Page 53 of Property of Fang
The redhead shrugs. Gorgeous in a whimsical cottage-core kind of way. Wherever she might have ended up, I can guarantee they would have eaten her alive.
“What’s on your mind?” I gently coax, noting the way her gaze is softly fixed on the flames. “Anything I can help with?”Anything that’ll detract from my own goddamn issues.
She sighs, readjusting how she sits with her legs tucked to one side. “I don’t know where to go, Jenna.”
“After this?”
Kathy nods.
“Can you not go home?”
“I don’t want to.” Her face crumples briefly. “My home isn’t very… typical.”
I lower myself to settle beside her, placing the glass of water on the hearth. “Neither.”
She looks up at my admission, eyes bright with a spark of hope. “How so?”
“I live with my dad. My mom died a few years ago. It’s not—how would you say—a very supportive environment. A lot of questionable stuff. A lot of neglect.”
“Oh.” She closes up again, like a flower losing the sun. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I take it yours isn’t the same as mine, then?”
“No.” She fidgets with the hem of her skirt. “Not like that.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She shakes her head and looks away, toward The Kid. “Darla said the police can’t find emergency placement for her in a home.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing,” I muse.
“How?” She frowns my way.
“Then she can stay here, with people she knows. At least… people she knows a little bit. Familiar people.” And I can keep watch on what she says when she finally decides to talk.
I study my small adversary as she flicks through a tattered book, seemingly dug up from somewhere that hasn’t seen sunlight in some time. Her fingers linger on the moisture-wrinkled edges before she flicks the page over, lips moving every so often to sound out words silently.
Why didn’t she react when Mary-Beth’s body was taken? Why hasn’t she shown any distress?
“When are you leaving?” Kathy asks, breaking me from my spell.
“I’m not.” I offer her a weak smile. “Can’t decide where I want to go yet, like you.”
She seems comforted by the idea.
I look around the room and find Darla in the corner with Darko’s iPad. “What are you doing over there?”
She lifts her head and smiles. “Playing games.”
“Nice.” I double-check the room again before asking Kathy, “Where are the other two?”
“Nandi’s keeping Mila company on the porch. She wanted to wait out there until they’re picked up.”
“They’re going tonight?” My chest tightens a little, taking me by surprise.
I thought they’d have a couple of days to catch their breath, until the morning, at least. I feel strangely attached to Mila, to her welfare. I’m not ready to let go of her just yet.
“After dinner,” Kathy answers. “I guess you weren’t in the room when the deputy told them.”
