Dive over the edge. Dive over the edge.

She dove over the edge and was enveloped in spray and flame as she hurtled toward the ground.

A scream tore from her throat as the fire reached out, enveloping her.

She's down.” Kerry grabbed Silver's arm. “I saw her hit the mat. Come on.”

“Right.” He shook his head to clear it. “Let's go.” He strode toward the crowd of firemen and medics gathered around the mat.

“Is she alive?” Kerry asked as she caught up with him. “Do you know if—”

“She's alive,” Silver interrupted. “I don't know how badly she's hurt. I broke with her after she jumped.” He pushed through the crowd until he could see Carmela. She was lying still and pale, curled up on the plastic as the medic placed an oxygen mask over her mouth and nose. Her clothes were in tatters, and the hair around her face was charred.

“She looks terrible,” Kerry whispered. “Poor kid.”

“Stubborn kid,” Silver said grimly. “I thought I'd never get her to dive off that roof. I finally had to go in and take over.”

“Why didn't you do that to begin with?”

“I didn't want to damage her. It's always possible when force is an issue.”

She looked at him. “And did you?”

“We'll see when she wakes up.”

“If she wakes up.” Kerry turned back to watch the medics working over the girl. Don't give up, Carmela. Trask wants you to give up. Don't let him win.

She's going to make it,” Silver said as he came back into the waiting room after talking to the emergency-room doctor. “Some second-degree burns on her back. Shock. Smoke inhalation.” He paused. “Mental disorientation.”

Kerry stiffened. “Damage?”

“I won't know until she rouses again. I don't think so.”

“But you don't know?”

“What do you want me to say? I'd like to reassure you, but I can't.” His lips tightened. “Hell, I'd like to reassure myself. Do you think I want that guilt hanging over me? She's only a kid.”

She felt a rush of sympathy as she saw his face. “You had to do it. You had no choice. She would have burned to death.”

“That's what I'm telling myself.” He moved over to the window. “You don't have to stay here. It may be hours before she wakes. I'll call you.”

He was hurting, and she suddenly knew she couldn't stand abandoning him. “I'll stay.”

“To hold my hand? That maternal streak surfacing again? I don't need it, Kerry.”

“Shut up.” She sat down again. “I'm staying.”

He looked back at her and then shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

He was tough, gruff, and often surly, but now she knew what lay beneath that defense. She leaned back against the wall. “Don't worry, I will.”

Carmela didn't rouse for another eight hours.

Kerry was half dozing when she saw Silver suddenly go rigid in his chair. “What?”

He didn't answer, his expression holding the same intensity he'd shown when Carmela was on the roof.

She waited, holding her breath.

It was ten minutes before Silver looked at her and smiled. “She's okay.”

Kerry let her breath out in a little rush. “No side effects?”

“No damage. She was a little worried because she thought she was hearing voices on the roof. I was able to convince her that it was shock that made her imagination go haywire. When she wakes up again, she'll believe that jumping was entirely her idea.”

“Good. I haven't seen her mother. Where is she?”

He shook his head. “She hasn't shown up.”

“Then maybe Carmela had good reason to run away. What mother would leave her daughter sick and alone in a hospital?” She stood up. “Let's go and ask if we can see her.”

“She won't know who we are.”

“That doesn't matter. I'll tell her we're from social services or something. I've thought about her, worried about her, ever since Trask told me he'd chosen his victim. I can't walk away without seeing her up close and personal.”

He rose to his feet. “Then by all means let's go visit the kid.”

I don't want to talk to you.” Carmela was gazing warily at Kerry. “And I'm not answering any questions.”

“No questions.” Kerry smiled. “We just dropped in to see if there was anything we could do.”

“You can get me out of this hospital. I can't afford it.”

“You don't have to worry. Your bill is being paid by the owner of the warehouse. He's just hoping you won't sue him.”

She frowned doubtfully. “Really?”

“I promise you won't get a bill,” Silver said. “Just concentrate on getting well.”

She was silent a moment. “Is he really worried I'll sue him? Do you suppose you could get a settlement from him?”

Kerry felt a twinge of disappointment. “Possibly. What did you have in mind?”

“Not much. Just enough to set me up in an apartment and keep us going until I get a job.”

“Us?”

“I want my sister, Rosa, with me.” Her hands clenched on the sheet. “I promised her.”

“And how old is Rosa?”

“Twelve.”

“Then she's a minor just as you are,” Kerry said. “The courts aren't going to let her leave your mother. They'll probably insist on you returning.”

“No!” She drew a deep breath. “I'm not going back.”

“Why not?”

“I don't have to tell you anything. I just don't want to.”

“That's not an acceptable reason.”

“She won't want me back. I was in the way.” She moistened her lips. “Rosa's in the way too. She's better off with me.”

“Why is she in the way?”

“She just is.” She gazed at Kerry defiantly. “Now, you find out if you can get that money out of that warehouse owner. But don't tell my mother.”

“Because she'd take it?” Silver asked.

“I didn't say that,” Carmela said. “Don't you try to get my mother in trouble. None of this is her fault.”

“Then whose fault is it?” Kerry asked.

“The boyfriend,” Silver said suddenly. “What's his name? Don . . . Harvey?”

Carmela eyes widened. “How the hell do you know about Don?”

Kerry glanced at Silver.

He shrugged. “The police had to go to the apartment to inform your mother about what happened to you. Harvey lives with your mother. Right?”

She hesitated. “Yes.”

“And that's the reason you left home.”

“It's not her fault. She needs someone and she can't help—She's lonely. We're not enough for her.”

“You don't like him?”

She glared at him. “I don't want to answer any questions about Mom and Don.”

“Your mother's not here. She's had plenty of time to make the trip after she was told you were injured.”

“She's got a job. They probably wouldn't let her off work.”

Kerry was beginning to actively dislike Carmela's mother. “I'm sure you're right.”

“I don't want to talk anymore.” Carmela closed her eyes. “If you want to help, you just see if you can get me that money.”

“We do want to help,” Kerry said gently. “You rest and do what the staff tells you and we'll see what we can do.” She gestured to Silver as she started for the door. “Maybe there's a way out for Rosa.”

“You don't have to find a way out. I found it. I'll take care of my sister. If you can't get her out, I will.” Carmela's eyes opened as the door started to close behind them. “Now, you find me money to support her.”

“What happened with her mother?” Kerry asked Silver as they walked down the hall. “I assume you didn't find out about her boyfriend from George or Ledbruk?”

He shook his head. “It's all she can think about right now. She's worried about her sister.”

“Let me guess. Her mother's boyfriend raped Carmela?”

He nodded. “And her mother wouldn't believe her when she told her. She didn't want her relationship jeopardized by an uncomfortable truth. Carmela took off two days later, but she's afraid for her younger sister.”

Kerry felt sick. “She's only twelve.”

“And Carmela is fifteen. Not much difference.”

Kerry shook her head. “But refusing to face facts and rejecting a daughter who's been hurt are two different things. I can't believe she didn't come when the authorities told her that Carmela was here.”