Free Don't Look Behind You by Lois Duncan Page A

witnesses to operate. If you’re the owner and manager of your own small business, nobody will have any reason to ask you for credentials.”
    â€œYou mean I have no choice about what line of work I’m in?” Dad sounded as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
    â€œNot much of one, I’m afraid. It depends on what’s available.”
    â€œThat doesn’t sound very encouraging,” Dad said grimly. “Any business that people are selling for peanuts isn’t too likely to have much potential as a moneymaker.”
    â€œWe’ll give you some cash to tide you over,” Rita said. “In the meantime we’ll see about liquidating your assets. I’ll have papers drawn up for you to sign that will give our department the authority to handle the legalities. What do you own besides your house and furniture?”
    â€œTwo cars,” Dad said. “An SUV registered in Liz’s name and a Volvo sedan registered in mine. Jointly we own some shares of a mutual fund, an income-producing utility stock, and a batch of CD’s. My broker, John Scarbrough, is with Morgan Stanley. I also have retirement plan holdings built up at Southern Skyways, but I guess it’s too much to hope I can get my hands on those.”
    â€œWe’ll have an attorney file papers to claim them,” said Rita. She paused. “Are we set, or do you have more questions?”
    â€œI have one,” Mom told her. “What about my mother? I haven’t had any contact with her for weeks now.”
    â€œMax told me he’s been in touch with Mrs. Gilbert,” Rita said. “He offered her the option of making this move with you. She said she didn’t feel she was in any danger and didn’t want to leave her friends and activities.”
    â€œBut we can’t just disappear from her life!” exclaimed Mom. “She’s stubborn and independent, but we’re her family! What if she were to get sick or be hurt in an accident? She has to know how to reach us in an emergency.”
    â€œYou’ll just have to trust there won’t be an emergency,” Rita said. “As things stand now, you’re the ones in danger, not your mother. You can’t go into this program without breaking ties with people back home. It’s hard, I know, but there isn’t any alternative.”
    Bram spoke up suddenly. “What will happen to Porky?”
    â€œPorky?” Rita repeated, regarding him blankly.
    â€œMy dog,” Bram said. “My grandmother put him in a kennel. By now he’s probably scared I’m not coming back for him.”
    â€œI’m sure your grandmother will take care of your dog,” Rita said. She started to look away and then turned back again. “Is it a trick of the light, or are this child’s eyes different colors?”
    â€œIt runs in the family,” said Mom, immediately defensive. “My father had one blue eye and one brown eye.”
    â€œI’m afraid this is going to create a problem,” said Rita. “Something this unusual will attract attention.”
    â€œMaybe I can wear dark glasses?” Bram suggested, sidetracked momentarily from the subject of Porky.
    â€œYes, for the present that’s the best we can do,” Rita said. “As soon as possible, though, you’ll need to get contacts.”
    â€œContacts!” Bram squeaked in horror. “I don’t want contacts!”
    â€œYou won’t have to wear them forever,” Mom consoled him.
    â€œHow long?” I asked. “How long are we going to be gone?” The talk about Dad going into business and Bram and me starting new schools had been very disturbing. Why should we have to consider such unlikely possibilities? I’d assumed that the appellate court hearings would take place that summer. Surely that meant we’d be back in Norwood before school started.
    Before Rita could respond,