Page 92 of Operation: Valiant Angel

“Yes, he would have killed you,” Rae agreed even though she was shocked by what Stella had just said. They would have killed Jackson that night if Stella had wanted to get Lilly. “And as far as letting Lilly go, that was the best thing for her. But you had an AirTag in her shoe. So, it’s not like you couldn’t find her and get her later.”

“Found it, huh? Yeah, I planned to come get her when we were done in Atlantic City, and I was free of Blake.”

Reina could not think of a thing to say in response to that. She was glad when Stella continued.

“I’m so sorry he hurt you. I thought he’d killed you. I can’t tell you how relieved I was to know you were okay. Please believe me that I am so sorry you got involved in it.” She wiped the tears that continued to trickle down her cheeks.

“I had a gut feeling Lilly was in trouble, you were in trouble. I don’t regret trying to help. I’m sorry it ended for you as it did.”

“Well, we all make our own beds, don’t we? I really tried to be Ashley Carona and leave all that behind in New Jersey. But they wouldn’t let me. Once they found me, I was theirs again. It’s ironic, I didn’t want to be a CNA. That was the Marshals doing. They even got me the job at the hospital where Jennifer Smith saw me. That’s how it happened, how they found me. And it put me in a good place to compromise people’s identities. They threatened me and Lilly. There was nothing I could do but go along.”

Reina doubted that. She wondered why Ashley Carona had not reached back out to the Marshals. Surely, they would have helped her. “There’s always something you can do. You could have called the Marshals.”

“Blake Henning burned my next-door neighbor’s house down when I said no, thinking it was my house. He fucking killed nice old Mister Singer. If I didn’t go along, he would have killed Lilly.”

“I visited your house after Lilly was no longer coming to school. My maps program told me the burned down house next to yours was actually your address.”

“Why did you do that?” Stella asked.

“I told you; I had a feeling you and Lilly were in trouble.”

The room fell silent for a long minute.

“Thank you for agreeing to be Lilly’s guardian.”

“Thank you for your approval of it,” Rae said, not that Stella had to approve of it. But it was better that she did. “I’ll make sure you receive letters and more hand-drawn pictures from her. I’ll send you photographs of her too and drop you notes so you know how she’s doing. And I’ll make sure you have an address so you can write her letters,” Rae offered. “You’re her mom. I’m not going to replace you.” And that was the bottom line of it. Stella was her mother and even though she was in prison, it was better for Lilly to have a relationship with her.

Stella shook her head. “Lilly needs a mom, and I can’t be it from in here. You be her mom and be the best damn mom she could ever have.”

“I want her to know who you are,” Rae said. “I could even see about bringing her to visit when she’s a little older,” Rae offered.

“No, I don’t want my kid visiting me in jail,” Stella said, cutting her off. “Do you understand? Don’t you ever bring her here.”

Rae nodded. “Okay, but if you ever change your mind.”

“I won’t,” she replied sternly. “I had to visit my dad in jail. I would never put my daughter through that.”

“Lilly will need to be told in an age-appropriate way that you’re in jail and why,” Rae said. “What are your thoughts on that?”

“I don’t know. I know the shame I felt, knowing what my dad did. I don’t want Lilly to feel that way. Make sure you get her some help, you know, a child therapist.”

“I already have an appointment scheduled for her next week,” Rae promised.

“There’s no chance I’ll be out before she’s an adult. She needs a mom. She needs you to be her mom,” she repeated.

“But yes, please drop me a note from time to time and let me know how she’s doing.”

“I will,” Rae again promised.

The detective stepped back into the room. “I’m sorry, visiting time is over.” He nodded to Rae. “I’ll see you out.”

A uniformed officer came in and took Stella. At the door, Stella stopped for just a second. “Thank you, Reina. I know you didn’t have to come talk to me. I appreciate that you did.” Then the guard escorted her from the room.

Rae stepped out into the hall where Jimmy waited. He and the detective were in the room next door that had a monitor, the camera in the corner was hooked up to. They saw and heard everything.

Wilson wrapped his arms around Rae and pulled her into his chest. “You went easy on her.”

“I showed her grace like Elizabeth suggested. Elizabeth was right. Stella Adams will punish herself for the actions that led to her being locked up away from Lilly far more than anyone else ever could. No matter what else I can say about her, she loves her daughter.”

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