Microphones drew nearer to Rachel’s face, which made her move back a step. Suddenly, a barrage of questions came at her. Avery stepped forward and said with great authority, “Please. Only one question at a time.”
The crowd quieted down a little as one woman yelled out, “Where have you been all these years?”
Rachel moved closer to her microphone again. “I said I wouldn’t go into that for now.”
“What proof do you have that you’re Rachel Parnell?” another reporter asked.
“I have one DNA test that proves I’m related to the family and additional information that is in the process of coming. That’s all I can say for now,” Rachel said.
“Do you think Keith Parnell is innocent of the little girl’s murder since it wasn’t actually his sister?” a male voice yelled at her.
Rachel took a breath, forcing herself to take her time to answer. “I think the case should be looked at again with fresh eyes to consider all the evidence and decide whether or not he was the one who murdered her.”
“What do you get out of all of this?” the woman wearing too much makeup from the day before asked.
Her question surprised Rachel. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Just the peace of mind that the world knows I wasn’t murdered and to find out who was killed that day.”
A barrage of questions came at her again, and Rachel felt herself tensing up once more. Avery must have noticed because he moved forward, placed his arm around her shoulders, and then spoke to the crowd. “That’s enough for now. We’ll keep you abreast of the situation as it moves forward. Thank you.”
A loud voice from the back of the crowd caught Rachel’s attention. She watched as the reporters parted like the Red Sea and allowed an elderly woman, walking with the use of a cane, to move forward. The woman was heavy-set with bleached-blond hair and was wearing something like an old housedress. She stopped at the foot of the stairs, raised her cane, and pointed it at Rachel.
“You!” the woman screamed. “You ruined my life!”
Rachel nearly fell over in horror when she realized she was staring into the fiery eyes of her mother, Judith Parnell.
Chapter Twelve
The crowd was silent as everyone stared at the older woman who’d just shouted at Rachel. Cameras rolled, and flashbulbs lit up. The world was watching as Judith Parnell shook her cane at Rachel and bellowed.
“You’re the reason my son has spent the last three decades in prison. You are the reason my husband deserted me, leaving me to fend for myself all these years. You!”
Rachel recoiled as if her mother had actually hit her. If Judith had seemed scary to Rachel as a child, she was positively terrifying now. If it hadn’t been for Avery tightening a protective arm around her, she might have rolled into a ball right there on the steps of City Hall.
The officer standing behind Rachel seemed just as terrified of Judith. He quickly maneuvered Rachel and Avery away from the microphone and through the glass doors, then led them through to the police station.
“Sorry, ma’am,” he said once they were safely inside. “That woman was scary.”
“Thank you,” Rachel said, her voice dry. If the officer hadn’t thought to move them away from there, she might still be standing on the steps in complete shock as her mother continued to yell.
They weren’t any safer from being yelled at in the police department, though. No sooner had they entered, and Jeremy was standing in the doorway of his office, barking at them to come inside.
Avery led her into Jeremy’s office, but not before yelling at Jeremy. “Lay off her, you hear? She’s had enough for one day.”
“Bring in some water bottles,” Jeremy shouted to no one in particular, then shut his door and walked around his desk. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Looking calmer, he stared directly at Avery. “What the hell was that little stunt about?”
A female officer brought in three bottles of water and slunk out. Rachel felt sorry for her. She must have drawn the short straw.
“We had to tell the press something,” Avery explained. “They were going to hound Rachel if we didn’t.”
Jeremy held in his retort and looked at the television in the upper corner of his office. “Well, they’re getting an earful now, from what I can tell.” He motioned for Rachel and Avery to look.
Rachel glanced up, and there on the screen was her mother, waving her cane dramatically and talking to the reporters. She was in her glory, complaining about her life for all to hear. Rachel sighed. “She’s going to ruin everything, isn’t she?”
Avery looked thoughtful. “Maybe not.” He grinned at Rachel, and she stared back curiously. “Your mother just identified you on national television.”
Her mouth dropped open. “She did.” She smiled broadly. “She did! She knew exactly who I was.” When she turned toward Jeremy, she saw the worried look in his eyes. It was just sinking in to him what had happened. Now, he had no excuse not to reopen the case.
***
Rachel and Avery left Jeremy to stew in his office. He mumbled something about having to talk to the DA and other officials. They snuck out of the police station’s back door where Avery had left his car that morning and drove off without any reporters tailing them.
“What do you think Jeremy will do?” Rachel asked as Avery headed on Highway 99 north toward Modesto.
“I think he’s going to have to reopen the case.
