Eve rolled to the left and managed to sit up. 'Sorry. You nearly broke my ribs.'
Jane was on her feet and racing around the building.
'Shit.' Eve jumped up and ran after her.
'Lose something?' Mark was holding Jane in a hammerlock. She kicked backward and connected with his shin. 'Ouch. Stop fighting me or I’ll break your neck, you little demon.'
'Don’t hurt her.' Eve knelt down in front of the child. 'We’re trying to help you, Jane. Don’t be afraid.'
'I’m not afraid. And I don’t need your help.”
“You needed me to catch you.'
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'It was a long drop. I didn’t want to break my legs.'
She made a face. 'You’d rather break my ribs.'
Jane stared calmly into her eyes. 'Why not? I don’t care anything about you.”
“But you must not think I’m a danger to you, since you didn’t scream when you saw me.'
'I needed someone. I knew the sheet wouldn’t reach the ground.”
“But you do believe I’m no danger to you?'
'Maybe. I don’t know.' She scowled. 'Why are you here?'
Eve hesitated. She didn’t want to scare the kid, but she sensed that Jane would see through a lie. 'I was afraid for you.'
'Why?'
'I’ll tell you later. We don’t have time now.' Jane looked over her shoulder. 'This isn’t the cop.'
'No, he’s Mark Grunard, a reporter.'
'He wants to write stories about Fay.”
“Yes.'
'We should get out of here, Eve.' Mark’s voice was impatient. 'I didn’t run into the guard, but he’s bound to come around soon. And who knows when that patrol car will come back.'
She was as eager to leave as he was, but she wasn’t about to drag Jane kicking and screaming.
'Will you come with us, Jane?' Eve asked. 'Believe me, we just want you to be safe.'
Jane didn’t answer.
'You were leaving anyway. I promise we’ll locate a place where they won’t find you.'
'Let me go.'
Mark shook his head. 'And have you run out on—”
“Let her go, Mark. It has to be her decision.'
Mark’s hold loosened and Jane quickly slipped out of his grip. Jane gazed at Eve for a few seconds and then said, 'I’ll go with you. Where’s your car?'
They had driven no more than four blocks when Jane said to Mark, 'You’re going the wrong way.'
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'Wrong way?'
'I want to go to Luther Street.'
Fay’s house. 'You can’t go back there,' Eve said gently. 'Fay’s not there anymore, Jane.'
'I know that. Do you think I’m stupid? She’s dead. They’d take her to the morgue. I still have to go to Luther Street.'
'Did you leave something there?”
“Yes.'
'The police are at the house. They won’t let you in and they’ll take you back to welfare.'
'Just take me to Luther Street. Okay?”
“Jane, listen to me. The house is under—'
'I don’t want to go to the house. Just let me off at the alley two blocks away.”
“The alley you ducked down this afternoon when you spotted our car?' She nodded.
'Why?'
'I want to go.'
