Upon his arrest, the police department confirmed that his DNA was also a match for at least eight other slayings that had happened across Idaho and Montana over the course of twelve years, including seventeen-year-old Maria Vasquez – the young hitchhiker in the red rain jacket. He had been using her to lure unsuspecting women out of their cars, with the promise that he would release her back home safely when he was through with her. Sadly, that never happened. Like Willow, Maria would join the long list of Hyde’s victims – young women whose cases had long ago run cold, their names nearly forgotten over the years.
Nearly.
Hyde was taking the stand that morning, and even though they still hadn’t been able to track down Celeste’s whereabouts – or produce a confession from the man – Sheriff Reid assured Lilah that they had gathered more than sufficient evidence to put him away for the rest of his life – with or without her account of what had happened. Lilah’s decision not to speak at the trial had been a difficult one, but even if they had figured out a way to word her statement without giving away her secret, she had no interest in witnessing the hearing or even taking credit for the man’s capture. The important thing was that Maxwell Hyde would never hurt another person again, and the families of all of those victims would finally be granted closure, knowing justice had been served.
The bell for first period rang. Lilah looked up to see Jace watching her, a sympathetic expression on his face.
“You know,” he said softly, “even if no one else knows the whole story, you’re a hero, Lilah. Not just to Willow, but to all the others, and their families too.” He held out a hand to Lilah, which she took gratefully as she slid off the hood.
“I just wish we could have found Celeste,” Lilah said, frowning.
“We’ll keep looking. Or, rather, you’ll keep looking, and I’ll be right behind you for note-taking and moral support… Which reminds me,” he smiled. “I got you something.”
“You did?”
Jace reached into his pocket, where he retrieved the Indian Head penny he had given her all those years ago. A tiny hole had been punched through the top of the coin – now shining and new – and a rose gold chain dangled from it.
Lilah let out a small gasp. “You turned it into a necklace?”
Jace nodded. As Lilah gathered her hair in her hands, he reached forward to gently clasp the necklace around her neck. The copper penny settled in the hollow of her collarbone, gleaming in the spring sun. “Do you like it?” he asked softly.
Tears gathered in the corners of Lilah’s eyes. “Thank you,” she said, kissing him softly. “For everything.”
Jace returned the kiss and then some, then looped an arm around her waist as they walked across the front lawn. “I know you just started working cases, but I want you to know that I think you’re going to make an excellent Time Detective.”
“Time Detective? That’s so corny!” Lilah laughed. “What am I, Nancy Drew?”
“No way! You’re much cooler than Nancy Drew. You’re like, a cross between Nancy Drew and Doctor Who – you’re Nancy Who! Or maybe Doctor Drew?”
“Isn’t Dr. Drew a sex therapist?”
Jace rolled his eyes as he opened the front door for Lilah. “Just work with me here!”
Lilah was still laughing as she walked into the school. “Lilah Quinn: Time Bender and Sex Counselor Extraordinaire!”
Standing in the empty hallway, Jace turned to brush a strand of auburn hair from Lilah’s eyes. “How about ‘Lilah Quinn: The Most Incredible Girl I’ve Ever Known’?”
A wide smile broke across her face as she balanced on her tip-toes to kiss him.
Just then, Mrs. Cameron poked her head outside of the classroom. “Quinn! McKinnon! What are you still doing out here? The bell rang five minutes ago! Let’s go – time waits for no one!”
Lilah shot him a mischievous grin before sprinting down the hallway.
Jace chuckled quietly to himself. “No one… except Lilah Quinn.”
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