Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13 Janie whirled around in shock. "What's wrong?" Frederick asked. "My bag," Janie said in a strangled voice. "Someone stole—" Just then she heard little running footsteps. Janie looked up to see Violet scampering toward her, Mrs. Kayden hurrying behind. Violet was clutching something in her hand.

"Janie! I found a scarf for our snowman!" she sang. But it wasn't a scarf. It was Janie's missing sock. Janie's blood ran cold as she saw the big bulge in the toe. "Violet," Janie said, struggling to keep her voice calm. "I need that sock." She gently took hold of the sock, plucking it from Violet's hand. "Janie, no!" Violet screamed, snatching it back. As the sock slipped from Janie's grip, the diamond jewels tumbled out. They seemed to hover in the air for a moment, like glittering stars. Then they dropped to the floor with a loud clatter.

Janie froze, hardly believing what was happening. "Come along," Mrs. Kayden said impatiently, taking Violet by the hand. Somehow, she hadn't noticed the jewels—baby Billy was squalling in her arms. "No more pestering Janie and Frederick."

"My snowman's scarf!" Violet cried as her mother pulled her away. "My snowman's scarf!" Janie snapped into action. With shaking hands, she quickly gathered the jewels from the floor. But a big diamond ring was missing! Where could it have gone?! She glanced all around, panic rising in her chest. There it was!… Right on top of Frederick's boot. She reached for it, but Frederick beat her to it. He studied the ring in his hand while they both slowly stood up. "Here you go," Frederick said, confusion flickering in his eyes as he handed her the ring. But then he froze. And Janie watched as his expression changed from confusion to shock. His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open. His eyes moved from Janie to the ring and back again. "Janie," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Where did all these come from?"

Janie opened her mouth to answer, but no sound came out. "Are they… are you… that man in the train station…" Again, Janie tried to say something, but her voice had disappeared. Frederick stared at her. "Are you a… thief?" He whispered the last word. Lies swarmed into Janie's mind and lined themselves up on the tip of her tongue. She looked at Frederick, really looked for the first time in all the days they'd been together. And she could see that he really did care about her. She swallowed the lies. "I didn't steal them," she said, squeezing the jewels tight in her palm. "My job was just to take them on the train to Seattle." Her voice wasn't bright and cheerful now. It was barely a whisper. "There's a man named Ray Malvo. I work for him. Other kids do too. Orphans mostly. I don't

have a grandmother. Or parents—" Frederick's face started to change again, but Janie looked away. She knew he was disgusted with her. What was she thinking, spilling all this? Her heart clenched, like a fist closing tight. Frederick didn't care about her. He cared about a girl who didn't exist. The polite girl. The respectable girl with manners and a cheerful smile. Not the real Janie, the dirty criminal. Janie had to get away—now. Before Frederick blabbed to his father and Miss Wade. She turned and stuffed everything in her bag. She grabbed her coat. And then without another word, she ran down the aisle of the empty sleeper car and out into the cold.