang in her chest. Why couldn’t her relationship with her mother be easier?

“Well, anyway, I’m working with Scott and the task force,” Riley said, bringing the conversation back around. She wanted her mom to know this. She was proud of the fact that she’d been able to help Scott with a couple of the sites. And if she’d introduced a horrible virus to another and flat-out crashed a fourth all on her own, well…everyone knew that technology and the internet could be finicky.

“How are you helping? It’s not dangerous is it?” Erika asked.

“I don’t want you anywhere around those scumbags,” Jake agreed. “You need to be careful.”

“I’m nowhere near any of them,” Riley said. Though she was already feeling a little urge to volunteer to help Scott more directly. “I’m helping with the computer side of things. They sometimes use websites to attract their victims. I’m helping with taking them down.”

Erika looked surprised for a moment. “You mean you’re hacking them?”

Riley didn’t usually mind the term hacking, but when her mom said it, it came with a whole bunch of judgement. “Yeah, I am.”

“So you’re helping to take the bad guys down by getting into their websites?”

Riley nodded. “And I’m working on tracking their bank accounts now.”

There was a flash of something that almost looked like Erika was impressed. Then she frowned. “Is it legal?”

Riley sighed. “Of course. I’m working with the cops.”

“Are they paying you?”

“They are,” Riley told her. Okay, so those details weren’t completely finalized, but Riley was in now. She’d learned enough and already felt enough pride in what she was doing that she was going to keep up with it. And she was going to impress Scott Hansen at least. She was going to become valuable to them. And then she was going to ask them to pay her if they didn’t offer. “But I’d do it for free,” she added. “I really would. This is important work. I’m helping do something that matters.”

Erika gave a slow nod. “Yes. You are.”

Riley couldn’t believe the sudden jab of relief and happiness she felt in her chest. Should she care what other people thought of her? Maybe not. But she wasn’t sure anyone could ever fully shake the idea of wanting their mothers to be proud of them.

“And I’ve been thinking about doing an advocacy and education event here,” Riley said, before she could overthink it and decide not to share. Her mom was very involved in the community and had been a part of arranging a number of community events. She could be a great resource. Especially considering Riley didn’t know much about putting those kinds of things together.

“What would that be like?”

“It would be a way to educate the people of Sapphire Falls about sex trafficking and how close to home it can hit and what to be on the lookout for. Peyton and I were also talking about somehow showing victims that Sapphire Falls is a safe place. If they’re traveling through and need help, or if they escape and need a place to go…”

“Couldn’t that bring some of the sex traffickers to town too?” Erika asked. “If we make a big deal about it, they might decide to come here to look for girls.”

Riley frowned. “Sex traffickers could already be coming through town,” she said. “They could be gassing up at The Stop. They could be eating at the diner or getting a drink at the Come Again. We can’t build a fence or a bubble around Sapphire Falls.”

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