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The private duty nurse stood up. “He’s been asking for you, Mrs. Dornan. I’ll wait outside.”

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Cally tried to brave it out. “I don’t know what this boy is talking about, Jimmy.”

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She screamed as she lost her grip on Brian and slipped to the floor.

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He stuck the gun back inside his jacket, then reached down and roughly pulled Brian to his feet. “You and I are gonna get to be real pals, sonny,” he said. “Real pals.” He grinned. “Merry Christmas, Cally.”

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What should she do?

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Brian knew the man’s name was Jimmy. That was what the woman had called him. She had looked so worried about Brian. When Jimmy pulled him through the window, she had been crying, and Brian could tell how scared she was for him. She knew his parents’ names. Maybe she would call the cops. If she did, would they come looking for him? But Jimmy said he’d kill him if the cops came. Would he?