"You've got to be better than your mother." She hopped up on a stool at the breakfast bar.

"You might change your mind. I haven't had much experience."

They ate in companionable silence.

"I can help," Jane suddenly offered. "I did most of the cooking in one foster home I was in."

"Was that at the Carbonis? Mrs. Eisley said you had a rough time with them."

"I did okay." Jane finished her sandwich. "You want me to help clean up?"

"There's not much to do. I can handle it." She had an idea. "Logan says there's a good library. I don't know if there's anything that you might want to read, but--"

"Books?" Her face lit up. "There are books here?"

"So Logan says."

Jane quickly covered the flicker of excitement. "I might take a look at them. There's probably nothing else to do." She got down from the stool, took her plate to the sink, and turned on the water. "Logan likes you. Do you sleep with him?"

Eve blinked. For God's sake, the kid was only ten. Ten but no child, Eve reminded herself. She'd probably been through more in her short life than a woman of thirty. "That's none of your business."

Jane shrugged. "He's doing a lot for us. I just wondered if you have to pay him."

Sex for pay. Another aspect of life on the streets. Day-to-day contact with prostitutes had been a part of Eve's childhood, and, of course, Jane had been exposed to the same life. "No, Logan's my friend. Friends don't ask to be paid. He's a good guy." She added with a smile, "And he's not a crook."

"I didn't really think he was. I just wondered if I could piss him off."

"Jane."

"He didn't mind. He's pretty tough. Where's the library?"

"I have no idea."

She started for the door. "I'll find it."

"If you don't mind, take your books to another room after you choose them. I need to work at the computer."

"Why?"

"I need to see if I can access back issues of the local newspaper."

"Oh, to find that murdered woman?"

She nodded. "I don't have a lot to go on. Dom was very careful not to give me too much information. Just that the murder happened five or six months ago, she was a singer, and that her body hasn't been found. So I'm looking for a disappearance, not a murder."

"I'll stay out of your way." Jane vanished down the hall.

At least she didn't have to worry about keeping the child amused. It was clear Jane was an avid reader and eager to find the library. As for Eve, she'd grab a shower, change into jeans and a shirt, and hit the computer.

"YOU WANT ANY coffee?" Jane put the carafe and a cup down on the desk beside Eve. "It's pretty strong. I don't know how to make it any other way."

"That's fine." Eve leaned back in the chair and rubbed her eyes. "You didn't have to do this."

"If I'd had to, I wouldn't have." Jane curled up in a leather chair across the room. "You're not finding anything, are you?"

Eve shook her head. "I've gone back seven months. Maybe he was lying to me." She poured coffee. "It's after midnight. You should be in bed."

"Why?"

"Aren't you tired?"

Jane lifted her chin. "Aren't you?"

She was too tired for challenges at the moment. She made a face. "Yes, maybe I'll put you to work on this and go to bed."

"I'll try. But we work on Macs at school. What's that computer?"

"A Logan." Kids these days were so far ahead of where Eve had been at the same age.

"Logan?"

"John Logan makes computers."

"Like Bill Gates?"

"Sort of. But hardware, not software. And they're nothing alike. Did you find something to read?"

She nodded. "A book about some scientists who are trying to locate Troy. It's pretty cool." She paused. "And a book about forensic sculpting. You told me that's what you do for a living. Does it belong to you?"

"No, Logan hired me to work on a case and he believes in doing his research."

"The pictures are icky."

Eve nodded.

"Can you really do that?"

"I really can."

"Why?"

"It's my job. And sometimes I can help make parents feel a little better about losing someone."

"They should just go on and not think about them."

"Is that what you do?"

"Sure. Why not?" Jane stared at her defiantly. "I haven't thought about Fay since he killed her. She's dead. Why should I?"

Eve stared skeptically at her.

"It's true. I've thought about the creep who did it but not her." She got to her feet. "I'm going to bed." She strode out of the room.

So full of pain. What would it take to get such a damaged child to lower the walls she'd built around herself? Eve mustn't try to overcome that barrier. It would be the most dangerous course to follow just then.