Page 157 of Dead Man's List

Unless he’d had access to a boat.Dammit. He could be anywhere.

“The nearest trail to the top is about a mile down the beach,” Duncan said. “Why would he do that? Go out through the window?”

“It’s what he does,” Kennedy said woodenly. “It’s how he’d get past Mom’s security system. She didn’t monitor the back because she believed it was inaccessible.”

“He’s escaped like this before?” Kit asked.

Kennedy nodded. “He thinks it’s fun. Exhilarating, he says.” Tears filled her eyes. “He’s supposed to go to jail.”

“And he will,” Kit murmured. “Did your mom know about his rappelling?”

“I don’t know. If she did, I don’t think she knew he was doing it at our house.”

“Did he keep a rope with him?” Connor asked.

Kennedy shrugged. “He had a lot of camping equipment in the back of his car. Ropes and other things. He could have kept a harness, too.”

“What is going on?” Duncan demanded. “What’s this about rappelling? About escaping?”

Kit took Kennedy’s hand. “It’s time now, honey. Tell your grandparents.”

Kennedy squeezed Kit’s hand so hard that it hurt. “Nana, Grandad…” She trailed off, looking helplessly at Kit.

“You want me to start?” Kit asked, and Kennedy nodded. “Okay.” She turned to the grandparents. “This may be difficult to believe, but I need you to listen to Kennedy. Women don’t make claims like this for fun. This is serious. Kennedy’s father has been sexually molesting her for years.” Mrs.Tindall’s mouth opened and she covered it with her hand. Mr.Tindall didn’t blink, just stared at Kit. But they hadn’t yelled yet, so she kept going. “She didn’t tell her mother because her father convinced her not to. He told her that her mother wouldn’t believe her and she wouldn’t love her anymore.”

“This can’t be true,” Duncan said, blustering. “There’s some mistake.”

Kennedy lurched to her feet, but she kept hold of Kit’s hand. “You think I’mlying?”

“No, no.” Duncan backpedaled. “Of course not, but Kennedy, surely you see that this is impossible. Your father loves you.”

“My father started raping me when I was nine years old,” Kennedy said coldly. “You believe me or you don’t. I’m tired of keeping secrets for this family. You want proof? I’ll call Dr.MacNamara at the clinic in El Cajon. He’s got my records from the time I got chlamydia.”

Mrs.Tindall gasped. “Your mother would have known!”

“Not that I got an STD. My father took me to a free clinic. Gave a fake name. Said if I told the doctor the truth, he’d tell my mother, who’d think I was a whore. I was twelve, Nana.” She dropped back to the sofa, like a marionette whose strings had been cut. “Didn’t you wonder why I always wanted to stay here when Mom was out of town? Didn’t you wonder why I never had any dates?” Her voice was rising with each question. “Didn’t you wonder why I never smiled?”

Duncan was pale. “Your mother said you were being treated for depression.”

“Because that’s what my father told her,” Kennedy said wearily. “Every word Detective McKittrick said is true. That’s why I went straight to the police station. The girls…I couldn’t let it happen to them, too.” She stiffened. “Where are they? Where are the girls?”

“Upstairs watching a movie with headphones on,” Connor said. “They’re here.” He smiled at Kennedy. “They’re safe.”

Kennedy sagged, leaning into Kit’s shoulder. “I couldn’t let him hurt them.”

Kit stroked Kennedy’s hair. “I know.” She met the grandparents’ shocked gazes. “If you believe her, she can stay here. If you don’t, I’ll find a place she can stay while we investigate Peter Shoemaker for the rape of a minor.”

“For therepeatedrape of a minor,” Connor said.

Mrs.Tindall burst into tears and ran from the room. Duncan appeared to be numb. “I can’t believe it,” he whispered, then seemed to realize what he’d said. “I believe you, Kennedy. You don’t lie. You’ve never lied. But this…it’s hard to accept.”

“I know,” Kennedy said sadly. “But it’s true. My father is a monster and I hate him.”

“That’s why you insisted on going away to college,” Duncan said, still talking as if he were in a dream. A nightmare. “Pete didn’t want you to go. He asked me to talk you out of it. To forbid you. He said you were too wild to go away on your own, that you wouldn’t take your medication and you’d become suicidal.”

“I was suicidal for a while, before I went to college. I won’t go back to him, Grandad. I won’t.”

“Okay,” Duncan said. He looked at Kit. “What should we do?”