Losing Hope Read Online Free

suddenly next to me, walking down the steps with me. She walked so close to me that my attaché was pinned between us.
    â€œWh—where are you going, little Miss Diamond?” Mr. Monroe called after us.
    â€œJust walking Ms. St. James to her car,” she shouted back. I stayed quiet, feeling like I needed to let things go wherever they were heading without my interruption. I could see Mrs. Monroe struggling to get out of her house slippers and put on her shoes. She wanted to come outside with us.
    But I was already at my car.
    â€œIs everything really okay, Dayonna?” I gave her my warmest smile. She was quiet as I opened the driver’s side door and threw my attaché over to the passenger seat. She shrugged her shoulders and turned as if to leave but then was suddenly next to my ear.
    â€œYou gotta get me out of here.” Dayonna’s voice was a sharp whisper.
    â€œWhy? What’s wrong?” I was pleased to finally be getting somewhere.
    Dayonna frowned and looked me straight in my eyes. “They’re going to kill me.”

Chapter 4
    My head swung all the way back. “Kill you? Why do you think the Monroes would want to kill you?”
    â€œThey killed my sister.” Dayonna’s words rushed out. “They killed her and ate her. Chopped her into pieces for cabbage stew.”
    I froze and looked in her eyes. A wild gaze stared back at me. I remembered seeing in her chart that she had at one time been prescribed Risperdal, an antipsychotic, to calm her violent moods and soothe her psychotic symptoms. Had she seen a psychiatrist since her return to Baltimore? I made a mental note to find her one.
    Immediately.
    â€œI’m just joking. You know that.” Her face broke into a smile. But her eyes still looked a little wild to me. I was becoming more uncomfortable. Some things you just don’t joke about. And those eyes . . .
    â€œDayonna, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe seem like nice people. How are you feeling about being here?”
    â€œAre you going to help me find her?”
    â€œFind who?”
    â€œMy sister. She is gone. You have to help me find her.”
    I could feel my eyes blinking as I tried to think of what to say next. “Um, I did not know you had a sister. I know you have a brother.” I had seen the name of one sibling, an older brother, somewhere in Dayonna’s chart. I could not remember if a name was given, but I was certain I’d seen a birth date and a note that he had aged out of the system a few years ago. I had not paid much attention otherwise.
    â€œI have a sister. And they chopped her and cooked her in cabbage stew. Are you going to help me find her or not?”
    Before I could make sense of what she was saying, what she was asking, Mrs. Monroe had rounded the side of my car. In one quick movement, she put a thin arm around Dayonna’s bony shoulders. I noticed the elder woman’s shoes were on the wrong feet.
    â€œAll right, Ms. St. James.” Mrs. Monroe’s voice was extra chirpy. Or was that just my imagination? I’m not going to lie. I was feeling a little thrown off in that moment and not trusting my gut. “Thank you so much for checking on us,” Mrs. Monroe continued. “We look forward to seeing you Thursday.” She wrapped her thin arm so tightly around Dayonna, I thought she would cut off the child’s circulation. “Come on, Miss Diamond.” Mrs. Monroe smiled uneasily at her. “We have to get ready for church. Bye, now.” She waved vigorously at me as she stepped back and away.
    Dayonna smiled and turned to leave with her guardian, no hint of worry, fear, or agitation on her face. It was as if her words from moments earlier had not been uttered. “Bye, Ms. St. James.” Dayonna grinned. “See you Thursday!” The two of them walked up the front steps together.
    â€œOkay.” I shook my head and started my car in earnest. I had to get out of