Revenge Of Innocents. Nancy Taylor Rosenberg

the authorities.”

      “I’m an adult. I haven’t broken the law. Why don’t you leave while you can? You don’t know anything about me. I’m a freaking loser. If you don’t believe me, ask my father.”

      Carolyn pulled the girl into her arms. “You’re not a loser, sweetheart. I don’t know why your father is doing this, but I’m not leaving until you agree to come with me.”

      Jude placed her hands on Carolyn’s shoulders, shaking as she sobbed. “I just want to die. I can’t take it anymore. He’ll find me wherever I go. I was sure he was going to kill me. I didn’t care. I wanted him to kill me.”

      “Who?” Carolyn pleaded. “You have to tell me who hurt you. Was it your boyfriend? If you give me his name, I’ll have him arrested.”

      “I can’t,” the girl said. “You don’t understand. He’ll get out. Then he’ll come after you, too.” She shoved Carolyn in the chest. “Go away. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

      Jude pushed past her, running down the hall to her room. Carolyn went to the front of the house and tried to reassure the other children. Someone was missing. She was so distraught, she couldn’t remember who. “Stacy,” she said, grabbing Peter by the shoulders. “Where is she?”

      “She went with my dad,” the boy told her. “Where’s Jude going? She’s not going to heaven like my mom, is she?”

      “No, honey,” Carolyn said, knowing she had to do something about the younger children immediately. She couldn’t remove them from the home without a court order. “I’m leaving now,” she told Peter. “Your father will be back really soon. Help Michael get ready for bed. I promise I’ll check on you in the morning.”

      Carolyn left, waiting by her car until Jude came out the front door. Carrying a plastic garbage bag filled with her things, she took off down the street. Carolyn ran after her and tackled her, both of them tumbling into the damp grass. Twice in one night, she’d had to wrestle with someone. Brad had been right. She should have gone home.

      Rolling Jude over onto her back, she snapped on a pair of handcuffs. This was not the way to cuff a prisoner, but she didn’t want to cause Jude anymore discomfort than necessary. “I’m sorry,” she said, leading her to the Infiniti and opening the passenger door. “I’ll take them off as soon as you calm down.”

      “Bitch,” Jude snarled. “You have no right to do this to me. I could sue you for false arrest. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

      Carolyn reached over and fastened the girl’s seat belt, then hit the automatic door locks in case she tried to jump out of the car. Jude stared sullenly out the window while they drove.

      “You’re wrong, Jude,” Carolyn told her, pulling into the parking lot of Community Memorial Hospital ten minutes later. “Under section 5150 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, you can be held for seventy-two hours if I believe you’re a danger to yourself or others. Right now, I’d say you’re a danger to yourself.”

      “Fuck,” the girl said, “you’re going to have me locked up in a mental hospital? I thought you were my friend.”

      “I am,” Carolyn told her. “And I promise nothing like that will happen if you cooperate. I want a doctor to look at you. As soon as they check you out, I’ll take you to my house. No one has to know where you are, understand? And I guarantee you no one will hurt you. Because of his work, my fiancé has bodyguards. They’re watching his house right now. You can stay in our guest room.” She paused and then added, “Do we have a deal?”

      Jude held her hands out in front of her. “Take these damn things off. They’re hurting my wrists.”

      “I’m not going to do that,” Carolyn said. “Not until you give me your word that you’ll stay with me. If you won’t do it for me, do it for your mother.”

      “Fine,” Jude said, tears pooling in her eyes. “I’ll stay with you. Now you have to give me your word. Promise you won’t tell my father where I am.”

      “I promise,” Carolyn told her, unlocking the handcuffs.