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It’s what I’m used to.
But Madison only shrugs, giving me that vacant,just doing my joblook he’s so fucking good at.
“I’m sorry, Steven,” Sister O’Halloran murmurs. “We were just sitting there, right there. Talking. And all of a sudden, she got upset about something and announced she was leaving,” She explains, her eyes damp with emotion and her hands trembling a little as she wrings them in front of herself.
“What upset her?” I snap. “What did you say to upset her?” I press her, my voice icing over.
“I tried to stop her. I did. But….”
I take a deep breath in, pinching the bridge of my nose and doing that thingIdo when mega stress threatens to tear me apart. The kind of stress that would have most people in an asylum is what I deal with before breakfast.
But Holly taking off like this?
I won’t have it. I don’t like it, and I won’t have it.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Sister O’Halloran,” I finally let her know.
I’m not apologizing for my words or behavior but letting her know I don’t hold her responsible. She’s off the hook.
Nobody, not even me, can hold Holly against her will, especially a girl with her fire.
But what made her bolt like this?
Only one way to find out.
A shiver of certainty runs through me in a single second, and I know what needs doing.
Madison stifles a groan and rolls his eyes, checking his watch because he knows from experience that when Mr. Carter has a bee in his bonnet about anything, it’s an all-nighter for him as well.
That’s why he gets paid the big bucks for being my assistant.
“Bring the car round front,” I order him firmly, checking my watch and doing some math about how far Holly might have got on foot already and in which direction she’s most likely headed.
Home, I’m assuming. But with that landlord waiting in the wings for her?
I can’t be certain where she’d be going.
Madison does what he’s told, bowing a little to Sister O’Halloran and wishing her a sardonic ‘Merry Christmas’ before almost sulking out of the room.
But I do know he’ll do his job and the car will be there when I need it.
“I tried,” Sister O’Halloran sobs finally once Madison leaves, and I move over to her, holding her hands in mine.
“I know you did. It’s my fault for leaving her alone for so long,” I explain, reaching into my breast pocket and pressing the envelope into the Sister’s hands.
“It wasn’t a wasted trip,” I tell her, creasing a forced smile, “And I promise I’ll be back for a proper visit with the kids once I sort this out.”
She opens her mouth to protest, knowing exactly what’s in the envelope, but we know each other well enough.
I know her as much as she knows me, and we’re both as stubborn as old mules when it comes to receiving instead of giving.
“I’ll light a candle for you both,” she says, dabbing her nose with a lace handkerchief from her sleeve.
“Bring her home safe, Steven,” she adds once I peck her cheek, and without another word, I spin on my heel and march out the door.
In moments I’m in the back seat of the blacked-out town car, Madison at the wheel, primed to follow my instructions.
I practically bark a course for him to take, some of the street names still fuzzy in my mind. I am cautioning him to drive slowly enough so we can spot her.
