Dylan’s Redemption(23)

He had to agree. Self-absorbed described most teens, himself included.

“Weren’t no big secret old Buddy Thompson was meaner than a rabid dog to that girl. After her mama killed herself and Buddy took to drinking as his full-time job, he was known to leave a mark or two on her. A couple of her teachers noticed a few times and sent her to the office. Nothing was ever done. Buddy would come in and say how she’d fallen or gotten hurt at one of his construction jobs. Jessie backed him up, afraid to say anything against Buddy. Without any evidence, or a witness to the abuse, nothing was ever done.

“Who could blame her? On the days she went to the office, she’d come back the next day with more than a few bruises. Teachers became too afraid to say anything for fear the poor girl would pay for it. From the third or fourth grade on, teachers ignored her and the kids stayed clear of her. They figured if the teachers didn’t want anything to do with her, neither did they.

“I remember she was real smart. Brainy, most would call her. Quiet. Shy. I don’t think that girl ever had many friends, except you and Brian.”

On a roll, Lynn continued. “Now Brian, that boy got everything Jessie went without. You’d see him with new shoes and clothes. Jessie was always an afterthought with Buddy. Seems if he’d done better by her, others would have treated her better as well. Even your mama said more than a few unkind words about poor Jessie hanging around you. She didn’t like it one bit. Thought Jessie was no good. I bet your mama never thought you’d join the military and become an officer of the law.”

Surprised didn’t begin to cover it. He’d had more than a few arguments with her and his father about his chosen profession. The only concession he’d made to his parents’ dream for him was getting his degree in criminology. He’d worked damn hard to earn it, starting with correspondence and online classes during his military stint and finishing during his first year on the police force. He owed Jessie for that too. Her death made him think about what he really wanted for his life. He hadn’t saved Jessie, but he’d dedicated his life to saving others.

“Your mother blamed your life choices on Jessie too. She discovered you snuck Jessie into the prom and afterwards you didn’t even talk to her. Boy, that got her going, but good. A few days later, you graduated and disappeared.” Lynn waited to see if he’d tell her anything about his relationship with Jessie and if he’d left because of her.

He’d already signed up with the army by the time he took Jessie to the prom. What was he supposed to do? They were kids, she was only fifteen. He couldn’t run away with her. What would he have done with her? He had a contract with the military and lived in the barracks. He served a tour in Iraq and another in Afghanistan. At the time, he had nothing to offer her and no real way to take care of her. If he’d known about Buddy, he’d have found a way to make it work.

Hell, she’d scared him. He’d never experienced feelings that deep, ever, or since. For him, it had always been Jessie. During that time, it had always been him for her. Now, she didn’t want him to touch her. She refused to stay and talk to him.

It made him ache to think about the anger and sadness he’d seen in her eyes this morning.

If anyone deserved to be angry about her past, it was Jessie. He wanted to help her heal some of that hurt. Maybe then they could make a life together.

“Sheriff, are you listening?”

He pushed those thoughts aside and tuned back into Lynn. “What? Sorry.”

“Work slowed down. Get on home to Will before things pick up again.”

“I have work to do on the computer. I’ll head out shortly.”

She turned to leave his office, but he called her back. “Lynn, is there anyone I should know about who’s in the same situation Jessie was in when she was young? Anyone? A child or a woman who needs our help?”

Lynn kept her ear to the ground, knew who slept with whom, and who had skeletons hidden in the closet. Dylan hated to think he’d overlooked someone who needed help.

“You took care of Shannon for Owen, though that was a whole other twisted kind of thing.”

Didn’t he know it.

“You know about the Dobbs woman. Several calls came in about her husband knocking her around some nights. I heard there’s a boy in the third grade. He’s been having a real hard time of it. Seems he’s gotten into trouble for bullying the smaller children in his class. His mama does her best, but she doesn’t have any help. Her husband ran out on her a few months back. Ask me, the boy is neglected, and he’s acting out at school because of it. Perhaps if someone stepped in now and gave him and his mama some help, you could prevent that boy from growing up and being more than just a bully. I’m sure a stern talking-to about being kind to others from the sheriff just might turn him around. His name is Jimmy Boyd. I’ll get you their address.”