Stand Alone Read Online Free PDF

again, and then as the afterimages floated in front of her, shone the flashlight over the articles that he had removed from her pockets, and around the room.
    “Outside,” he ordered.
    “But my stuff    …” Justine protested.
    “Police will take care of your stuff. Come on. Outside.”
    He pushed her toward the back door, and Justine allowed him to escort her out of the house. He took her through the back yard, through the gate, out to the front again, and had her sit on the curb.
    “Stay there and behave yourself,” he ordered.
    In the light of the street lights, she could finally see him. A private security company uniform with the walkie talkie secured to his shoulder like a policeman. He was tall, heavyset, middle aged, white. His car was parked in front of the neighbor’s house, and another man, thin and aging with white hair, came over to confer.
    “Did you check the rest of the house?” he questioned.
    “Not yet. You stay here with her. I’ll make sure it’s all clear.” He looked at Justine. “There anyone else in there?”
    Justine shook her head.
    “No, just me.”
    Justine twisted her head to watch him head back into the back yard and out of sight. She yawned, and wiped her mouth on the shoulder of her t-shirt.
    “You do rounds every night?” she asked the older security guard.
    He nodded.
    “Yep.”
    A police car with flashing lights pulled up to them, and a young officer got out of the car and came over to them.
    “This your burglar?” he questioned unnecessarily.
    “Yep,” the older guard agreed. “She was in the house. Daniel went back in to clear it. Make sure there was no boyfriend.”
    “What were you doing in there?” the policeman questioned, turning to Justine.
    Justine gazed up at him. She always liked policemen. Even when she was in trouble for something, they made her feel safe and secure. He had a friendly face. Clean shaven, crew cut hair. Eyes that glittered in the darkness. Justine smiled at him.
    “What’s your name?” she questioned.
    “I’m Officer Carter,” he said in a restrained voice. “What is your name and what were you doing in that house?”
    “Sleeping. My name is Justine.”
    “Justine what?”
    “Justine Bywater.”
    “How old are you, Justine?”
    “Fifteen.”
    “What were you doing in the house?” he persisted.
    Justine shrugged, cocking her head at him.
    “Just sleeping,” she said, smiling winningly.
    The security guard came back out of the house and nodded at Officer Carter.
    “You want the tour?” he questioned.
    “Yeah, I’d better take a look.”
    The two men went back into the house. Justine looked at the elderly security guard again, with a sigh. It was uncomfortable sitting on the curb, her hands handcuffed behind her back. She rolled her shoulders and shifted her position, trying to get more comfortable. Her tail-bone hurt. The two men weren’t very long, then they were back out of the house again. Officer Carter put down Justine’s board and other belongings.
    “You’re not homeless,” he said to her.
    “No,” Justine agreed. “I didn’t say I was homeless.”
    “What are you doing sleeping in an empty house?”
    Justine shrugged and rolled her eyes.
    “I got too far from home, and I got turned around. I couldn’t find my way back. When I went by this house, I saw the broken window, and I went in    …   I just laid down for a minute to rest    …”
    “You’re lying to me, and you’re not even doing it very well.”
    “Why would I lie to you?”
    “Did you run away? Is that it?”
    “No. I just couldn’t find my way home,” she said innocently.
    “Why wouldn’t you call for help? You’ve got a phone,” he indicated it with the toe of his shoe.
    “Battery is dead.”
    Carter picked up her phone and pressed the on button. It didn’t power up. He tossed it back down on the pile of her stuff.
    “You could have gone somewhere for help. You could have asked someone else for a phone. Gone