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she’s under the influence, sure, you can get hallucinations, tremors, seizures, extreme agitation, spikes in blood pressure, any of which comport with the girl you found in your closet last night. As I look at her now, I’d say it’s not drug-related, but I can’t rule it out. Remember, I knew Michaela, too, so I know what Cat went through as a child. You’d have to figure nightmares come with the territory.’
    ‘Crazy as it sounds, I hope the stalking isn’t a delusion,’ Stride said. ‘If it’s real, then at least I can help this girl.’
    Steve reached across and took Stride’s shoulder. ‘She’s not a girl, buddy. Don’t be naive. Cat’s very much a woman. She’s probably slept with more people in her young life than you have.’
    ‘That wouldn’t be hard,’ Stride replied with a small smile.
    ‘You know what I’m talking about.’
    ‘I do. What else can you tell me?’
    ‘You spotted the malnourishment. She hasn’t been eating well for weeks. Also, there are numerous old bruises on her legs and torso. She claims she was beaten up by another of the street girls several weeks ago, but it looks to me like there was more than one beating, and it goes back more than a few weeks.’
    ‘Like when she was home?’ Stride asked.
    ‘The injuries are consistent with abuse.’
    ‘That would explain her running away.’
    ‘Yes, it would,’ Steve said.
    Stride frowned. He remembered the little girl in Michaela’s back yard, and she deserved better. She deserved a different life. Nomatter what he’d said to Maggie, he also knew that it was his own fault.
    ‘This one’s not an ordinary case for you,’ Steve said. ‘I get it.’
    ‘You’re right.’
    ‘So what are you going to do about her?’
    ‘Legally, she belongs with the Greens. They’re her guardians, but I want to find out what’s going on in that house before I drop her back there. Dory’s still not an option, and I’m not comfortable putting her in the hands of the child protection system until I know whether she’s genuinely in danger.’
    ‘You may be taking on more responsibility than you realize, Jon. We’ve both seen kids like this. No matter what you do, Cat may run away again. Teenagers like her do stupid things, and sometimes they pay the price.’
    ‘I hear you, Steve. Really.’
    ‘I hope you do, because I was waiting to tell you the most important thing. It’s urgent that she change her behavior immediately. No drugs, no drinking, no smoking, no fighting, and a better diet. I want her back in to see me this week. She and I have a lot to talk about.’
    Stride closed his eyes in frustration. He knew what Steve was going to say, but he asked anyway. ‘Tell me.’
    ‘Cat’s pregnant,’ Steve said.

10
    Cat’s skin glistened as she emerged from the bathroom, wearing a silk robe that Serena had left behind. Her hair was wet. The gold chain around her neck sparkled as it dangled into the swell of her chest. Her body carried a floral smell of soap and shampoo that wafted through the cottage. She saw him on the leather sofa and smiled at him, and as it had before, the warmth in her smile made him melt. She planted herself next to him with her feet tucked underneath her body.
    ‘Thank you,’ she said.
    ‘For what?’
    ‘For helping me.’
    Her head sank into his shoulder, as if they were father and daughter. Her familiarity unsettled him. It was too quick, too strong. She had invested her dreams in him in the space of a few hours, and he wasn’t ready for it.
    ‘Did Dr. Steve tell you?’ she said, with a tiny frown. ‘I’m going to have a baby.’
    ‘He did.’
    ‘I suppose you think I should get an abortion.’
    The word sounded cold and jarring out of her lips.
Abortion
.
    ‘I would never tell you that,’ Stride said, ‘but you’re also very young to have a child of your own.’
    ‘I know. Mom was young, too. Not as young as me, but young.’
    ‘There’s always adoption.’
    Cat shook her head. ‘Give