"Easy." His hand covered hers on the table. "One way or the other, we'll get the records tonight."

She tried to smile. "I suppose if she won't help, you'll pull a Watergate at the welfare office?"

"Possibly."

He meant it. Her smile faded. "No, Joe. I don't want you to get into trouble."

"Hey, if you're good, you don't get caught. You don't get caught, you're not in trouble."

"Simplistic."

"The whole world should be so simple. I'd say the life of a kid is worth a little risk. If you're persuasive enough, it may not be necessary for me to turn burglar. Who knows, Barbara Eisley may not be as tough as Mark claims. She could be a pussycat."

"HELL, NO," Barbara Eisley said. "I don't open those records for anyone. I'm up for my pension next year and I'm not taking any chances."

Barbara Eisley was definitely no pussycat, Eve thought in discouragement. From the moment Grunard had introduced them, she'd avoided talking about the files. When Joe finally pinned her down after dessert, she responded with the bluntness of a hammer blow.

"Now, Barbara." Grunard smiled at her. "You know that no one is going to jerk your pension for a little infringement involving a child's life. Besides, you've been with the department too long."

"Bull. I'm not diplomatic enough for the mayor or city council. They're just waiting for a reason to bounce me out of my job. The only reason I've lasted this long is that I know where a couple of political bodies are buried." She stared accusingly at Mark. "And you quoted me on that child abuse case two years ago. It made my department look negligent."

"But it caused extensive reform. That's what you wanted."

"And put my ass in hot water. I should have kept my mouth shut. I don't take risks like that anymore. I do everything by the book. I help you do this today, and tomorrow they find a way to use it against me. I'm not going to end up without a pension. I've visited too many old people in public housing trying to survive. That's not going to be me."

"Then why did you accept Mark's invitation?" Joe asked.

"Free dinner." She shrugged. "And I was curious." She turned to Eve. "I've read about you, but the media is sometimes full of hot air. I wanted to see for myself how you'd turned out. Do you remember me?"

"I think so. But you've changed."

"So have you." She studied Eve's face. "You were a tough little kid. I remember I tried to talk to you once and you just stared at me. I thought you'd be hooking or dealing by the time you were fourteen. I would have liked to have made another try with you, but I had too many cases." She added wearily, "There are always too many cases. Too many kids. And most of the time we can't help them. We take them away and the court gives them right back to their parents."

"But you try."

"Because I'm too stupid to give up hope. You'd think after all these years I'd learn, wouldn't you? You turned out all right, but it was nothing I did."

"You must make a difference sometimes."

"I guess so."

"You could make a difference this time. You could save a little girl."

"Get a court order. If it's that important, there should be no problem."

"We can't do that. I've told you I can't go through channels."

Barbara Eisley was silent.

"Okay, you won't give us the records, but maybe you remember something about this child," Joe said.

An undefinable expression crossed her face. "I don't handle casework any longer. I have too much paperwork."

Eve leaned forward. "But you do remember something."

Eisley was silent a moment. "I had to authorize taking a little girl out of a foster home two years ago. The couple who was caring for her claimed she was disruptive and disobedient. I had to bring the child in and interview her. She wouldn't talk to me, but she was covered with bruises. I checked her medical record and she'd been taken to Grady Hospital twice with broken bones during the last year. I gave permission for her to be removed from the home. I also removed the foster parents from our rolls." She smiled. "I remember thinking she must have been a gutsy little kid. She kept on giving those bastards hell."

"What's her name?"

She ignored Eve's question. "She was a smart kid. High IQ, did well in school. She probably figured they'd give her up as a meal ticket if she caused enough trouble."

"You placed her with another family?"

"We had no choice. Most of our foster parents aren't abusive. Sometimes we make mistakes. We can only do our best."

"Tell me her name."

Eisley shook her head. "Not without a court order. What if I was wrong?"

"What if you were right? She could die, dammit."

"I've spent my entire life trying to help kids. Now I've got to think of myself."

"Please."

She shook her head again. "I've worked too hard. I still work hard." She paused. "You'd think in my position I wouldn't have to take work home." She nodded at her briefcase beside her chair. "But I had some old files on a computer disk to review, so here I go again."

Hope flared inside Eve. "That's too bad."

"It goes with the territory." She stood up. "It's been an interesting evening. Sorry I can't help you." She smiled. "I believe I have to go to the rest room. I suppose you'll be gone when I come back. I hope you find the little girl." Her gaze narrowed on Eve. "I just remembered, the kid reminded me a little of you. She stared at me with those big eyes and I thought she'd go on the attack any minute. Same tough little--Something wrong?"