Mama laid two fingers over her lips, then blew at the grate. Marley caught the kiss in her fist and grinned, smashing it against her cheek. She imitated the gesture, but her mother was already turning, walking away.
Marley twisted around so she could watch what was going on. Mama went down the hall, messed around in her closet. Maybe she was pulling out a surprise! Marley had been awfully good this week. All gold stars.
But when she came back, Mama had the black plastic case she kept on the top shelf. The one Marley was never, ever supposed to touch. The couch springs squeaked. Mama opened the case. Marley couldn’t see, but she heard the snap of the clasps and some kind of click. Then nothing for what felt like forever.
She wanted to call out, but Mama had said be quiet. Marley hugged Spud close and waited.
At the sound of the knock on the door, Marley started. Had she fallen asleep? Who was that? Maybe it was Daddy. He made Mama feel better, and he always had butterscotch disks in his pocket for Marley.
She strained, but all she could see was Mama’s right hand with the gun tucked behind her back as she went to answer the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s just me, dear. I made a double batch of shepherd’s pie, and I thought you’d like some for supper.”
Mama hesitated, then tucked the gun in the back of her waistband before undoing the chain, and flipping the lock. She opened the door to Mrs. Benson, their neighbor down the hall. “That’s very kind of you, Irene.”
“I’ll just put this in the kitchen, shall I?” Old Mrs. Benson shuffled in, the hem of her housecoat flapping as she walked.
From her position in the air duct, Marley could just see her feet. They looked way
too big in heavy black boots instead of the fuzzy pink slippers Mrs. Benson usually wore. The sight of them made Marley uneasy.
“Oh, that’s all right. I’ll just take that,” said Mama, reaching forward.
The black boots braced. Mrs. Benson swiveled and the covered dish crashed to the floor and shattered. Empty. Mama cried out and stumbled back, and Mrs. Benson grew like something out of a scary story. They moved out of her line of sight until all she could see was the edge of a man’s broad back. A man who had been Mrs. Benson.
Marley bit Spud’s arm to keep from screaming.
The gun went off, a horrible roar of noise. The man’s shoulder kicked back and a red mist exploded out the back. Marley covered her ears and rocked as he moved out of sight, following her mother into the living room.
The gun went off again. She could hear it through her hands, a nightmare sound, like thunder inside the house. There was a series of thumps, and Mama’s scream was cut off suddenly. Marley heard another thump, like somebody falling. Then there was silence.
She peeled her hands away from her ears and listened. The man moved through the apartment, his boots quieter than they should be for being so big. He went into every room, opened every closet and cabinet. Mama didn’t do anything to stop him.
When he paused in the hall just outside the air vent, Marley stopped breathing. Her Cabbage Patch doll, Natalie, dangled from one of his hands. Marley could see the circles of pink marker she’d colored on, could almost reach out and touch that plastic cheek. She clutched Spud like a furry shield. The man didn’t crouch down to look inside. After another moment, he crossed to the door and left, shutting it quietly behind him.
Why didn’t Mama come get her out? Marley didn’t want to play this game anymore. She didn’t want to play this game ever again.
Nobody came to see what all the noise was about. No neighbors. No nice policeman. Just that awful quiet.
Marley fell asleep waiting.
She jolted at the sound of the door slamming open.
“Amanda!”
It was Daddy. He would fix it. He would make this better.
“Oh God. Oh God, no. Amanda.” Daddy’s voice was choked. The sound of it solidified the wrongness of this whole game.
Marley couldn’t help it. She let out a whimper.
Daddy went quiet. So did Marley. She’d promised Mama.
Unlike the man who was Mrs. Benson, Daddy came straight to the air vent and undid the screws. “Marley.” He sounded glad to see her. “Come on out, baby.” He held open his arms.
Marley didn’t move. There was something wrong with Daddy’s eyes and his teeth looked sharp. She clutched Spud tighter and pressed herself into the corner.