Excerpt from Take It Back by Kia Abdullah, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"Washed?"

"No. I didn't want to be stupid like you see on TV."

Zara blinked. "Jodie, nothing you did or didn't do could be called stupid. Please understand that."

The girl gathered her perfectly formed hands in her lap but gave no sign of agreement.

"Did you tell Nina or anyone else what happened?"

"How could I?" Jodie's voice was soft but bitter. "How could I tell her that a boy who doesn't even want her wanted me? How would she ever believe that?"

Zara looked up from her notes. "Hey," she said, drawing Jodie's gaze from her lap. "No matter what happens, I want you to know that I believe you." Zara studied her for a moment, noting the dozen different ways in which she kept control: the tensing of her jowls and the squaring of her jaw, the curl of her fists and feet flattened on the floor. "I believe you," she repeated.

Fresh tears welled in Jodie's eyes. "So you will help me?"

"Yes, I will help you." Zara watched her wilt with relief. "Is there anything else I need to know? Anyone else who was involved?"

"No. That's everything."

Zara drew two lines beneath her notes. She watched Jodie dab at her dripping nose and wondered how a jury would view her. A rape trial usually hinged on power—one person stripping it from another—but in this case, it would be difficult not to consider desire. Zara believed Jodie—had seen too much devious behavior, met too many appalling men to doubt the young girl's story—but felt a deep unease at the thought of her facing a jury. Could they imagine four young men wanting to have sex with Jodie even in some twisted gameplay?

Zara reached for her box of tissues and handed a fresh piece to Jodie.

She took it with a quivering hand. "What happens now?"

Zara's lips drew a tight line, a grimace in the guise of a smile. "We would like to conduct a medical exam. All our doctors here are female. After that, if you're ready, we can help you make a formal statement with the police."

Jodie blanched. "Can we go to the police tomorrow? I want to think about it for one more night."

"Of course," said Zara gently. "We can do the exam, store the samples and see how you feel."

Jodie exhaled. "Thank you for being on my side," she said, each few syllables halting before the next.

Zara offered a cursory nod.

"No, I mean it." Jodie hesitated. "I told you it was hard to be at that party alone. The truth is it's hard to be anywhere—everywhere—alone."

Zara leaned forward. "You won't be alone in this—not for any of it." She gestured to the door. "If you want me in the exam room, I can sit with you."

Jodie considered this but then shook her head. "I'll be okay."

Zara led her to the exam room and left her with the forensic medical examiner, a brisk but matronly Scotswoman who ushered Jodie inside. Zara shut the door with a queasy unrest. A small, delinquent part of her hoped that Jodie would change her mind, that she would not subject herself to the disruptive, corrosive justice system that so often left victims bruised. The law stress-tested every piece of evidence and that included the victim—probing, pushing, and even bullying until the gaps became apparent.

Beneath her concern, however, she knew that Jodie needed to pursue this. A horrifying thing had happened to her and only the arm of the law could scrub the stain clean and serve justice.

* * *

Erin Quinto watched the strange little girl walk to the exit with Zara, her metronomic shuffle almost jaunty in its motion. With unheard words, they said goodbye and Zara headed back to the pit.

"What's her story?" asked Erin.

Zara sighed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Oh yeah, I'm just a babe in the woods, me." Erin laughed, deep and throaty, and followed Zara to her office. Inside, she reached into her jacket and pulled out a manila file. "I've got something for you guys." She placed it on the desk. "Can you give this to Stuart when he's back? It's the San Telmo financials he was after."

Excerpted from Take It Back by Kia Abdullah. Copyright © 2020 by Kia Abdullah. Excerpted by permission of St. Martin's Press. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.