itself,” she says so quietly that only I can hear her.
“Maybe history repeats itself to give us a second chance to do the right thing,” I say.
“It doesn’t add up,” the officer says loudly. Her colleague rolls his eyes, hitching his thumbs on his belt.
“Jami,” he says, his tone ripe with condescension, “this is Malcolm MacLaine. You know who he is.”
“Oh, I know. So does the chief and everyone else.” Her lips purse as she shakes her head.
“So, we should probably let them sort this out. It seems to be a family matter,” he says carefully.
“No!” The word spills from both me and Ginny at once.
“You know who we are,” Ginny continues, pointing her nose in the air. “I’m pressing charges. She doesn’t even live here anymore. She came to my daughter’s dance studio today and threatened me. I’m not safe.” With each word, she trembles more like she’s working herself up.
“I think they’re right,” Malcolm says gently. “We don’t want this to get ugly.”
By ugly he means that he doesn’t want this leaking to the press, affecting his campaign prospects, doing more damage to our floundering family fortunes.
“It’s going to get ugly, MacLaine,” Sterling says, finally speaking. “You know that.”
“I’m sure something can be arranged,” he says with a dismissive wave.
“No, some things in life can’t be bought and sold. You’d know that if you were a—”
“And you’re an expert?” Malcolm interrupts with a sneer that carves his face like a jack-o-lantern.
“No one cares that she was just going to make off with our child in the middle of the night?” Ginny stomps a foot. “There is nothing to work out as a family. She might as well be dead to us. Now give me back…”
“No!” Ellie shrieks, clawing at my shoulders as Ginny tries to take her away from me.
“Stop,” I beg Ginny as she tugs relentlessly. I finally release Ellie, scared she’ll be hurt.
“I don’t want to go with you!” Ellie yells. “You said if I was good and I stayed put, I could go with Auntie Dair when she found me. I want to go with her.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, darling,” Ginny says quickly. “You were waiting for Aunt Adair, right? She said she was going to come and get you.”
“You said it.” Ellie shakes her head, her jaw jutting out. “You said when Auntie Dair found me, I would go with her, and to give her the bag, but I could only go if I kept it a secret and stayed quiet as a mouse.”
“You unbelievable bitch,” Sterling says under his breath. Ellie’s eyes widen at the use of no-words, but before she can correct him, Jami holds out her arms.
“I think I should have a little talk with Ellie.” She looks at me. “If that’s okay with you?”
I nod, swallowing at the raw lump that forms when she asks me. Not Ginny. Not Malcolm. Me. Maybe it won’t change anything. But it means everything in this moment.
“I do not consent,” Ginny starts.
“Virginia,” Malcolm cuts her off through gritted teeth. “Do as the officer requests.”
“I’m going with her,” she says defiantly. The officer looks to me for permission again. I nod.
“Can I go to bed?” Ellie asks the officer. “I’m so sleepy.”
“How about I tuck you in?” Jami says.
“Can Auntie come, too?”
Ginny stiffens, but I smile reassuringly. “I’ll come up in a few minutes. I need to talk to Sterling.”
“How rude of me,” Ellie says, yawning widely, while fluttering her hand at him. “It’s nice to see you, Mr. Ford.”
Sterling’s hand reaches for mine, and I hear the slight break in his voice as he responds, “Sleep well, Ellie.”
Ellie will be safe, and Ginny’s come too unglued to realize that everything out of her mouth only incriminates her more. Still, watching the officer carry her up the stairs feels like an out of body experience.
“I think you need to answer a few questions, too,” the remaining officer says. “How did you know where the little girl was? This is a very big house. Mrs. MacLaine seems to think that’s a big coincidence, and so do I.”
I hope that having one of the officers believe me cancels out his determination to bootlick my brother and his wife. I’m too tired tonight to fight it. Although, I know I’ll never sleep. I’m not sure I’ll rest again while Ellie remains under this roof.
“A hunch,” I murmur. “She hid where I hid as a little girl.”