'If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine. I know you must have cared very much for Ms. Sugarton.'
'I didn’t care anything about her. I just lived with her.'
'I don’t think that’s true, but we won’t talk about it now. We won’t talk at all. I just thought it would make you feel better if we weren’t strangers.'
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'Talking doesn’t mean anything. You’re still a stranger.'
And the child was going to make sure she stayed that way, Eve thought. The tears were gone, but her back was straight and rigid and the wall of distrust was higher than ever. Who could blame her? Any other child would have been in hysterics. It might have been a healthier reaction than withdrawal. 'I don’t feel much like talking either. We’ll just sit here and wait.
Okay?'
Jane didn’t look at her. 'Okay.'
The child was still covered with blood, Eve realized suddenly. She should do something about it.
Not now. Neither of them was in any shape to do anything but sit there. She leaned her head against the newel post next to her. She couldn’t get the memory of dead eyes out of her mind.
Fay Sugarton had been a good woman, trying to do her best. She didn’t deserve—
'I lied.' Jane was still looking straight ahead. 'I think… I liked her.'
“So did I.'
Jane fell silent again.
Eisley pulled up at the curb at the same time as the first police squad car.
The officers poured into the house, but Barbara Eisley stopped before Jane. Her expression was amazingly gentle as she spoke to the child. 'Do you remember me, Jane? I’m Mrs. Eisley.'
Jane stared at her without expression. 'I remember you.”
“You can’t stay here any longer.'
'I know.'
'I’ve come to take you away. Where are Chang and Raoul?”
“School. Basketball practice.'
'I’ll send someone for them.' She held out her hand. 'Come with me. We’ll get you cleaned up and then we’ll talk.'
'I don’t want to talk.' Jane stood and walked to the car at the curb. 'Where are you taking her?' Eve asked.
'The Child and Family Services holding facility.”
“How safe is it?'
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'It has security and she’ll be surrounded by other children.”
“I think you should let us take—'
'Bullshit.' Barbara Eisley whirled on her, her tone as hard now as it had been gentle before.
'She’s my responsibility and none of you are going to touch her. I should never have become involved in this mess. The newspapers and politicians are going to come down on me like a ton of bricks.'
'We have to keep her safe. Ms. Sugarton wasn’t the target. She probably just got in the way.'
'And you weren’t able to help her, were you?' Barbara Eisley’s eyes bored into her. 'Fay Sugarton was a decent woman, an extraordinary woman who helped dozens of kids. She shouldn’t have died. She might be alive now if I hadn’t given you that—'
'And Jane might be dead.'
'I should have kept out of it and that’s what I’m doing from now on. Stay clear of me and stay away from Jane MacGuire.' She turned on her heel and walked to the car.
Eve watched helplessly as it pulled away from the curb. Jane was sitting up straight in the passenger seat, but she looked terribly small and fragile.
'It was the only thing to do.'
She turned to see Joe standing in the doorway. 'I was hoping we could get her away before anyone showed up from Family Services.'
He shook his head. 'I called Eisley.'
Her eyes widened. 'What?'
'Child and Family Services always has to be involved in cases like this. They serve to protect the children from the media and police interrogation. They’ll take the heat off Jane.'
