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answered impatiently. “I suppose I would if the Holts had day help, someone who arrived in a car. But if they had live-in help—especially if she was an illegal alien, like Lupita, and didn’t want to be noticed—that’s a different matter. Mrs. Taylor, who lives on the corner, had a live-in maid for over a year before I knew she was there, and she wasn’t here illegally. And I remember when—”
    I interrupted her. In a way I was talking to myself, trying to sort through my own confusion. “Are yousure there wasn’t someone in this house who spoke Spanish?”
    Eric looked at me with an odd expression. “I think the Holts hired a couple of illegals on and off over the years, but as far as I know, they didn’t have anyone working for them when—when they moved.”
    Dee Dee shrugged. “Eric would know if anyone would. He’s probably the only one on the block who was ever invited inside the Holts’ house, and that wasn’t even very often, because Mrs. Holt didn’t like Adam to get the house messed up, so Adam didn’t have very many friends. In fact, Eric was probably his only real friend.”
    “Don’t make it sound like it’s over and done with. Adam and I are still friends,” Eric snapped.
    “Dad said that the Holts got divorced,” I told them. “Does Adam live in Houston?”
    Dee Dee shifted on the couch, but Eric said, “Adam had to live with his mother in California.”
    “Where in California?”
    “It’s a little town—Cedar Creek.” He scowled. “What difference does it make?”
    I leaned forward. “Tell me about the Holts. What were they like?”
    Dee Dee twisted her fingers together. “The Holts are history. There’s a lot more interesting stuff to talk about.”
    Eric studied my face. “Why are you asking so many questions, Sarah? And what’s all this about someone speaking Spanish?”
    There was no way I was going to tell them what hadhappened to me in this house. I fumbled for an answer. “We’re living in the Holts’ house. It makes me curious. And Dee Dee’s parents have a Spanish-speaking maid, so I just sort of wondered if the Holts had one too.” I didn’t sound convincing, not even to myself.
    Dee Dee threw Eric a frantic look, as though she were asking for help. He ignored her, so she jumped to her feet and said, “I’ve really got to go. I’m supposed to baby-sit tonight, and I have to wash my hair and do a lot of stuff.”
    Maybe Eric could tell me what I wanted to know. “Eric, you don’t have to go, do you?” The words came out so eagerly, I wished I could take them back. He was going to get the wrong idea. I felt myself blushing.
    Dee Dee looked a little surprised, but Eric stood up and stretched, a smug expression on his face. “It’s tough to disappoint you, Sarah, but I never date girls who are taller than I am,” he said.
    I couldn’t help it. I laughed. For a few moments Eric glowered at me. “That was rude,” I mumbled. “I’m sorry.”
    My apology didn’t help. He was angry, so I was surprised when he said, “There
is
a guy you ought to meet, though. He’s tall, and he likes tall girls. Yeah. The more I think about it, the better I like the idea. I think he would too.”
    Dee Dee looked at Eric sharply. “What’s his name?”
    “Anthony’s his name, but we call him Tony. Tony Harris.” Eric grinned and added, “You don’t know him.”
    “Does he go to Memorial?”
    “No, he doesn’t, and it’s none of your business, anyway. He wouldn’t be interested in you.”
    “You’re a conceited jerk,” she said.
    “And you’re a nerd.”
    Trying to head off any more insults, I steered Dee Dee toward the door. “I wish you’d come over tomorrow morning,” I told her. “Have you got a bike? Maybe we could go for a ride and you could show me around the neighborhood.”
    “Okay,” Dee Dee said. “If you want to.” She looked at me unhappily, as though there was a lot more on her mind she’d like to say but didn’t know