“Hands on your head,” Lou says. “Turn around and kneel.”
I do as I’m told and offer no resistance, even though Dan wrenches my arms into position like a total dick. “Nobodyfucks with Cady,” he growls at me before shoving me into the dirt. “She’s a Beaumont City treasure.”
“I never said she wasn’t,” I growl back. “And if I were you, I’d be mindful of a police brutality suit for assaulting an innocent civilian, you fucking jackass.”
“Like any judge would believe a convicted felon over a dutiful small-town cop.”
“A convicted felon with friends in high places and plenty of money to take down a couple of entitled redneck fucks who think they’re the law. You’re going to stand there and watch him do this, are you Lou?”
The sheriff crouches next to me and holds a phone in front of my face. He hits play on the screen, and the video on display springs to life. The lighting in the shot isn’t great, but it’s definitely me. Fucking Cady against the wall. Hard. With my hand clasped over her mouth.
Yeah, that looks pretty fucking bad.
“That was consensual,” I say in a stern tone.
Dan kicks me in the side. “Shut the fuck up.”
“Lou,” I growl through gritted teeth.
The sheriff looks me right in the eye. “I didn’t see anything. But the kids we found crowded around this phone saw more than they should have.”
Dan kicks me again. Harder. This is going to escalate quickly.
“Find Cady,” I growl through my teeth.
“We will. And we’ll be sure to promise her justice.” He delivers a blow to my head, and I fight to keep the darkness from my vision, as I’m hauled away.
“Where are you taking me? I want my lawyer. I have rights, assholes.”
They shove me in the back of Lou’s patrol car and walk away while I yell every foul name I have at them.
15
CADENCE
It’s incredibly hard to sneak into the bathrooms when it’s half-past-drunk-o’clock and women seem to pee in groups, but eventually I make a break from the nearby bushes and shut myself safely inside a stall. I freshen up as best I can, doing my hair and makeup while I’m behind a locked door, so there’s no chance for anyone to see me looking positively undone. By the time I flush the toilet and walk out of the stall, I feel confident that the people of Beaumont City are none the wiser about my secret life.
“Oh my God.” Martha Crinshaw and Jeanie Harlow cover their mouths at the same time and stare at me with huge, weirdly sympathetic gazes. I take a step back, and Martha shows me her palms, as if she thinks she’s spooked me. “Cady. Everyone’s looking for you. Are you okay?”
I frown and move around them to the sink to wash my hands. “I’m fine. And I’m definitely not lost. Why are people looking for me?”
They look at each other and make strange faces.
“What’s going on?” I ask again.
“You don’t need to pretend to be strong, sweetie. It’s not your fault, and nobody’s going to judge you. We all know what king of girl you are, and the sheriff’s taking care of it.”
“Taking care of what?” I ask, as a heavy, sinking feeling hits my stomach.
“Daryl Winters,” Jeanie whispers, before covering her mouth again.
“That man should have been run out of town the day he arrived. He’s going to get what’s coming to him, Cady. Don’t you worry. You’re safe now. What do you need? Water? A hug? What’s the right thing to offer in times like these?”
“Times like these,” I repeat slowly, terrified of what the fuck may be happening outside the bathroom. I walk toward the door, zombie-like and push out into the chaos. The lights of Lou’s car are flashing red and blue, and I see a familiar figure sitting in the back, his hair a mess, and his head resting an odd angle on the back of the seat. What. The. Fuck?
I look around for Lou, desperate for answers, but walk straight into Dad.
“Cadence. Thank goodness. Let’s get you home before anyone sees you. They’ll only want to start gossip. I told you that dress would get you into trouble, but you wouldn’t listen. Honestly. I have done my best to protect you from the horrors of this world, and then you go and get yourself raped by that vile man. You’ll never be able to show your face in town again. They’ll give you a name, you know. What would you mother do if she knew? Her only daughter, violated by the ass-fucker.”
