Passion(White Collared Part 4)(30)

She took another pull from her water bottle and rolled her shoulders. In ten minutes it would be all over.

Lisa hurried to her, a clipboard in her hands. “It’s standing room only out there.” She tapped Kate’s cheek. “Let me see your teeth.”

Kate smiled for her.

Lisa nodded. “No lipstick on them. You’re good to go. Follow me.”

Kate sucked in a breath and straightened her spine, once again pressing the bruise on her hip. Knowing he was out there for her eased the twisted knots in her tummy.

Lisa led her around the tent and then stood in front of the podium’s microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen of the press, Kate Martin will give a short statement and, upon the conclusion, will answer a limited amount of questions.”

Kate’s gaze surfed over the heads of the crowd until it landed on the dark hair she could pick out of a lineup. With her gaze glued to his beautiful eyes, she began. “A few months ago, under the direction of attorney Jeffrey Reaver of Reaver, Markson, and Long, fellow intern Logan Bradford and I began an investigation into the camp formerly known as Angelus Tredecim, run by Reverend Pierce. Through countless interviews with past campers from the last thirty years, we unearthed more than two dozen women who allege sexual assault at the hands of Reverend Pierce. Most of them had remained silent, coming home from camp with a secret shame they held for years, imprisoned by the nightmare of the months they suffered not only sexual but physical and emotional abuse. Some had chosen to tell their parents only to have the trusted religious leader convince their families that they had lied. As you will read in the transcripts, allegedly after the reverend raped his victim, he would chain her to the floor and perform an unsanctioned exorcism.”

The audience grew completely still, no one twitching a muscle, likely in shock from the information. Tears welled in her eyes. Even though she’d been immersed in the case for months, the pain of their stories wrapped around her heart and squeezed with an unforgiving fist as if she was hearing their tale for the first time.

She’d never know who was responsible for her own sexual assault, but helping these women find justice brought a glimmer of hope that someday she’d bring justice to her rapist as well. And if not, helping these women was enough.

It would have to be.

“While the statute of limitations protects Reverend Pierce and the church from civil liability, the church has offered ten million dollars in reparations to the women we’ve found. An additional five million will be set aside for those unknown victims, and any money remaining after five years will be donated to a local women’s crisis center.”

The low murmuring of the reporters reached her ears. She was surprised that they’d managed to stay quiet this long. In the front row, waiting to shout out her question, Rachel squirmed with discomfort. Her friend’s inquisitive mind ran a mile a second, and no doubt she had dozens of questions.

Looking like he was melting in his suit, Logan stood off to the side of the tent, staying out of the limelight. Reaver had given her and Logan full reign on this case since the firm wasn’t going to accept a dime for their work. It was an attempt to repair its image after having employed two attorneys responsible for murder.

Kate held back a smile. “At ten this morning, Brighton police arrested Reverend Pierce on multiple charges of criminal sexual conduct. On behalf of Reaver, Markson, and Long, we hope the victims and their families receive the peace they deserve. Thank you.”

Lisa sidled up beside her and leaned into the microphone. “We’ll now take a few questions.”

Hands shot up in the air and reporters shouted their questions all at once, creating a chaotic blend in which not one was decipherable. Thank goodness for Lisa. She’d familiarized herself with almost every reporter in the crowd.

Lisa pointed to the front row. “First question goes to Rachel Dawson of Channel Three News.”

Rachel stood and tossed her long black hair over her shoulder. “How did you come to initially learn about the alleged assaults?” She retook her seat and gave Kate a little wink.

Unprepared for the thickness of emotion clogging her throat, Kate coughed and swallowed back the grief brought on by the question. It didn’t even matter that she’d known it was coming.

“Alyssa Deveroux was one of Reverend Pierce’s victims. The abuse and her parents’ refusal to believe her led to a lifetime of psychological pain. Nicholas Trenton may have taken her life, but he’d also kept her alive since they became friends at Camp Angelus Tredecim at age thirteen. The world may see him as a monster, but I knew him as someone who cared deeply about the people he loved. He fought tirelessly for those who couldn’t fight for themselves, and Alyssa was his first. Before his death, he’d started a complaint against Reverend Pierce, the camp, and the church and asked me to continue on his behalf, to give closure to the victims. It was his way of continuing his fight for Alyssa and honoring her memory.”