“A MRSA story, huh?” he asked. “And your paper approves of this sort of thing? Extortion?”
I just stared at him and kept on smiling. There wasn’t much else I could do. That was exactly what Stella had been suggesting. I just had to hope that he wouldn’t report back to Erik. If Erik had questioned the ethics of my allowing Steve to dictate our reporting, I could only imagine how he’d feel about extortion. Finally, the doctor shook his head in disgust and stepped inside Rose’s room, letting the door slam shut behind him.
As soon as he was gone, I turned wide-eyed to Stella, waiting for her to apologize. She was staring at Rose’s door, oblivious. “Maybe the father of Rose’s baby had something to do with what happened. I mean, if something happened to her baby, which I’m not conceding.”
“What are you talking about, Stella?”
“Rose told me how she got pregnant. Not the specifics. And she didn’t use the word ‘rape,’ but it sounded to me like that’s what it was.”
“Who’s the father?”
“I don’t know. A university student, I assume. An entitled asshole, no doubt. And you know how universities like Ridgedale can be. Cover up first, ask questions never.” Stella shook her head. “Rose was so excited for the baby, though, despite how she’d gotten pregnant.” When Stella looked at me, her eyes were wide and shiny. “I’m telling you, none of this makes any sense, Molly. No sense at all.”
RIDGEDALE READER
ONLINE EDITION
March 17, 2015, 10:25 a.m.
Update: Unidentified Female Infant Found Near Essex Bridge BY MOLLY SANDERSON
Police have confirmed that the unidentified body found on campus property beneath the Essex Bridge is that of a female infant.
According to police sources, the infant appears to be approximately newborn. However, the infant’s age cannot be confirmed until the findings of the medical examiner are released. The cause of death at this time is also unknown.
Chief of Police Steve Carlson has asked that anyone with information relating to the identity of the infant or her parents please contact the Ridgedale Police Department at 888-526-1899.
There have been only two murders in Ridgedale in the past twenty years. In 2001, Esther Gleason shot her husband in an incident determined to be self-defense. Five years later, a man was fatally shot during a drug transaction in an off-campus apartment. The Essex Bridge was the location of another death twenty years ago. Simon Barton, a Ridgedale High School senior, died of brain trauma when he slipped and fell at a graduation party. Alcohol was a suspected contributing factor.
COMMENTS:
sarahssutton
4 hours ago
Oh my God, I am so sad for that poor little baby! She was left outside? Who would do something like that? It’s disgusting. There are so many people here who would be more than willing to care for an unwanted child. It just breaks my heart.
abby
3 hours ago
Personally, I wish I felt more like praying. Because all I want to do is get my hands on whoever did this and leave them for dead somewhere, too.
msheard
3 hours ago
There should be some test for moral decency and kindness before people are allowed to procreate.
Carla Shrift
3 hours ago
I for one am not going to be comfortable assuming that it was the baby’s parents until someone shows me more than random statistics to prove it. Until then, I’m going to be dusting off the old alarm system and learning to sleep with one eye open.
sssuzy
2 hours ago
Personally I’m sick of having to climb over all those teenagers who hang out in front of the 7-Eleven. I know this is politically incorrect, but doesn’t it make sense to think the parents of this baby are probably some of those kids from Ridgedale Commons who are always hanging out downtown? Where are their parents?
FSH
2 hours ago
I’m not going to guess at where they’re from, but only a teenager would be stupid enough to leave the baby right where anybody could find it. Why even have the baby? Abortion is legal.
realdeal
2 hours ago
Maybe she was waiting for the daddy to propose. Isn’t young love grand?
Eric
2 hours ago
I know it’s not popular to bring up religion in this bright blue town, but some people—myself included—believe that life starts at conception.
Maureen
2 hours ago
So it’s better to kill a newborn than have an abortion? Is that seriously what you’re saying?
Dawn D.
1 hour ago
I just want to say, if we act afraid, our children will be afraid. Kids absorb everything.
246Barry
1 hour ago
THEY SHOULD BE AFRAID.
FIND HIM.
BEFORE HE FINDS YOU.
Kara
57 min ago
“Before he finds you”? You have got to be kidding me, right? I know that this is an open forum, but I’d seriously expect people to rise to the occasion under the circumstances. I haven’t been thrilled with a lot of what’s been said here, but this is a new low.
Piper Lee
42 min ago
Another Ridgedale murder?? Is anyone else freaked out that there was another murder in the EXACT same spot? I don’t care how long ago it was, that seems like a crazy coincidence.
Harry S
40 min ago
HELLO!!!??? The article says DEATH, not murder. Sounds like it was an accident.
KellyGreen
37 min ago
Or so they think. They could be wrong. Maybe the person who did it was in jail or something. That happens all the time, a serial killer stops because they go to jail for something totally unrelated.
JENNA
APRIL 25, 1994
The Captain finally said hi to me today. I know: fucking crazy.