Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 Janie and Frederick followed Mr. McBride across the train platform, where the Seattle train was waiting. It was freezing cold, and it had started to snow. People hurried across the platform, zigzagging around workers lugging trunks and boxes. They passed families gripping children and suitcases and a newsboy calling out the headlines.

"Huge blizzard coming to Washington!" he shouted. "Read all about it!" Janie barely noticed any of it. She still couldn't believe she was going through with this. She kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to see Malvo. Or the police. But nobody was chasing after her. And somehow, she resisted the urge to run. Mr. McBride strode up to the locomotive, the huge engine car pulling the train. Gray smoke curled from its smokestack, mixing with the icy snowflakes. "Look at this beauty," he said, patting the engine like it was a prize horse. It looked way bigger than the engine from that story, strong enough to pull a whole building. "Steam engines like this changed the world," Mr. McBride said proudly, as if he'd built it himself. He turned to Janie and Frederick. "When I was born, the only way to get to somewhere far away was by horse or boat. It would have taken us months to travel from Spokane to Seattle. And

now look at us! This mighty steam engine is going to pull us across the state and over the Cascade Mountains. We're going to get to Seattle in time for lunch tomorrow!" He looked at the engine again and smiled. "Incredible." "Papa," Frederick said. "If we don't get on the train, I think we're going to end up walking to Seattle." "Right!" Mr. McBride agreed, giving Frederick's head a playful tap. As she watched them joking and laughing, Janie's mind flashed to a man with bright eyes and a gentle smile—her own papa. And Mama, with her shiny curls and chiming laugh. And the grinning, carefree face of a little girl… Janie. Janie took a sharp breath and swallowed hard. She blinked her eyes—and Mama and Papa were gone. Frederick talked nonstop as they hurried alongside the train, away from the locomotive.

"Looks like there are seven cars on the train," he said, pointing out the baggage car, the mail car, and two second-class day coaches. "There's an observation car at the very back. That's my favorite car, where people go to sit when they're not in one of the two sleeper cars. I'll show it to you." Janie nodded politely, but her skin was prickling. This kid really thought they were buddies, she realized. She was going to have to spend time with him on the train. She'd have to hold on to this nice-girl act, keep careful track of her lies so she didn't get caught. Their first-class sleeper car was near the very back of the train. It was painted shiny maroon. "Welcome!" said a smiling man in a blue uniform, who stood at the door. "I'm Mr. Anderson. I'll be your porter for this trip. If you need anything at all, you let me know." "Thank you, sir!" Mr. McBride said, stepping aside so Janie could go first. She hesitated for a

split second—this was her last chance. And then she climbed aboard. Janie stared in amazement at their sleeper car. The polished wooden walls gleamed. The seats were plush red velvet. Flickering brass lamps filled the car with a golden light. It was like the lobby of the Pennington Hotel, the best in Spokane. That's where Malvo sent kids to pick pockets and steal purses. It even smelled good—like perfume and cigars. Now Janie understood why the first-class cars were way in the back of the train. That way the richest passengers didn't have to breathe in the stinking, choking smoke from the locomotive. On her last train trip, the smoke in the day coach was so thick it burned her throat. When she blew her nose, her snot was pitch-black. They walked through the narrow aisle. "Well, hello, dear!" said Mrs. Letts from the first row. Janie forced a smile.

In the next row was a young woman writing furiously in a notebook. From behind her seat, a freckled face popped up. It was the pesty little girl from the station. "Peekaboo!" the little girl shrieked, grinning at Janie. She jumped up and down like a crazed kangaroo. "Violet, sit down," said her mother as she tried to calm her fussing baby boy. "Peekaboo, I see you!" Violet said again. "I think she likes you," Frederick said to Janie. Janie hoped not. Little kids were trouble. Once they got attached, there was no shaking them loose. "Here we are," Mr. McBride said, pointing to two big seats across from each other. "The beds are hidden in the ceiling," Frederick said, pointing up. "The porter, Mr. Anderson, will come through later and take them down for us. They're really comfortable. Curtains come down in front so you feel like you have a private room."