Chapter 7: Rule Ten

"Don't worry," Melody said, coming down the stairs one step at a time. "I deleted it."

She turned her phone around to show me the empty screen, and the little trash can icon blinking.

"The picture, I mean. Of you two. It looked so cozy I almost took a second one."

"You didn't have to delete anything," I said. "There's nothing in it."

"Of course." Melody smiled with all her teeth. "I'm just so happy you two are bonding."

Reed said nothing, and he held his folder.

Melody took a thick manila envelope out of her bag and held it out to me.

It was sealed with tape, and it had my name on it, typed.

LUCY FENN, PRIVATE.

"Mom's lawyer sent this over," Melody said. "I think it's old paperwork from your caseworkers."

She tilted her head.

"I thought you'd want it before somebody reads it out of order."

I took it, because my hands wanted something to hold.

It was heavy.

"Thanks," I said.

"Anything for my sister," said Melody, and she kissed the air next to my cheek and walked out through the stairwell door.

The door swung shut behind her.

The whole stairwell was bright and silent, and I held the envelope against my chest.

"Rule four," Reed said, but it came out flat and uncertain, and I turned on him.

"You slid my contact list across the table like a charge sheet," I said. "In front of my mother."

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