Midnight Crossing (Josie Gray Mysteries #5)(40)

“Can you tell me where in Mexico?”

“In Piedra Labrada. That’s where Renata and I ran.”

Marta tried to keep the surprise from her expression. “You told me you didn’t know her name. Why didn’t you tell me before when I asked?”

She looked away, a sign that told Marta she was acknowledging the lie, or still not telling the truth.

“I was just afraid,” Isabella said.

“Can you tell me her last name?”

“She never told me.”

“Do you have any idea where the other women are that didn’t leave with you?”

She took a deep ragged breath, obviously trying to hold back tears. “They wouldn’t come. We begged them, but they said they had to make it to the end. We ran the night we were going to cross the border into the United States. We’d checked into a motel for a few hours’ sleep. Ryan was taking a shower and Josh lay down on the bed and fell asleep. They’d quit being so careful with us. They never imagined we’d run. But I couldn’t take one more night with him.”

“Who do you mean?” Marta asked.

“The man named Josh. He was a monster. So Renata and I left. We opened the door of the motel room, quiet as we could, and then we ran.” She swiped at a tear falling down her cheek. “I don’t know what happened to the rest of them. I’m sorry.”

“You say you couldn’t take one more night. Why is that?”

She looked at Dr. Brazen, who nodded for her to continue. “Josh, he made Renata and me do terrible things. He said he would kill us and our families if we ever told anyone.”

“When you say terrible things … can you be more specific?”

“He raped us.” Her face was stoic, as if she’d planned these words and committed to saying them.

Marta held up the photographs again. “I’d like you to look at this group of photos again and tell me if you see the person who hurt you.”

Isabella studied the photos for several seconds when her composure suddenly broke. “That’s the one,” she said, her voice barely a whisper as she pointed to Josh Mooney’s mug shot from his methamphetamine arrest. “He looks different now, not so skinny as that picture. But that’s him.”

When she shut her eyes against the image, Marta worried she’d just obliterated all of the progress the woman had made, but the doctor stepped closer to her and said, “It’s okay, Isabella. Seeing them again is terrible. It’s completely normal to feel scared and angry. But they’re gone now. And you’re safe.”

Marta felt horrible for pushing further, but she had to ask one more question. She patted the girl’s leg and sat down on the edge of the bed as Isabella wiped her eyes with a tissue.

“I need to ask you one more question. We want to find the person who shot Renata. Can you tell me what happened?”

She started crying again, shaking her head no. She finally managed, “It was dark. We were hiding in the little shed beside the house and we saw the car stop. We knew they were coming for us, so we ran for the pasture, away from the light. Renata and I got separated in the dark. I heard the gun and kept running.”

“Can you tell me how many men there were?”

“I don’t know.”

Marta let it go. If Isabella knew more, it was clear she was still too frightened to share the information.

*

At eight p.m., donation buckets were passed around the room and guests were encouraged to mingle with the women who’d shared their stories. Josie made a beeline for Caroline before she got caught up in the small talk that would no doubt last far longer than Josie wanted to stay.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about the female victim who’s currently staying at the trauma center,” Josie said.

“I have. That’s such a tragedy. And the other young woman dying? I can’t understand how something like that can happen here,” she said.

“I’m sure the mayor has told you we’re working hard to reunite the two women with their families. The women are from Guatemala and we’re trying to find a way to help them back home. The flight will obviously cost quite a bit, plus some meals and incidentals. The police department doesn’t have any kind of discretionary funds available. Is this something your organization would consider supporting?”

“Absolutely. You tell me what you need in terms of travel money, and I’ll see what I can come up with. I’m glad to help.”

Josie had always thought of the mayor’s wife as someone who got involved at the top end, but rarely got her hands dirty. So her answer now was a nice surprise and it solved a major problem for Isabella. Returning home the body currently in the morgue was another issue altogether, but that would have to wait.

*

Josie found her mom chatting with several other women. They finally left the function at eight-thirty, and Josie drove her mom back to Manny’s.

She parked along the street in front of her mom’s room and turned the jeep engine off.

“You coming inside?” Beverly asked.

“No. I’ve got work in the morning,” she said. “I’m sorry your trip hasn’t turned into much time to visit. That’s the lousy part about police work. When something like this breaks open, you can’t put it on hold.”