The Venus Fix

Seventy-Six

Finally, Amanda held out the CD, offering it to me. I took it but she did not let go. “You can’t show it to anyone, though. You’re the only one who can see it.”

“If I am going to help save the last girl, I’m going to have to show it to the police.”

“Can’t you just tell them about it?”

“I don’t think so. Will you let me show it to them?”

She shook her head. “My parents don’t know.”

“How about this? Let me take it for now. You think about it overnight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll call you and get your permission before I do anything.”

She was shaking her head. “There’s no way it will stay a secret if you give it to the police. Do you know what it would be like if anyone found out this was me? What my parents would do to me?”

The organ music stopped. It wasn’t silent right away-the chords lingered-and then it was so quiet in the temple that I could hear Amanda’s breathing.

“It’s our fault. Simone’s fault and mine. If we hadn’t made this, Simone wouldn’t be dead, and none of those women would be dead now.”

“No, it’s not your fault. You didn’t do this on purpose. You didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“But so many people have been.”

She heard the footsteps before I did and was up and walking toward the front doors in seconds. I grabbed my coat and, holding the disk, rushed after her.

“Wait,” I said.

“Who’s there?” A man’s voice echoed from behind me.

I didn’t answer as I rushed after Amanda.

“Can I help you?” he called.