Rachel Alexander 04 - Lady Vanishes

looking at me.
    “Why did you take her, Samuel?”
    It wasn’t fair.”
    Four years old.
    “Tell me about it.”
    “Everything she did, every stupid little thing, everyone k’velled about it. Dad and Harry and Venus, even Molly, they kept saying she was the best thing that had ever happened at Harbor View. She was the best, a life saver. Not a word about me, about everything I did there, day after bloody day for coolie wages. I thought that if she weren't there, maybe Dad would see—”
    And then he began to cry, great oceans of water running from his eyes and monsoons of mucus leaking from his nose. He drooled a little, too. It wasn’t a pretty sight, a grown man bawling like that in the street because he was jealous of a little dog.
    I put my arm around his shoulders, feeling how wet and hairy he was underneath his shirt. I could think of about seven thousand things I’d rather be touching. But none of them would pay the rent. Or get Lady back to Harbor View.
    “I took good care of her. I meant to bring her back. After. After Dad appreciated me for once.”
    “Did it work?” I asked. Like a courtroom lawyer, I knew the answer before he responded.
    “What do you think?”
    Sullen now.
    “I think it didn’t, Samuel. I think your father and Harry and Venus were too wrapped up in what was helping the kids to think about your feelings. But everyone needs a little appreciation. It’s only human.”
    “Do you really think so?” he asked.
    Jesus.
    “I do,” I told him.
    “That’s all I did,” he said, his voice nearly inaudible. Then he looked at me for the first time since we’d left Harbor View. “I’m ashamed of what I did. I truly am. But I didn’t hurt her. I took good care of her. And I meant to return her. I really did. I only wanted—”
    “Of course you did. Anyone would.”
    “But I never hurt Uncle Harry. Why would I?”
    “Wasn’t he the one paying you those coolie wages?”
    I watched his face.
    “Wasn’t that a pretty big slap in the face, working so hard for so little money? It’s not like the old bastard didn’t have it. He was loaded. What was he planning on doing, taking it with him?”
    “No, no, it wasn’t like that. I didn’t do that. He’s always been—”
    “What, Samuel? What’s he always been? Arrogant? Cheap? Unappreciative? It was always about his sister, never about you. What, he felt guilty he was normal and she wasn’t, he had a life and she didn’t? It made him hard, didn’t it? Hard-hearted toward you, not loving, supportive, appreciative. Uncle Harry, my ass. Why, the man should have been treating you like family. Instead, he treated you like a servant. How many years were you supposed to take it? Forever? Who wouldn’t have wanted to kill the cheap son of a bitch?”
    “Is that what people will think, just because I took the dog?”
    When we got to the corner, I yanked on his arm. “Hurry up. We can make the light.”
    We stayed on the north side of Tenth Street. He didn’t see the precinct until we were almost on top of it.
    “You said—”
    “I lied,” I told him.
    The door opened, and a uniform came out. Samuel waited until he’d walked up the block, toward Bleecker Street, so much equipment hanging off his pants it was a wonder they didn’t fall down.
    “But they’ll think I killed Harry. They’ll think—”
    “They’ll think you stole a bike from one of the Chinese delivery men taking a nap in the Westbeth courtyard and rode it full tilt into Uncle Harry. Were you trying to kill him, Sammy, or just trying to get his attention?”
    Samuel’s mouth hung open. Any moment now, and he’d start drooling again.
    “What was the fight about that afternoon, you and Harry screaming at each other? Did you ask for a raise, more compensation for your little classes? Is that what it was? Well, you showed him, didn’t you? Pretty soon, everyone will know what you’re made of, what a big man you are. No one’s going to ignore you now, will they?”
    But he didn’t answer me. He just stood there, blinking, as if the sun was more than his eyes could bear.
    “And that wasn’t enough for you, was it? You had to try to kill Venus, too, clobber her with a bookend, make a hole in her head. Well, she’s awake now, Samuel. And she’s talking. The charade is over.”
    “But—”
    “Give me your keys,” I said, holding out my hand.
    “What?”
    “Your keys. What do you want me to do, leave Lady at your house without food and water and