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She was moving her fingers together, up and down.
“Incy-Bitsy spider. Do you know it?”
“Um, yeah, Twinkletoes. I know it.”
“I like that nickname. And when you call me sweetheart. Makes me feel special.”
“You are special, Effie.”
“Nuh-uh, silly. I’s just Effie.” Suddenly, she sniffled. “I wanna go home.”
“We’ll go home soon, all right? I want you to tell me if you drank or took anything, though.”
“I drunks lots of stuff.”
“Did you see anyone put anything into those drinks?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah? What? Who?”
“Lucy. She put drinks in the drinks. Silly.” She grinned at him.
“All right, smart-ass. I’m going to take it that you didn’t actually see anything. What about pills? Did you take any pills?”
“Just painkillers. My back hurt. Do you likes spiders, Grady? I reckon they get a bad rep.”
“You do?”
“Uh-huh, they’re just misunderstood. Like me.”
“How are you misunderstood?” he asked.
“Everyone thinks I’m brave. But can I tells you another seecit?”
“Sure, sweetheart.”
“I’m scared. All the time. Terrified that I’m going to do something wrong with Brooks and scar him for life. Worried I’ll lose my job again and not be able to house and feed him. Scared people will know that it’s all a lie.”
“What’s all a lie?”
“The happy. It’s all a lie, Grady.”
Okay, he wasn’t sure what the hell she was talking about.
A knock on the door made her scream and she jumped into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her in shock.
“Effie, be careful with your back.”
“I can’t feel it.”
“At all?” he asked.
“No, I had to take something ‘cause it was sore from all the walking.”
Okay.
“The pills in your handbag?”
