Page 95 of Trapper Road

“She came to the house to ask me about what I told the police and whether I was sure about the ID…” She pauses, swallowing back tears. “I was still in shock from learning my best friend was gone, but I told her Mandy was positive about it being Trevor who picked Juliette up.”

“What about Mandy?” Vee cuts in. “Is she okay?”

Willa shrugs. “I don’t know. She said she had something to do, and she just left. I didn’t want to be alone, so I came here.” She bites her lip as she glances up at me. “I hope that’s okay?”

I run my hand along her hair. “Of course it is.” I like that she thought of me at a time like this — that she sees me as someone to turn to for comfort. It makes me feel important.

Willa turns back to Vee. “I don’t know why Mandy wouldn’t talk to me about what happened. I guess she just needs to process this news in her own way.” Willa hesitates before adding, “Maybe you should reach out to her? Maybe being with me reminds her too much of when it was the three of us together, and she needs someone unconnected to Juliette.”

“Good idea,” Vee says. She slips into the adjoining room and closes the door between us.

I’m acutely aware of the fact that Willa and I are suddenly alone in a motel room. I’m also very aware that now is very muchnotthe time to be having thoughts about Willa and beds.

I clear my throat which has grown tight for some reason. “You want to go for a walk or something?” I offer. “Maybe fresh air will help?”

“What about your mom? Won’t she be coming back soon?”

I shrug. “She’ll be gone for a while. There’s another witness she wanted to interview.”

Willa crinkles her forehead in confusion. “But they have the guy. They know what happened. Do they think someone else might have been involved?”

I shrug. “Not that I know of. I think she’s just talking to someone who came up before. She probably just wanted to button everything up.”

“Huh. I wonder who it is.”

I try to remember what Mom said this morning. “Maybe someone connected with the church?”

She thinks about this for a second before her eyes go wide. “Josiah. Twenty bucks that’s who she’s talking to.” She sinks onto the edge of the bed. It’s Vee’s, and I’m grateful she at least bothered to pull up the bedspread this morning so it looks half presentable.

I wonder if it’s appropriate to sit next to her or if that would be weird. I remember some speaker at school warning us about the signals it sends when you sit next to someone on a bed when there are other places to sit instead.

I end up leaning against the dresser instead. “Who’s Josiah?”

Her expression turns cloudy. “He was the youth coordinator at Juliette’s church. She was really into church for a while and went to all the youth group meetings. When Josiah was hired, he became obsessed with Juliette almost right away. It was awful. She thought about quitting the church at one point — even stopped going for several weeks, but then it felt unfair for her to give up something so important to her, so she went back. It was a mistake.”

“What happened?”

“You can’t tell anyone about this. I’m serious. Juliette would be mortified—” She chokes up for a moment. “Would have been mortified, I guess. Past tense.” She drops her head in her hands and begins to cry again. “I just can’t believe she’s gone. I mean, I knew she probably wasn’t ever coming back. I knew something had happened to her. I just didn’t want to believe it. And I didn’t have to. But now—” She cuts herself off, shaking her head, overcome with emotion.

I shift to the bed, sitting next to her and putting my arm around her. “I’m sorry,” I tell her, which feels so inadequate but it still seems to help.

She draws a shuddering breath. “Thank you.”

“We don’t have to talk about any of this, if you don’t want to.”

“It’s not that. Talking about her actually helps. I’ve been keeping her secrets for so long, it’s a relief to be able to share them. Especially with someone who doesn’t know her.” She glances over at me. “I know that must sound strange, since we barely know each other. But there’s something about you.” She leans against me “You make me feel safe.”

My chest grows warm. It’s one of the best compliments anyone has ever given me. I like thinking of myself as a protector. Even if I’m not sure I really am.

I think about Kevin and what happened at school. The look on his face when he pulled the trigger.

“Anyway, about Josiah,” Willa says, dragging me from the unwelcome memories. “He was a predator. He lured Juliette to his apartment one night and took naked photos. He even sent them to her, letting her know if she said anything he’d make them public.”

I feel a visceral reaction, the story horrifies me so much. “You’re kidding me! That’s awful. Poor Juliette! What happened to the guy? Is he in jail?”

Willa’s expression turns dark. “Of course not. Nothing happened to him. Nothing at all. Juliette risked everything going to the minister and the chief of police but they didn’t do a damn thing but ask the guy to resign. At least he had the decency to leave town.”

I’m outraged at how unfair and unjust that is. “What? Nothing happened to the guy at all?”

---