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and all...”
    â€œWhat break-in?”
    â€œTammi phoned, to report it,” I said. “It was in her apartment. The night before last.”
    â€œHang on a minute, will you?”
    When Sheena came back on the line her voice was abrupt and furious. “No report,” she said. “You gonna be there for a while? I’ll come over.”
    â€œSure. But we’re just going to eat.”
    â€œHalf an hour?”
    â€œThree-quarters would be better,” I said. When I hung up, I looked at Raffi.
    â€œShe’s coming over, I said. “Half to three-quarters of an hour.”
    â€œI’m out of here,” Raffi said.

    â€œSo what happened?” Sheena’s notebook was open, her pen poised. “Start from the beginning.”
    I told her the whole story. The blackout, the break-in, the scene in Brianna’s room. I also mentioned the closed laundry door in the basement.
    â€œDid you get a look at this guy, Jess?”
    â€œNo. It was dark. The only thing I saw was the side of his head, when he was standing at the back door.”
    â€œThere was a light on behind him?”
    â€œJust the sky, but it seemed sort of bright.”
    â€œEnough to identify him, say, in a line-up?”
    â€œNo,” I said. “Only enough to know he’s big.”
    â€œHow big?” she asked. “Big as me?”
    â€œHmm,” I said. “He came up nearly to the top of the window in the back door.”
    â€œYou have a door like that here?”
    I nodded.
    â€œLet’s have a look then,” she said.
    We walked single-file down the hall, Mom first, me next, and Sheena last. I stood where I’d stood in Tammi’s apartment when I saw the man’s silhouette. Then I pointed out how high his head came on the window. Sheena went outside and stood in front of the door. Her head came to almost the same place.
    â€œHe’s about as tall as you are,” I said.
    â€œSix-one,” she muttered, and wrote it down. “Any feeling for how heavy he is?”
    I shook my head. “I was pretty scared, actually.”
    â€œNot surprised. And you said the Orellana kids aren’t talking?”
    â€œNo,” I said. “Not yet.”
    â€œGal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do,” she said.
    â€œWhat’s that?” I asked.
    â€œTake them in for questioning. Some of them anyway. Now, about Mrs. Bird. Did she seem scared when you told her about this guy? Apprehensive about going back to her apartment?”
    I hunched my shoulders. I hated talking about Tammi, and Sheena knew it. “Tammi wasn’t scared because she had a gun,” I said. “Her friend Terri lent it to her.”
    â€œDid you see it?”
    â€œNo,” I said.
    â€œAnd Mrs. Bird indicated that she would call the police?”
    I nodded. “Maybe she just forgot?”
    Sheena groaned. “I doubt it,” she said. “Still, she’s a pretty spaced-out woman, so who knows what she’d do. Is she down there now?”
    â€œI think so,” I said. “I heard the baby crying just before you came.”
    Sheena pushed herself out of her chair. “One other thing,” she said. “What can you tell me about a guy named,” she flipped some pages in the notebook, “Raphael Morgan?”
    â€œRaffi?” Mom said. Her voice sounded like she was struggling for breath. “He’s a friend.”
    â€œDoes he live here?” Sheena gave me a particularly piercing look.
    â€œNo.” Mom swung her eyes towards me.
    Sheena nodded. “We had a report that he’s around here a lot,” she said.
    Mom hugged herself. “He lives across the street,” she said.
    â€œWhich building?” Sheena went to the window and pointed. “That one?”
    â€œApartment three,” Mom said. Her voice was very small.

CHAPTER 9
    It was just like Kelly said, having a boyfriend changes your life.