No, only a cat. Where was Jane?
'Jane? Do you see her, Mark?”
“Here,' Jane called out.
The big cardboard refrigerator box against the brick wall.
'Mike’s okay.' Jane crawled out of the box, dragging a small boy with her. 'He’s just scared. He said he kept hearing scratching tonight. Probably rats. He’s hungry.
You got anything in your purse?'
'I’m afraid not.'
'Who are they?' Mike was staring at Eve and Mark warily. 'Welfare?'
'I wouldn’t do that to you,' Jane said. 'But you can’t stay here any longer. There’s some bad people hanging around.”
“I’m okay.'
'You’ll be better where Eve will take you. Get your stuff.' Mike hesitated. 'There will be plenty of food.'
'Okay.' Mike ducked back into the box.
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'Where are you going to take him?' Jane asked. 'He’s going to want to know.' So did Eve. 'I’ve got to think about it.'
'Not welfare.'
'No.'
'Not back to his father.”
“Okay, Jane, I get the point.”
“You promised.'
She inhaled sharply. Something was gleaming wetly on the cardboard box. 'I’ll keep my promise.'
Mike came out of the box carrying a duffel bag. 'What kind of food? I like french fries.'
'I’ll see what I can do.' She turned to Mark. 'Take them back to the car, will you?'
Jane looked at her.
Mark raised his brows. 'You’re not coming?”
“In a minute.'
He nodded and began to shepherd the children up the alley. She reached out and gingerly touched the dark stain on the box. Not as wet as she’d thought, only a little came off on her fingertips. Her hand was trembling as she reached into her handbag and drew out a small flashlight.
The stain on her fingers was dark red, almost rusty. Blood.
He kept hearing scratching tonight. She shone the light on the box. You’ve done well, Eve. A small reward…
She felt sick as she realized how close Dom had been to the little boy. Reward?
Mike’s life was her reward? No.
The dots at the end of the sentence were leading downward. Something white lay on the ground.
She slowly knelt down and shone the light on the small object. A bone. Tiny, delicate. A child’s finger bone.
Bonnie?
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She felt faint and held on to the cardboard box to keep from falling to the ground. Hold on. He wants you to hurt.
Oh, God, Bonnie…
Don’t touch it. Don’t touch anything. Maybe he’s made a mistake this time. See, she was getting better. She hadn’t been able to leave the rib he’d left for her on the porch.
She could do it now. She could leave that fragile bone lying in the alley if it meant a chance at catching the bastard.
She struggled to her feet and turned off the flashlight.
Fight the pain. Walk.
Don’t think of the bone. Don’t think of Bonnie.
She couldn’t save her daughter, but she might be able to save Jane and Mike. Are you there, Dom? Go ahead, show me blood. Show me my daughter’s bones.
