Divine Evil

tense, Clare thought, grateful for the resilience of a teenage heart. “I know you thought you did. When you really fall in love, you'll see the difference.”
    Sally shook her head, hair swinging. “I don't ever want to care about another boy. I don't want anybody to be able to hurt me like this ever again.”
    “I know what you mean.” Every woman did, she thought. “The problem is you will care.” She took Sally by the shoulders, drew her back. The girl's face was blotched from weeping. Her eyes were swollen and red. And so young, Clare thought. She took a fresh tissue and gently dabbed at thetears. “There's something I'd better tell you, though. Something every woman should know about men.”
    Sally sniffed. “What?”
    “They're all assholes.”
    With a watery chuckle, Sally wiped her eyes.
    “They are,” Clare insisted. “They get older and become older assholes. The trick is to avoid coming in contact with the one guy who will make you fall in love with him despite it. Otherwise, you'll end up married for fifty or sixty years before you realize you've been fooled.”
    Sally laughed just as Angie walked through the kitchen door. “Oh, I'm sorry.” Angie noted the girl's tear-streaked face and started to back up.
    “No, that's all right.” Clare motioned her in. “Angie, this is Sally, and she and I were just discussing why the world would be a better place without men.”
    “That goes without saying. Except for sex and killing roaches, they really have no purpose.”
    “Parallel parking,” Clare put in, pleased that Sally had laughed again.
    “Auto repairs.” Sally rubbed her cheeks dry with her hands. “My dad's really good at auto repairs.”
    “That's true.” Clare considered a moment. “But a woman can always buy a manual.”
    Sally sighed and ran a fingertip down her glass. “I feel pretty stupid, acting the way I did.”
    “You have no reason to.”
    She swallowed and stared down at the table. “I can't tell my mother about the things Ernie and I did.”
    “Do you think she'd be angry?” Clare asked.
    Sally shook her head. “I don't know. She's really great to talk to. We've had all the discussions. You know. It's not like she expected I'd stay a virgin forever, but … I can't tell her what I did with Ernie.”
    “I guess it's for you to decide.” She heard Cam pull up in the drive. “Here comes Sheriff Rafferty”
    “Oh.” Sally covered her face. “I hate for him to see me like this. I look awful.”
    “Why don't I show you where to wash your face?” Angie suggested. “A little lipstick and eye drops should do the trick.”
    “Thanks.” On impulse she hugged Clare. “Thanks a lot, both of you.”
    She hurried out just as Cam walked in. “Where's Sally?”
    “Tidying up so you wouldn't see her with red eyes and a runny nose. You talked to Ernie?”
    “Yes, I talked to him.”
    “I don't know what got into him, saying things like that to Sally, but I've got a good mind to have a few words with him myself.”
    “Stay away from him.” He cupped a hand under her chin. “I mean it.”
    “Now, wait a minute—”
    “No. I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. Until I'm sure he's clean, you keep away from him.”
    “Clean? What are you talking about?”
    “Why the hell didn't you tell me about the cat?”
    “Cat?” She edged back a little. “What does that have to do with anything?”
    “It may have a hell of a lot to do with everything. Don't pull away from me, Slim.”
    “I'm not.” She was. “I don't want to,” she amended. “There are things I have to work out. Okay?”
    “No, it's not okay.” He caught her chin in his hand again, studied her a moment, then let his hand drop away. “But it'll have to do for now. I need to talk to Sally.” He swore under his breath, knowing the harder he pushed the more inclined Clare would be to push back. He could alreadysee it in her face, the faint, stubborn line between her brows, the tension in her jaw. “Slim …” He sat, taking both her hands in his. “It's important. I wouldn't ask you otherwise.”
    “You said you weren't asking, you were telling.”
    “Okay.” He smiled a little. “I wouldn't tell you if it wasn't important.”
    “And maybe I'd be less inclined to tell you to go to hell if you'd explain.”
    Cam pinched the bridge of his nose. “I will, as soon as I can.” He glanced up as Sally came back into the kitchen.
    “I guess you want to talk to me,” she said, and linked her