She didn't need that.
"I'm going to do everything I can to help your mom." She nodded.
"Do you promise?" I promised her.
She thought that over for a moment, studying me. Then she nodded.
"My daddy used to be one of the good guys, Mr. Banks. But I don't think that he is anymore." Her face looked sad.
It was a sweet, unaffected expression.
"Are you going to kill him?"
Another simple question.
"I don't want to," I told her.
"But he's trying to kill me. I might not have any choice."
She swallowed and lifted her chin. "I loved my Aunt Jenny," she said.
Her eyes brightened with tears.
"Momma won't say, and Billy's too little to figure it out, but I know what happened." She turned, with more grace and dignity than I could have managed, and started to leave.
Then said, quietly, "I hope you're one of the good guys, Mr. Banks. We really need a good guy. I hope you'll be all right."
