Desperation in Death (In Death #55)(78)

Not wanting to risk the chance of having to chase the reluctant kid down the street, Eve hit vertical, shot over several vehicles, and dropped into a loading zone.

“Frost-tee!”

“A lesson in judging by appearances,” Roarke said as Eve flipped on her On Duty light.

“Don’t make me chase you,” Eve warned, and got out on the sidewalk. To make sure, she took a good grip on Dorian’s arm with Roarke flanking the other side as they walked to the front doors.

Roarke buzzed in, and Rochelle waited in the entrance hall, with Crack beside her.

As far as imposing went, they hit top level.

He owned and ran a downtown sex club, but obviously hadn’t dressed for work. Worn jeans and a black tee showed off an ultra-fit body. His shaved skull gleamed in the lights.

“Hey, skinny white girl.”

“Hey back, buff Black man.”

Before Eve could say more, he grinned at Dorian. “And hey, cutie.”

Rather than speak, Dorian edged a little closer to Roarke.

“Welcome, Dorian. I’m Rochelle Pickering, and this is my friend Wilson. Why don’t I show you around? The day students are gone until morning. We have summer classes and activities,” she explained. “The live-in students have finished dinner and have free time.”

“They said Mouser would come.”

“Yes, your friend Tom. He’s on his way. I thought you’d want to wait and have dinner together when he gets here.”

“He’s really coming?”

“Yes, he is. It’ll be good for both of you to have a friend as you start a new school, but I think you’ll make more friends here. Why don’t we go up, take a look at your room? I can show you some of the classrooms and other areas on the way.”

Eve decided, with considerable relief, to let Rochelle handle things as Dorian stepped toward her.

Rochelle, in a quiet blue suit, her hair wild dark curls, took Dorian’s hand. And continued to talk, in a voice as quiet as the suit, as she led the girl away.

“She’s got it,” Crack said. “My Ro knows what to do.”

“I need the kid secure. I’ve got two officers coming in to make sure of it.”

“Yeah, we got that, too. I’m staying until they get here. No one’s getting through me to hurt that child.”

And that, Eve could trust and believe.

Still she stayed, walked through areas, noted kids gathered here and there in the common areas, others jamming in the music room. A lot of space to secure, she thought, but then Roarke had secured it.

She could trust and believe that, too.

She sized up the two officers in plain clothes when they arrived, and decided Peabody had chosen well. Though Peabody had briefed them, Eve briefed them again.

Then got her first look at Mouser.

Sebastian led him in. A scrawny, sharp-eyed kid a full head shorter than Dorian. Obviously hastily cleaned up and carrying a small duffel.

“I need to look in there.”

Mouser stared holes in her. “Got a warrant?”

Sebastian merely tapped his shoulder.

“Cops,” the boy muttered, but opened the duffel.

She found some rough clothes, a tablet with a cracked screen, a tattered graphic novel, a magnifying glass, a toothbrush, a little tin box holding some shiny rocks, a half-empty bag of gummy candy, and a hidden pocket with thirty-two dollars in cash along with an obviously homemade beggar’s license.

She pulled out the license, said, “Really?” and pocketed it before she handed him back the duffel.

“Bogus” was his opinion.

“Name’s Crack.” Crack shot out a hand, took the boy’s, shook it. “I’m going to show you around. Dorian’s up checking out her room.”

The kid drew himself up to his full height, poked out his chest. “Anybody messes with her messes with me.”

“Get in line,” Crack advised. “I’ve got him,” he told Eve.

“Don’t disappoint me.” Sebastian laid a hand on Mouser’s head. “And, more important, don’t disappoint yourself.”

Sebastian watched them walk off, then took a disc out of his pocket. “His legal name is Thomas Grantly. You’ll certainly run his file, but this has most of it. He survived and escaped a nightmare. I’m trusting you not to send him back to one.”

“I’ll make the determination when I read his background, but until we shut down this Academy, he’s here. If Dorian takes off, manages to get out and find her way back to you, I’ll find her, and you and I will be on opposite sides of this.”

“And rightfully so. You can’t save them all, and neither can I, but we each try in our own way.”

He handed Eve a small bag. “This is what she was wearing when Mouser found her. We didn’t wash any of it as I normally would have because it all seemed off. And the shirt and pants were torn in any case.

“I’ll leave it at that, and leave those children in good hands.”

Eve watched him go. “How many street thieves, B and E men, grifters, and frauds has he trained over the years?”

“How many lost children has he saved from abuse and misery?”

“That’s not his job.”

“Perhaps not, but it’s certainly his vocation. And he’s given two into your care because he knows he isn’t enough to keep them safe. Let that part go for now, Eve. You’ve enough to deal with.”