Runaways (Orphans 5)

"I am," I said. She stared at me as if she wanted

to memorize my face.

"Janet Taylor?"

"Me," Butterfly said. Again, a moment's hard

look before she turned to read.

"Raven Flores?"

"Pleased to meet you," Raven said.

Lieutenant Mathews' eyes sharpened before she

turned to Crystal.

"And that leaves Crystal Perry?"

"Yes," Crystal said.

"All right, girls," Lieutenant Mathews said, putting aside her clipboard. "I heard how you helped a

family just now and what a wonderful thing you did,

so I know I'm not dealing with delinquents, but unless

I hear some reason why not, you're all suspects for

grand auto theft. What's more, you've taken the car

across state lines, and," she added gazing down at her

sheet, "no one here has a legal driver's license. Are

any of these facts untrue?"

"We didn't steal the car. We just borrowed it for

a little while," Raven began.

Lieutenant Mathews did not smile, she just

flipped some pages and folded them over.

"You are all legal wards of the state. I have sent

for a representative of the Child Protection Services

here and he's on his way."

"Well, why don't we wait until he arrives before we discuss our situation any further," Crystal concluded. She took her glasses off and wiped them clean. Her coolness did not win us any pity, nor did Raven's smug smile. Even Butterfly's face of abject terror won us no sympathy. I looked down, my heart

thumping.

"The best thing you girls can do for yourselves

now is tell the truth," Lieutenant Mathews said.