In the Woods полностью

Jessica was in an armchair, her legs curled under her, and the sight of her hit me all over again, almost as hard as it had that first time. The sun streaming through the high window held her in a column of light that transformed her into a radiant vision of someone else, someone vivid and eager and lost. The fine crooked Vs of her eyebrows, the tilt of her nose, the full, childish curve of her lip: the last time I had looked into that face, it had been empty and blood-smeared on Cooper's steel table. She was like a reprieve; like Eurydice, gifted back to Orpheus from the darkness for a brief miraculous moment. I wanted, so intensely it took my breath away, to reach out and lay a hand on her soft dark head, to pull her tightly against me and feel her slight and warm and breathing, as if by protecting her hard enough I could somehow undo time and protect Katy, too.

"Rosalind," I said. "Jessica."

Jessica flinched, eyes widening sharply, and the illusion was gone. She was holding something, a packet of sugar from the bowl in the middle of the table; she shoved the corner into her mouth and started to suck on it.

Rosalind's face lit up at the sight of me. "Detective Ryan! It's so good to see you. I know it was short notice, but-Oh, sit down, sit down…" I pulled up another armchair. "Jessica saw something I think you should know about. Didn't you, pet?"

Jessica shrugged, an awkward wriggle.

"Hi, Jessica," I said, softly and as calmly as I could. My mind was shooting in a dozen directions at once: if this had anything to do with the parents then I would have to find somewhere for the girls to go, and Jessica was going to be terrible on the stand-"I'm glad you decided to tell me. What did you see?"

Her lips parted; she swayed a little in her chair. Then she shook her head.

"Oh, dear…I thought this might happen." Rosalind sighed. "Well. She told me that she saw Katy-"

"Thanks, Rosalind," I said, "but I really need to hear this from Jessica. Otherwise it's hearsay, and that's not admissible in court."

Rosalind stared blankly, taken aback. Finally she nodded. "Well," she said, "of course, if that's what you need, then…I just hope…" She bent over Jessica and tried to catch her eye, smiling; hooked her hair back behind her ear. "Jessica? Darling? You really need to tell Detective Ryan what we talked about, sweetheart. It's important."

Jessica ducked her head away. "Don't remember," she whispered.

Rosalind's smile tightened. "Come on, Jessica. You remembered just fine earlier on, before we came all the way out here and dragged Detective Ryan away from work. Didn't you?"

Jessica shook her head again and bit down on the sugar packet. Her lip was trembling.

"It's all right," I said. I wanted to shake her. "She's just a little nervous. She's been having a hard time. Right, Jessica?"

"We've both been having a hard time," Rosalind said sharply, "but one of us has to act like an adult instead of like a stupid little girl." Jessica shrank deeper into her oversized sweater.

"I know," I said, in what I hoped was a soothing tone, "I know. I understand how hard this is-"

"No, actually, Detective Ryan, you don't." Rosalind's crossed knee was jiggling angrily. "Nobody can possibly understand what this is like. I don't know why we came in. Jessica can't be bothered to tell you what she saw, and you obviously don't think that matters. We might as well go."

I couldn't lose them. "Rosalind," I said urgently, leaning forward across the table, "I'm taking this very seriously. And I do understand. Honestly, I do."

Rosalind laughed bitterly, fumbling under the table for her purse. "Oh, I'm sure. Put that thing down, Jessica. We're going home."

"Rosalind, I do. When I was about Jessica's age, two of my best friends disappeared. I know what you're going through."

Her head came up and she stared at me.

"I know it's not the same as losing a sister-"

"It isn't."

"-but I do know how hard it is to be the one left behind. I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure you get some answers. OK?"

Rosalind kept staring for another long moment. Then she dropped her purse and laughed, a breathless burst of relief. "Oh-oh, Detective Ryan!" Before she thought, she had reached across the table and caught my hand. "I knew there was a reason why you're the perfect person for this case!"

I hadn't looked at it this way before, and the thought was warming. "I hope you're right," I said.

I gave her hand a squeeze; it was intended to be reassuring, but she suddenly realized what she had done and pulled away, in an embarrassed flutter. "Oh, I didn't mean to-"

"Tell you what," I said, "you and I can talk for a while, until Jessica feels ready to explain what she saw. How's that?"

"Jessica? Pet?" Rosalind touched Jessica's arm; she jumped, eyes wide. "Do you want to stay here for a bit?"

Jessica thought about this, gazing up into Rosalind's face. Rosalind smiled down at her. Finally she nodded.