She’d be interested to know too, Eve thought. "Do you have any idea where they’d keep her?"
"Well, they kept the boy in that court case on the upper floor. A room on the south side. First window facing the back."
"By himself?"
Mark nodded. "He was a special case."
Would Jane also be a special case? She’d just have to cross her fingers and pray she’d get lucky.
"I’m going around back and see if there’s any way I can get in from there." She got out of the car. "You cover the other side, and if you run into the guard, distract him."
"Piece of cake," Mark said sarcastically. "Why don’t you give me something hard to do? It’s not—"
"Duck." She dove back into the car and pulled Mark down on the seat. "Patrol car."
The Atlanta PD car cruised slowly by the welfare house, shining its lights on the front of the building and grounds as it passed.
Eve held her breath, half expecting the car to stop. Had they been seen? The police car drove on and turned the corner.
“I think it’s safe now." Mark raised his head. "I suppose we should have expected welfare to request additional security."
"We’ve got to hope the guard is still the only one on the grounds." Eve got out of the car. "And that the police car doesn’t come back anytime soon. Hurry." She was already skirting the walk and crossing the grass. Don’t think. Just move fast and pray.
She arrived at the back of the building and looked up at the second floor. First window on the south side.
The room was dark and the window closed. Great.
A rusty drainpipe clung to the side of the building, but it was at least a yard from the window.
What the hell was she going— What was that?
She looked over her shoulder. A sound?
Someone standing in the shadows?
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No, there was nothing. It must have been her imagination.
She turned back to the house. First she had to find a way to get up to the second floor. Then she’d have to get inside the room without scaring Jane. The more she considered the situation, the more helpless she felt. She’d do better figuring out how to get into the ground floor and then—
The window was opening.
Eve tensed.
Jane stuck her head out and looked down at her. Could Jane tell who she was? Yes, the moonlight was bright enough for recognition. But that didn’t guarantee anything. Everyone must seem like a threat to Jane right now.
She stared at Eve for a long while. Then she touched her forefinger to her lips as if to hush her.
The gesture was conspiratorial; the two of them against the world. Eve didn’t know why she’d gotten lucky, but she’d take it. God, yes, she’d take it. Jane tossed a knotted sheet out the window. It ended twelve feet above Eve’s head. Jane started climbing down it like a monkey; how was she supposed to—
"Catch me," Jane ordered.
"It’s not that easy. If I miss, you’ll break—"
"Don’t miss." She let go of the sheet and fell into Eve’s arms. The child’s weight knocked them both to the ground.
"Get off me" Jane whispered.
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."
"You left something in the alley?" Mark asked from the driver’s seat.
“Why do you want to know? So you can put it on TV?" Jane asked fiercely. "It’s none of your business."
"You are my business at the moment," Mark said. "Eve promised me a story if I helped her spring you. Do you know what the penalty is for kidnapping minors? I’ll get thrown in jail and my career will go down the drain. I’m risking a hell of a lot and I don’t need your sass, little girl."
Jane ignored him and turned to Eve. "Jail? Then why did you do it?”
“I was worried about you. I thought you might be in danger.”
“Like Fay?"
Christ, what could she say now? The truth. "Like Fay.”
“You know who did it?"
Eve nodded.
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"Who?"
"I’m not sure of his real name. He calls himself Dom.”
“Why did he do it? Fay never hurt anyone."
"He’s not sane. He likes to hurt people. I know that’s terrible, but there are people out there who don’t care about anything but doing harm."
"I know that. The creeps. There are lots of them around."
She stiffened. "Are there?" She paused. "Have you seen any of them around lately?"
"Maybe." Jane glanced at Mark. "I watch the news on TV. They always show the creeps."
Mark shrugged. "It’s my job."
"Have you seen anyone who scared you lately?" Eve persisted. "He didn’t scare me. He was just like those others who hang around the school yard."