Page 90 of Bones

“Yeah, I’m um... Sabrina.”

“Sabrina, huh?” I could tell she was lying, but I didn’t push her on it. Instead, I asked, “Your folks around?”

“Yeah, they’re at home.”

And another lie.

“So, if we were to take you home...”

Her eyes widened, and a slight gasp slipped through her teeth as she replied, “You can’t do that.”

“Oh, yeah? Why not?”

“Because they’re...” Her voice trailed off. “You just can’t.”

“That’s what I thought. You got any idea where they are?”

“Look, I’m sorry if I did something wrong here. Like I said, I was just looking for my keys. I didn’t mean any harm.”

“You’re not in any trouble, kid,” Two Bit tried to reassure her. “We’re just trying to make sure you’re okay.”

“I told you. I’m fine.”

“Yeah, you did.” Two Bit glanced over at me, then looked back to her. He studied her for a moment, then added, “But I’m not buying it.”

Her brows furrowed as she snapped, “Sounds like a personal problem to me.”

“We’re just trying to help.”

“I didn’t ask for your help.”

“No, you didn’t.” My throat tightened as I told her, “But I’ve been in your shoes. I know how hard it can be.”

“You don’t know anything about me or what I’ve been through!” She rolled her eyes, then started to walk off as she grumbled, “Just leave me alone.”

She didn’t get far when Cotton stepped in front of her, stopping her dead in her tracks. He looked down at her with concern as he asked, “What’s going on here?”

“Nothing.” She nervously bit her bottom lip as she looked up at Cotton and announced, “I was just leaving.”

When Cotton turned to us, Two Bit was quick to explain, “We just found her going through the dumpster.”

“I already told both of them...” the girl whipped back around, “I was looking for my keys.”

“Oh?” Cotton studied her for a moment, then asked, “And how did they end up there?”

She didn’t answer.

She simply stood there and glared at him.

“You got a place to go, kid?”

“Why do you care?” She glanced over at me and Two Bit as she asked, “Why do any of you care?”

“Cause it’s thirty degrees out here, and you got no coat,” I clipped. “We’re not leaving you out here alone.”

“Please just leave it.” Tears filled her eyes as she told us, “I just gotta make it a couple more months.”

“What happens then?”

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