Page 55 of Darling

“Tinkerbelle, no,” Wendy gasped, thinking of all the ways Detective Hook could make them regret that.

“Tinkerbelle, YES,” she replied aggressively, putting her fists on her hips.

Detective Hook rubbed his temple and, to Wendy’s surprise, seemed to calm down. He pulled his desk chair out and settled into it. Then he tipped his head back and combed his hand through his hair, even though the gel made it stick up crazily when he’d finished. “I have daughters, you know. About your age,” he said. “And I know they only lash out for the gut like you just did when they’re scared. And you have every reason to be.

“But I’m tired. It’s late, and this is important. I know my verbal filter goes when things are on the line, but I promise you, we’ll have men at your back. Wherever Peter takes you, we’ll be tracking and following at a block’s radius. If your safety is at risk, we’ll hear it on the wires and move in, even if it means we lose him again.”

He sighed and looked up at the ceiling like he was looking at God. “Lord knows you won’t be the last girls on earth Peter can find who’re like you three.” His gaze shifted back to Wendy. “But time is lives, and who knows when he’ll find you.”

Wendy could tell he was shifting responsibility to guilt her into accepting this assignment, and she wouldn’t have it. “That’s not our fault, and it’s not our problem. Protecting children from killers is your job, not ours.”

Detective Hook let that land, then took a folder off the stack and opened it. He slid the cooperation agreement inside across the desk. “Are you going to do this, or are you going to keep wasting my time?”

“The others got to have things in exchange for accepting,” Wendy said as she pulled the paper close to look it over. “I have requests, too.”

“Fine. What do you want?”

“Preferential treatment for the boys left in Peter’s home. They need to be adopted or fostered. I don’t know how any of that works, but you need to make it easy for them.”

Detective Hook breathed out hard, like Wendy was asking him to move mountains, but then he snatched the paper back from her and turned to his computer to add a last-minute addendum to the contract. “Don’t know how it works, indeed,” he muttered. “You don’t know how anything works, if that’s what you’re asking for. Could have asked for money; I know I would.”

“I don’t want money,” Wendy said, loud and angry. “I want them to be safe. Can you promise me that you’ll make an effort and not just throw them away, hide them, or toss them somewhere just to get them off your hands? They’re people, and this is affecting them! It’s not a joke for them, or a glory moment. These are their lives.”

Wendy could feel Tinkerbelle looking at her.

“Yeah, yeah,” Detective Hook said. “Whatever you want, just make sure you do a good job. Grab that copy from the printer to your left and make sure your signature is clear.”

Tinkerbelle grabbed Wendy’s arm before she could move to the printer. “Me too,” she said hoarsely.

Detective Hook looked up from his computer with irritation. “What?” He put his reading glasses on like he needed them to hear her better.

“Put me on the list for that, too,” Tinkerbelle said. Quieter, but more insistent.

“But I already printed it out,” Detective Hook griped, taking his reading glasses back off.

“PUT HER ON THE LIST,” Wendy shouted.

Detective Hook startled, jerking back in his chair at the force of Wendy’s rage. He turned back to the computer, wordlessly typed Tinkerbelle’s legal name into the document, and hit print.

Wendy marched across the room, snatched the paper out of the printer, and brought it to Detective Hook’s desk. She took a pen out of his “World’s Okayest Dad” novelty mug and signed the contract.

“Head to the next office and get fitted with your surveillance equipment,” Detective Hook said, chastened.

Wendy turned on her heel and headed for the door, with Tinkerbelle close behind.

“If it’s any consolation…,” Detective Hook said to Wendy’s back. Wendy stopped to listen, not moving even when Tinkerbelle bumped into her back. “You’re better than he is. Remember that. He’s smart but he’s alone, and he always will be.”

Wendy didn’t reply. She just pulled the door open and left.

CHAPTER 16

Curly and Nibs were waiting for them in the front lobby, Curly bouncing his leg anxiously. He jumped up immediately when they rounded the corner. “He texted me. He wants to meet us in Edgewater.”

“Do you have any more money for the bus?” Tinkerbelle asked.

Nibs shrugged. “They gave us a couple of fare cards.”

“Oooh, I wonder if it will work after tonight,” Tinkerbelle said, eyes brightening.