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secrets?”
    The fear in Kyle’s eyes answered her question.
    â€œThere are a couple of guys in a car outside—”
    â€œWho?” Kyle sat up on the table now, grimacing in pain at the effort.
    â€œI’d guess private security.”
    Kyle looked unnerved, but not completely unsurprised that there were men out looking for him.
    â€œI told you I know someone in the NYPD—”
    â€œNo! No cops! That would be worse than anything . . . ” Kyle couldn’t bring himself to finish the thought.
    Shit .
    Wally couldn’t get past the idea that she was at least partially responsible for Kyle’s condition. If she had handled him better during his visit, would he have ended up back home, getting the shit kicked out of him again by his father? Wally was determined to keep Kyle safe this time. If Lewis could hear what she was about to suggest, though, he’d go postal.
    â€œThey can’t keep you here,” she said, “so you should come home with me. Just for now, until we can work something out.”
    â€œI don’t need your help,” Kyle said.
    â€œClearly.”
    â€œScrew you.” He shifted on the table, then reeled a little from the sudden change of position.
    â€œAfter our interview yesterday,” she said, “maybe you’re feeling like you can’t trust me, but I really just want to help.”
    Ignoring her, Kyle sat straight up on the exam table and took a moment to get his balance before carefully stepping down onto the floor.
    â€œWhere’s my jacket?” he asked, but then he spotted it hanging by the door and grabbed it.
    Now Wally was alarmed—no one could force Kyle to stay at Harmony House, and he was in no condition to head off on his own. She reached out to him and held his arm, but he shook her off with surprising strength and headed for the hallway.
    â€œI have a safe place to take you,” she said, certain her idea was a bad one as soon as she blurted out the words. “I know you don’t want to go home, and I’ll bet you those men are still waiting out front.”
    Kyle hesitated for a moment, and Wally saw her opening.
    â€œA private place where you can come and go,” she said. “Just for tonight, if that’s what you want. Just for a few hours. I live in Greenpoint. There’s room for you to crash with me.”
    Kyle took a long moment to think about this. Underneath his drug-addled defiance, Wally could see that he was scared and uncertain.
    â€œPlease, Kyle,” Wally said. “We’d be doing each other a favor. This way I won’t spend the rest of the night wondering where you are and what part of all this was my fault.”
    He didn’t respond for a moment, but Wally could see him processing the idea. He finally nodded. She saw a look of relief pass across his face when the decision was made.
    When they told Candace about the plan she gave Wally a dubious look but eventually agreed. Remembering the men in the car out front, Wally asked to be let out through the emergency exit at the rear of the building, which opened on an alley. At the exit, Wally peered south toward 40 th Street, seeing that there was little traffic and nothing suspicious in that direction.
    â€œLet’s go,” she said, leading Kyle down the alley and remaining watchful as they went. He wasn’t completely steady yet, but he managed to keep up with her. They rounded the corner at 40 th and headed east as Wally kept her eyes open for a cab. Tenth Avenue was nearly empty at that hour and there were no cabs in sight, so they headed south toward 39 th Street, where they could see more traffic flowing.
    â€œAre you doing okay?” Wally asked, seeing that Kyle was looking a little dazed. “We’ll be out of here soon.”
    â€œI’m good,” he said, sounding distant and unfocused.
    They were halfway down the block when a black man in a dark-blue suit