He found Stephanies daughter in the living room, playing quietly with a model horse and a stuffed bear. She was galloping the bear around with the horse on the bears back. He supposed it made sense to a three-year-old.
Hey, kid, he said, because it seemed rude not to acknowledge her, and the girl gave him a blinding smile that lit her whole face and shifted something inside his chest.
God! That human beings could ever do something evil to a child. He felt suddenly small, tainted by the things hed seen. The things hed done.
When the little girl stood up and walked toward him, Reid took a step back and bumped into Stephanie. The brief contact reminded him of their almost-clinch in the elevator, and the shadows in her eyes reminded him of questions still unanswered.
She quirked a smile. Dont like kids much?
Its not that. Its just He shrugged. I guess I dont see them at their best too often, you know?
Too many tantrums?
Too much blood, he thought. Too many babies hanging on their mothers legs while their daddies were dragged out the front door. But he said, Something like that. Noticing that Stephanie was holding a pair of mugs, he reached for one. Thanks.
At her invitation, he sat on a stiff-looking old-fashioned chair that startled him by being comfortable. Stephanie sat on the sofa. She sipped her drink. Why are you here, Detective? Wasnt your company glad to see you?
Reid glanced at the four parallel scratches on his arm. She wasnt in a very good mood. I think shes feeling fat.
There was a little tug at his pant leg, and an inquiring noise, like a small bird chirping. He looked down at the kid. Her lips were pursed, and another chirp emerged. She whistles?
Stephanie nodded. Maureen said she started it this morning. Were hoping its a sign that shes getting ready to talk again.
The girl frowned as though concentrating, and warbled a few more notes.