Soon it was time to leave to search for Angel. Kathleen told Kenny to stay with George and pay attention to Sheila, who would look after the children until her return. She took him outside with Jack, so Jack could relieve himself. While they were waiting, she spoke to Kenny.
“Under no circumstances are you to go outside, do you hear me?”
“But what if Jack needs to go again?” Kenny asked.
“He can go in the backyard. Kenny, you have to stay in the sanctuary. Do you understand why?”
Kenny looked at his toes for a few seconds before raising his fear-filled eyes to her.
“Lucky might come looking for me to take me back to his house.”
She knew then he’d been listening to her conversation with Tommy and Shane. She only hoped he hadn’t heard how worried they were for Angel.
“Yes, darling, he might,” Kathleen said. “But you are safe in here. Nobody will come into the building. So promise me you will stay with the other children.”
Kenny kicked at the snow. Jack came running back to them, and so he picked him up and held him close.
“I promise. Will you tell Angel I said thanks?”
Kathleen bent down and gave him a hug. “I will, darling. Now let’s get you back inside, before Jack and you freeze.”
She repeated the conversation to Sheila, making sure the girl knew the children were to remain inside, regardless of how much they begged to go and make snowmen. She hated the fear in the girl’s eyes, but every member of the staff had to be on alert. From what Tommy had said, Lucky wasn’t a man to be trifled with.