Conner’s sister rushed to the minivan, and Sarah headed for the picnic tables.
She worried that Matilda would make a run for it, but she didn’t. She waited, wearing the usual ragged getup, with a cigarette dangling from one hand. Sarah really should buy the girl some clothes. Give her some money for clothes and food, at least. After visiting the house on West Street, Sarah was pretty sure Matilda wasn’t getting nearly enough of either. A stop at an ATM would handle that.
“Hey.” Sarah’s lips stretched wide without prompting.
“You wear it all the time?” Matilda looked at the leather necklace before meeting Sarah’s gaze.
Sarah touched the medallion where it rested between her breasts. It fell just beneath the scooped neck of her one black dress. “I do.”
“Good.” Matilda tossed her cigarette to the ground, uncaring that anyone who saw her would consider the move sacrilegious.
“I went to your house yesterday.” Sarah noted again the dark circles under the girl’s eyes. Did she have trouble sleeping, too? Judging by the place she lived, probably.
“I know.”
“Your mom told you?”
She shook her head, stared past Sarah. “I saw you there.”
Sarah glanced back to see what she was looking at. Conner waited near Sarah’s car. “Why did you hide from me?”
Matilda cut her eyes toward Conner again. “He was with you.”
Sarah folded her arms. “Oh, yeah?”
Matilda nodded.
“You don’t like him?”
She shrugged. “His family doesn’t like me.”
“They don’t know you,” Sarah argued. “There’s a difference.”
“I just came to make sure you were wearing the necklace.” Matilda took a step back. “I gotta go.”
“Matilda, wait. I need to ask you a question.” Sarah held very still, no matter that she wanted to advance that extra step yawning between them.
“I can’t answer it.”
Sarah inclined her head. “You don’t know the question yet.”
“Ask.”
“When you say the devil has always been here and the cops can’t catch him, are you talking about the devil or the person who killed Valerie and Alicia?” She purposely didn’t mention Pope’s name.
Matilda didn’t answer, didn’t move for a moment, then she said, “They’re the same, aren’t they?”
Sarah’s heart thudded hard. “Are they?”
Matilda didn’t answer, just stared at Sarah.
“Do you know him?” Sarah’s pulse jumped.
“Everyone knows him.” Matilda backed up another step. “They just don’t realize it yet. Like you.”
“Then help me. You said he was rich.”
She glanced past Sarah again.
