Chapter 3

The trip to Milwaukee was lame and uneventful. We had stopped for a cheeseburger along the way at a diner. I tried not to stare at the waitresses with their ugly, pink uniforms and heavy makeup, but I really couldn’t help myself. The food was decent, though, a lot better than what I was used to eating. William had a thing for eating “all organic, all the time.” I used to joke around with him that the only way to go “all organic” was to raise the chickens, slaughter them, clean them, and then grill them.

I don’t think the joke is very funny anymore–because William probably would have enjoyed slaughtering innocent creatures.

“We’re here,” Michaelsen announced as we pulled up in front of a white police station. “Now, a word to the wise. Make sure you answer all the Captain’s questions. She’s the one that’s going to decide what’s going to happen to you next.”

I didn’t like the sound of anyone deciding what was going to happen to me, not after what William put me through. “I’m sorry, could you please repeat that? I’ve already had my fill of people telling me what to do today.”

Hansen shoots me a look. “I understand that what you’re going through is pretty extreme, Sophie, but you’re going to have to trust us on this one. It’s important.” Without skipping a beat, she unclasps a beautiful, gold star from her neck and hands it to me. “I’d like you to wear this.”

“What is it?” I ask, admiring the necklace for its inherent, metallic beauty.

“It’s an antique,” Hansen assures me. “Consider it a gift from a friend.”

A few minutes later Hansen, Michaelsen and I walk into the police station; they tell the officer sitting at the front desk where we’re going and march me into a small, plain room. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that they’re putting me in a jail cell. Hansen uncuffs me and puts a finger to her lips, reminding me that it’s probably a smart idea for me to remain quiet.

“We’ll just be outside the door, okay?” she says, trying to be friendly. “If you get scared, remember what I told you.”

Lending me her gold necklace was the kindest thing anyone had ever done for me and it was something for me to hang onto. Hopefully, the Captain will be as nice as the two officers, because I’m not sure how I’d react if she was cruel.

Minutes pass, and still no Captain. I wish I could allow myself to worry about where I’ll end up next, but right now the only thing I care about is proving my sanity to this stranger. There is no way I’m going to end up in The Stay. Not again. To take my mind off of my future, I start counting how many times I see a red light blinking on and off in the corner of the room.

Sixty-eight, sixty-nine, seventy, seventy-one…

THUNK!

Thunk drops out of my pocket onto the floor, stretching into an enormous pile of goo.