Chapter 42: Foot Fetish

I had survived Justin with only a gash to my head and a missing tooth. Once the doctors had determined that I had no broken bones or brain bleeds, they discharged me.

Unfortunately, Haylee couldn’t boast the same.

My mother’s team had resumed their search where Haylee’s pendant had been discovered. Nearby, a member of their team noticed a disturbance in the dirt that indicated a struggle. This led the forest rangers to discover shoe prints and a scant trail that led back to the water.

The investigators hypothesized that Haylee had run into the woods to escape, but Justin had caught up with her. After knocking her out, he’d carried her body to the lake and weighed her down under the water with the same tethers he used to secure his landscaping equipment.

Due to the water in her lungs, she had still been alive when Justin had placed her in the water. I took a little comfort in the fact that she had been unconscious at the time; I hoped her mind had lulled her into a pleasant dream while she sank to her death.

My mother wasn’t a big fan of allowing me to wallow in my grief, but she did allow me space to process what had occurred. At first, I attempted to do this from the confines of my room, but after two days of staring at my ceiling, I couldn’t take it anymore and emerged.

My intention was to shower and do my best to compose myself, but I paused as I passed the pink room. Though the room still frightened me, I realized that it was the last place Haylee had rested peacefully.

I parted the door and let myself in.

It was now devoid of Haylee’s belongings, but the decorations I had put out in anticipation of her stay remained. I bit my lip as I recalled how carefully I had selected each candle and how excited I’d been for Haylee’s reaction.

I sat on the air mattress in the center of the room and gazed up at the light fixture that Justin had aided in installing. Though I still felt a cold bitterness towards him, I couldn’t help but feel his loss as well.

I gazed up at the light, pondering on the moments when the lights would flicker and the visions I’d seen. I couldn’t help but wonder if Rosie’s spirit had been attempting to warn me about her son—or, more accurately, about the darkness inhabiting him.

If my theory was correct, it only made Justin’s death even more tragic. And I supposed if I were a mother, I would want someone to show my child compassion, regardless of how they had behaved.

So, I bowed my head and began to pray.

“Rosie, I want to thank you for attempting to warn me. I will forever be grateful. I also want you to know that I am mourning Justin’s death. I forgive him, and I hope you can forgive me for not saving him.”

When I finished, I exhaled deeply and wiped away a tear that had fallen while I’d spoken. Feeling silly, I stood to leave the room, but before I could make my exit, the light began to flicker.

“Rosie?” I ventured.

The light burned brightly in response, then slowly began to dim. I was about to plead with her not to go, but then the doorbell rang.

Though I had provided a report at the hospital, Detective Finch had informed my mother I would be expected at the police station before the end of the week for a recorded affidavit.

“It’s just a formality, but you are welcome to have an attorney present.”

My mother had curtly informed him not to expect me until the end of the week. This was her polite way of saying, “We will do it when we are damned good and ready.”

This was why we were surprised to find Detective Dunn at our door today.

“Detective Finch said Dharma had until the end of the week to make an official statement,” my mother said.

“I’m not here on official business,” Detective Dunn claimed as she expanded her hands to reveal her plain clothes. “I’m here as a friend. So, please, call me Jessie.”

My mother remained guarded as she permitted the woman to come inside and led her into the front room, which she had been reconverting into a sitting room on the advice of a real estate agent.

Jessie chose a seat next to my mother, while I clambered into an armchair that my mother had draped with a sheet to protect the fabric.

“Are you allowed to be here on friendly terms?” I asked her.

“I am on administrative leave, so I can’t see why not.”

“They put you on administrative leave?” my mother asked, appearing appalled. “Why would they do that?”

“Andrew Jones insisted on an internal investigation,” Jessie informed us, appearing slightly remorseful. I was reminded of her friends with the Joneses. Clearly, she thought higher of him than he did of her.

“Mr. Jones shouldn’t be able to do that,” I protested. “His son was the cause of all this. Why are ~you~ being punished?”

“I’m sure it will be fine,” Jessie waved a dismissive hand. “I’m not here to talk about me. I came to see how you are faring, Dharma.”

“Physically, I seem to be healing,” I answered cordially. I was certain she didn’t want to hear that I was having nightmares and screaming for my mother each night.

“I didn’t get a chance to thank you,” I told her. “I wouldn’t be here today if it was not for you. Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“We are just three friends chatting,” Jessie reminded me, “so you can ask me anything.”

“When did you start to suspect Justin?” I queried.

“He was immediately on the suspect list, but I couldn’t confirm my suspicions until I had solid evidence,” Jessie explained. “He left a perfect shoe impression in the mud near the embankment of the lake. I could only think of one kid in town who could afford to drop a grand on a pair of sneakers. While my team obtained a search warrant for the Jones mansion, I had a feeling I should check on you.”

“That was some feeling,” I said.

“I like to think that is what makes me good at my job,” Jessie responded with a smile. “And in case you hadn’t guessed, he was also the person who broke into your house. We were able to compare the impressions we collected to a faint sneaker imprint left outside your home on the night of the invasion.”

My mother frowned. “What could have prompted him to do such a thing? He had access to our property all day long. Why break in?”

I thought back to that night and the hours leading up to it and believed I had an idea. “I think he may have been trying to scare you, Mom,” I said. “After my allergic reaction, I think he wanted to prove to you that he could help keep me safe, so he staged the break-in so that he could…save us.”

“It’s a plausible explanation. Justin was known to be manipulative,” Jessie agreed.

“So, it wasn’t Toby’s statement that convinced you?” I asked. “I was certain that was why you decided to return to my house that night.”

“I learned of Toby’s accusation much later,” Jessie affirmed. “And I suspect once the department has processed Justin’s vehicles, Toby will have plenty of evidence to support his claim.”

“I hope he sues the pants off Andrew Jones,” I said.

“The Conners may entertain that,” Jessie agreed. “How is Toby doing?”

“I don’t know,” I said with a shrug. “The Conners have forbidden him to speak with me.”

“What?” my mother asked, shaking her head in disbelief. “Why wouldn’t they allow you two to speak? You were a victim as well.”

When I had attempted to reach out to Toby, I’d discovered that all his socials had been deleted. At first, I had assumed that he had done this on his own to avoid being overwhelmed with questions and well-wishers, so I had called his home.

His mother had answered.

“My son wouldn’t have been placed in that position if he hadn’t been consorting with a girl with such loose morals.”

Her words should have been cutting, but they’d landed a dull blow to my already numb heart.

“Like you said, every parent processes their grief differently,” I reminded my mother. “I just wish Justin was here to face the consequences.”

“The boy needed help,” my mother intervened. “Not jail time.”

Jessie nodded in agreement. “That is what I would have suggested to the prosecutor. He may have never had his freedom, but perhaps we could have offered him some relief from his demons. I’m just glad that I arrived in the nick of time,” she said as she stood.

“You’re leaving already?” my mother asked as she stood as well.

“I’m due in court. There is a deposition today on an unrelated matter,” Jessie explained.

“I will walk you out,” my mother offered as she followed Jessie to the door. I remained seated as they exchanged farewells.

When my mother returned, she cocked her head to the side and studied me. “This must be so difficult for you.” She sat on the armrest so she could reach over and stroke my hair. “I hope that boy hasn’t completely destroyed your faith in humanity.”

It would be a long time before I let my guard down again, and I would be cautious of who I chose to trust going forward—and that included myself. I had allowed my heart to guide me instead of my head, and it had nearly gotten me killed.

As for how I felt, I couldn’t be certain. All my emotions were dull, even the positive ones. I no longer found joy in the things that once delighted me, but on the flip side, I no longer bawled my eyes out when I thought of Haylee, and the rage I felt for Justin was now quenched. It was as if a void had replaced my heart.

Instead of expressing all of this to my mother I simply told her, “I will be fine, don’t worry yourself.”