Project Equality

Decisions and Halloween

Hazel

I waited nervously outside my house that early October morning, knowing that my life would never be the same after that day. FBI Special Agent Tracie Simon was bringing me to speak with serial killer and my best friend's dad, Diggory Cane, about all of the murders we didn't already know about.

"Sweetheart," my mum said, bringing a scarf out to me. "Agent Simon already said that you don't have to do this if you don't want."

"I know, but if I don't, then who will? We have to know who those other people were, Mum. Their families need closure," I insisted. "Can you even imagine? Sons and daughters, husbands and wives, missing without a trace? Their families don't even know what happened to them. I have to find out for them."

She hugged me to her and sighed. "This was certainly not what I imagined for us moving to America."

"We're here for a reason. If this is my reason, then I'm glad. I am honored to bring closure to those families."

"It's a noble thing, but I don't want you to get hurt. This might be emotionally draining for you."

"Maybe, but it's worth it." I was trying to keep a brave face to my parents, but I was terrified. I think my mum knew, that way that mums always do, but I still tried to hide it.

A black SUV pulled up, and out walked Tracie Simon, looking like a glamorous law enforcement woman as she always did, and from the passenger side came Chrissy.

"You ready, kiddo?" Tracie asked.

I shrugged. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Don't worry, we'll be right there with you," Chrissy assured me, handing me a little earpiece. "If you need anything, we can tell you what to say. Don't worry about a thing."

"Won't he know?" Cane was undeniably intelligent, and I knew that there were probably rules about me going in on my own, but I didn't know.

"No, just don't pay it any mind. No long pauses, no confused looks if you can't see us, and as long as you can listen to both us and him at the same time, it'll be okay."

I followed them into the car, wringing my hands and biting my lip. My phone dinged, and there was a text from Andrea reading: "Good luck today!" Somehow, that made my nerves melt away, just a little. She always made it better.

Walking into the room where I would be allowed to speak with him, it felt so much more intimidating than they make in look in the movies. He sat there, no longer the man who I had perhaps once seen as a second father - then again, hadn't we all seen him as such? His hands were cuffed, as one who has murdered so many would be considered highly dangerous, and as the guard led me inside, I fought an urge to turn around and run. But, remembering Andrea's text, I did not let him see that fear. I simply sat down in front of him, and looked him dead in the eye.

"Diggory," I said simply.

"Miss Lee," he replied.

"Rumor has it you wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Yes." His voice was cool and distant, his eyes looking toward me, but somehow not at me. You'd think a man in prison should look guilty, angry, broken, but he just looked bored. "I also wanted to see my daughter."

"You're not getting anywhere near Mayella if I can do a damn thing about it," I promised him. "She said her goodbyes. Let her move on with her life. I thought that you didn't want her to suffer anymore because of you?"

He sighed. "Very well. The terms have been renegotiated without consulting me, I see. No matter. I'll compromise."

In my ear piece, Tracie said, "Ask him for a victim's name."