Senseless by Mary Burton Read Free Book Online

“I’ll talk to him in the morning. In the meantime I’m starving.”
    Bobby fiddled with the frayed edge of his T-shirt. “Do you think he can live in my room?”
    Eva moved toward a wide stainless-steel refrigerator. “Ask King.”
    “Can we leave the back light on?” Bobby said. “He’s afraid of the dark.”
    “Cats love the night. They’ve special eyes to see in the dark.”
    “He’s not like other cats. He likes the light.” Bobby slept with the light on in his room. His nightmares no longer came nightly but at least a couple times a week. He refused to tell King what terrorized him.
    “Sure. Fine. We’ll leave the light on and get those bulbs replaced. Hey, I’m hungry, are you?”
    “Yes.”
    No doubt King had fed the boy a grand meal. King was good at feeding people. But the kid was always hungry.
    She pulled out six slices of bread, buttered each and popped them in the toaster. As she peeled the foil back from the meat, the back door squeaked open. Bobby was checking to make sure the floodlight was indeed on. She had no illusions about fixing the kid’s life or even saving that damn kitten. Happy endings were for fools. “Make sure you lock the door and set the alarm. ”
    Bobby flipped the dead bolt and punched the numbers on the security keypad like he’d done before. “Done.”
    Eva washed her hands, assembled a sandwich and placed it on a white plate. She slid the plate toward him, not saying anything as she turned to the large stainless-steel side-by-side refrigerator and pulled out a half-full gallon jug of milk. Filling two glasses, she set one in front of Bobby and kept the other for herself. Bobby reached for a sandwich.
    “Wash your hands, kid. God knows what kind of germs that kitten carries.”
    Bobby moved to the sink and stood on the small stepstool King had put down for him. He scrubbed his fingers using hot water and soap like King had showed him. His hands dried, he scooped the sandwich off the plate and held a half in each hand. He glanced at each, as if wondering if he could eat both at once. He opted for two large bites out of the one in his left hand.
    Eva cut her sandwich and took a few big bites herself. Slowly, she sipped the milk and both ate in silence. When Bobby had finished the first half he took the milk and gulped half down, then turned his sights to the other half.
    Eva placed another sandwich on his plate and continued to eat.
    The boy ate everything placed in front of him and ended up drinking three glasses of milk. When he’d finished he tossed her his first glance. A milk mustache covered his top lip.
    “Pie?” Eva said. “Apple or cherry?”
    He hesitated as if the choice was almost too overwhelming. “Apple.”
    Nodding, she cut him a large slice. He grabbed the fork she offered and jabbed into a juicy apple slice.
    “I go for cherry,” she said, trying to keep her voice light as she cut herself a piece. “But if I really had a choice I’d pick cake. Chocolate with extra icing.”
    Bobby tossed another quick glance her way. He said nothing but kept eating as if fearing if he dallied the food would vanish.
    “You like chocolate too?”
    He nodded.
    “Wise man.” She stabbed a cherry and a hunk of crust with her fork. “But then I could tell from the minute I saw you that you were smart. ”
    He frowned. “How could you tell?”
    “You found that kitten.” Always paid to avoid trouble in prison. “How’d you do it?”
    “I heard it crying and I found its hiding spot. I’m good at finding hiding spots.”
    “I can see that.” A part of her wanted to ask what he’d had to hide from. But she hated it when people dug into her past so she stayed out of theirs. If he wanted to tell her, she’d listen. But she’d not push. They ate their pie in silence and when they’d washed the dishes they checked in on the kitten one last time. “He’ll be fine. It’s not too cold and you left him a milk and tuna feast.”
    The kid