Page 76 of Tinley's Daddy
“Of me.”
“Not of you.” I looked down. “I was a few days late to meeting you, right?”
Again, it struck a nerve with him. His eyes grew wide, and the red cheeks returned.
“I was late because the men who took me couldn’t find me.” I trailed my finger down the page. “My previous captor tried to run away with me, but when they found out and found us, he was shot in front of me. Then I was beaten so badly, they had to find a doctor to treat me. It took me a little longer to heal and be ready for you.”
I peeked up, but Mr. Crawford wouldn’t look at me.
An alert dinged on Agent Stanley’s and Kyler’s phones. They both looked at it. Kyler growled.
“And the plot thickens.” Agent Stanley set his phone face down. “Please continue, Tinley.”
“We were being watched. That had never happened, but I guess they didn’t want you to have the same ideas as the previous guy.” I scanned some of my journal entries and skipped over a lot. Mainly the details of how he was with me. He was tender and gentle with me the whole time, which made it more cruel and broke my spirit. I flipped the book closed and slid it over to the agent. Mr. Crawford’s gaze followed it as if he might snatch it, run, and make all of this go away.
“You can have this. It has all the details of everyone I was with. I hope to get it back at some point, but in the meantime, can I get a copy of it?”
Agent Stanley seemed afraid to touch it. He typed something in his phone. “Thank you, Tinley, for being so brave. Let me review this and we’ll get together again in the next few days with some follow-up.”
“I didn’t know,” Mr. Crawford whispered.
“Bullshit!” Kyler yelled and we all turned to look at him.
“I swear,” Mr. Crawford said. “I’ll tell you everything I know. But please don’t tell my family. They can’t know.”
“I’m sorry.” A knock rang, followed by two agents who stepped into the room. “I need Mrs. Crawford and his daughter, Katie, brought into custody within the hour. I’ll head out to Jersey to interview them.”
“You can’t do that.” Mr. Crawford tried to stand. He forgot he was handcuffed to the table.
“I can and I will, Mr. Crawford. For the safety of your daughter, Katie Crawford. AKA, Katie girl.” Agent Stanley’s face wrinkled, and he glared in Mr. Crawford’s direction.
I imagined Mr. Crawford had used me to act out some sick fantasy he had about his daughter. Agent Stanley set his phone right side up and another alert came in. It was an array of photos.
I picked it up.
The subject of the email sent to Agent Stanley was titled Crawford’s computer. The array of photos was of his daughter.
I looked just like his daughter. Did all seven of us look like her? It all clicked. Agent Stanley had to make sure he hadn’t acted out his sick fantasy with his actual daughter.
I shivered and dropped the phone. It was all too much, and I had hit my limit on keeping my sanity for the day. I wanted to go home. I wanted Josh.
Agent Stanley stood. “Why don’t you take Tinley home?” He shook Kyler’s hand and then mine.
I stood up and stared at Mr. Crawford. He’d shrunk in the last few hours. His hair was a mess, and it seemed like the color would never return to his splotchy face. I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
I walked out of the interrogation room. Kyler took my hand and guided me through another door and there stood Josh.
I ran and jumped into his arms. “Joshie,” I whispered as tears poured down my face.
“There’s my girl.” He lifted me and held me tight. “I got you. It’s okay.”
I sobbed into his shirt to muffle the anguish. I had been so composed, but as soon as I saw Josh, I had to let it out.
In his arms, I felt safe.
Once I got myself under control, Josh wiped my face and set me back on my feet but held me close. He kissed the top of my head.
