Сумерки

           Iwasaterribledancer-theyalwaysputmeinthebackforrecitals,"Iadmitted.

           "Sothere’snowayitcouldbeconnectedwithyou?"Aliceaskedintently.

           "No,Idon’teventhinkthesamepersonownsit.I’msureit’sjustanotherdancestudio,somewhere."

           "Wherewasthestudioyouwentto?"Jasperaskedinacasualvoice.

           "Itwasjustaroundthecornerfrommymom’shouse.Iusedtowalkthereafterschool..."Isaid,myvoicetrailingoff.Ididn’tmissthelooktheyexchanged.

           "HereinPhoenix,then?"Hisvoicewasstillcasual.

           "Yes,"Iwhispered."Fifty-eighthStreetandCactus."

           Weallsatinsilence,staringatthedrawing.

           "Alice,isthatphonesafe?"

           "Yes,"shereassuredme."ThenumberwouldjusttracebacktoWashington."

           "ThenIcanuseittocallmymom."

           "IthoughtshewasinFlorida."

           "Sheis-butshe’scominghomesoon,andshecan’tcomebacktothathousewhile..."Myvoicetrembled.IwasthinkingaboutsomethingEdwardhadsaid,aboutthered-hairedfemaleatCharlie’shouse,attheschool,wheremyrecordswouldbe.

           "Howwillyoureachher?"

           "Theydon’thaveapermanentnumberexceptatthehouse-she’ssupposedtocheckhermessagesregularly."

           "Jasper?"Aliceasked.

           Hethoughtaboutit."Idon’tthinkthere’sanywayitcouldhurt-besureyoudon’tsaywhereyouare,ofcourse."

           Ireachedeagerlyforthephoneanddialedthefamiliarnumber.Itrangfourtimes,andthenIheardmymom’sbreezyvoicetellingmetoleaveamessage.

           "Mom,"Isaidafterthebeep,"it’sme.Listen,Ineedyoutodosomething