A Deadly Influence (Abby Mullen Thrillers #1)(71)

He returned five minutes later, another community member following him. Wong stiffened as soon as she saw the girl’s face.

It was Ruth, the girl who had been raped when she was fifteen. Wong’s failure.





CHAPTER 47


“Ruth, right?” Abby smiled at the girl as she sat down.

“That’s right.” Ruth returned her smile.

Abby felt hopeful. Two years before, Ruth had approached a teacher and told her she’d had sex with a man on the farm. That showed an independent spark in the girl. She could be what Abby was looking for.

“How long have you known Karl?” Abby asked.

“Since he got to the farm seven years ago,” Ruth said.

“How long have you been here?”

“Ruth joined with her parents when she was three years old,” Otis said. “Almost a baby.”

“Oh wow.” Abby nodded in appreciation, feeling her own memories threatening to surface. She shoved them deep down. “Who are your parents?”

A glance at Otis. Wong let out a pained breath.

“Their names are Maria and Thomas.”

“Do you want them to be present?” Abby asked.

Another long look at Otis. And then Ruth turned back and said casually, “No need. Otis will keep me safe.”

It all went downhill from there. Ruth’s answers were predictable and automatic, but she hardly uttered any of them without a glance at Otis. She’d seen Karl at the prayers and at the communal lunch. Of course she was sure; she saw him every day. She didn’t think anyone would want to implicate Karl; everyone loved him.

Wong cleared her throat. “Two years ago you told your teacher that a man from the farm had sex with you. Do you remember that?”

“Sure,” Ruth said. “I’m so sorry. I wanted attention, and I had an overactive imagination.”

“Why did you want attention?” Abby asked.

“My mom and dad were busy, and I had too much time to invent little stories. But these stories were the tools of Satan.”

“You don’t make up stories anymore?” Abby asked.

“No, I’m done with that. I keep myself busy. I do a kitchen shift and a farming shift every single day.” She glanced at Otis again and visibly glowed when he smiled at her proudly. Abby wished she could disembowel the man.

“That’s a lot of work for a seventeen-year-old. Don’t you want some time to meet friends? Dance? Read books? Are you frustrated that you don’t have time to do any of it?”

Abby saw Wong leaning forward, a desperate glint in her eyes.

Ruth shrugged. “I’m blameless and upright.”

Maybe, given time, Abby could intervene here, get Ruth out of the cult, awaken her capability to doubt. But she was skeptical. The girl’s parents were still in the cult, and she seemed to have lost whatever fighting spirit she’d had two years before. And Abby had no time. Nathan was missing. If Otis or Karl had anything to do with the kidnapping, she needed to figure it out fast.

“Thanks, Ruth,” she said sadly. “That’s all we need. It’s been very nice meeting you.”

“I think you have enough statements,” Otis said with finality. “Karl had nothing to do with any of this. You have your proof.”

“Just one or two more,” Abby said half-heartedly. “We’ll be quick.”

Otis shrugged. “Ruth, can you call Leonor here?”

“Absolutely.”

Leonor was about fifteen and seemed ready for a fight. She sat down on the empty chair, folding her arms.

“Leonor, how long have you known Karl?” Abby asked.

“For about a year,” the girl answered.

“How well do you know him?”

“Everyone knows Karl. He’s great.”

“Great how?”

“He’s friendly.” Leonor counted on her fingers. “Always happy to help with any problem. And he doesn’t look down on anyone.”

“Really? Do people typically look down on you?”

“Not here.”

Leonor seemed tense. The answers came fast, rehearsed. Just like the rest of them.

But so far, she’d only glanced at Otis once, briefly. She didn’t need his approval for every answer. She knew her lines.

Abby allowed herself to be hopeful again.

She asked about the dates. Leonor gave her the same lines as everyone else. Didn’t hesitate. Another brief look at Otis, just making sure she wasn’t making any big mistakes.

“You said you only knew Karl for a year,” Abby said. “How come? He’s been here for seven years.”

“But I only joined a year ago,” Leonor said.

“Really? How did that happen?”

“I met Ruth and a couple of other guys. We got to talking. I was frustrated. I was trying to make a difference in my school but getting nowhere.”

“What kind of difference?”

“Like, change the way women are perceived. The ratio of male versus female students in classes like math and physics is abominable. And when you talk to people, they’re like, nothing’s stopping you from studying math. And they can’t even see how the teachers and other students treat the female students.” She clenched her fists.