"I was going to do that." She pulled the picture out of her purse. It's only a little girl. She has nothing to do with Bonnie.

Relief rushed through her. "Not very pretty, is she?" The child in the photo was not smiling and had short red hair curling around a thin, triangular face. The only attractive feature she could claim were large hazel eyes, and even they were glaring out of the photograph. "She obviously didn't want her picture taken."

"Then she must have character. I never wanted my picture taken either."

Joe's gaze shifted to her face. "You're relieved. You were afraid she'd look like Bonnie."

"It seems Dom has a bad eye. She and Bonnie are nothing alike. Hell, maybe he's lying about everything. Maybe he never saw Bonnie."

"If he was around here then, he would have seen at least a photo of her. The media plastered her face all over."

Because she was pretty and sweet and loved life so much, she touched everyone who saw her, Eve thought. Not like Jane MacGuire, who was prone to strike out. "That Dom thinks I'd identify with her only proves how crazy he is. You didn't need to worry, Joe."

"That's nice. Maybe." He straightened in the driver's seat. "There she is. She just came out of the front entrance."

Jane MacGuire was small for ten, dressed in jeans, T-shirt, and tennis shoes. She wore a green book bag on her back and strode straight ahead without looking to either side.

No dawdling. No stopping to talk with friends as Bonnie had done. Bonnie had so many friends . . .

She wasn't being fair. Bonnie had always been surrounded by love and trust. Jane MacGuire had a right to be wary. But, God, she was glad the child was nothing like Bonnie. "She's reached the street. Start the car."

THE CREEP HAD a different car. Bigger. Newer. Gray instead of blue.

Or it could be another creep, Jane thought. The world was full of them.

She broke into a trot and darted around the corner.

She waited.

The gray car coasted slowly around the corner.

She tensed. Was it following her?

A man and woman? Maybe they're not creeps.

Or maybe they were. Better not take any chances. She climbed over the chain-link fence, ran across the yard, then scrambled over the far fence.

Out the gate that led to the alley.

She glanced over her shoulder.

No car.

Keep running.

Her heart was beating too hard.

Stop it. Don't ever let the creeps scare you. That's what they wanted. Scare you. Hurt you. Don't let them do it.

It was going to be okay.

Two more blocks and she'd be at Fay's house. Maybe she'd tell Fay about the creeps. Fay was like the teachers at school. As long as she understood the danger, she'd do what she could to help. It was only when she didn't understand that she--

Jane ran out of the alley into the street. The house was right ahead. Half a block.

She looked back over her shoulder, and her heart leaped into her throat.

Gray car. Turning the corner.

She hadn't lost them.

She flew down the street toward Fay's house.

Fay would keep her safe. She would call the cops and maybe they would care enough to come.

If they didn't, at least she wouldn't be alone. Fay would be there.

She ran up the steps, threw open the door, and slammed it closed behind her.

Safe. She was safe.

Maybe she was stupid to be scared. Maybe she wouldn't tell Fay.

That would be really stupid. She'd tell her. "Fay!"

No answer.

The house was silent.

Fay must be in the kitchen. She always made sure she was home when Jane and the boys returned from school.

Yes, Fay was in the kitchen. Jane was sure she heard the loose board near the sink creak.

But why hadn't she answered?

She slowly started across the living room toward the kitchen.

"Fay?"

"FAY SUGARTON ISN' T going to like this." Joe parked in front of the house. "She doesn't want us talking to the kid."

"Too bad. Dammit, we scared her. I'm not going to let her have nightmares about this." Eve opened the car door. "Fine tail you are. I told you not to let her know we were following."

"She's sharp." Joe got out of the car. "It's almost as if she was expecting it."

Eve glanced at him. "You think she knows she's being watched?"

"It seems we're going to have the opportunity to ask her." Joe climbed the steps and rang the doorbell. "If we can get Fay Sugarton to let us in the front door."

"She has no choice. She cares about the girl. It's not as if we're going to tell Jane about-- Why isn't she answering the door?"

Joe rang the bell again. "She said she was going to the grocery store. Maybe she's not home and the kid's too scared to answer."

"She's had hours to get home from the store." She tried the door. "It's locked."

"The kid." He thought about it. "Then again, maybe not. What the hell." He put his shoulder against the door and broke through it. "Illegal is better than--Shit!" He crumpled to the floor as a baseball bat struck his kneecaps.