What I Left Behind - Chapter 10

Neighbors said he hadn’t come home.

We raced back to the school, asking around, but all we got was, “He’s on leave.”

We searched till nightfall. I walked out, exhausted, crying.

Right as I was about to get in the car, a hand grabbed my arm.

I turned―Linda.

“Looking for Joshua?”

“You’ve seen him? Do you know where my daughter is?”

She pulled back, arms crossed. “He took her to his hometown. Heard he sold her for five grand—to a family with a disabled son.”

My brain just shut off. Legs gave out. I hit the ground.

Philip caught me. “I’m driving. We might still have time.”

He gunned it toward my hometown.

We rolled into the small town around 3 a.m.

The place was dead—just a few dogs barking in the dark.

I ran up and pounded on the door of Susan’s house-Joshua’s mom.

Took her forever to open up. “Bang bang bang—what the hell’s your problem!”

“Susan! Where’s Joshua? Where’s Mia?”

She yawned like we’d just woken her from a nap. “How should I know?”

I dropped to my knees. “Please, I’m begging you. Mia grew up right in front of you. How could you do this? How could you sell her?”

She didn’t flinch. No emotion. No shame.

I kept pleading, but it was like talking to a brick wall.

Finally, Philip snapped. “You realize this is a felony, right? Joshua’s looking at
serious time. If you talk now, we might still have a shot at fixing this!”

Philip’s words rattled her. Her eyes darted everywhere before she finally muttered, ” Fine. I’ll take you.”

We drove out, and the second we got there, I bolted into the house.

Too late.

I shoved the door open-and froze.

Mia was lying on the bed. Naked. Broken.

That monster still had his hands around her neck, giggling like it was all some sick joke.

“So fun. So fun.”

I screamed, crumbling as I grabbed her tiny, lifeless body.

“Mia! Baby, wake up! Mommy’s here!”

But she was cold. Gone.

I turned to Susan, shaking with rage. “Call the cops.”

While Philip made the call, I stumbled into the courtyard and screamed like my soul was tearing apart.

My screams echoed down the street.

Neighbors started pouring out of their houses. The town chief showed up with a small crowd.

The second they saw Mia, gasps rippled through the crowd.

“Oh my god. How could anyone-how could you do this?”

Susan tried to run. The chief’s men tackled her.

The cops rolled in and cuffed her on the spot.

After I told them everything, they called Pineville PD to set up the arrest.

Philip and I drove straight back.

We pulled into the Pineville station around 9 a.m.

Based on what I’d told them, they headed for the university. We went with them.

When we pushed open the university president’s office door, there he was―Joshua.

Bowing. Begging.

“Please, just give me another shot. I’m begging you.”

Linda stood off to the side, arms crossed.

The second she saw us walk in, she broke into tears and turned to the president.

“Mr. Brooke, you can’t let someone like him keep teaching. He’s a disgrace.”