When neither of us say anything Lilly continues. “This is Francesca,” Lilly says, rubbing her daughter's leg. “I was in my final semester of college when I found out I was pregnant with her. I went out with a couple of friends for my birthday and well…” She takes a deep breath and continues. “I hooked up with a random bartender that night. He was gone by the time I got out of the bathroom. I hid my pregnancy from my mother due to personal reasons. My family is very religious and I was convinced that my mother would disown me if I had told her. Luckily, I was living in Arkansa and hadn’t been on good terms with my mom for years at this point. But then Francesca became really sick and I couldn’t work. I had no choice but to move back home.
“I showed up on my mom’s doorstep and she lost her shit but quickly got over it when I told her everything. Francesca was diagnosed with type one diabetes a month before I moved here and her medicine cost a fortune. My mom got social security and I had yet to find a job. We were on the verge of losing everything when I met Dean. I finally found a job at the diner and he was one of my regulars.” She pauses to wipe her eyes and Gabe surprises us both by producing a handkerchief from his pocket.
“He was always talking to me when he came into the restaurant and always left a huge tip. One day he found me crying in my car when my mom called and told me that Francesca was almost out of insulin. He offered me the money I needed to pay off all my bills, fix up my car and finally fill the apartment with what we needed. I told him I would pay him back and he said to take my time. When I met you I didn’t want to tell you because you had your life together and mine was falling apart. I wanted to be your friend and was afraid you wouldn’t want to be friends with someone like me.” Lilly wipesher tears away, places her hand over her heart and takes a deep breath.
Neither I nor Gabe say anything not wanting her to stop talking. “The night at the bar was the first time I had gone out in a month. Dean called and basically begged me to come out. I agreed, like an idiot. He told me to invite you to the party that his friend was throwing because Ned was interested in you. I didn’t want to go to the party but I really liked Dean and he had been flirting with me the whole night. I thought that he would get upset with me if I couldn’t get you to go so I basically forced you.
“Anyways, when Dean and Ned never showed up at the party I went home. I’m not going to lie, I was hurt thinking that you three hooked up. I was feeling foolish for believing someone like Dean was interested in me when he could have you. When I was at work the next day, I heard that you had been reported missing. I rushed home intending to call the police to offer my help but Dean was waiting on me in the parking lot. He forced me to allow him to drive me home. When we got to the apartment Mom said she had some errands and left. I asked him what happened the night before and he changed right in front of my eyes.”
Lilly’s whole body is shaking so hard that I’m afraid she is going to wake up Francesca. It’s clear that she is struggling with what comes next and I have a bad taste in my mouth. I slide off the desk and gently sit next to her. I wrap my hands around hers hoping it offers her some strength.
“What happened next?” I whisper.
“He hit me, slapped me right across my face. He started to demand his money back. Said something about him needing it for something. When I finally found my voice I told him I didn’t have it. Who can come up with six grand in a couple of months? I barely make minimum wage. He told me that we could make another deal. He would forgive my debt if I went with him to thepolice. He wanted me to give him an alibi and tell the police you left the bar alone. He hit me again when I told him to go to hell.”
Gabe growls and his hands dig into the arm of the chair. “If that fucker–” I hold my hand up to stop him.
“He left me crumbled on the living room floor and went into Francesca’s room. I heard her screaming and ran after him. He told me that since I didn’t have his money and wouldn’t take his deal he was taking my daughter. He said that he knew a guy who would pay him double what I owed him… for her,” Lilly says then gags like she is going to be sick.
I squeeze her hands and say, “But you agreed in the end.”
She looks at me and it’s plain to see that she is terrified. “I had to. I couldn’t let him take my daughter.” She starts sobbing harder and I pull her into my chest. She clings to my back as if she will float away if I let her go.
“Shhh,” I say, rubbing her back. “You did the right thing, Lilly. You protected your daughter like a mother should.”
“Did Dean say anything else about this person who would buy a baby?” Gabe says through gritted teeth. He looks ready to explode. Rage is pouring off of him in waves and I’m soaking it all in. I wish I could bring Dean back from the dead so I could kill him myself.
“He slipped up and said a name. I don’t think he realized that he did it,” Lilly says, her words muffled by my chest. She pulls back, takes a couple of deep breaths and turns to face Gabe. “He drove me to the police station but only after he called Ned to come to my apartment. On the way he told me that if I was a good girl and did everything exactly like he wanted everything would be okay. If I tried to tell the police the truth or asked for help, Alex would get to Francesca before we got back. Tara I’m so sorry, if there was anything I could have done to protect her and tell the truth I would have.”
I turn her to look at me, her eyes are red and puffy and she looks so defeated. “Listen to me. You going along with Dean’s lie didn’t hurt me. The damage was already done. If I had known what he was threatening you with I would have told you to do the same thing. I’m not mad at you or even upset. I was but not anymore. Now I’m worried about you.”
“Me too.” She swallows, wipes her nose and sighs. “Dean and Ned used to come around to make sure I was keeping my mouth shut and to take almost all of my paychecks but I haven’t seen them in months. I’m always looking over my shoulder waiting on them?—”
“Dean cannot hurt you anymore,” Gabe growls again. He leans forward and places his hand on her knee, gently as if not to scare her. “He’s dead.”
“What!” Lilly’s eyes widen as she turns to look at Gabe.
“It’s true. He’s been dead for six months. Now Ned, I don’t know where he is but I’m going to find him and make sure he never hurts anyone again,” I say sternly, hoping she hears my unspoken promise. “Do you have anyone you could go stay with?”
“No, do you think I’m in danger?” Lilly reaches out to touch Francesca as if she will calm her down.
“I do. Someone knows I’m not really dead and that I’m trying to find Ned. They set a fire at the house I was living at right before we came here. I’m not going to lie to you. You have always been in danger but it’s gotten worse now that I’m no longer hiding in the shadows,” I say, standing up. Whenever I need to figure something out in a hurry I do my best thinking while I pace.
“My mom died a couple months ago and I don’t have any money. Even though they have stopped coming by I’ve kept up making the payments. Dean doubled what I owed him,” Lilly whispers.
“I have money,” I say waving my hand in the air. “We need to find someone we trust to keep you two safe. There is always?—”
“No, she doesn’t need to go to Elio’s because he is in the middle of all of this. I have an idea,” Gabe says, snapping his fingers to get my attention. “Lilly, I have a friend that you could stay with. His house is like Fort Knox, no one gets in or out without him knowing. He is also trained to protect you if the occasion calls for it. I know it’s a lot to ask you to trust a complete stranger but Nick would never cause you or your daughter any harm. Plus you said that you’ve been making payments. Are they done in cash or electronic?”
“Electronically. I have a piece of paper that has all the information on it and every two weeks I deposit the money,” she says.
“Nick could use that to help us,” Gabe says, pulling his phone from his pocket. “I’m going to step out and call him.”
Gabe walks out and Lilly turns toward me and asks, “Do you trust this Nick guy?”
I pull the chair Gabe just got up from over and sit down right in front of her. “With my life. You both will be safe there. Can I ask if there is any way of tracking Francesca’s father down?”
Lilly’s eyes bounce between Francesca and me. “I don’t know if the name he gave me is fake. His name is Basten or that’s what he told me.”
