I Let Her Ruin Herself novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Sit-Down

"Ask her about Dale," I said. "Ask her how long, and where he met her, and why a lawyer asked him for his phone."

Savannah's mother pulled her cardigan tighter.

"My husband said he was handling it."

"I'm sure he is."

"I don't know what you want me to do."

"I don't either," I said. "I think you should look at her phone."

She stood on our lawn for a long moment with the porch light on her face.

Then she went back across the grass without another word, and the Ketterings' door closed.

Nothing happened.

For four weeks, nothing at all happened, and that was the worst of it.

Dale took a plea for six months and said nothing about Savannah in court.

The school got used to hating me, and the video of Savannah on her bedroom floor passed a million views.

On the first Saturday in March, I sat at the counter of the Greenway Diner with a slice of pie and a folder of notes.

Laney slid a refill down the counter without being asked.

She had her apron on over a band shirt, and a pencil stuck in her curls.

"Eat," she said. "You've lost weight since January."

"I'm eating."

"You're moving it around."

The little TV above the pie case was showing a local morning show on mute.

I wasn't paying attention until Laney said, "Oh no."

On the screen, Savannah sat on a yellow couch in a pale blue dress.

The caption said, Maple Glen Teen Speaks Out.

Laney turned up the sound.

"I was so scared I couldn't think," Savannah told the host softly. "I just kept looking for someone to help me."

"And your best friend was there," the host said.

"She was." Savannah lowered her eyes. "She called the police, and I'm grateful for that. I really am. I just wish she'd come."

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