Page 126 of Torin

“About everything. If you contradict me in front of the District Attorney, we’ll only make this more difficult.”

He’s right.

He opens the office door, and the noise of the department washes over us again.

Linda looks up from reception.

“Everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine,” my father says. “Hannah and I have reached an understanding.”

Relief spreads across her face.

“Oh, that’s wonderful.”

“It’s good to have you home,” Mike calls from his desk.

I manage a smile. “Thanks.”

My father puts his hand against my back and steers me towards the front doors.

Outside, I start towards Torin’s truck.

“Come with me,” my father says. “We can talk on the way.”

I stop. “To the District Attorney?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll follow you.”

“Hannah, we need to make sure we’re telling him the same thing. If we don’t get our story straight, Bennett stays exactly where he is.”

I glance at Torin’s truck. That’s what I came here for.

“You can leave the truck here,” he says. “We’ll pick it up afterward.”

I don’t like it. But arguing in the parking lot won’t get Professor Bennett released.

I follow him towards his SUV.

The familiar smell of leather and cedar fills the SUV as my father starts the engine.

I fasten my seat belt.

“So, what are we going to tell him?”

“The truth. You left voluntarily. Bennett believed you were in danger and was trying to protect you.”

“And I make it clear he never held me against my will.”

“Exactly.”

For the next few minutes, we work through what I’m going to say. My father corrects me occasionally, suggesting a different phrase here, a simpler explanation there.

It feels horribly familiar.

By the time we reach the next junction, we have a story that gives him what he wants and gets Bennett out.