Page 71 of Cruel Abandon (Fallen Royals 5)

Her stoicism helps me tell her the whole story, and she listens without blinking an eye. I finish by telling her about my conversation with the detective about Jasmine.

“Who?” she asks. “Someone from Rose Hill?”

I nod. “Detective Masters.”

Her screen jerks in her grip. “I didn’t know he was tracking the cases in Boston,” she murmurs to herself. “Let me know if he calls again, won’t you?”

I squint at her. “Why? He said he knew me…”

“Skylar, your brain is trying to protect itself by blocking out memories of your trauma. And believe me when I say, Detective Masters would like nothing more than for you to remember.”

Oh god.

“He was there?” I ask.

Her chin lifts. “Skylar. Look at what you’re doing.”

I freeze. I’m picking at my neck again, digging at my skin with my fingernail.

Slowly, I lower my hand.

“That sort of thing seems to be self-soothing,” she says. “But we don’t want you to bleed every time you’re uncomfortable, right? You could go back to using a rubber band.”

On my wrist, snapping it to bring me back to the present.

Not my favorite pastime, but I suppose it beats scratching myself to death.

“Mom showed up today,” I blurt out. “She wants to pay Liam to watch me.”

Dr. Penn snorts. “That woman comes up with creative workarounds.”

I nod once, then hesitate. “He’s been acting weird, too. Jake, too, but mainly Liam. He actually talked to me for the first time in… forever. And then he broke into my apartment and installed a security system.”

She frowns. “How did you perceive that?”

I cross my arms. “As an invasion of privacy. But… sort of better, knowing that at least if someone breaks in, the police will be notified. The girls who went missing, all of them are dead except one named Jasmine. But… what if she’s out there somewhere? Buried like Natalie?”

Dr. Penn hums. “Only Detective Masters mentioned her, right? I’ll let you in on something that I probably shouldn’t. Can you keep this between us?”

I straighten and nod. “Absolutely.”

“Detective Masters has worked on a case with a missing girl before. I think he’s drawing conclusions based on circumstantial evidence in his investigation. When someone can’t remain impartial, it’s important to look at everything as a whole.”

“So…” I bite my lip. “He could just be making connections on data he considers related.”

Dr. Penn gives me a slight smile. “All I ask of you, Skylar, is that you continue to monitor yourself through this ordeal. If you need to come home, no one would think less of you.”

I exhale. “Thanks.”

“Reach out if you need me.”

I force a smile and end the call.

There’s nothing left to do except go to bed, and maybe wrap my hands in mittens.

Oh, and try not to think about Liam conspiring against me with my mother.

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