2 - Whatever Happened to Janie? by Caroline B. Cooney

Author:Caroline B. Cooney [Cooney, Caroline B.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, Mystery, Young Adult, Suspense, Children
ISBN: 9780606263719
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Published: 1993-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

13

The living room and the dining L of the Springs’ house shared a long, windowless wall. The couch was pressed up against the living-room end and the sideboard against the dining-room end. The wall above the couch was completely covered with framed photographs of the children. One was the picture that had found its ultimate use on a milk carton.

It showed a laughing toddler, bright red hair yanked into pigtails high on each side of her head. Her dress—the famous summertime dress—was white with vivid dark polka dots.

She wanted to run, but the Spring family blocked the stairs and the hallway. Police filled the chairs. Janie could not seem to hear what the police were saying to her, nor find the vocabulary to answer them. Her head spun around as if it were popping off, the way Barbie-doll heads popped off if you dressed them too hard.

“Let’s sit down, Jennie,” said the biggest policeman. He held out his hands as if to show her that they were empty, that he held no weapon.

She wanted her mother, the one who had loved her and brought her up. But of course it was her New Jersey mother who crossed the carpet, circled the coffee table, and tried to touch her. Janie backed away. She could not back any farther. The room was not large enough.

The world was not large enough. How was she supposed to stay loyal to Mommy and Daddy during this? But she had promised to keep her Family Resolutions, too. What would the police find out in this interrogation? Janie did not want to know one single thing more than she already knew.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, Jennie,” said the policeman. “We just want to talk. Nobody is going to get hurt.”

“Do my parents know about this?” she said. “Are they okay?”

“We’ve talked to your parents.” He knew she meant the Connecticut ones. “They’re okay.”

They were not okay. They had not been okay since the news broke. How could she trust a person who lied like that?

The policeman said softly to the Springs, “I think we might do better if all of you went into another room, okay? This is going to be hard on everybody and maybe we could talk a little easier without you.”

“I’m her father,” said Mr. Spring, “and I’m not leaving.”

Janie stared at that big, tired red-bearded man. He seemed alternately and both family and stranger. Her Connecticut father would not have left the room either. He is a father, thought Janie. And I guess he’s mine. “They can stay.” She felt behind her, finding the arm and lowering herself into the corner of the sofa. One of those awkward pillows that serve no purpose made a lump behind her back. She picked it up. It was soft and velvety in her arms, and she held it against her chest like a teddy bear or a shield.

“I’m Mr. Mollison,” said the policeman. She had a feeling he had told her that several times. This time she could hear him.

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