Page 123 of Trust No One

“Did you see Amy a lot?”

A frown furrowed her brow as if she realized this was too big a secret to discuss. “I don’t know.”

“It’s okay.” I smiled. “Did you ever see any fairies?”

“No.”

“Your mommy saw them when she was little.”

“Does she live with the fairies now?”

“Kind of, yes.”

She dug her spoon into the red Jell-O. “Why would she leave me?”

“She didn’t mean to.” My smile was quick, brittle. “Eat what you can. Then we’ll get you changed. It’s supposed to be a pretty day.”

Molly picked at her food, swallowing only a few bites before pushing it away.

“Want me to help you change?”

“I can do it myself.”

I handed her jeans, a purple top, socks, underwear, and well-worn sneakers that looked like a favorite. “I’ll be out here if you need me.”

“Okay.”

When Molly emerged minutes later, she was dressed. Her shirt wasn’t tucked, and her laces weren’t tied, but her shoes were on the right feet. Her dark hair was a halo of static and knots.

I knelt to tie her laces. “Do you know how to tie your shoes?”

“No.”

“We’ll work on it.” I knotted the laces and then dug a small brush from my purse. I dampened the bristles and then carefully brushed the tangles flat. I pulled the rubber band from my hair and secured hers into a ponytail. Not perfect, but acceptable.

“Ready to go to Hale House?” I asked.

“No.”

Neither was I. What the hell was I supposed to do with a five-year-old? I collected the plastic bag with her old clothes and the purple dinosaur. “Either way, we must get going. They’re going to kick us out of here.”

“Why?”

“Hospitals are for sick people.”

“Were Mommy and Daddy in a hospital?”

“Mommy was. Daddy wasn’t.”

“If Daddy was sick, he should’ve been here.”

My throat tightened. How much truth was safe? “He died before he came to the hospital.”

“How?”

“I’m not sure. But when I know, I’ll tell you. Deal?”

She regarded me with a long, lonely stare. “Okay.”