Page 114 of Dead Man's List

“She is that. She didn’t buy that your father was picking her up so that she could help him with the new dog.”

Kit looked around her parents’ living room. “Where is the behemoth?”

“Upstairs. He took to Rita right away. He and Snickerdoodle are on her bed with her.” He sighed. “Your dad told her about Drummond in the car and she kind of lost it.”

“I was afraid she would. I should have taken off work and told her myself.”

“You’re not her parent, Kit. You’re a great big sister, though, and you did the right thing. The news needed to come from your father. But Rita panicked. She got out of the car and ran, right there in front of her school.”

Kit closed her eyes again. “But she’s not hurt?”

“No. Close call, though. She ran across the road and a car nearly hit her. I think your father nearly had a heart attack.”

Kit’s eyes flew up to Sam’s, new fear icing over her heart. “For real?”

“He should see a doctor. I didn’t like how pale he was by the time I got here. But right now, he seems to be okay and focused on Rita. Blames himself for botching the delivery of the news.”

“He would. He always blames himself.”

“Like father, like daughter,” Sam said mildly. “Rita actually got him home. She saw him nearly pass out and that snapped her out of her flight mode. She called Akiko to come and get them. Akiko did so and signed out Tiffany and Emma, too. Brought them all back here. The way I heard it, Rita held it together until they were safely back home and then she lost it again. She started crying hysterically and packing her things to run.”

“Who called you?”

“Tiffany and Emma. They should have called Dr.Carlisle, but they didn’t think about it.”

“They trust you. Is Dr.Carlisle able to see Rita today?”

“She’ll be coming over as soon as she’s done with her final session, but I really think you can help more than anyone else. That’s why Harlan called you.”

Kit nodded, trying to find her composure. “So Rita heard the news and…what? She thinks Drummond’s going to get a deal from Joel?”

Sam grimaced again. “She thinks he’ll get a deal from you.”

“Fromme?” Kit stared up at him. “Why would she think that?”

“Um…”

Kit and Sam turned to find Emma standing in the doorwayleading to the kitchen. Kit went to her, giving her a hug that should have been warmer. It was tense and rigid, but Emma didn’t seem to notice.

The teenager sank into the embrace and Kit drew another breath, her heart hurting when Emma started to cry.

These girls had been through hell.

And if Rita thought I was going to make a deal with Drummond?She had to be feeling so betrayed. Kit stroked Emma’s hair and rubbed her back, all the things Harlan did when Kit was upset.

“Why are you crying, Emma?” Kit asked softly.

“I messed everything up. Pop McK is going to be so mad at me. Mom McK, too. They’re going to make me leave. Pop almost had a heart attack, and it’s my fault. Mom is going to hate me. And Rita…You have to help her, Kit.”

“I will,” Kit promised. “But let’s help you first, okay? First of all, Mom and Pop will never send you away. Not unless you use violence, and I don’t think you did that, did you?”

Sniffling, Emma shook her head. “No. I was just so stupid.” It came out as a wail, and Kit went back to stroking Emma’s hair.

“You are not stupid. Come, let’s sit at the kitchen table and you can tell me what’s going on, okay?” Kit put an arm around Emma’s shoulders and, throwing a helpless glance at Sam, led the teenager to the kitchen.

Sam was ready with a box of tissues, and the three of them sat down. Emma mopped her face and shuddered out a breath. “Last night,” she started.

Kit waited, but when Emma didn’t continue, she gave her a gentle nudge. “Last night?”