##Chapter 16: Revelations

The lock jiggled as Elaine put the keys into it. She twisted them three times to the left then pushed in. Her door was always getting stuck on something or another, so she'd learned how to jimmy it.

The landlord offered to fix the door multiple times, even cited city codes which would help them do so for free, but the quirky nature made her happy. The randomness was what drew her to the apartment in the first place.

Grace seemed to appreciate it too, tilting her head around Elaine's shoulder to stare and prod at the door as it creaked open.

The living room was silent.

After the chaotic drive across town (Frank and Hannah had been inclined to do a rousing rendition of every show tune the two knew on the way home) the cool air and darkness made her want to bury her face into the couch and not move for several hours.

Fingers buried in her shirt and tugged softly.

"Is… is it safe? It's really dark in there."

Elaine hugged the girl close and put her keys between her knuckles. She mimed jabbing the air to test the way the makeshift weapon felt, getting a small smile out of Grace for her efforts.

"I'll go check things for us, okay? Wait here for me."

Grace nodded and settled into the doorframe, picking at the paint peeling off the inner corners.

Moving about the room, turning on all the lights she came across, she felt silly for having almost asked the girl why she was hesitant to go inside. Of course Grace would be scared of the dark.

She didn't see anything out of place or unusual. Elaine knew that didn't mean anything.

The closet in the corner was the closest to her, so it was what she tested first. Opening the door and stabbing around at the various clothes inside didn't make anyone cry out.

Next came the space between the furniture and the walls. She moved the couch and flipped it up. Nothing. She jostled the bookcase and the television. No movement or people popping out of the curtains. There wasn't anyone hiding in the stove, nor the freezer.

She then opened the bedroom door and rifled around under the bed. She checked the shower and the inside of the bedroom closet. No shadows moved in ways they shouldn't.

She moved to yell for Grace, but there was no need. She was already browsing the bookshelf, pulling random novels off the shelf. The movements were awkward because she refused to let go of Abigail's coat. The sight of her tottering made Elaine giggle.

Grace whirled on her heels, scrambling to hide the book she'd taken.

"I was--I promise I was gonna put them back!"

She waved and shook her head, pointing at the novel. It was a mystery she'd gotten from the bookstore. She hadn't had a chance to read it yet.

"If you want to read it you can. In fact, you can have it. I'll get another copy later. It's getting super late though, and you've been through a lot today. I think it's time to get some sleep."

Grace shuffled deeper into the coat. She tried to hide it, but Elaine could see the coattails shaking.

"Do I have to sleep?"

She held out her arms, waggling them until the girl came close enough to hug.

"Mhmm, I'm afraid you do. Sleep is what your body needs even if you don't feel like it. I will be right here in the living room. I won't leave, and you can even leave the lights on and the door open. If you need anything, no matter how small, I'm only a call away."

Grace nodded but didn't move. She chewed her lip, flicking her eyes between Elaine and the floor.

"Would you mind… uhm… tucking me in? I'm really scared to go to sleep, and it's what Mom does to make me feel better and…."

The mention of Gina made Elaine wince. She hadn't been sure if Grace knew of her death or not. That would be a conversation for the morning when she was better able to handle it and when Elaine had confirmation of it herself.

"Of course I don't mind. I'll stay with you until you fall asleep, alright? I'll even read a little of that book you were interested in. How does that sound?"

A gentle nod was her only answer.

***

Grace fell asleep within twenty minutes of being put to bed. Elaine waited until her breath was deep and even before sneaking out of the room. She lay on the couch, flipping through the late night channels, hoping to find a news program.

A knock on the door drew her eye instantly to the window. She had rolled up the shade because the view from the couch let her see out without giving the person outside the chance to see in. It was too dark to see the entire face, but someone was there.

Elaine hadn't ordered anything, nor would any of her friends be in the condition to drive. It could be the police coming to check on Grace but… she wasn't going to take a chance. Unplugging the lamp, she gripped it by the base and eased along the wall to the door.

Standing on tiptoe, she peered through the peephole.

"Abigail!?"

Swiftly unlocking the chain and deadbolt, she would have to thank Grace for remembering to do that, she pulled the door back enough so she could see the woman better. She noted the gun on her shoulder and put herself firmly between the door and the wall.

"What are you doing here? Did something happen?"

The woman looked exhausted and alert. Her eyes were shifting around, and she was murmuring under her breath. She looked down at Elaine after a moment and peered into the darkness. Elaine moved to block her view.

"Grace is asleep in my room if that's what you're wanting to know. Now, did something happen? Why are you carrying that gun around?"

She held it up, allowing Elaine to see the cartridges holding the bullets were tucked into the holster strap.

"Just a precaution is all. Please let me in. We need to discuss the accommodations we'll need to make."

Who did this woman think she was!?

"No. No more, Abigail. I'm not dragging Grace around the city on wild errands because you think it's the right thing to do. We tried your way, and your way got Gina and her daughter put into danger. You could have gotten them both killed! I'm not letting you anywhere near her."

Abigail had the morals to wince and shrink back at that.

"Elaine, this isn't the time to discuss this. Your apartment needs to be made ready in case there's another attack. I came to help. I even made a plan, though I'm always open to discussion. There could be things I have neglected to think about in my haste to come over here."

Did she really think she was coming inside? Elaine resisted the urge to slam the door.

"I want you to leave Abigail. I will call the police if I need any help. You should stick to your facts and logic. They seem to be the only things you're good at handling."

Abigail put her hands on the door as she tried to close it. Elaine shrank back, holding up her lamp, using it to keep the gun pinned firmly to the woman's chest. She made no move to grab for it, merely looked at her with….

Was she crying? Oh, please! Now she was trying to win her over with pity. It wouldn't work. If anything, the sight only made her angrier at the taller woman.

"I know my plan got Gina killed. I want to fix this. Grace didn't deserve this. Gina didn't either. I didn't come to start a fight with you. I came to make sure you were both okay. Please, Elaine. Please, just let me make this up to her. Let me make this up to you."

Elaine pressed the lamp harder, actively shoving Abigail back step by step. The lawyer let her.

"You can make it up to me by staying out of Grace's life. You can make it up to her by doing your d**n job and putting Bobby Holiday in jail for the rest of his natural life. You can make it up to her by apologizing for getting her mother killed on public television!"

Abigail shook her head, keeping her hands against the wall as she tried to move out of range of the lamp.

"I understand why you're angry. I really truly do. But I know that an apology won't solve how Grace feels. It won't do anything but make her feel worse. Publicizing the death only makes it harder for the family to recover in general."

Elaine gave her space, clenching the bar between her hands, wondering if she could bend it for how angry she was feeling.

"Why are you so insistent on trying to help this way! What the h**l would you know about how Grace feels!?"

The next sentence was whispered, probably to keep it from being heard.

Elaine heard it anyway.

"Because my mother was killed the same way, and I refuse to allow another child to suffer the same way."

Her stomach had never dropped faster. Not even when they kissed had she felt so off kilter.

She had messed up.