Susan rested her head against my chest. I turned the light out with my free hand.
'You think she'll stay with Utley?' Susan murmured.
'Yes,' I said.
'You think her parents would really care if they found out?'
'They shouldn't find out,' I said. 'They'd think they were supposed to care, but in fact, I think, they'd be relieved. We'll work up a story for them.'
'You think the Child Study Department would give me extra credit for field work on this one?' Susan said, her voice had that fading liquid quality it got as she was falling asleep.
'I think they would get a sack full of rocks and form a circle about you,' I said.
'They might be justified.'
'Yeah, but who'd throw the first stone?'
Susan made a snuggling motion with her face and pressed her nose against my chest. I closed my eyes. I could feel the heavy darkness settle.
'Spenser?' Susan's voice was remote now. 'Yeah?' 'Do you think we're doing the right thing?' 'If I knew that,' I said, and my own voice was far away, 'I could throw the first stone.'
