Malone said. “What do you mean it isn’t here any more?” “Somebody took it.” “Who? How? I told you not to let it out of your sight!” “Don’t yell at me, Loney. I don’t think I can take any more.” “Will you answer me, for God’s sake? How did it happen?” Ellen got out of the rocker with Barbara. She pressed her lips to the child’s defenseless neck. “After I’ve got this baby in bed.” He sank onto the sofa staring. Halfway up the stairs she turned. “Did you say whisky? They gave a nine-year-old whisky?” He did not answer. She hissed something profane and vicious and ran the rest of the way. Malone sat there listening to the small sounds from upstairs. I got Bibby back. The money is gone. Now what? His elbows dug into his dirt-soaked knees and he took his head in his hands and tried to think. But the thoughts were stuck, going round and round like a toy train. When Ellen came down she was calmer. Give a woman her kid to tuck in and she doesn’t give a damn about anything else.
