“I finished all the books.”
He opened the knapsack he carried and pulled out another stack of books and set them on the table. “There you go.”
She eyed the books. “So I’m going to be here for a long time then?”
“No. Not that much longer.”
“So I’ll be back with my family then?”
He looked away. “Did you like the lady you met here?”
Willa kept her gaze right on him. “She’s scared. I’m scared too.”
“I guess we’re all scared in a way.”
“Why should you be afraid? I can’t hurt you.”
“Hope you enjoy the books.”
“Is there one where the kid dies at the end? That way I can like prepare myself!”
He stood. “You’re not sounding like yourself, Willa.”
She stood too. Although she was over two feet shorter than the man, she seemed his equal. “You don’t know me. You might have found out things about me, but you don’t know me. Or my family. Did you hurt them? Did you?” she demanded.
Quarry’s gaze flitted around the room, looking everywhere except at her.
“I’ll let you get some sleep. Seems like you need it.”
“Just leave me alone,” she said in a loud, firm voice. “I don’t want to see you anymore.”
Quarry had his hand on the door. “Do you want to see the lady again?”
“Why?”
“It’ll give you somebody to talk to, Willa. Other than me. I understand why you don’t like me. If I were you, I wouldn’t either. I don’t like having to do what I’m doing. If you knew the whole truth, maybe you’d understand better. Maybe you wouldn’t.”
“I’ll see her,” Willa said grudgingly, turning her back on him.
“Good enough,” said Quarry quietly.
Her next words froze him.
“Does this have to do with your daughter? The one who can’t read anymore?”
He turned slowly back around, his gaze now burning into her. “Why do
you say that?” His voice was hard, fierce.
She stared back at him. “Because I’m somebody’s daughter too.”
Yes you are , thought Quarry. You just don’t know whose. He closed and locked the door behind him.
Minutes passed and then the door opened again. The lady was standing there, Quarry behind her.
“I’ll be back in an hour,” he said.
He shut the door and Diane Wohl moved cautiously forward and sat down at the table. Willa joined her and turned the lantern light up higher.