Guilt Read Online Free PDF

chair and sat near her.
    â€œMy name is Peter. You’re a good artist.”
    Sophie ignored him.
    â€œThat’s a very cool picture,” he tried.
    Peter could feel Sophie shrinking back into herself. She didn’t suffer fools.
    If at first you don’t succeed … He wasn’t above bribery. He dug into his pocket. Lifesavers. He set the half-eaten roll on the floor between them.
    Sophie gave it a glance and went back to her drawing. She switched to the green marker and drew a few tentative blades of grass. Her eyes flicked over to Peter, then to the Lifesavers.
    â€œIt’s okay,” he said. “Help yourself.”
    Sophie licked her lips and picked up the pack. She peeled back the paper covering a yellow Lifesaver.
    â€œYou like yellow ones?” he asked.
    â€œThey’re okay.” She pried the candy loose and slipped it into her mouth. “Thank you,” she said, depositing the words as carefully as she set the package down in the exact same spot where it had been.
    â€œYou can have the rest, if you like.”
    She didn’t reach for the pack, but went back to drawing.
    â€œThat looks like a bunny.” Peter pointed to the middle-sized blue figure.
    Sophie considered her picture. The Lifesaver was a lump in her cheek. “That’s the mommy bunny. And that’s the baby.” She pointed to the smallest figure.
    â€œAnd who’s that?” Peter asked, indicating the large black figure with pointy ears.
    â€œThat’s the big bad wolf,” she said, her face solemn.
    â€œHe looks scary.”
    Sophie didn’t answer.
    Cunning —that was the word Peter’s Irish next-door neighbors used to describe their baby granddaughter. It was the perfect word for Sophie Klevinski. She had a round face and dark eyes that gleamed with intelligence.
    She put some finishing touches on the figures—a tie around the neck of the wolf and a bow on the head of the little blue bunny. She reached tentatively for the Lifesaver pack and helped herself to a red one. Then she picked up the green marker and drew a horizon line and a hill with tiny houses off in the distance—pretty sophisticated spatial details.
    Annie and Chip emerged from the conference room followed by Jackie. Sophie grabbed for the package of Lifesavers and sprang to her feet. She ran to her mother and latched on to her leg. Jackie smoothed Sophie’s curls, then leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
    Sophie stuck her tongue out and showed her mother what was left of the Lifesaver. “The man gave it to me.”
    â€œDid you say thank-you to Dr. Zak?” Jackie asked.
    â€œPeter,” Peter said. “She certainly did.”
    Now MacRae came out. “Well, I’ll be going,” he said, standing there looking self-conscious in his dark blue suit. This one fit him better than usual.
    â€œThank you,” MacRae said to Jackie, and gave her a stiff handshake. “We’ll be able to reach you if we need to follow up?”
    Jackie seemed startled. She opened her mouth but no words came out.
    â€œJackie might not be at home,” Annie said, jumping in. “Call me. I’ll know how to get in touch.”
    â€œMommy?” Sophie asked, her face clouded over. She squeezed her arms around Jackie’s leg and looked up, craning her neck.
    MacRae hitched up his pants and started for the door. He looked tired as he wiped the back of his arm over his forehead. Peter walked out with him.
    â€œWhat kind of sick fuck does this kind of thing?” MacRae asked under his breath.
    For a moment, Peter wondered if it was a serious question or just an expression of frustration.
    â€œYou people will probably end up defending the bastard,” he added, and left before Peter could tell him to go to hell.
    *   *   *
    Peter called the unit again. It was nearly five o’clock. Annie was making calls, trying to find a shelter for