Page 116 of Girl Lost

“What? Why?” The words burst out before Corbin could stop them. His mind raced, trying to connect the dots between his father and Tori.

Damien leaned back. “I was a bad cop, Corbin. Did things I shouldn’t have. But I also saw things. Ugly things. The worst of humanity.” He paused, his gaze distant. “I was there that night. The night the Crew family was murdered.”

Corbin’s blood ran cold. The Crew murders. One of the most brutal cases in Millie Beach history. He’d heard whispers about the cold case throughout his career, but the details had always been closely guarded. And now, here was his father, claiming to have been there?

“I was the responding officer. I saw the blood. The bodies.” Damien cleared his throat. “I was the one who found her. A scared little thing hiding in her parents’ closet that night.”

Corbin’s throat felt tight. He could picture it all too easily. A young Tori, terrified and alone. Hiding from the gruesome scene unfolding on the other side of the door.

“She won’t want to come here,” he managed. “She won’t want to talk about that night.” She never talked about that night.

“I think she will, son.” A bitter smile pulled at Damien’s lips. “She’ll come. Because I know who murdered her family.”