Dorian identified three almost immediately, two from what she said they called the Pretty Ones, and another from the Slave/Pet area.
In the middle of another group, she burst into sobs. “She’s dead, she’s dead. I didn’t know her name, but they said she hung herself, with her sheets. And Auntie was really mad, and somebody said the floor matron on her level got beat up bad. It’s how Mina heard about the tunnels, I think. It’s hard to remember, but I think, because Mina heard they took her body out that way to where they burn it up.”
“This is so hard, and you’re doing so much.” Peabody’s voice soothed like a cooling balm. “Can you remember when this happened? How long ago?”
“I don’t think I’d been there very long. I mean not like right away, but I think it was when some of the matrons and guards bitched about how cold it was, for this time of year or something.”
“Okay, that’s good. That really helps.”
“She’s dead. Mina’s dead, and that other girl’s dead, too. How does it help?”
“It helps all the others,” Peabody told her. “Everything you can tell us helps all the others. But if you want to stop, we can stop and come back to it.”
“I want to forget it happened. I was happy when I forgot.”
“But it did happen,” Eve reminded her. “So let’s pay them back. But we can give it a rest. You’ve given us plenty to start with. We can do more tomorrow.”
Eyes still flooded, Dorian turned to Sebastian. “She said I can’t go back with you.”
“She’s right.”
“It’s not fair.”
“It doesn’t feel fair, I know. Too much isn’t fair. But we all need to do what’s best for you.”
“She said there’s this school, but—”
Holding up a hand to stop Dorian, Sebastian turned to Eve. “Do you mean An Didean?”
“That’s the idea,” Eve confirmed, and Sebastian sent her a look of profound gratitude.
“Dorian, this is a gift, an opportunity I hope you’ll be smart enough to embrace. I’ve been to this school.” He flicked a glance at Eve. “I was curious. It’s not just safe, and that’s incredibly important right now. It’s everything you could ask for. A superior education, and you’ll be taught by people who care. Practical education as well, the arts, everything. Nothing, I think, can truly make up for everything that’s happened to you, but this is your crossroads. Do you understand? It’s your chance to try a new, exciting path. I believe, absolutely, you’d be very happy there.”
“I’d rather be with you.”
“Mavis, I think you might have said the same at one time. But—”
“But.” Mavis nodded. “Sebastian gave me something I’d never had before. Somewhere no one wanted to hurt me. He gave me fun, and a freedom I needed so much. But it’s only a kind of springboard. I never had the chance to choose something like this. I might’ve been too scared to take it. I hope you’re tougher than I was.”
“She said maybe Mouser could go with me, but only maybe.”
“You would take him?” Sebastian said quietly. “Knowing nothing of him?”
“I said I’d see what I could do,” Eve began.
“Consider it done,” Roarke said. “But there are rules, and you’d both have to obey them. What you’re doing here is for all of them.” Roarke gestured to the screen. “What you do at An Didean is for all who go there. You and your friend have to agree to that.”
“We’ll need to put a couple cops in there,” Eve added. “For protection.”
“I’ll contact Rochelle. We’ll work it out.”
“Can you come see me?” Dorian asked Sebastian. “She says I can’t leave until they get Auntie and all of them. It could be forever.”
“I’ll check in on you, but it won’t be forever. You’re helping make sure of that. I’m very proud of you. I’m going to go talk to Mouser now. If he agrees, and I think he will, I can bring him to the school. Is that acceptable?”
“I need a name—a legit name,” Eve insisted. “If he has family—”
“I believe he does, but not the sort you, being who you are, would subject him to. He’s only eleven, and though he’s pushed his way through most of the emotional scars, he still has physical ones. I expect that’s something you’ll want to deal with at some point.”
“At some point,” Eve agreed. If the kid made the difference for Dorian right now, she’d take the kid. “If he was abused or endangered, we’ll deal with whoever’s responsible. I need his legal name to do that. Tell him no bullshit.”
“So I will.” Sebastian rose, held out a hand to Eve. “I know our methods are dramatically different, but we have considerable common ground on the ultimate goal. Thank you for your … creativity and flexibility in this.”
“It only goes so far.” But she took his hand.
“Understood. Mavis can contact me when you’re ready for Mouser. Thank you all.” He opened his arms for Dorian. “You’re strong and brave, and you have such a bright future ahead of you. I’ll see you soon.”
She clung to him another moment, and whispered in his ear, “I’ll never tell them where you are.”
“I know. Strong, brave, and true.”
He left quickly. Dorian shoved tears away with the heels of her hands as she looked at Roarke. “She says you can get me a lawyer to sue the shit out of Ms. Truman. Can you really?”
Roarke lifted his eyebrows. “First, she has a name, and it’s polite to use it. Second, I can arrange for that, yes. We’ll get you settled in the school first.”
“I guess you’ve got lots of money.”
“It happens I do. It also happens I spent the first years of my life very much like you. On the streets, and getting the boot or fist at home. I decided I wanted a different kind of life, so I made one. You have a chance to do the same.”
He rose. “I’ll contact Rochelle and she’ll take care of what needs doing.”
When he walked outside, Dorian turned to Eve. “I can do more, I guess.”
“Peabody, arrange for a detail at the school. We’ll take one more group,” she told Dorian. “And that’s enough for tonight. Detective Yancy—that’s the police artist—will come to you tomorrow. One more group, then Roarke and I will take you to the school.”
“If Mouser doesn’t come—”
“One thing at a time, kid. Let’s do the next group, then call it for now.”
Eve ignored the headache while Dorian identified two more.
“Okay, that’s it for now. We’re going to walk back to Central, get my ride.”
“I had it brought down,” Roarke told her. “It seemed easier.”
“Yeah, great, fine. Thanks for all this,” she said to Mavis and Leonardo. “I’ll be in touch.”
“If anyone can help those children, it’s you.” Leonardo enfolded her before Eve could evade. As he embraced her, Mavis pinned Dorian with a look.
“Somebody just handed you a mega op. Don’t blow it. I’m saying that as somebody who might’ve been whacked enough to blow it in the back time.”
“You weren’t that whacked,” Eve said simply. “Let’s go.”
When they stepped outside, Dorian took one look at Eve’s DLE. “Man-o, that’s one totally out car. Doesn’t look like it’d drive over five.”
“In the back, strap in.”
After the required eye roll, Dorian settled in. “Hey, you got an AC back here. That’s prime. I can get another fizzy.”
“No.” Eve shot through the gates and prayed to any deity who’d listen to help her carve her way through traffic and get this done.
Roarke shifted. “There’ll be a meal for you and your friend at the school.”
She sneered at that. “Like veggie hash or soy surprise.”
“The surprise there is that anyone would eat either of those if they had a choice.” As that got a grin, Roarke did what he could to engage Dorian in conversation while Eve pushed through traffic.
Eve figured she owed him all kinds of monkey sex.
Still, when they pulled up in front of the quietly dignified building that housed An Didean, Dorian’s shoulders hunched.
“Give it a day,” Roarke suggested. “If you’re unhappy, we’ll try something else.”
Not wanting to risk the chance of having to chase the reluctant kid down the street, Eve hit vertical, shot over several vehicles, and dropped into a loading zone.
“Frost-tee!”
“A lesson in judging by appearances,” Roarke said as Eve flipped on her On Duty light.
“Don’t make me chase you,” Eve warned, and got out on the sidewalk. To make sure, she took a good grip on Dorian’s arm with Roarke flanking the other side as they walked to the front doors.
Roarke buzzed in, and Rochelle waited in the entrance hall, with Crack beside her.
As far as imposing went, they hit top level.
He owned and ran a downtown sex club, but obviously hadn’t dressed for work. Worn jeans and a black tee showed off an ultra-fit body. His shaved skull gleamed in the lights.
“Hey, skinny white girl.”
“Hey back, buff Black man.”
Before Eve could say more, he grinned at Dorian. “And hey, cutie.”
Rather than speak, Dorian edged a little closer to Roarke.
“Welcome, Dorian. I’m Rochelle Pickering, and this is my friend Wilson. Why don’t I show you around? The day students are gone until morning. We have summer classes and activities,” she explained. “The live-in students have finished dinner and have free time.”
“They said Mouser would come.”
“Yes, your friend Tom. He’s on his way. I thought you’d want to wait and have dinner together when he gets here.”
“He’s really coming?”
“Yes, he is. It’ll be good for both of you to have a friend as you start a new school, but I think you’ll make more friends here. Why don’t we go up, take a look at your room? I can show you some of the classrooms and other areas on the way.”
Eve decided, with considerable relief, to let Rochelle handle things as Dorian stepped toward her.
Rochelle, in a quiet blue suit, her hair wild dark curls, took Dorian’s hand. And continued to talk, in a voice as quiet as the suit, as she led the girl away.
“She’s got it,” Crack said. “My Ro knows what to do.”
“I need the kid secure. I’ve got two officers coming in to make sure of it.”
“Yeah, we got that, too. I’m staying until they get here. No one’s getting through me to hurt that child.”
And that, Eve could trust and believe.
Still she stayed, walked through areas, noted kids gathered here and there in the common areas, others jamming in the music room. A lot of space to secure, she thought, but then Roarke had secured it.
She could trust and believe that, too.
She sized up the two officers in plain clothes when they arrived, and decided Peabody had chosen well. Though Peabody had briefed them, Eve briefed them again.
Then got her first look at Mouser.
Sebastian led him in. A scrawny, sharp-eyed kid a full head shorter than Dorian. Obviously hastily cleaned up and carrying a small duffel.
“I need to look in there.”
Mouser stared holes in her. “Got a warrant?”
Sebastian merely tapped his shoulder.
“Cops,” the boy muttered, but opened the duffel.
She found some rough clothes, a tablet with a cracked screen, a tattered graphic novel, a magnifying glass, a toothbrush, a little tin box holding some shiny rocks, a half-empty bag of gummy candy, and a hidden pocket with thirty-two dollars in cash along with an obviously homemade beggar’s license.
She pulled out the license, said, “Really?” and pocketed it before she handed him back the duffel.
“Bogus” was his opinion.
“Name’s Crack.” Crack shot out a hand, took the boy’s, shook it. “I’m going to show you around. Dorian’s up checking out her room.”
The kid drew himself up to his full height, poked out his chest. “Anybody messes with her messes with me.”
“Get in line,” Crack advised. “I’ve got him,” he told Eve.
“Don’t disappoint me.” Sebastian laid a hand on Mouser’s head. “And, more important, don’t disappoint yourself.”
Sebastian watched them walk off, then took a disc out of his pocket. “His legal name is Thomas Grantly. You’ll certainly run his file, but this has most of it. He survived and escaped a nightmare. I’m trusting you not to send him back to one.”
“I’ll make the determination when I read his background, but until we shut down this Academy, he’s here. If Dorian takes off, manages to get out and find her way back to you, I’ll find her, and you and I will be on opposite sides of this.”
“And rightfully so. You can’t save them all, and neither can I, but we each try in our own way.”
He handed Eve a small bag. “This is what she was wearing when Mouser found her. We didn’t wash any of it as I normally would have because it all seemed off. And the shirt and pants were torn in any case.
“I’ll leave it at that, and leave those children in good hands.”
Eve watched him go. “How many street thieves, B and E men, grifters, and frauds has he trained over the years?”
“How many lost children has he saved from abuse and misery?”
“That’s not his job.”
“Perhaps not, but it’s certainly his vocation. And he’s given two into your care because he knows he isn’t enough to keep them safe. Let that part go for now, Eve. You’ve enough to deal with.”
“You’re right.” She opened the bag Sebastian had given her. “Uniform—with the sex gear under it. It’s all already been handled, damn it, but Harvo might find something. I need to take these to the lab, call her back in, and…”
She paused as she riffled through. “Something stuck in the pants pocket.”
Using the fabric, she pushed it out. “Jesus, it’s a swipe. A broken swipe. Just a piece of one. Broke when she fell, maybe in the tunnels, maybe outside. And we’ve got a piece of it.”
“Let’s have a look.”
“Don’t touch it!”
“I know the ropes, Lieutenant. It might be enough to give us some data.”
She zipped it all back up when she heard footsteps and voices.
Like a little damn parade, she thought. Rochelle, Crack, the two kids, the two cops, all chatting away.
“We’re heading to the kitchen for some dinner,” Rochelle began. “Can you join us?”
“No, but thanks. I need to get back to it.” Eve looked at Dorian. “Detective Yancy will be here in the morning. If you remember or think of anything more in the meantime, either of these officers can contact me.”
“I like my room.”
“Yay.”
“It doesn’t lock from the outside.”
She felt that, deep in her guts, but spoke casually.
“It’s a school, not a prison. Tell me about the swipe card in your pocket.”
“The swipe?” The puzzled frown went to wide-eyed shock. “Matron’s card! I forgot! I—I was going to drop it on the ground, like maybe she just dropped it, but then I thought we might need it again, so I kept it. Maybe if I’d dropped it, they wouldn’t have known we got out. Maybe if—”
“Ifs mean dick, but here’s another. If you don’t think they had cams and alarms in the tunnel, you’re not as smart as you look.”
Mouser put an arm around Dorian. “Cops blow wide.”
“Oh, golly, the sting!” Ignoring him, Eve met Dorian’s eyes again. “There’s no ifs on anything you did with what happened to Mina. It’s all on them. Whatever you forget, don’t forget that. Go eat.”
“Crack says they’ve got cow burgers. We’ve never had one.”
“Go have a cow burger. Any questions, problems, you know how to reach me,” she told Rochelle. “Thanks for making room.”
“We always do.”
Eve stepped outside, pulled out her com. “I’m going to bag the clothes, have a pair of officers take it to the lab. Contact Harvo on it. I’ll bag the broken card, take it home. Contact Feeney.”
“Make the contacts. I’ll play Peabody and bag your evidence.”
It took time before the black-and-white pulled up for the pass off, but Eve thought she’d bought a little of that time.
She had the kid secured, and a fresh flood of information, fresh evidence in the clothes and the broken card. And if anyone could finesse a description out of a wit that led to an ID, it was Yancy.
When Roarke got behind the wheel, she settled into the passenger’s seat.
“Maybe I should push for Yancy to start with her tonight.”
“No. Give her the time there. A good meal, her friend, time to feel safe and get a decent night’s sleep. She’ll be clearer on it tomorrow.”
“Maybe, maybe. I need to tie this up tight so the feds can’t unravel it. Putting her in there rather than a safe house or in the system, they’re going to make some noise.”
“You’ll make the case it’s safe and secure, and your victim, your witness, will be more cooperative. And emotionally steadier—Mira would back you there.”
“Good thought. I’ll talk to her.”
Roarke stilled her hand before she could pull out her ’link. “Take a blocker for the headache.” He flipped open a little case. “And close your eyes for five damn minutes.”
Rather than argue, she took the blocker, but then shook her head. “I can’t stop. I need to get things nailed down.”
She contacted Mira.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your evening, but I need to bring you up to date. I’ll write it up as soon as possible, but I’ve taken some … liberties.”
She ran it through, start to finish, answering when Mira questioned, holding nothing back. She felt it pushing, pushing, pushing, the desperate need to break. Just break.
Couldn’t. Just couldn’t.
“The child is safe, secured, guarded?”
“Yes.”
“Moreover, the child feels safe, and is with trained professionals after a horrific and traumatizing experience. By securing her in this environment, you’ve gained her trust, and her cooperation. I’d strongly recommend she continue to stay in that environment and work with the very skilled counselors, instructors, and therapists provided to students. I would like to speak with her personally tomorrow, and will make the time to do so.”
“Thanks.”
“You did what was right for her, this minor child, in these circumstances.”
“The other kid—”
“Is helping your victim and key witness feel safe,” Mira finished. “And has no bearing on the investigation otherwise. I would like a copy of his file, but see no reason to include him in any report to the FBI as applies to this specific investigation.”
“I have to leave that up to the commander.” Another hole in the gut, Eve thought. “I’ll be bringing him up to date shortly.”
“Of course. Suggestion?”
“Sure.”
“Request a holo-briefing. It’s closer to in person. And take some time to clear your head.”
“All right. I’ll get you the written as soon as I can.”
“Take your time with that. I have enough from the oral to back you on this, and I will. Take some time.”
Haven’t got it, Eve thought, but said, “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”
She saw, with twinges of both exhaustion and relief, the gates to home open.
“How much of her advice will you take?”
“The holo-briefing’s a solid idea. And she’s right about the other kid. Right now, he’s none of the feds’ business. I gotta read his file, make sure I’m not getting smoke blown up my ass.”
He stopped the car, shifted to her. “You’re going to take a breath, and you’re going to have a meal.”
“I’ll eat something after I brief Whitney. I can’t, okay, I can’t. Nothing would stay down until I know how he reacts, what he orders.”
She’d gotten paler and paler on the drive, and not just from fatigue, he knew. From the stress of blurring her rules and regs. From the sickness he imagined lived inside her from hearing Dorian’s story.
So he nodded.
“Then we’ll set up the holo first.”
“You can start on the swipe? See if you can dig anything out of it.”
“I will. But I can’t be expected to do my best work if I’m worried about you.”
“That’s a cheap way to get me to eat.”
“Not when it’s true.”
They walked inside together to the looming Summerset and the cat. Whatever Summerset started to say, he swallowed it back after one glance at Eve’s face.
“Welcome home. The pasta and meatballs is particularly good tonight.”
“Just the thing,” Roarke said as he steered Eve toward the stairs. “Thank you.”
Summerset looked down at the cat. “I expect the lieutenant could use your company. She will push herself beyond reason,” he added as the cat streaked toward the stairs.
“Let’s just get this done.” Get it over, Eve thought. “I’ll make the request, and hope he’s available.”
“He’ll make himself available when you tell him you’ve secured Dorian Gregg.”
“Yeah, I’ll lead with that.”
She used her comm, on text mode.
Commander, Dorian Gregg has been located and is now secured. I have conducted a lengthy interview, and will write up same. I would prefer to give you an oral briefing as soon as possible by holo, as I made several concessions and agreements in order to secure Gregg and obtain her full cooperation. Dallas, Lt. Eve.
Roarke handed her a glass. “Water—just water. Coffee later.”
“Fine.” She gulped it down while she studied the board and waited. “A lot of updating to do here.” Because she wanted more information, she plugged the disc on Thomas Grantly into her comp.
“The kid’s from Buffalo, for God’s sake. He—”
She broke off, read. Then sighed it out as Roarke set up for the briefing.
“Father liked to beat the crap out of the kid, and the mother. Mother liked to self-medicate. Looks like she tried to clean up a couple times, and they put the kid back with her. A lot of medical on both of them. Broken bones, concussions, then he took to burning the son. Getting back with the mother, then going on his rage-fest. Jesus, we got photos of the burns. Favored the torso, the belly. Finally got busted, he’s still in. It’s looking like the mother went back on the juice, took off. OD’d in some flophouse. When they found her—dead a couple days—ID’d her, went to look for the kid, he was gone.”
She broke off again when her comm signaled.
“Whitney says five minutes.” She took a long, slow breath. “All right, I’ve got it from here. You should hit the lab.”
“He may have some questions for me regarding the school and its security.”
“Right.”
“Stand with the board behind you, Eve.”
“What?”
“Stand with the board behind you, the young girls behind you. Stand there as you stand for them.”