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confrontation with her.

"Do you really think so?" he asked skeptically.

"All she had to do was drive by and see him. She would stop to talk to him and talk him into getting into her car, telling him she would bring him right back. I know he's smart for his age, but he's just a little boy, Logan, and he knows Fanny is his sister."

"I suppose she could have done that," Logan said thoughtfully. I looked up at the half moon half hidden by dark clouds, an omen of something terrible, I thought.

"I'm going up to her house," I said and started quickly toward the car.

-Shouldn't I go along?" he asked softly.

"No. You had better remain here just in case Jimmy Otis is right and Drake wandered into someone's home. be right back," I said. Logan stayed on at the factory and I got into the car and drove to Fanny's.

As soon as I pulled up, those mangy watchdogs of hers came charging out, circling the car and barking as madly as hound dogs that had a fox trapped in a hole. Fanny's house was brightly lit and I could see she had a visitor. There was another car there. My anger and my concern for Drake overwhelmed my fear of the dogs.

I slammed my car door shut and stood straight as the dogs came around to snap at me, but I didn't retreat an inch and they kept their distance, barking a little more hysterically as I made my way to the front door of Fanny's home. When I pressed the buzzer, the dogs barked louder, but remained a few feet behind me. I had to press the buzzer again before Fanny opened the door. She stood there with her arms crossed under her breasts like Granny, her face screwed tightly, her lips pressed together in a tight line, and her blue eyes flashing.

"What'dya want, yer highness?" she asked without backing up a step to let me in. The dogs continued their yapping.

Even though Fanny was putting on this face of wrath, I could see through her mask and I knew I had been right.

"Let me in, Fanny," I said. "I'm not going to stand out here with those dogs barking and talk to you."

"Oh, so ma home's good enuf fer yer, but I'm not good enuf fer you to invite to your shindig, huh?"

"Let me in, Fanny," I repeated sternly. She stared a moment and then backed up so I could enter and close the door on the dogs behind me. As soon as I did so, I turned to the left and saw Randall standing in the living room doorway. He looked as troubled as a man haunted by an unrelenting conscience. His eyebrows dipped. His head was bowed and his shoulders sagged.

"What'dya want?" Fanny snapped. I could see by the way she looked quickly at Randall that she was putting on a show for him.

"Fanny, Drake's missing," I said in as controlled a voice as I could. I knew how important it was not to show any weakness. She would pounce on it with the speed of a cat pouncing on a helpless mouse. "Do you have him here?"

Fanny didn't respond right away. She smiled brilliantly, her white teeth flashing. It was a wicked, hateful smile, but a smile that built assurance, confience. There was also something in Randall's expression that told me she had convinced him to help her.

She had known I would show up here and she had told him so.

"What if I have? He's ma brotha, too. I got a right ta have him in ma home. He belongs here more n' he belongs with you and Goody Two-shoes."

"Fanny, did you take him?" I demanded, my voice now throwing off the ropes of restraint and sounding a note of hysteria.

"He's where he belongs," she said, admitting it.

I started toward her, my anger, fear, and hate twisted and rolled together like a ball of barbed wire. Her eyes widened in surprise as I rushed forward and seized the collar of her flimsy, cotton blouse, pulling her roughly toward me.

"Where is he? How could you do this? Damn you!"

Fanny gathered her courage and clutched a handful of my hair, her nails digging into my scalp. We struggled only for a moment before Randall rushed in between us, pulling us apart.

"Hold it! Stop! Hold it!" he cried. "Heaven, please. Fanny. Stop!"

Separated, we glared at each other, both of us breathing hard and fast.

"Ya keep yer hands off me, Heaven. We ain't in the cabin in the Willies and ya can't boss me around," she said, straightening her blouse.

I caught my breath and turned to Randall. "Where's Drake?" I demanded.

"He ain't gonna do anythin' ya tell him nuther. He knows what ya are, too."

"Randall!"