Page 142 of Our Daughter's Bones
“That’s why you spent all that time reading Abby’s journal?” Nick raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t you remember who my favorite detective is?”
“Hercule Poirot.” He grinned. “Psychology.Is that how you learned how to act?”
“I didn’t have a choice.” She waved him off. “I had to get her defenses down by flattering her.”
“Yeah, well, who would have thought she’d go allGone Girlon us?”
Mackenzie spotted Hannah sitting at one of the benches in the common area and excused herself. She was wearing a baggy sweatshirt and pajamas that fell inches below her ankles. She eyed everyone with suspicion. When she saw Mackenzie, she stood up.
“Please, you don’t have to stand. How’re you doing, Hannah?”
“I… I don’t know. Abby got a lawyer. She’s eighteen, so she’s not really keeping me involved in the process.”
“I’m sorry for everything.”
“I don’t know what happened.” She glued her fingers under her red nose. “She fooled me for an entire year. She manipulated me. I’m trying to understand what she is. I thought that you would… you would know?”
Mackenzie’s chest tightened. It was the first time she had seen Hannah not hide behind hardness and disinterest.
“Please sit down.” She offered her water. “I’m not qualified to make any assessment. I can get you in touch with our forensic psychologist. But in my opinion, your daughter is a sociopath. She’s a narcissist and attention-seeking. But she still deserves justice for what happened to her.”
“Oh, oh, oh, God.” Hannah dropped the cup. Water splashed all over her shoes. But she didn’t care. “I don’t understand how this happened. I… did I do something wrong? Was I not there enough? I know I made some mistakes. I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have gotten involved with Joe. Is that why?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know. I wish I could help you with this.”
She nodded faintly. “Can I sit here for a while?”
“Of course.”
Mackenzie sat with her in solidarity. People walked past them; some shot curious glances. Only Mackenzie seemed to notice. Hannah looked numb and unaware. She remained still. Mackenzie looked at her. What was she thinking? Did she still love Abby? Did she feel guilty for loving her? Or was she scared of her own child?
After a few minutes, Hannah stood up and walked away, stricken, to deal with the remaining scraps of her life.
Through the walls of the office, Mackenzie heard a wail. She didn’t enter the room but pressed an ear against the door. She could hear low but clear voices: Nick placating Gabriella.
“What’s going to happen to her?” Gabriella hissed angrily. “Did you arrest her?”
“We did. She’s been charged with manslaughter, unlawful disposal of remains, and conspiracy, among other counts.”
“I want her to rot in prison for the rest of her life!”
“I understand,” Nick said. “Let’s hope she’s adequately punished for––”
“Let’s hope?What does that mean?”
“She was raped by multiple men, including your husband. This could potentially complicate things in court.”
“How? What isthatsupposed to mean?”
“The cases shouldn’t influence each other, legally at least, but the jury could sympathize with her, depending on how much they know.”
“But that’s unrelated!” she screeched.
“It is. But lawyers have a way of twisting things. We don’t know what will happen. She suffered a lot and––”
“I don’t give a damn about what happened to her! She probably deser––” She stopped abruptly. “It’s not fair. She’s alive. She has a chance to recover from this trauma and live a long life. My daughter is gone forever. Shemurderedmy child. Where ismyjustice?”
