Cries of the Children(62)

Sandy stared out the window. A ship appeared over the horizon, moving slowly along the water.

“We’re already in trouble, Donny,” she said.

In the bathroom, Lorraine took out another thirty dollars. She started to close the bag, but had an idea. She took out an additional one hundred dollars, wrapped it in a paper towel, and tucked it deep into a pocket. Then she left the restroom. When she came to the table, the waitress was taking their order.

“I want French toast and orange juice,” Lorraine announced.

“Sounds good to me,” Sandy said.

“Make mine scrambled eggs with a side of bacon,” Donny said. “And a cup of coffee.”

As Lorraine enjoyed her breakfast, she thought that she had left the frightful stranger behind. Unknown to her, Joe Trefill was boarding a Greyhound to Atlantic City at this very moment.

After breakfast, Donny bought a newspaper, and the three walked out onto the boardwalk. By now it was beginning to show signs of the crowds that would fill it before noon, and it was with some effort that the trio found a bench.

“So what are you going to do now, kid?” Sandy asked.

Lorraine shrugged. “I’m waiting for someone. He promised to meet me here. I don’t think he should see you with me.”

“You didn’t tell us someone was waiting for you,” Donny said, annoyed. “Why didn’t he pick you up last night?”

“He couldn’t,” Lorraine said. “But don’t worry, he’ll be here soon.”

“I wish I knew why you—”

Sandy cut herself off. She’d been ready to ask for more information about why Lorraine was wandering around by herself. But something in the child’s expression made her think better of the idea.

“Well, listen,” she said, standing, “if that guy doesn’t show up, you find us, okay? We’ll take care of you.”

You can hardly take care of yourselves, Lorraine thought. She wondered what they’d do if they had Marty to help them.

Well, she thought with a secret smile, they’d be pleased to find the hundred dollars she’d slipped into Donny’s pocket. It might buy only two nights in the cheapest motel around, but at least it was some small payment for their kindness.

“Good luck finding work,” Lorraine said.

“Thanks,” Donny said. “Thanks for everything.”

They parted company without further words, the teenagers heading down the boardwalk. Alone now, Lorraine concentrated much harder on calling up Marty. But though she said his name many times in her mind, sometimes even “shouting” it, he did not answer her.

Well, that was okay. The scary man with the gun was far, far away in New York. She’d just wait here until Marty called her, and then everything would be okay.

As the morning passed, she entertained herself at a nearby amusement park, played on the beach, and generally explored her surroundings. No one paid much attention to her; she was grateful for that. At last she decided she was hungry enough for lunch. She walked up to one of the concession stands and bought a hot dog and soda.

When she turned around, she let out a gasp. It was cut short as a hand pressed to her lips. Lorraine could have screamed, and a thousand people would have heard her. But she didn’t dare. She didn’t want to attract attention to herself.

She was forced to let the man who terrified her, Joe Trefill, take her roughly by the arm and steer her through the crowds.





29


EAR PAIN BROUGHT on by the change in air pressure woke Steven from his nap just as the pilot was announcing their arrival at the airport in Newark, New Jersey. Steven tugged at his ears, wincing. The young man seated next to him tapped him on the shoulder.

“Try this,” he said. He held his nose and made a face as if he was blowing through his nostrils. “It’ll help your ears ‘pop.’”

Steven tried it. The pressure in his ears released a little, but not much.

“It didn’t really work,” he said.

The man shrugged. “It does, sometimes. Next time bring gum with you to chew.”

Steven wriggled around in his seat and looked out the window. Below him, Manhattan Island presented its skyline. Steven recognized the two giant towers of the World Trade Center, as well as the spiked peak of the Empire State Building. He gazed out at them in awe, amazed that buildings could be so tall. He wondered if Rachel had ever been here.

Thoughts of his “foster mother” made him feel vaguely homesick. What were they doing now? he wondered. Were they worried about him? He was sure Tatiana would be glad to see him gone. Rachel would probably be frantic, but Eric would be happy to have his family back to normal again. He’d made that clear enough—Steven was no more than an outsider, a temporary “guest.”