Runaways (Orphans 5)

"And we wouldn't," I emphasized.

She nodded and I expected that would be the end of it, but she sighed and looked back a moment.

"He says I never take his word. He says I'm always accusing him first. I know it's insulting, but if you girls and I just walked through the cottage . ."

"Fine," Crystal said jumping to her feet. "Let's do that."

"Yes, and afterward, let's have a heart to heart talk with Danny boy," Raven fired as she stood up.

"These girls wouldn't steal from you, Patsy," Charlie said.

"I know," she said, forcing a smile. "Thank you, girls."

We followed her out. As we started around the restaurant, we heard a door slam and saw Danny come out of the trailer, pulling his tee shirt over his head. He sneered and started after us.

We entered the cottage. Crystal and Butterfly had made their beds before we left for work and I had put the sofa back together. The blanket and pillows were beside it where I had left them. Except for Raven's blouse draped over a chair, none of our things were scattered about. The bathroom was neat, too. We all stood in the center of the small living room.

"You're welcome to look anywhere you want, Patsy," I said. I couldn't hide the disappointment in my face and voice.

"Check those sacks, Ma," Danny said from behind us. He was referring to our pillowcases.

"Danny, they wouldn't do such a thing," she said, shaking her head.

"I'll do it," he cried and sauntered past us. He emptied each of our pillowcases onto the floor. Some of our clothing got mixed together, but there was nothing else in them.

"Satisfied?" I said.

He looked at his mother and shook his head.

"I ain't, no." He gazed around and then pounced on the small dresser, pulling out the drawers, feeling under the underclothing and socks.

"Didn't you learn your lesson last night?" I asked him when he held up Raven's bra.

He reddened.

"Danny, let's go," Patsy said. "The girls didn't take my money."

"Why don't you tell her where it is already?" Raven asked him.

He gritted his teeth and then he looked at the sofa as if a ghost had whispered in his ear. He fell to his knees and reached under the sofa frame. Everyone watched him. Raven started to laugh when suddenly, he backed up and held out a bank deposit bag.

"I knew it was here," he said with sick pleasure. He dumped the sack on the floor and Patsy's money flowed out.

"We didn't take that!" I protested. "You must have put it there."

"Right," he said. "I'm a magician." He looked up at Patsy. "Ma, call the police."

"No," Raven cried. "We didn't do it, Patsy. He's lying. He put it there!"

"If I put it here, why wouldn't I have gone right to it?" he asked, looking up at Patsy. "Why did I waste all that time looking everywhere else, huh, smart ass?" he said to Raven.

"Because you're putting on an act," she replied, backing away from him.

"You're the ones putting on the act," he spit back at her. "You knew my mother always left the trailer door open. I heard you in there this morning."

"It's not true, Patsy," I said, shaking my head. "I swear we didn't do that."

She pressed her lips together and looked seconds away from bursting into a storm of tears.