"I thought this was about money." "It's also about knowing you're coming home every day in one piece." The baby moves inside her. She finds herself hoping for a boy. A girl would be more vulnerable and difficult to protect. The taser is small; it will fit snuggly in the palm of her hand. She should tell Duff, let him remind her they agreed it wasn't necessary. My woman is fierce. He sits up. "I felt something." He presses his hand against her stomach; the baby butts up against the pressure. She puts her hand over his, feels a steady thumping from both outside and within."l've been thinking. Maybe it's time I took some precautions." "Finally." He grins, his first real smile all week. "For starters you could take prenatal yoga instead of walking." "That's not exactly what I had in mind-" "You're almost six months pregnant. You shouldn't be wandering around alone in the dark. After what happened with those cats-" "What, you think l can't take care of myself anymore?" "I didn't say that. But why take any chances?" "Living my life is not taking chances." She picks up the television remote to channel-surf. She senses him watching her, but she stays fixed on the TV. "Okay," he says, "live your life." She feels him shift position on the couch, so that he's just out of reach. She and Judith lose Zeke's objection. He'll be tried as an adult. He shrugs when they tell him. "I'm not sure you understand," Claire says. "You could wind up in an adult prison forever." He chews his thumbnail cuticle, examines the wet, raw spot. "Could you bring me some comic books? Nothing bloody or they'll get taken away."
22 I COLETTE SARTOR