then continued haltingly. ?Before, earlier, they had torn . . . while I
was stocking in the back. And I had taken them off. When I saw
that Kate was hurt I just dropped them, and came straight here.?
Worst lie ever, Helen thought. But the officer nodded.
?We found a pair of ripped sneakers in the alley,? he said as if
Helen had told him exactly what he expected. He went on to explain
that Kate had been Tasered, and that since the assailant had
used up the charge on Kate, she was forced to run off when she saw
another person arrive.
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?One more thing,? the officer said, just before turning away.
?How did you lift her into the car all by yourself?? Both the officer
and her father stared at her for a moment with puzzled looks on
their faces.
?Willpower?? Helen said lamely, hoping they bought it.
?She was lucky to have you there. That was very brave of you.?
The officer gave her an approving smile. Helen couldn?t handle being
praised for lying. She looked down at her bare feet, and they reminded
her of how dumb she had been not to take care of that detail
from the start. She was going to have to learn to be more
careful.
When the police were done questioning Kate, Helen and Jerry
went in to check on her. Unlike Helen, Kate had gotten a quick
look at the woman before she got zapped.
?She was older?in her late fifties at least. Short salt-and-pepper
hair. She looked totally harmless, but I guess she wasn?t,? Kate said
ruefully. ?What the hell? Since when did little old ladies go around
Tasering people?? She was trying to make a joke out of it, but
Helen could tell she was really shaken up. Kate?s face was pale and
her eyes were big and shiny.