Free Vile by Debra Webb Page B

stick figures.
    The little girl nodded.
    Jess indicated the larger figure. “Is that your mommy?”
    The child shook her head and then she pointed to Jess.
    Surprised, Jess gestured to the figure again. “That’s me?”
    The little girl nodded.
    “You see this big thing.” Jess set her black bag on the floor. “I take it everywhere.” She pointed to the drawing. “If that’s me, I need my bag.”
    The little girl picked up a black crayon and drew a square, that wasn’t exactly square, next to the larger stick figure. She looked up at Jess for approval.
    Jess took the crayon from her soft little fingers and drew a strap on the box. “There.” She placed the crayon back in the pile. “That’s perfect.”
    The little girl scooted off her seat and hugged Jess. Jess wasn’t sure what to say or do but her heart did a little dancing around. When the girl held on tight, Jess hugged her back. Tears welled up in her eyes. She’d certainly been hugged by children before. Her sister’s kids and… well, she couldn’t think of any others at the moment, but she was certain there were more. Her emotional reaction was silly. It took a moment but Jess pulled herself together.
    “You know something?” When the little girl looked up at her, Jess smoothed her long blond hair back from her face. “I sure wish I knew your name.”
    The child curled her finger for Jess to lean closer. Jess lowered her head until her ear was close to the little girl’s face. She whispered so softly, Jess barely heard her. She straightened and thrust out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Maddie.”
    Maddie shook her hand.
    “My name is Jess Harris. Do you have another name?”
    The little girl shrugged and climbed back onto her chair. She picked up a yellow color and drew a big, round ball above the stick figures. Jess watched her for a few more minutes as she colored the ball yellow. She was going to be late for her lunch with Lil. Feeling a little torn, she said her goodbyes and made her way back into the entry hall where Hayes waited.
    At the door, Karen said, “That’s the first word she’s spoken. At least now we have a name for her.”
    “I’ll let Mrs. Wettermark know,” Jess assured her.
    As she and Hayes climbed into his car, Jess wondered why Maddie would include Jess in her drawing. The sudden attachment to an adult she’d never met before was odd to say the least… unless she’d been tutored.
    What was Spears up to?
    With monumental effort, she set those concerns aside. A few minutes of mental preparation were in order. She was about to give her sister some startling news. Calm and collected was essential.
     
    Lakefront Trail, Bessemer, 1:25 p.m.
    Lil passed Jess a cup of coffee. “I’m glad you enjoyed the lasagna. It was my first time making it with vegetables instead of meat.” She frowned. “Blake’s cholesterol is running a little high. We’re getting to that age, you know. Where everything starts to fall apart.”
    Jess sipped her coffee. “Mmm-hmm.” Her sister was not making this easy. They’d made it through lunch. Lil had insisted Hayes join them, which was only right, but it didn’t help with setting the stage for Jess to deliver her big news. To his credit, after declining coffee, Hayes had moved into the living room to check in with the office. The day was more than half over and Jess was seriously behind.
    She needed to get the news out and be done with it.
    Jess set her cup aside. Her hand shook . Steady, girl .
    “I know what you’re going to say,” Lil said before Jess could get the words out.
    Jess blinked. How could she possibly know?
    “Yes,” Lil declared. “I am cooperating fully with my surveillance detail. I make sure he’s out there before I go to bed at night and I look for him first thing in the morning. I don’t go anywhere without making sure he’s right behind me. I make lemonade, sandwiches, and coffee for him every day. So there, you proud of me?”
    The blood pulsing at her