Wicked Warning (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 5) Read Online Free PDF

she was going to tell the girl about her parents being alive, but she knew she didn’t have a choice. Allowing Jessica’s parents to show up and surprise her was out of the question.
    Jessica flicked her eyes to Ivy as she entered, her face unreadable. “You came back.”
    “I told you I would,” Ivy said, returning to her vacated chair. “Did the nurse change your IV bag?”
    Jessica nodded. “The chain is off my ankle. Did you know that?”
    “I did,” Ivy confirmed. “You were unconscious when it was taken off. The police have taken it for evidence.”
    “What kind of evidence?”
    “They’ll run it for prints,” Ivy replied. “Everyone wants to know who took you so we can make him pay, but we understand you’re not ready to talk about that yet. The cuff might allow us to figure out who had you without you having to supply all the answers.”
    “I don’t know … anything,” Jessica said. “I don’t know his name. I never knew it. He never really … talked … to me. He just came to visit once a day and took what he wanted really quickly.”
    Ivy wanted to punch someone. Or, to be more precise, she wanted Jack to punch someone because he was physically stronger than she was. Then she wanted him to hold the man down so she could kick him a few hundred times. “That must’ve been terrible for you,” Ivy said, licking her lips. “I’m really sorry that happened.”
    “You get used to it after years of being … used,” Jessica said, her eyes taking on a far-off quality. “You go to a different place. I went to the playground my mom took me to when I was a kid. Even though I forgot what her face looked like, I could still remember what it felt like to be at that spot with her. It was my safe place.”
    Ivy had an opening, but the courage to take it eluded her.
    “Do you think someone will be able to find a photograph of my mother again?” Jessica asked, her eyes glistening. “I’d really like to remember what she looks like.”
    Ivy knew the time was upon her. She couldn’t turn back now. “You’re not going to need a photograph, Jessica,” she said. “Your mother is alive.”
    Jessica was already pale, but the girl turned so white Ivy worried she would pass out again.
    “It’s okay, sweetie,” she said, resting her hand on the girl’s wrist. “It’s not your fault. Both of your parents are alive, though. The police are notifying them about your discovery right now.”
    “But … no.” Jessica vehemently shook her head, her lifeless blond hair scattering. “He said they died. That’s how he could keep me forever. No one was looking for me.”
    “That’s not true,” Ivy said, fighting off her own set of tears. “Your parents were looking for you this entire time. They never gave up. They still live in the same house because they knew that was the only home you might be able to find them in.” Ivy had no idea if that was true, but she needed to say something to soothe Jessica.
    “Why would he lie?”
    Ivy opened her mouth, frustration overwhelming her. “I think he probably wanted to beat you down emotionally and make it so you didn’t dream about escaping,” she said finally. “The more defeated you were the less likely you were to try and run. He probably wanted you to accept your life with him because if you ran he knew his life would be over.”
    “Instead my life is over,” Jessica said. “It has been for a really long time.”
    “It’s not over,” Ivy argued. “You hit a speed bump six years ago. I’m not going to lie. It was a big one. You’re still young, though. You have a lot of life left to live. Your parents are going to be so happy to see you.”
    “No, they won’t,” Jessica said, a tear sliding down her face. “They’re going to know what I did with him. They’re going to know … everything.”
    “They won’t blame you,” Ivy said. “They’ll understand that you were a child and couldn’t fight back. They’ll be so happy to have you