“I’d love to.”
“Me too,” said Rafe.
So, while they logged onto their computers, she had a long soak in the tub, and the three of them drove to the school to meet Gemma. The girl managed to get home by herself every other day of the year, but when she could, Simone felt the need to do this small thing for her sister.
At the school, things were in chaos. There were police everywhere. It took time to find out what was going on, but when they finally did, Simone turned pale.
“Three men were on the grounds of the school calling Gemma and her friends filthy names, telling them they knew where they lived,” the detective said. Simone could see that Rafe and Max’s presence was a surprise to the man. “The school security chased them off, and we’re checking the security camera footage, but no one seems to know who the men are or what prompted this.”
“A cult,” Rafe said firmly. “Some kind of perverted sex cult.”
The detective looked interested. “What makes you say that?”
“We’re in Southern California. If it isn’t someone you can profile any other way, it has to be a sex cult. We’re lousy with them.”
“The thing is that when we catch these guys, we’ll charge them with sexual assault on minors.”
“Better you catch them than me.” Max’s look was dark.
“What do you mean?”
“If I catch them, I might just cut their balls off.”
For once, Rafe didn’t seem inclined to pull Max back. He just nodded his agreement.
The detective unsuccessfully hid a chuckle. “That’s so messy,” he said. “You could make a bundle selling tickets, though.”
It wasan hour later when they were allowed to take Gemma home. Along with other parents, they shuffled past the swarm of reporters trying to make it into a huge story and into Simone’s car.
“What a mess,” Simone moaned. “It’s my fault.”
“Your fault?” Rafe was incredulous.
“I bet this was another of Brad’s games.”
“Could be him lashing out again,” said Max, his lips tight.
“Are you okay, Gemma?” asked Rafe.
The girl burst out laughing.
Simone frowned. “What’s so funny?”
“Those guys thought they were so menacing and all, but they were just a joke. Sarah kept telling them they must have mistaken the school for the animal shelter because only a real dog would sleep with them.”
Simone shuddered as she imagined her sister and the other girls facing off with them. “Well, I doubt that discouraged them.”
“No, but it gave us plenty of video.”
“Video?” Max perked up then.
“Cell phones have cameras, duh. No one stands there when something like that is going on.” Gemma rolled her eyes.
“You don’t seem upset in the least,” Simone asked. “Why is that?”
“Status! Simone, some crazies descended on the school calling me names. Earlier today, my friends and I found out that I was being blasted online by another onslaught of trolls who can’t even spell, by the way.”
Simone scowled. “You too?”