No one is close by me, waking me up when they cough or snore. At the orphanage, some of the kids used to have bad dreams at night, and they would make...noises, waking the other kids up." Bea was trying to get me talking for some reason, but I didn't know why. I was worried that she might say something to make me look bad in front of Mrs. Parsons and Mr. Chalmers."Did you have bad dreams too, Kenny? I'm sure it must have been hard, living like you did." It was all I ever knew before, Bea. I. "What time will you be getting home?"Teenagers never listen. "A little after nine." Fine," she said. I needed no fire lizards to detect disappointment. Perhaps she had listened, but hoped I might make an excuse to leave early. Maybe I would. "My mother said she'd pick me up at eight." Ah. Even with a good excuse, I couldn't leave before then.It was just as well. I needed to stop at a suitably anonymous store for protection before things in person went any further. I now knew that things would. Less of a smile, it still remained. "I'm Melissa." She raised her hand for a handshake."Congratulations," Sarah replied sarcastically."Why thanks. I love my name. What's yours?" Sarah," Sarah mumbled."I'm sorry?" Sarah!" Sarah shouted."Glad to meet you Sarah." The hand remained extended. Sarah finally shook it.What amazed her about the handshake was its perfection. Firm and warm, neither too slimy nor too dry, the soft embrace held confidence and care. It caused Sarah to study this Pollyanna. Lock your house up and don’t come back until I tell you it’s safe. Understand?”“Can’t you get her away from him?”“We have no way of legally doing that Mr. Henderson. Be patient. She’s bound to come home soon.”We picked up Ginger and Agent Ferraro drove me a few blocks from my house and let me out. “We’ll see you tomorrow night at your office at seven p.m., ok?”“Ok.” Ginger and I walked the block to our house. The front door had been left unlocked by the police. Inside was a shamble. There was.