Where the Forest Meets the Stars(81)

“Because it will be shitty,” he said. “We’re going to make her talk about her mother’s murder.”
“That’s not what I meant. I feel like we’re being forced to trick her. She’s terrified she’ll be separated from us, and they’re going to use that to their advantage.”
“They’re trying to solve a murder, Jo.”
“I know, but that’s a little girl in there. She’s not just a tool to unlock their case.”


34

Two hours later, Lenora Rhodes nearly ran from the elevator to the ICU doors.
“What’s going on?” Jo said.
“She woke up and saw you weren’t there. She’s making a fuss again.”
“I can help,” Jo said.
“No, it’s better if she learns her tantrums don’t work.” She hurried through the doors.
“What the hell?” Jo said.
“Yeah,” Gabe said. “Why not give a sick kid what makes her feel better—especially before she’s got to talk about her dead mother?”
“Because they have their heads up their asses!”
They sat and waited again. A half hour later, Detective Kellen, Deputy McNabb, and a woman with shoulder-length bleached hair stepped out of the elevator. Jo and Gabe stood. “This is Dr. Shaley,” Kellen said, gesturing toward the blonde woman. “She’s Ursa’s state-appointed psychologist.”
Jo and Gabe shook the woman’s hand.
“I heard about your vigil,” Shaley told Jo. “I’m impressed by your dedication. Four days in a hospital waiting room! I hear you bathe in the bathroom.”
“People who have no voice need others to speak for them,” Jo said.
“Ursa, you mean?”
“Yes, Ursa.”
“Why do you assume she has no voice?”
“Because she’s been asking for me for a week, and she wasn’t allowed to see me.”
“We’re trying to do what’s best for her, not just for now, but in the future.”
“You know, she’s very aware that her future is hanging in the balance, and she’s smart enough to know what’s best for her. When she ran away in June, I think she was searching for a new home. She wanted to choose it rather than have it chosen for her.”
Shaley and the two officers were incredulous.
“And you believe you are that home?” Shaley asked.
“I would love to be. But it’s her choice.”
“She’s not even nine years old,” McNabb said.
“And what choice does she have when you were the first person she encountered?” Shaley said. “There are many wonderful foster parents who would love to give her an excellent home.”
“I hope you’re right,” Jo said. “She’ll leave if she doesn’t like it, and she may not run into good people the second time around.”
“We know what we’re doing, Joanna. Have faith in us,” Shaley said.
She and the two men walked away.
“We’ll send for you once we’ve established Ursa is well enough to give a statement,” Kellen said before he followed the others into the ICU.
Jo wanted to throw a crutch at them. “We’ll send for you! You see how we’re being used?”
“Calm down,” Gabe said. “Saying these things to them can only hurt you.”
“Why? Everything I said was the truth. Ursa was looking for her new home. That was the purpose of the five miracles—to give her time to decide and to give us time to bond with her.”
“Jo . . . you aren’t the only person in this world who can love her.”
“I know! But why look further if it’s what she and I both want?”
“You’re single, for one thing. They’ll try to place her with a mother and father.”
“Yeah, what bullshit is that anyway? Why is that better? What about a gay couple? Will they consider that?”
“Jo . . .”
“What?”
“You’re falling apart. You’ve been in this room too long. You need to get out of here and get some rest.”
“Not until we make her talk. Will they let us see her after they solve their murder? Maybe they’re tricking us, too.”
“They never said we could see her after.”
“I know.” She fell back in a chair. “God damn it!”
Gabe sat next to her and held her hand.
A few minutes later, Lenora came out and saw Jo crumpled in the chair. “Are you all right? Are you up to this?”
Jo had no choice. If she didn’t coerce Ursa into telling the story, she’d never see her again. If she did, she at least had a chance.
“Yes, I’m up to it.”
Lenora led them into the ICU. Detective Kellen, Deputy McNabb, and the sentry police officer were conversing quietly out of Ursa’s sight. Dr. Shaley was inside the room talking to her. “Jo!” Ursa screamed when she saw her. She bounced up on her knees, stretching her IV line taut.
“Careful!” a nurse said. “You won’t like it if I have to put it in again!” She pulled Ursa back to the pillows.
Jo set her crutches down and held her.
“Why did you leave?” Ursa said into her chest.
“They said we had to. We didn’t want to.”
Ursa withdrew from her arms and turned a bitter stare on the nurse. “You lied! You said you didn’t know why they went away!”
The nurse left the room muttering, “This girl is gonna be the death of me.”
Ursa’s eyes were red. She’d been crying very hard.