“Penny?”
The girl turned around immediately, confirming her identity.
Paolo stood tall, enabling her to take in the police uniform. “I’m Officer Rodriguez.”
The little girl-she’s a pretty little thing-backed away from the apartment house’s buzzer board and into a corner. “I’m not allowed to talk to strangers…” she said. “I’ll scream if you come closer.”
And well trained…
“And well you should, young lady,” he said, “if I was a stranger.” He took another step closer. By the look of her, she didn’t have a way into the apartment building, standing by the buzzer board as she had been. It suggested Mama wasn’t home. He decided to play that card. “But I’m not a stranger. I’m a policeman assigned to find you and take you to your mother. Doesn’t that sound like a good idea?” Her head tilted curiously, like a dog’s. “She’s at the hospital. Baines Jewish.” Penny seemed to accept this explanation, concern worrying her small brow. Using the information gleaned from the wallets, he exploited that concern. “Ms. Gillespie-from the daycare center-has had a small accident. Your mother is anxious to get you over there and see her.”
“What happened?” The girl’s curiosity won out. Paolo extended his hand toward her, again reminded of a wary street dog. “We’ll take the bus,” he said. “Did you know policemen ride the bus? We’ll go find your mom.”
Already planning ahead, he realized he would soon need to rent or steal a car-but both options presented serious risks.
Her eyes softened slightly, though she remained cautious.
“Or…” he said, “if you want to stay here-if you promise to stay right here-I could head back and tell her I’d found you, and that you were okay, but that you wouldn’t come with me…”
He turned his back on her, knowing well what she’d do.
“Wait!” she called out when he’d taken but two steps.
Thrust, parry.
He heard the patter of her small feet, dried the sweat from his hand on the uniform’s shirt, and extended it for her to hold.