“Miss Carpenter. Is there any doubt in your mind—any at all—that I could take you there regardless of what you want to do?” The change in tone hit her hard. She blinked at me in surprise for a second, lips parted but empty of sound. “I’m taking you to see them,” I said. “Because it’s the smart thing to do. The legal thing to do. The right thing to do. You agreed to do it, and by the stars and stones, if you try to weasel out on me I will wrap you in duct tape, box you up, and send you UPS.” She stared at me in utter shock. “I’m not your mom or your dad, Molly. And these days I’m not a very
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