Sweet Pain (Amatucci Family #3) - Sadie Jacks Page 0,133
the back who ran the presentation was ready for every single victim.
Mothers and daughters, aunts and nieces, cousins and friends. My girls gave them back to their families. Helped lay their spirits to rest.
After close to two hours, the recitation of names, birth and death dates, and causes of death finally drew to a close. The crowd was silent with varying expressions of horror, hatred, anger, and rage. Amongst the most dramatic were those who’d had their sins brought into the light in public.
Willow turned to the people who had borne her. “Of those women and girls remembered tonight, you two are personally responsible for four. Taylor Pankowski, Juliet Martin, Heather Outsen, and Margaret Ying. Not only did you serve them up on a platter to a known serial killer, you stood in front of the cameras you loved and begged the good people of New Trenadie to stick together during the midst of the reign of terror.” She shook her head.
She turned back to the crowd. “To those of you who will be walked out of here in handcuffs, how dare you? How dare you think to live above the law but try to hide behind it when your own crimes come to light? How dare you mock those with less, see them as nothing but cattle or commodities in which to trade?” Her breath gasped out.
She took a moment, calmed herself. “To those of you who are innocent, do not think this absolves us.” She laid a hand to her chest. “We are a community. We should reach out a hand to those who are hurting. We should be the listening ear when someone speaks of horror. We should be the shield for the young and the unwanted. We might not be complicit in the tragedies of today. But there are always people who need a hand.” She smiled. “Be that hand.”
The room burst into furious applause. Brad Dodge and his Channel 5 cameraman darted forward. “Ms. Chase, what did you hope to accomplish with this elaborate reveal?”
Willow smiled. “These lives were stolen in the shadows, Mr. Dodge. I simply brought the criminals into the light. Each life matters. Should be celebrated. These lives were ended too soon, so we celebrate them now.”
I stepped up beside the woman with more strength in her little finger than most people I knew all put together. I pressed a kiss to her hair as I slid my hand around her hip. Across the room, I saw Wright lift his hand, point at himself.
I nodded. Turning to Willow, I whispered in her ear, “It seems our DA would like to make a few statements. He’s on his way up.”
She nodded. “We couldn’t have done this without the help of New Trenadie’s District Attorney, nor the wonderful men and women of the New Trenadie police department. DA Jerrod Wright is coming up here to speak to you all.”
We stepped back, let Wright take center stage. Willow leaned against me. I could feel the stress and tension oozing out of her.
At the back of the room, media swarmed in. A line of uniformed police officers kept them back from the stage. Wright waited for everyone to stop yelling at him. He raised a hand and waited.
He turned first to Willow. “Ms. Chase, thank you for allowing me to speak. I wish we had at least ten more of you in New Trenadie.” He started clapping.
Willow pushed farther into my side as if she were trying to hide behind me or steal my coat. I tightened my hold on her. I dug my fingers into her hip. Let her know that she was still here. That this was truly happening.
Wright turned back to the crowd and the media. “It seems many of you have been busy calling your lawyers.” He laughed. “Probably a good idea. But, in the end, nothing but an expensive call. Those of you who are innocent, please stand by. We would like to interview you about your colleagues. One of our finest will be by to get your name and contact information to set that up. To make this all official, and so I only have to do this once, please listen closely for your name.”
He grinned before he got his expression under control. “I will be reading a list of names. To those so named, please pay attention. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law.