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given my statement to the police this morning.”
    “No, you didn’t. You told the police investigator you weren’t feeling well.”
    Her eyes widened. How the hell did he know? “Yes, I told him that, but he’s coming back this afternoon to get my statement.”
    “Well, good luck on that. I’m taking your daughter to ride the Ferris wheel this afternoon. I heard it’s about a hundred and fifty meters high.”
    “What about it?”
    He smirked, and she knew he meant to threaten her. “Don’t you dare,” she warned.
    “Dare what?”
    “Oh, just bring Bessie in here. I want to see her.”
    He chuckled and left the room. She knew he must be kidding. A coach couldn’t possibly risk his reputation and be branded a child murderer just to save his nephew’s filthy ass, but his threat still frightened her. She had to convince Bessie not to ride the Ferris Wheel with Logan.
     

 
    Chapter 5
     
     
    “What do you mean you left her with my mom?” Troy asked, referring to Bessie, while they were driving along the road. His driver’s license had been suspended, so Logan had to be the one to drive.
    It was Sunday noon. Logan and his lawyer arrived early in jail to bail him out.
    “Your mom volunteered, and the kid seems to like her.”
    “You know my mom’s a suicidal alcoholic. She could be pouring brandy down that girl’s throat right now.”
    “The kid’s smart. Sometimes, you just gotta trust them if you don’t trust the grown ups taking care of them.”
    Troy sighed. “You’ll take the girl back to her mother. I’m not coming.”
    “Says who?”
    “Says me.”
    “Well, dickhead, you’re not entitled to make the decision here. If I say you will come along, you will fucking come along.”
    Troy leaned backward and rubbed his forehead. Why did he have to obey this old man’s every order?
    Because he just pulled you out of your shit , a voice inside him said.
    Logan pulled the car over before the front yard, and Troy jumped out to get the girl.
    “Mom,” he called out and opened the door. He found his parents in the living room, sitting on the floor in front of Bessie who was holding a microphone.
    He was momentarily frozen. Bessie was reciting a poem while his parents were eagerly listening. She was dressed in a pink gown, with a wreath of flowers on her head.
    It was a scene he had not anticipated. For the first time, he’d seen his parents smiling again.
    Bessie suddenly stopped and turned to look at him. His parents, too.
    “Hello, Mister,” Bessie greeted cheerfully. “Did the police let you go?”
    A warm flush crawled up his face. This little girl had no idea how embarrassing that sounded.
    “Yes,” his father added. “Did they let you go?”
    Troy cleared his throat. “I’m out on bail.”
    “You’re taking the girl with you?” his mother asked.
    “Y-yes. We’ll take her back to her mother.”
    “The victim is her mother, right?” Stanly asked.
    “We’ll talk later. I have to bring the kid to the hospital. We have to practice tonight.”
    “Are we going to see Zoey?” Bessie asked.
    “Yes, we are, sweetheart. Go get your things. We’re leaving.”
    Bessie put down the microphone and ran upstairs.
    Paula quickly rose to her feet and approached him. “Can we borrow that girl again?”
    Troy was speechless. He could have said no right away, but his mother had never asked a favor from him before. And something seemed suddenly right. His mother had not done anything right in her life since his brother’s death, and she wasn’t drunk either. She seemed too amused with the little girl, and he could not deprive her of that while he could clearly see that she had finally found something that could make her happy.
    He nodded. “I’ll tell her mother.”
    “Tell her she can trust me. I’ll take good care of her little girl while she’s in the hospital.”
    He nodded again. Bessie came running down the stairs with her school bag.
    “I’m ready,” she said.
    Paula lifted the