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“Sometimes a kid has to steal to help supplement the money his mom makes. I’m not a bad person, but sometimes I take things that’ll help us eat.”
Her big eyes narrow with suspicion. “And how will a letter opener help you? You won’t sell it. It won’t feed you or keep you warm at night.” She slams her hands onto her hips and scrunches her nose like a little pug dog. “That’s not supplementing, that’sstealing.”
Uncaring, I continue up the stairs and pull her along. “Sometimes something shiny gets my attention. If I want it, I take it. It’s not such a big deal.”
“It’s a big deal to me,” she growls. “I don’t like breaking the law.”
“Says the daughter of the dirty cop.”
The way she recoils makes me feel like I hit her. “He’s not… he…” Her face drains. “Oh my gosh.”
“We’re in a club with bad people who have bad guns, your daddy beats you for fun and brings drugs home for snack time.”And my mom is meeting with them. I start walking faster. “Your daddy is seriously dirty. And my mom needs to be taken out of here now.”
“I’mnot dirty,” Elizabeth murmurs. We reach the top of the stairs. Turn right, and we head into the office with my mom and the man I’m supposed to call dad. Turn left, and we meet up with the sour-sisters all over again. So we stop in the middle, Switzerland, and she pulls me around. “I’m not a bad person, Gunner. I promise I’m not.”
“I know. You’re nothing like the bitches. And you’re not like your dad either.”
She shakes her head. It’s important to her nine-year-old brain that I believe her. “I’m good. And when I’m a grownup, I’ll make sure that all of this stuff stops.” She leans closer to whisper, “If my daddy is dirty, I’m going to send him to jail. And if Uncle is just as bad, he can go and share a cell with him and whoever else is in on it. Then the bitches can live like regular folks without money. Let’s see how smug they are when they’re broke.”
“I believe you.” I squeeze her hand and grin. “I can’t wait to see you take them down. I can’t hit a girl, but I can sure as hell teach you how to throw a right hook. It’ll almost be like I smacked them down myself.” I look over my shoulder and study the door my mom is hidden by. I don’t like this place. I don’t like these people. “I’m gonna take you back to the office, then I’m getting my mom and leaving. This isn’t all it was talked up to be.”
“Okay.” She hurries along beside me, keeping up as we approach the office with the bitches. “Are you gonna take your mom and leave now?”
“Yup. She’s better than this place.”
“But you don’t have a phone?”
We stop at the door. I rest my hand on the handle, but don’t open it yet. “No. There’s no way my mom could afford an extra bill like that.”
Elizabeth’s light eyebrows furrow as she cranes her neck back and studies my eyes. “How will I find you again? I’m only nine, and if you’re leaving and not coming back…”
“Well…” I hate the way my stomach drops as I consider her question. “I’m not sure. What’s your full name? Maybe I can look in the phone book someday. It might be a long time, but I’ll try.”
“Tate…” She licks her bottom lip. “My last name is Tate.”
“Okay, Elizabeth Tate.” I run her name through my mind over and over again to sear the words into my brain.Elizabeth Tate. Elizabeth Tate. Elizabeth Tate.“I won’t ever forget, I promise.”
“You can call me Libby, if you want.” She wrings her hands together, and looks to the floor to avoid my eyes. “Nobody else calls me Libby. But it’s what I would prefer.”
“Okay.” I flash a wide grin and open the office door. “Libby Tate. I won’t ever forget, okay? I’ll come find you someday.”
Her gaze comes up. “Do you promise?”
“I do. I swear. Gunner and Elizabeth forever, remember?”
“Spit shake?” Her eyes are large and round, way more innocent than mine ever were, as she holds her hand out and hocks booger-filled spit into her palm. My stomach turns, but my lips pull up into a grin anyway.
“Okay.” I do the same, then we clasp hands and shake. “This is so gross, by the way.”
“I know!” She dissolves into silly giggles until her cheeks bounce. “You promised. Don’t break it.”
“I won’t. Come on.” I release her hand, wipe mine on my jeans, then push her through the door and into calculating silence. The sour-sisters look up from their spot on the floor and watch us with suspicion. I watch them with the same emotion, but I can’t steal Libby, and I refuse to let my mom stay here. “You gonna be okay?”
“Yeah.” Libby steps past me and digs her hands into the pockets of her coat. “I’ll be fine. I’ll see you around, okay? Don’t forget me.”
“I won’t.” I slowly retreat. One step, then two. I let my eyes drop to the sisters and narrow. “If you touch her again, you’ll have to deal with me. Do you understand?”
As a united pair, they roll their eyes and continue playing with their dolls.
