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with. I want to get to the part where…No. I’m not brave enough to say that…the part where Max can unleash the anger he’s holding in….There. I said it. I shake again though, all bravery gone.
    Max gets up. I look at Jake, but see that he’s wearing his neutral mask, only the hint of a shake to his head is given to me.
    Max comes to stand next to me, putting his arm gently around me. He kisses my head and I melt into his arm for a moment. His gentleness…it’s what I crave most right now. “Lucy’s right. I’m going to have to ask everyone to leave. I appreciate your staying…and helping. But she’s home where she belongs now.” He looks at me and I can see the dark look he’s burying. “And she needs to get to bed.”
    Jeff moves to leave, nodding at Killaney. Killaney reluctantly gets up, putting his notepad away.
    He stops in front of us though. “I’ll have prints on her phone tomorrow or the next day at the latest…I’ll let you know if we find anything. But you’ll need to come file a report with the precinct too.” I see Max nod. Killaney keeps staring at me, but I keep my look composed. I don’t know how. But I manage not to shake or cry or scream…only in my head.

Chapter 11 HIM
    I move my arm from around Lucy to grab her arm and turn her to me, not rough, not gentle. She drops her arms to her sides, but doesn’t look up into my eyes. “Look at me, little girl.” She does. Her usual responsiveness.
    But Jake stands and moves to be next to us. I can see Dad coming back from closing the front door to join us too.
    It’s like watching a bad movie. You can see everything happening, but you can’t make it better.
    I let go of Lucy’s arm. “Where were you this afternoon?”
    She doesn’t stop staring, but it’s Jake that answers. “I told you. Her purse was stolen and she was stuck in my old elevator.”
    I move just my eyes from him to her. A few times. Dad is now on the other side of Lucy. A tight little circle. I laugh. “Not buying it.” I look at Lucy again. “Tell me where you were, Lucy. Now!” She jumps at the rise in my voice. Good.
    But Jake is still interfering. “I told you…”
    Dad shuts him down this time. “Jake. Stay out of this.” Lucy is the only one who doesn’t look at Dad. I can see Jake wants to argue, but he doesn’t say anything more.
    “Answer me, little girl.” I say this quietly, in a deep demanding voice. One I know she’ll respond to quickly.

Chapter 11 HER
    It’s my downfall. Not being able to lie to him. I thought I could. He’d see right through me. And this is my one chance to get him to see…
    I swallow, not taking my eyes off him. “I needed to talk to Jake.” I watch as his face slowly melds…into the angriest face I saw one time before. Somehow made more horrible by the calmness, the lack of change in his body. It’s all on his eyes and lips. And I want to run again. My heart leaping into my throat, I have to hold back a cry. I put my hand to my mouth though.
    But this time, we’re not alone. Jake sees this change too. I can feel him press a little closer. And Ron turns to face Max a little more.
    How strange. I can hear every breath, feel every tension. How long have we stood like this? I start to see pops of bright lights in front of a darkening curtain. I stagger a little and feel hands on my arms. I look down and can’t tell if they belong to Jake or Max. Oh, I see…both.
    I’m pulled towards a chair and sat down hard. I want to say, “Thank you,” but my mouth’s not working…all fuzzy right now. I cover my face and try to follow the words said behind me. But I really just need to breathe for a moment.

Chapter 12 HIM
    Shit. She’s going to faint. I don’t drop my anger, but I grab her arm to stop her legs from buckling under. Jake grabs her other arm. I look from his hand on my wife to his face. He’s not letting go. We pull her over to the table and put her in a chair.
    “What the fuck is going on, Jake?!”