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“I wouldn't mind.” She laid her cheek on Sam's head. “He's so soft.”

“Do you want me to bring him back with me?”

She didn't speak for a moment and then straightened. But her hand remained on Sam's head. “Maybe.”

“Will you let me come back? Do you believe what I told you about Trask?”

“It seems weird.”

“It's true.”

Carmela was silent again and then said, “I think I saw him once.”

She went still. “What?”

“That day of the fire. Some guy was following me.”

“What did he look like?”

“A little heavy, reddish hair. Was that him?”

Dickens.

“No, but he probably worked for him.”

“That kook has people working for him? What is he? Some kind of mobster?”

“Not exactly.”

“You're not going to tell me.” She shrugged. “I don't care. It doesn't matter, as long as you keep him away from me and Rosa.” She paused. “Are you really going to go get Rosa?”

“I wouldn't lie to you. My friend, Silver, is downstairs in the parking lot on the phone now trying to arrange a way to get her away from your mother.”

“Where are you going to put her? One of those DFACS houses?”

“No, we'll find a safe place for her. Don't worry.”

“What a stupid thing to say.” Carmela gave her a withering look even as she continued to stroke Sam. “Of course I'm going to worry. She's my sister. I have to take care of her.”

Kerry chuckled. “You're right. It was stupid. Worry all you please, but I won't, because I know she's going to be okay.” Her smile faded. “And so will you, Carmela. Things are going to work out for you. I promise.” She came toward the bed and put the leash on Sam. “Now I'll go and let you rest.”

“I don't do anything else in this place.” Her hand reluctantly left Sam after a final pat. “Did they tell you when they're going to let me leave here?”

“In a few days. You're still running a fever.” She started for the door. “Has your mother contacted you yet?”

“She called me last night.” She defiantly lifted her chin. “It's just like I told you, she couldn't get off work. It's not as if she doesn't care about me. She just has . . . problems.”

“Well, maybe we can rid her of a few of those problems.” Kerry opened the door. “I'll come and see you tomorrow, Carmela.”

“You don't have to do that.”

“I know I don't.” She smiled. “But I know you'll want to hear what progress we're having with your sister.”

“You're really gonna help her?”

“I lied to you once. I won't do it again.”

“I hope you don't.” Her hands clenched on the sheet. “I won't take charity. It sticks in my throat. But if you'll do this for me, I'll owe you big time. And I'll pay you back. I promise.”

She could see that the girl was deadly serious, and Kerry wouldn't insult her by refusing. “I'll take you up on that. See you tomorrow, Carmela.”

“Wait.” When Kerry looked back at her, Carmela said awkwardly, “I wouldn't mind if you brought that pooch back. He's probably good for those sick kids.”

“You're right.” She nodded solemnly. “Okay, if you really don't mind.

“Good job, Sam,” she murmured as she left the room.

His tail wagged as he pulled Kerry down the hall, all gentleness and decorum forgotten. Kerry didn't care. He'd given Carmela affection and softened her pain in a way she could accept.

Poor kid, Kerry thought as she waited at the elevator. Life had not treated her well, and she had all the prickly barriers to prove it. But it was a wonder she wasn't even more defensive and that she'd somehow managed to develop a code.

Silver was waiting in the lobby when she got off the elevator. “How is she?”

“Smart, vulnerable, wary. Sam helped a lot.”

“I was wondering why you wanted to take him.”

“Sam's great with kids. She needed him. But she found out that we're not social workers.”

“Busted. What did you tell her?”

“The truth. I decided she could take it.” She started down the corridor toward the parking lot. “I like her, Silver. She's tough, but I think she . . . Oh, I don't know. She reminds me of someone. . . .” She frowned, trying to think who it was, but it didn't come to her. “I like her.”

“Well, that's clear.” He fell into step with her. “I'll have to take your word for it. I'm still too bruised and exasperated from trying to get her to jump off that roof to be objective.”

“She was scared.”

“And you're being defensive.”

“Someone has to defend her. She's not had much help from her mother.” She glanced at him. “And speaking of her mother, did you make any progress?”

He nodded. “I contacted Travis and told him to have some strings pulled with DFACS in Louisville. He's going to send a caseworker to put some subtle pressure on Carmela's mother to release Rosa into their care.”

“How subtle?”

“Maybe not all that subtle. A velvet-gloved threat that I hope will scare her into cooperating.”

“And after DFACS takes Rosa away from her mother?”

“Then we'll make sure there's a grade-A foster home ready to receive her until Carmela is out of the hospital.”

“When will we know?”

He shrugged. “Tonight. Maybe tomorrow. I told Travis it was urgent.”

“Good. I want something encouraging to tell Carmela tomorrow.” She motioned for Sam to jump in the back of the SUV before getting in herself. “It wasn't pleasant telling her about Trask, but she took it well.”

“Like you said, tough.”

“And prickly as the devil. She wanted to—” Kerry suddenly started to laugh. “Lord, I just figured out who she reminded me of.”

“Who?”

“You.”

He glanced at her as he started the car. “I beg your pardon?”

“Prickly and surly and not letting anyone near.”

He smiled faintly. “I'll accept the description since you said you couldn't help but like her. But you should really examine that response. You obviously have a weakness for difficult people like us.”

Her smile faded. She didn't want to examine the warmth she felt for Silver. That softness was even more dangerous than the sexual pleasure she experienced with him. She glanced hurriedly out the window. “Do you think we were followed?”

“If we were, then it was definitely done by an expert.” He stopped at the parking-lot booth and handed the clerk the ticket and money. “And I contacted Ledbruk, and his agent didn't think we were being watched.”

She frowned. “Then was I wrong? I thought it was a reasonable assumption that—”

“It was reasonable. Maybe Trask just hasn't gotten his shit together yet. There's still a good chance that Dickens will show.”

He was probably right. What did she expect? It wasn't likely they'd be able to grab Dickens the first day. But telling herself that didn't stop the uneasiness she felt. Trask wouldn't be spinning his wheels after he learned he'd falled to kill Carmela. He'd want to make a move to show Kerry that she hadn't really won anything of importance.

And if that move didn't involve having her followed by Dickens, what other action was he planning?

“Stop fretting,” Silver said. “I learned a long time ago that if you can't do anything about a problem, it's better to relax and gather strength for the moment when you can.”

“It must be nice to be so patronizing. I'm not some psychic superman like you. I'm not good at this and I don't have your experience. I can't relax.”

He gave a low whistle at the sharpness of her tone. “Sorry. I didn't mean to sound patronizing. And you're getting better and stronger all the time. You can block me, and that last time I felt a definite nudge when you made the attempt at a push.”

“Nudge? That's not going to do me any good when I come up against Trask.”

“I told you that I couldn't gauge how strong that push would translate with someone else.”

“That gives me a hell of a lot of confidence.”