Dream With Little Angels by Michael Hiebert Read Free Book Online Page B

table and walked past Uncle Henry into the living room.
    â€œAren’t you gonna finish eating?” I asked. She hadn’t even touched her eggs.
    Uncle Henry frowned. “I don’t reckon your mama’s that hungry anymore right now, son,” he said. Then he gave me a wink, but it wasn’t his normal happy wink.
    â€œDid I say somethin’ wrong?” I asked.
    With a big breath, he shook his head. “No, young soldier, you did not. Don’t give it another thought, okay?”
    Hesitantly, I agreed not to.
    â€œGood,” he said, and followed after my mother.
    I looked across at Carry. “Way to upset Mom, ass face,” she said. Despite the fact that this was probably the first thing she’d said directly to me in over five months, I ignored it and got off my chair. Quietly, I walked over and stood in front of the fridge, trying to listen to my mother and Uncle Henry talking.
    â€œWhat are you doin’?” Carry asked.
    But I shushed her. Surprisingly, she shushed.
    My mother was trying to talk quiet, but she was having a hard time of it. It sounded like she was crying while she spoke to Uncle Henry. “Why would he tell them about Ruby Mae?” she asked.
    â€œWell,” Uncle Henry said, “to most folk, Ruby Mae’s ancient history.”
    â€œBut—” She stopped to take a breath.
    â€œBut not to you, right?” Uncle Henry asked.
    â€œNo,” my mother said. “Not to me.” I definitely heard tears in her voice.
    â€œYou have to let go of things, Leah. It’s been twelve years.”
    There was a pause and then, “I can’t, Henry. I think about that little girl nearly every day of my life. I promised those folks I’d get their baby back to them. I promised them.”
    â€œLeah, it was pretty near your first case. You can’t blame yourself for what happened.”
    My mother’s voice rose, but stayed in a clipped whisper. “You know what I told Sally Vickers the day Ruby Mae went missing? I said, ‘Don’t you worry, ma’am, I got myself a little girl, too. I ain’t about to let anyone hurt Ruby Mae. I’ll bring her back home safe and sound, you’ll see. She’s probably just out lost somewhere.’ ” As she spoke, she became more and more anxious.
    Uncle Henry cut her off. “You had no control over what happened.”
    â€œOh, I brought that little girl home all right. Three months later. After . . . after . . .”
    â€œOh, don’t work yourself up, Leah. Come here.”
    After that I heard soft, muffled sobbing.
    â€œIt’s this Dailey girl,” Uncle Henry said, his voice still as calm and quiet as ever. “She’s just knockin’ at the door of old memories, that’s all.”
    â€œBut what if this is another Ruby Mae?” my mother asked. “What if it is, Hank? I . . . I don’t think I can go through that again. What if—”
    â€œWhat if a twister hits Alvin and wipes us off the map tomorrow ?” Uncle Henry asked back. “You’re gonna what if yourself to death. Take it one step at a time. Right now, all you know is you got yourself a missin’ girl.”
    â€œBut we searched everywhere yesterday. She’s not in Alvin, at least not anywhere outside.”
    â€œWell, maybe you missed a spot. Or maybe she don’t wanna be found. Maybe she left town. Or maybe it is somethin’ worse, but let me tell you somethin’ right now. You’re not the same person you were twelve years ago. You’re a good cop. You’re a detective, for Christ’s sake.”
    My mother laughed sarcastically at this. “You know damn well why I’m detective. It’s got nothing to do with my detectin’ skills.”
    â€œMaybe, maybe not. But it does have somethin’ to do with you being good at what you do. Your daddy’d be awfully proud of you. He was awfully proud of