Taryn had been ten the summer that Battle made Beatrice miserable with his naked admiration. Battle started out as a blight on their holiday; then he became extravagantly crazy. He hurt Beatrice and himself, then vanished from their lives. Battle’s breakdown was never discussed or explained. But as far as the child Taryn could see, male desire was dangerous—as it sometimes was in cop shows. Nine years later, Webber followed Bea, ran her down, and bundled her into the car boot in which she died. After that Taryn had difficulty seeing any male interest that was directed her way as appealing.
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