“She insisted on washing while I dried. I think she wanted me to see her arms, to show she was telling the truth.”

“She’s a spunky kid. Most adults would be in a psych ward by now if they’d been through what she has.”

“She’s a tough little character. Pretty sharp, too. I also asked her if she told anyone about you being a cop. She said she didn’t. She was too scared.”

“Do you believe her?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe I can still give you inside cover.”

“I’ll meet Red tomorrow and try to arrange to meet her source later in the week.”

“So Eddy Trimble rides again.”

“A little longer, then he’ll disappear.”

Danny pointed toward the bedroom and said, “I still can’t help but wonder how she would have turned out if she had been raised by a real parent instead of a monster. I hope she’s not so screwed up now that it’s too late.”

Jack nodded in agreement.

“Too bad she doesn’t know who is supplying Red or who planted the bomb under Crystal’s car. Maybe it’s that Wizard guy.”

“I’m definitely going to take a personal interest in him,” said Jack. “But before justice is served on Wizard, I’m going find out who molested her in the cabin. From her description, it didn’t sound like a biker.”

Danny wondered what Jack’s definition of justice was. He cleared his throat and said, “She said something, that he called her cutesy, or something about, ‘Cutesy, it’s your turn now.’ Was he talking to her, or was he talking to the dog?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think she knew. The guy was smart enough to avoid DNA.”

“Probably been busted before.”

“Maybe.” Jack leaned forward and whispered to Danny, “I don’t want to leave her here alone, so I’ll get you to return the truck. Don’t forget my ski mask. It’s under the seat.”

“Will do.”

Jack got to his feet. “Hand me that piece of paper with the name of her grandmother’s nursing home. I’m going to make a call.”

Moments later, Jack returned to the living room and looked at Danny without speaking.

“What is it? You look upset?”

“She no longer has a grandmother. She died in her sleep two weeks ago.”

Danny paused as the message sank in, then replied, “The poor kid. As if she hasn’t been through enough. We’ll have to call Social Services!”

Jack closed his eyes for a moment while massaging his temples with his hands, then he walked back to the telephone.

chapter twenty

Jack politely declined to join Ben and Liz for dinner but did accept a cup of tea while they ate. He knew that they could tell by his demeanour that he had something to say, so he said it.

The blood pressure immediately rose in Ben’s face. He shoved his plate back and stood up from the kitchen table. “You brought her here? Damn it, Jack! I told you on the phone that we couldn’t do this!”

He went to the kitchen window and looked out at Jack’s car, then turned to Liz. “She’s sitting in his car, right now.” He looked at Jack and said, “I want you to leave. You’ve got no right to be asking us to do this after what happened. Get her out of here!”

Jack stood up from the table and said, “I’m sorry. I thought maybe if you just met her…”

“What did you think you were doing?” asked Liz, wiping tears from her face. “Trying to replace Maggie?”

Jack sighed, then said, “This isn’t about you or Ben. It’s about Marcie. She’s been sexually abused most of her life by her father. She ran away from that only to be attacked by another pervert. She just turned thirteen and is living on the street and chipping heroin. If she doesn’t get a break now, she’s dead. It might already be too late.”

“Call Social Services,” said Liz.

“As I told you on the phone, it’s too risky. If you heard the news about the young woman blown up on the freeway two days ago, that was her friend.”

“The news said that was a prostitute,” said Ben. “You’re telling me that her friend was a prostitute?”

“Yes. Marcie has been working the street, too.”

“What? You expect us to take in a drug-addicted prostitute? You’re out of your mind!”

“I said she was chipping. It means she’s just starting — an occasional user. I don’t think she’s addicted … yet. That’s another reason why being way out here on a farm would be better for her. It won’t be so easy for her to get a fix.”

“But she’s a prostitute!” said Liz.

“She’s still a child. Since she was an infant, the only person she had to protect her was her father. All that bastard did was use her for his own sexual perversion. Now she’s on the street. Is it any wonder?”

Liz went to the kitchen window and peeked out at Marcie, who was getting out of the car. As Liz watched, Marcie approached a pair of geese. The gander felt protective of his mate and honked and flapped his wings as he charged toward her. Marcie ran back to the car.

“Doesn’t she have clothes?” asked Liz. “That looks like your shirt, Jack.”

“She’s wearing all her clothes underneath. Miniskirt and a tank top.”

“Has she eaten?”

“Not for a while, but…”

“You’re not bringing her in here,” said Ben.

“Ben! If she hasn’t eaten…”

“Liz! No!”

Liz thought for a moment, then said, “We’ll give her some of Maggie’s clothes. It’s the least we can do. She looks to be the same size.”

Minutes later, Ben and Jack each carried a box of clothes out to the car and put them in the trunk. Liz watched from the kitchen window.

Ben looked at Jack and said, “Sorry, it’s just…”

“It’s okay, Ben. You’re right. It is too much to ask. We’ll take our chances with Social Services.”

“Our emotions are really eaten up right now. She’s the same age and size as Maggie. It would be a constant reminder. Even their names are similar. We just can’t handle…”

“It’s okay, I understand. You’re right. I should have listened to you on the phone.”

Jack got in the car and slowly drove away.

Ben watched as Marcie absent-mindedly used her finger to draw a big unhappy face in the condensation on her window. He wondered if she liked to doodle. His eyes brimmed with tears. He turned and looked at Liz. She had seen it too. Their eyes met; Liz gave a slight nod.

It was late in the evening when Red walked into the Black Water. The music was vibrating from the stage, and she looked up at the young stripper.

Red yelled, “Hey, little girl! Why don’t you take off and come back when you can grow some tits!”

A few laughs from the crowd didn’t drown out the girl’s response. “Fuck you! I don’t see you standin’ up here!”

Red paused until she had the crowd’s attention before pulling her black singlet T-shirt up over her head to expose her bare chest to the crowd. “Because if I did get up there, cupcake, I’d put you out of a job!”

Red soaked up the applause for a moment, then replaced her T-shirt and strutted to the rear of the tavern. She casually looked around before sitting at a table with Jack.

“It took you long enough,” said Jack.

“Yeah. Sorry, Eddy. I got your page but had some business to take care of. Took me a little longer than I thought. So, are ya lookin’?”

“As a matter of fact, I am. Business has been going good. So good, I’m lookin’ for half a pound.”

Red let out a low whistle. “That’s a lot! When? Right now?”

“Not now. Tomorrow afternoon or the next day at the latest.”

“I don’t usually handle that much.”

Jack shrugged his shoulders. “Too bad. I’m done fuckin’ around with this small shit. Maybe I’ll have to find someone else.”

“I can check with my man. Maybe he’ll front me four ounces at a time. Do it in a couple of deals.”

“Naw, as I said, I don’t want to be fuckin’ around. Two deals means twice the risk. Tell you what, put me in touch with your man and I’ll make it worth your while.”