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The woray-streaked hair was pulled back into a bun The afternoon sunlight caught the strands, highlighting the oily film Her coat and dress were old and dirty, her face none too clean Only practice kept hi when her odor drifted to him

"How can I help you?" he asked

Her gaze narrowed "I've been to that church there The pea-eyed lady done told me she don't care for the likes of my trouble Not that I blame her I don't care for it none, neither"

Justin perched on the edge of his desk and looked at Thoed "I'm not sure, sir We had just started our discussion when you walked in"

"I'et over here"

Justin saw so move away from the corner He looked closer With all the co so quietly At the woaze firmly fixed on her shoes

If anything, her clothing orse than the wo showed through on the sleeves and what he saasn't too thick Her legs were thin, bare and scratched around the knees Her littlest toe on her left foot poked through her shoe The soles were probably ether

Anger welled up inside of hi poor God knows he and histhe lady at the church wasn't willing to provide you with food and clothing for your daughter?" How like Colleen, he thought grimly She would save all her Christian charity for the well-placed citizens of towns, the ones who needed it the least

"She ain't rabbed the child's arm and pulled her in front of the chair "Say how-do"

"Hello," the s She couldn't be more than five or six and was obviously terrified

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Justin said

The woman scowled "It's real simple That whore, Laurie Sirl here" The woirl "She's dead, and the ot babes of my own to feed and there ain't no extra"

Justin curled his fingers into his palot the better of him

"Madam, I would thank you not to speak like that in front of the child"

The woed "Say all the fancy talk you want Like I said, the church lady didn't want nothin' to do with the girl I ain't gonna keep her As I sees it, she's your problem" The woman moved to the door, opened it and walked away