Appetite for Innocence by Berry Lucinda
Author:Berry, Lucinda [Berry, Lucinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense, Thriller, Investigation, Psychological Thriller, Serial Rapist, Serial Killer, Internet Crime
Publisher: Rise Press
Published: 2017-04-10T23:00:00+00:00
ELLA
(NOW)
Paigeâs parents are here. Their flight got in late last night. They want to see us before we leave to go home. I wonder if it will be her stepdad or if her real dad decided to come too. She talked about him a lot. She always wanted to know if he was looking for her; if he cared she was gone or felt so little for her that he didnât want to be bothered with it.
Theyâre coming because yesterday they found human remains at the crime scene. Thatâs what they call Johnâs house nowâthe crime scene. It will be awhile before the results come back from whatever lab they have to send them to, but her parents want to be close. Mom says she understands but it seems a bit creepy to want to be close to bones.
I want to know where Paige is as much as they do. I hope sheâs alive. If the bones are Paigeâs, then the search can finally be over. Thereâll be some answers. But the answer means sheâs dead. Thereâs no way for this to have a good outcome. Either sheâs dead or sheâs still missing.
I donât want to meet them. Sarah refused but Mom insisted I do. She says sheâd want the same thing if she was in their position. Sometimes I wish her heart wasnât so big. I rub my hand back and forth across my shaved head. I love the way it feels even though I look like a freak.
Randy walks into the room with a man and woman. The man towers over the woman and heâs got his arm wrapped around her waist. She looks like she might fall over if he didnât. Edges of pain cut into her face. Her eyes are swollen as if sheâs cried the entire way here. She canât hide her horror when she sees me.
âOh my God.â She brings her hand up to cover her mouth.
Mom steps in front of me. âShe shaved her head herself. He didnât do that.â
Paigeâs mom looks her up and down.
âIâm Jocelyn.â Mom shakes her hand.
âIâm Melanie,â she says.
âWhy donât we all take a seat?â Randy ushers them in the rest of the way.
Everyone is staring at everyone, but trying to pretend like they arenât.
âAre you Paigeâs real dad?â I break the awkward silence.
âElla! Donât be rude,â Mom jumps in.
Melanie forces a smile. âNo, itâs okay. This is Paigeâs stepdad, Victor.â
Victor nods as if to say hello. Heâs wearing a red flannel shirt that bulges over his waistline tucked into a pair of jeans. His eyes are hidden behind wire-rimmed glasses. He forces an awkward smile revealing crooked teeth with a slight gap between the front two. Iâm glad his smile isnât perfect.
âDoes her real dad know sheâs missing?â I ask.
Melanie looks at me through hollow eyes, tunnels of spent emotion. âHe does.â
âSo, why isnât he here?â I ask.
âElla. Stop,â Mom admonishes.
I turn to look at her. âWhat else are we supposed to talk about?â
Melanie waves her off. âItâs okay.
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