Indigo (43 page)

I debate asking the next question, but for my sanity, I need to know. I gather her in my arms to brace her. “Do you think this has to do with the hearing?”

“What else could it be? That’s why it is all my fault. Detective Waters was right.”

I look up to see two cops striding over to us, and the next couple hours turn into a whirlwind of questions and chaos. There’s cops sent back to her dorm to gather up the cupcakes, some sent to the local bakery Indigo claimed they were from, some on the phone with law enforcement from Indigo’s hometown. I stay by Indigo’s side through it all, as she tries her best to help and answer millions of questions. I try to help by getting the officers up to date, explaining who Indigo is, and about the high profile hearing coming up.

Through it all, I can tell Indigo’s mind is with Sabrina, like the rest of us. Shawn has asked every twenty minutes if he could see her, and he’s been refused each time. While Indigo is on the phone with Sabrina’s brother, I take a moment to sneak away and call Frank DeBlaney, knowing he would interested in what’s going on. When I walk back into the lobby, I see Indigo talking with my mother.

My fists clench as I walk over to where they are standing and put my hands on Indigo’s shoulders. I audibly let out a sigh of relief when she lets them stay there.

My mom eyes the intimacy, but doesn’t comment. I can’t help but notice how tired her eyes look. “I was just promising Indigo here that the media won’t hear a word of this. I don’t know how this happened, but rest assured I am getting to the bottom of it.”

My first instinct is to assume that my mother is heading off the media because she wouldn’t want a scandal such as this attached to her college, but when she brings a shaking hand up to pat some of her hair back into place, I wonder if that is it at all. “I promised you diligent security,” she continues. “And I’m sorry I have failed you, and Miss Mackenrow.”

Indigo reaches up, and places a hand over mine. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known.”

I can tell my mom doesn’t believe that, and her eyes are glistening when they look at us. “My security team is meeting now to figure out this reckless tragedy, and I will inform you immediately when I know exactly what happened. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.”

“Thank you. Just keep the cameras away, if you can. I don’t want Sabrina’s named splashed on the news.”

My mom nods, gives me a small smile and then strides away, her impenetrable exterior back in place. Indigo turns around and enfolds herself in my arms, making my relief to have her flood in all over again.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

I lean down, not thinking I heard her right. “What?”

“I’m sorry, for saying those awful things to you. I don’t want to fight anymore. I’ve…missed you.”

“I deserved everything,” I say, grabbing her chin and gently forcing it up. Staring into her green eyes makes me feel like I would do it all over again just to get to this moment. “And I’ve fucking missed you so much I nearly lost my mind. I’m sorry, Indigo. I lied to you because I was scared. I want you to know that it’s never, ever going to happen again. That was my deep dark secret, but I’ve otherwise been completely honest.”

“I know,” she whispers. “I didn’t make it easy for you though. I don’t like to deal with things and sometimes I don’t listen when the people I care about are trying to tell me something important. A part of me was so embarrassed when I found out about your mom, all those horrible things I’ve said—“

“She deserved it, too,” I tell her, staring at her lips. “You didn’t do anything wrong here. I thought, if you knew, you wouldn’t want to get involved with me.”

She shakes her head. “You’re the only person I’ve ever wanted Kennedy.”

Her words send a parade of awareness through me, and I can’t help but lean down and place my lips on hers. Shawn’s loud shout interrupts us. “We can see her now.”

Indigo turns and races out of my arms, and the three of us follow the nurse to Sabrina’s room, who I can tell is annoyed that all three of us are going in. “Please keep your voices down,” she tells us gently. “You have an hour until the policeman want to see her.”

Sabrina ends up being in the last room at the end of a long hallway. Seeing her for the first time makes me nervous, and I can tell Shawn and Indigo are feeling the same way. Actually, Shawn looks terrified, and I can’t imagine all the concerns that must be going through his head. But then, I find out that nothing that happened must matter, when we turn into Sabrina’s room and I watch in surprise as he runs straight towards the bed. I just barely make out that she’s awake when my view of her is suddenly blocked by the image of Shawn giving her a huge kiss.

I hear a small gasp, and when he stands back, I notice that although her face is eerily pale and her eyes bloodshot, she looks appropriately outraged.

She also looks like she is about to say something, but Indigo cuts her off when she throws herself onto Sabrina’s bed and kisses her forehead and cheeks. “You’re awake! Oh my god, Sabrina, I’m so sorry! This is all my fault!”

“Watch her IV,” Shawn scolds, pushing himself on to the other side of the bed. “And move over please.”

Sabrina’s eyes meet mine, and her voice comes out gravelly, but strong. “You’re not going to kiss me too, are you?”

My grin is huge as I meet her playful but tired eyes. “How are you doing Sabrina?”

She sighs, and then winces as Shawn starts incessantly wiping the hair out of her face. “I guess now is a good time to start cutting back on sweets.”

“Oh Sabrina,” Indigo cries out, going in for another hug. “I’m so sorry. What did the doctor say?”

“Horse tranquilizer,” she tells us tiredly, closing her eyes as Shawn rubs her cheek with his thumb. “Ketamine. Those cupcakes must have been laced with them.”

We all stare at her with our mouths open, unable to believe that something like this has happened. The image of Sabrina in the hospital bed hits it home.

“Are you going to be okay?” Shawn asks anxiously. “What have they done to you? Did they get it all out?”

Sabrina nods. “Apparently I’m going to live. I was lucky I was able to throw most of it up… I knew something was wrong earlier though, almost right away. They said Ketamine starts working within 4 or 5 minutes of entering the body.” She looks at Indigo. “And here I thought that was just guilt I was tasting.”

No one laughs. “They don’t know who did it yet,” Indigo tells her softly. “But I think whoever it was, was aiming to poison me so I wouldn’t speak at the hearing. My god, who would be that desperate?”

Sabrina’s face firms resolutely, and then she moves as if she is trying to sit up. Shawn lifts a hand and silently presses her back down, earning him a glare. “I figured as much,” she answers, giving up the struggle. “But this better not in any way deter you from doing it. If anything, you should want do it now more than ever! You have to Indigo, please tell me you haven’t changed your mind?”

Indigo bites her lip, and then looks at her friend before sitting up straight. “I haven’t changed my mind. I’m ready. Maybe now more than ever. And after they did this to you, whatever psycho it is, wild horses couldn’t stop me from telling my story at this hearing. I won’t be a victim anymore, or allow it to happen to any of the people I care about.”

My heart swells with pride, and as if Indigo can feel it coming from me in waves, she turns to gift me a smile. “I won’t be responsible for leaving someone like Joan Huff on the streets. Even if it’s just for another few years. After that…I’m going to look at my options, maybe Civil court.”

She looks to me, and as our eyes meet, I know she is thinking of Frank DeBlaney and his offer to help. My heart swells knowing I might be able to do something to help her after all.

“I have all the time in the world now to help you practice what you want to say up there.” Sabrina says then, reaching out to grab Indigo’s hand. “I didn’t forget that you asked that of me. I’m going to be a here for a few days so we should work it all out while I’m here.”

The news makes me feel left out, and I don’t want to feel that way ever again where Indigo is concerned.

“I want to hear what you’re going to say,” I put in, moving toward the end of the bed and sitting down on the edge. “Can I?” There’s no way I want to be left out of something like that. And after everything she and I have been through in the past couple months, after desperately trying for so long to learn about her and her past, I’m ready to listen, instead of ask.

Indigo nods. “I want you to hear it, too.”

The three of us look at Shawn.

Shawn looks down at Sabrina and gives her the biggest grin I’ve ever seen, and before she can protest, he places another huge kiss on her lips. “Sorry guys. I’m not going anywhere. So I’ll have to hear it all too.”

Indigo nods, and then looks up at me. A flash of recognition, of connection, passes between us. Reaching out for my hand, she begins to tell us her story.

INDIGO

A WEEK LATER

I’m sitting outside the courtroom, hands folded neatly on my navy blue skirt. To anyone watching, I’m calm, collected. But on the inside, my insides are swimming, melding into each other in a perfect storm of panic and disbelief. Since talking extensively to Sabrina, Shawn, and Kennedy about the kidnapping, I had been laboring under the delusion that when the time came, I would be ready. I would be ready to look into the face of Joan Huff, my tormentor and the co-conspirator to the biggest tragedy in my life. But now, sitting in the hallowed halls of justice, I feel like darkness closing in. The humming in my ears seems to drown out everything else but the reality of what I’m about to do. I look to my lap and stare at the white knuckles of my hand, the only giveaway to the raging tides within.

I hear footsteps down the hall that is otherwise empty. My mom is making her way to me, her expression one of pure love. There is a tinge of sadness there, one that’s been there since the day I returned, and I’m sure, since the day I’ve gone missing.

Once she gets close, she envelopes me in her arms, and then her hands move to cup my face. “Are you ready?”

I can’t lie to her so I shake my head. “No. I don’t think I can do this mom. I never wanted to do this.”

“I know. But I’m so proud that you are. This is the right thing Indy.”

I think of Sabrina who got out of the hospital today, and I picture her face, ghostly pale passed out on my floor. Taking a deep breath, I tell my mom of the decision I made that morning. “I’ve been thinking, about maybe talking to someone. Detective Waters recommended a woman to me a long time ago, so maybe if she’s still available…”

My mom squeezes me to her again. I know she must be shocked. I’ve always refused to talk to anyone, let alone a professional. But over the past few days, talking has helped me in way I never thought it would. It gave me a different kind of courage once I let go of my inhibitions, and the fear of judgment.

“Oh honey,” a small tear slides down her cheek. “There will always be someone you can talk to you. What’s changed your mind?”

“I don’t know. I just feel ready now. I don’t want to continue on not living, being afraid of every dark shadow.”

“I knew you would be, one day,” she says. “I never wanted to push too hard in the past and I’m sorry if I did. I’ll talk to Detective Waters and set something up. Let’s talk about that later though, one thing at a time.”

I nod. “Are the cameras in there?”

She sighs in response. “Yes. Although they don’t have to be.”

I requested them at the last minute. My friends all agreed that I should, that everyone should hear firsthand about what a monster that woman is, and set the record straight once and for all. Whatever they did with the information after that, would be up to them. Whether they believed me or not, would be up to them. I didn’t care.

This will be the first, and only time, I would talk about what happened to me publicly, and god forbid if she is back on the streets by tomorrow, I did my part in trying to let the world know what she is.