"I'm really more interested in a general description that'll help the police locate her."
"Okay, sure. Five-three, jet-black hair. About a hundred and ten. Wears black mostly."
"Grandparents or other relations?"
"I can't even find her mother--how'm I going to know the aunts and uncles?"
Johnson said, "She's really adorable. Does she have any health problems? Is there any medicine she takes?"
"No, she's pretty healthy. All she takes is vitamins in the shape of animals. She likes the bears best but I think that's only because they're cherry-flavored. You like bears, don't you, honey?"
Courtney had finished the sardines. She nodded.
"Okay, well, let me tell you a little about the procedure from here on out. This's the Child Welfare Administration, which is part of the city's Human Resources Administration. We've got a network of emergency foster homes where she'll be placed for a week or so until we can get her into a permanent foster home. Hopefully, by then we'll have found the mother."
Rune's stomach thudded. "Foster home?"
"That's right."
"Uhm, you know what you hear on the news...."
"About the foster homes?" Johnson asked. "It's the press that made up most of those stories." Her voice was crisp and Rune had a flash of a different Ms. Johnson. Beneath the ruby lipstick and pseudo Ann Taylor did not beat a timid heart. She probably had a tattoo of a gang's trademark on the slope of her left breast.
The woman continued. "We spend weeks investigating foster parents. If you think about it, who scrutinizes natural parents?"
Good point, Rune thought. "Can I visit her?"
The answer was no--Rune could see that--but Johnson said, "Probably."
"What happens now?"
"We have a diagnostic caseworker on call. She'll take Courtney to the emergency home tonight."
"I don't have to do anything else?"
"That will be the end of your involvement."
Rune hated civil-servant language. It was as if they took the words and quick-froze them.
She turned to Courtney and said, "Will you miss me?"
The girl said, "No."
No?
Johnson said to her, "Honey, would you like to go stay with a nice mommy and daddy? They have some children just like you and they'd love for you to visit."
"Yeah."
Rune said to her, "You'll be happy there."
Why isn't she sobbing?
Johnson said, "I'll take her now. You have her things?"
Rune handed over the bag containing the ratty stuffed animals and her new clothes. Johnson looked at Rune's face and said, "I know how you feel but, believe me, you did the right thing. There wasn't any choice."
Rune squatted down and hugged the girl. "I'll come visit you."