Page 72 of Sutton's Shadow

“You don’t have to say anything. Just use it wisely.” Bethany nodded, dropping her gaze back to the camera, but Sutton had noticed the tears building.

Her heart going out to the young woman, Sutton placed a hand over hers. “I hope you know how much I care about you.”

Bethany only nodded, so Sutton went on. “And I hope you know you can come to me for anything. If you need to talk, I’m here. If you need to rant about something your brother did, I’ll listen. If you need chocolate and a heating pad because it’s that time of the month and you’re miserable, I’ll share my supply.” That got a smile from the silent girl.

“I probably don’t have to tell you that Wyatt is worried about you, do I?”

“No. I know.”

“He just wants you to be happy and is concerned you’re not because you’re living here with him.”

Her head shot up. “What? No! I love it here. This is where I want to be. Where I’ve wanted to be ever since I understood how horrible Ronnie was as a mother.”

“Well, that’s good. But, Little Bee, it’s obvious something is bothering you. You hardly ate any dinner. Did something upset you at school?” Another head shake. “What about at the group home? Were you... did something happen there?” She feared the answer, afraid she’d talk about being abused there. It would kill Wyatt if she’d been hit, or worse, raped.

Sutton released the breath she didn’t know she was holding when Bethany shook her head again. “No. Nothing happened. It wasn’t great, but I wasn’t abused, if that’s what you’re talking about.”

“Okay, that’s good. But can you tell me what’s bothering you? Maybe I could help.”

Bethany glanced around her room. For a moment, Sutton thought she was searching for a lie to feed her. “There are a few things in my old room at Ronnie’s that I miss. And I don’t want to ask Wyatt to take me there. I don’t want to see that place ever again.”

Sutton’s shoulders sagged in relief. This was a problem they could fix. “Okay. Give us a list of what you want. I’m sure Wyatt would have no problem going to get it for you tomorrow.”

Bethany bit her lip and nodded, as if she had more to say, but held back. “Is that it? You just miss your old stuff? Or is there more?”

“No, that’s it.”

“Okay. Make that list.” Sutton got up to leave, unable to shake the feeling that there was something else bothering the girl but having no idea how to get it out of her.

Sutton was reaching for the doorknob when Bethany softly called her name. She turned. The girl still sat in her desk chair, her legs drawn up, her arms wrapped around them as if shielding herself. Sutton’s stomach twisted. She looked so young, yet the load weighing her down appeared heavy. Far too heavy for a fourteen-year-old girl to carry. She sent a quick prayer out, hoping she’d finally confess what was in the baggage she was shouldering.

“Why did you take those pictures?” Her heart sank as her hope fizzled. She wanted to talk about her photography job. Sutton wondered if there was something more behind her questions. She searched her brain for the right words, hoping she wouldn’t cause the girl more damage.

“Those men did horrible things to a lot of people that night. Liam was just one of many lives that were lost. I knew I had to—no, I needed to—document it. I witnessed it, but words alone wouldn’t be enough. I had the power, I had my camera, and I took advantage of it to make sure their deeds would hopefully someday be reported, and they’d be punished accordingly.”

“But weren’t you scared?”

“Terrified. But I shut it out and fell back on my training and skill.”

“How?”

“I just reminded myself that documenting everything was important. And the people they killed deserved the justice my pictures may bring them.”

Bethany set her chin on her upturned knees. She stared at the floor, lost in thought. “It’s been two years, right? Why now?”

“What do you mean?”

She looked up and met Sutton’s gaze with haunted eyes. Sutton stifled a gasp, her concern for the girl escalating. Her mind went to so many dark places she almost missed her response.

“Why are you doing something with the pictures now and not back then? I mean, you’ve had them all this time, right? Why keep them hidden? Unless you were scared they’d come after you? Is that why?”

“To some extent. I spent a few weeks in a coma from an injury I received while escaping. When I woke up, Liam was gone, and I was alone.”

“Wyatt told me he went and sat with you but was forced to leave for work.”

Sutton smiled as her heart warmed. He’d told her that already, and she’d forgotten about it. But it was so like the man to give up his own time to sit with his best friend’s girl, even while denying his feelings for her.

“So, yeah... I was alone and scared. Liam’s teammates were angry after losing him, so I couldn’t turn to them. They had to deal with their own grief. So I buried it.” She wasn’t about to tell the girl about the murdered journalist. That would be sharing too much of the horror she’d lived with.

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