Free Last Car to Annwn Station by Michael Merriam

that sounds right.”
    “Backstrom wants me to let you go. He thinks you’re unstable.”
    “I came here prepared to be fired,” Mae admitted.
    “Well, at least you have some sense.”
    Mae looked at her lap. She’d had her outburst; now was the time to sit quietly.
    “I think you’re just tired. I want you to use some of your vacation time. Take the next four weeks off. Clear your head. Step away from all this for a while.”
    “What about my cases?”
    “We’ll divide them among the rest of the staff.”
    Mae looked up, straight at the director. She crossed her arms. “What if I refuse to take a voluntary vacation?”
    “Then I’m putting you on administrative leave.” Donald leaned forward. “It’s your choice. You can either go home and get paid, or go home and not get paid.” He leaned back again. “Or I could just fire you like Backstrom wants.”
    Mae exhaled. “Then I guess I’m taking a month off.”
    “Good. Keep your head down and stay out of trouble. No more harassing the county attorney’s friends. Spend some quality time with whomever you spend quality time with. Don’t make waves, and I’ll let you return to work after this blows over.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Ten minutes later, Mae stood in front of the Government Center. She ignored the streetcar parked in front of the building with its door open, and marched directly to the light rail station.
    “Miss Malveaux.”
    Mae turned and found herself facing William Hodgins. It was all she could do not to jump. It was as if he had been conjured. She had neither seen nor heard him approach. She kept her expression carefully under control.
    “Mr. Hodgins.”
    “I see you’re leaving work early today. Job problems, Miss Malveaux?”
    Mae frowned. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
    He stepped closer to her, forcing Mae to take a step back toward the edge of the platform. “I don’t know what you thought to accomplish with that little stunt last night, but I hope it was worth your career.”
    Mae held her tongue. She realized anything she might say would only worsen the situation. She knew something beyond child abuse was happening in that home, but she had no way to prove it. Worse, she no longer had any real authority to investigate the matter.
    “I want you to stay away from my client, Miss Malveaux. If you do not stop your harassment, steps will be taken.”
    “Is that a threat?”
    He leaned into her again. Mae found herself teetering on the edge of the platform.
    “You have no idea what you are dealing with, little girl. Go home to your lady-friend and stop meddling in the affairs of your betters.”
    Behind Mae, the light rail train hissed to a stop, its door opening. She took three tentative steps backward, keeping her eyes on Hodgins as she climbed into the hoped-for safety of the train. She stood in the aisle, watching him through the open doors as he laughed at her. The doors closed and, with a series of short warning beeps, the train rolled away.
    Mae settled onto a bench and let the shakes take her.
    Dear Wall,
    Elise brought me lunch, the first food I’ve had in almost a day. It was oatmeal, which is terribly bland, but it was hot and it was food.
    She told me that tonight I would be having dinner with her and “Mother.” Then she reached down and twisted my hair up in her fist and said that if I tried to escape I would be locked in a cage. She caught me by surprise and I started crying before I could stop the tears. I hate giving them the satisfaction of knowing they’ve hurt me, even when it does hurt.
    “We only need you to be alive, that’s all,” she said, breathing her smelly stale breath all over me. Then she left Chrysandra with me to “play.”
    I know Chrysandra tells them about me. I can’t blame her for it. But that can’t be the reason they keep her as fresh as they do. I wish I could figure out why they keep the poor thing animated. At least she’s always up for games and puzzles,