Page 121 of Forever Dark
When she saw Selena, suspicion flickered first.
“I s… s… said no visitors.”
Carol stayed in the doorway.“This is Agent Raven with the FBI.She says it’s important.”
Donna’s eyes moved to the badge clipped at Selena’s belt, then away again.“No.”
Selena stepped just inside.“I only need a few minutes.”
Donna let out a broken little laugh and curled deeper into the blanket.“Everybody says that.Could you leave us alone for a moment?”
Carol glanced between them as though she didn’t know what to do.“I’ll be right outside if you need me, Donna.”
The door closed.
For a moment neither woman spoke.
The room held the sour, exhausted smell of sickness and damp sheets.On the small table beside the bed sat a paper cup half full of water, an untouched banana, and a crumpled tissue.Selena took the chair and sat rather than stand over her.
“I’m a friend of Jessie’s,” she said.
Donna’s eyes came back to her and focused a little more clearly.“Jessie?”
Selena nodded.“She said you might be able to help me.”
Donna stared at the blanket over her knees.“Jessie’s a saint.”
A small smile touched Selena’s mouth despite the circumstances.“She is that.”
Donna rubbed her hand over her face, then winced like even that hurt.“She comes by regular.Even when I tell her not to.”
“She cares about you.”
Donna looked toward the window and said nothing.
Selena let the silence sit just long enough not to feel like pressure.Then she said, “Jessie told me you had a bad experience at the revival with Elias Croft.And I think it might be important in a case I’m investigating.”
The effect was immediate.
Donna’s face tightened.Moisture sprang into her eyes so fast it seemed her body had been waiting for the subject to arrive.
“I don’t want to go into that.”
“Why?”
She shook her head.“I just don’t.It’s too painful.”
Selena leaned forward slightly.“Donna, women’s lives are at stake.”
Donna let out a shaky breath and clutched the blanket tighter around herself.“I didn’t do anything.”
“I’m not saying you did.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because three women are dead and all of them attended that revival.”
Donna shut her eyes.Tears slipped out anyway.“Three?My God…”
