FBI Agent Riley Paige worried as she walked through the jetway at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. She'd been anxious all during the flight from Reagan Washington International. She'd come here in a hurry because she'd heard that a teenage girl was missing-Jilly-a girl Riley felt especially protective toward. She was determined to help the girl and was even thinking about trying to adopt her.
As Riley stepped through the exit gate, walking hurriedly, she looked up and was shocked to see the very girl herself standing there, FBI agent Garrett Holbrook from the Phoenix field office beside her.
Thirteen-year-old Jilly Scarlatti stood next to Garrett, blinking back, clearly waiting for her.
Riley was confused. It was Garrett who had called to tell her that Jilly had run away and was nowhere to be found.
Before Riley could ask any questions, though, Jilly rushed forward and threw herself into her arms, sobbing.
"Oh, Riley, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I'll never do it again."
Riley hugged Jilly comfortingly, looking at Garrett for an explanation. Garrett's sister, Bonnie Flaxman, had tried to take Jilly in as a foster child. But Jilly had rebelled and run away.
Garrett smiled a little-an unusual expression from a normally taciturn man.
"She called Bonnie shortly after you left Fredericksburg," he said. "She said she just wanted to say goodbye once and for all. But then Bonnie told her that you were on your way here to take her home with you. She got really excited and told us where to pick her up."
He looked at Riley.
"Your flying all the way here saved her," he concluded.
Riley just stood there for a moment, Jilly sobbing in her arms, feeling oddly clumsy and helpless.
Jilly whispered something that Riley couldn't hear.
"What?" Riley asked.
Jilly drew her face back and looked into Riley's eyes, her own earnest brown eyes filled with tears.
"Mom?" she said in a choked, shy voice. "Can I call you Mom?"
Riley hugged her close again, overwhelmed by a confusing onslaught of emotions.
"Of course," Riley said.
Then she turned to Garrett. "Thank you so much for everything you've done."
"I'm glad I could help, at least a little," he replied. "Do you need a place to stay while you're here?"
"No. Now that she's been found, there's no point. We'll catch the next flight back."
Garrett shook her hand. "I hope this works out for both of you."
Then he left.
Riley looked down at the teenager who was still clinging to her. She was struck with an odd mix of elation to have found her and concern for what the future might hold for them both.
"Let's go grab a burger," she said to Jilly.
*
It was snowing lightly during the drive home from Reagan Washington International Airport. Jilly sat staring silently out the window as Riley drove. Her silence was a big change after the more than four-hour flight from Phoenix. Then, Jilly hadn't been able to stop talking. She'd never been on a plane before and was curious about absolutely everything.
Why is she so quiet now? Riley wondered.
It occurred to her that snow must be an unusual sight for a girl who had lived all her life in Arizona.
"Have you ever seen snow before?" Riley asked.
"Only on TV."
"Do you like it?" Riley said.
Jilly didn't reply, which made Riley feel uneasy. She remembered the first time she had seen Jilly. The girl had run away from an abusive father. In sheer desperation, she had decided to become a prostitute. She'd gone to a truck stop that was notorious as a pickup place for prostitutes-"lot lizards," they were called, because they were especially down-and-out.
Riley had gone there investigating a series of murders of prostitutes. She'd happened to find Jilly hidden away in the cab of a truck, waiting to sell herself to the driver whenever he came back.
Riley had gotten Jilly into Child Protective Services and had stayed in touch with her. Garrett's sister had taken Jilly in as a foster child, but eventually Jilly had run away again.
It was then that Riley had decided to take Jilly home herself.
But now she was starting to wonder if she'd made a mistake. She already had her own fifteen-year-old daughter, April, to take care of. April alone could be a handful. They had been through some traumatic experiences together since Riley's marriage had broken up.
And what did she really know about Jilly? Did Riley have any idea how deeply scarred the girl might be? Was she the least bit prepared to deal with the challenges Jilly might present? And although April had approved of her bringing Jilly home, how would the two teenagers get along?
Suddenly, Jilly spoke.
"Where am I going to sleep?"
Riley felt relieved to hear Jilly's voice.
"You'll have your own room," she said. "It's small, but I think it's just right for you."
Jilly fell silent for another moment.
Then she said, "Was it somebody else's room?"
Jilly sounded worried now.
"Not since I've lived there," Riley said. "I tried using it as an office, but it was too big. So I moved my office into my bedroom. April and I bought you a bed and a dresser, but when we have time, you can pick out some posters and a bedspread that you like."
"My own room," Jilly said.
Riley thought she sounded more apprehensive than happy.
"Where does April sleep?" Jilly asked.
Riley more than half wanted to tell Jilly to just wait until they got home, and then she'd see everything for herself. But the girl sounded like she needed reassurance right this minute.
"April has her own room," Riley said. "You and April will share a bathroom, though. I've got my own bathroom."
"Who cleans? Who cooks?" Jilly asked. Then she added anxiously, "I'm not a good enough cook."
"Our housekeeper, Gabriela, takes care of all that. She's from Guatemala. She lives with us, in her own apartment downstairs. You'll meet her soon. She'll take care of you when I have to be away."
Another silence fell.
Then Jilly asked, "Will Gabriela beat me?"
Riley was stunned by the question.
"No. Of course not. Why would you think that?"
Jilly didn't reply. Riley tried to comprehend what she meant.
She tried to tell herself that she shouldn't be surprised. She remembered what Jilly had said when she'd found her in the truck cab and told her that she needed to go home.
"I'm not going home. My dad will beat me up if I go back."
Social services in Phoenix had already removed Jilly from her father's custody. Riley knew that Jilly's mother had gone missing long ago. Jilly had a brother somewhere, but nobody had heard from him in a while.
It broke Riley's heart to realize that Jilly might be expecting similar treatment in her new home. It seemed that the poor girl could barely imagine anything better in life.
"Nobody's going to beat you, Jilly," Riley said, her voice shaking a little with emotion. "Never again. We're going to take good care of you. Do you understand?"
Again, Jilly didn't reply. Riley wished she would just say that she did understand, and that she believed what Riley was saying. Instead, Jilly changed the subject.
"I like your car," she said. "Can I learn to drive?"
"When you're older, sure," Riley said. "Right now let's get you settled into your new life."
*
A little snow was still falling when Riley parked in front of her townhouse and she and Jilly got out of the car. Jilly's face twitched a little as snowflakes struck her skin. She didn't seem to like this new sensation. And she shivered all over from the cold.
We've got to get her some warmer clothes right away, Riley thought.
Halfway between the car and the front door, Jilly froze in her tracks. She stared at the house.
"I can't do this," Jilly said.
"Why not?"
Jilly said nothing for a moment. She looked like a frightened animal. Riley suspected that the thought of living in such a nice place overwhelmed her.
"I'll be getting in April's way, won't I?" Jilly said. "I mean it's her bathroom."
She seemed to be looking for excuses, grasping for reasons why this whole thing wouldn't work.
"You won't get in April's way," Riley said. "Now come on in."
Riley opened the door. Waiting inside were April and Riley's ex-husband, Ryan. Their faces were smiling and welcoming.
April rushed toward Jilly right away and gave her a big hug.
"I'm April," she said. "I'm so glad you came. You'll really like it here."
Riley was startled by the difference between the two girls. She'd always considered April to be rather thin and gangly. But she appeared positively robust next to Jilly, who looked skinny by comparison. Riley guessed that Jilly had gone hungry from time to time during her life.
So many things I still don't know, Riley thought.
Jilly smiled nervously as Ryan introduced himself and hugged her.
Suddenly Gabriela came rushing in from downstairs, introducing herself with a huge smile.
"Welcome to the family!" Gabriela exclaimed, giving Jilly a hug.
Riley noticed that the stout Guatemalan woman's skin was only slightly darker than Jilly's olive complexion.
"Vente!" Gabriela said, taking Jilly by the hand. "Let's go upstairs. I will show you your room!"
But Jilly pulled her hand away and stood there trembling. Tears began to stream down her face. She sat down on the stairs and cried. April sat down beside her and put her arm around her shoulders.
"Jilly, what's wrong?" April asked.
Jilly shook her head miserably.
"I don't know," she sobbed. "It's just…I don't know. It's all so much."
April smiled sweetly and patted her gently on the back.
"I know, I know," she said. "Come on upstairs. You'll feel at home in no time."
Jilly obediently got up and followed April upstairs. Riley was pleased by how graciously her daughter was handling the situation. Of course, April had always said that she wanted a younger sister. But April had been through some difficult years herself, and had been severely traumatized by criminals eager to get even with Riley.
Maybe, Riley thought hopefully, April will be able to understand Jilly better than I can.
Gabriela gazed sympathetically after the two girls.
"?Pobrecita!" she said. "I hope she will be all right."
Gabriela went back downstairs, leaving Riley and Ryan alone. Ryan stood staring up the stairs, looking somewhat dazed.
I hope he's not having second thoughts, Riley thought. I'm going to need his support.
A lot had gone on between her and Ryan. During the last years of their marriage he'd been an unfaithful husband and an absent father. They'd been separated and divorced. But Ryan had seemed like a changed man lately and they were cautiously spending more time together.
They'd talked about the challenge of bringing Jilly into their lives. Ryan had seemed enthusiastic about the idea.
"Are you still OK with this?" Riley asked him.
Ryan looked at her and said, "Yeah. I can see that it's going to be tough, though."
Riley nodded. Then came an awkward pause.
"I think maybe I'd better go," Ryan said.
Riley felt relieved. She kissed him lightly, and he put on his coat and left. Riley fixed a drink for herself and sat down alone in the living room.
What have I gotten us all into? she wondered.
She hoped that her good intentions weren't going to tear her family apart all over again.
