To Trust a Friend. Lynn Bulock

a talent I need when I’m doing undercover work. Besides, people reveal a lot more about themselves when they don’t think anybody’s there. For example, you tend to stick just the tip of your tongue out at the corner of your mouth when you’re trying to figure something out.”

      Kyra had a flash of irritation as he handed her the warm travel mug. She was tempted to make some smart remark, but the truth was that Josh was right. “Thanks for the coffee,” she said, trying not to sound too irritated. Being astute was part of his job. She realized that she could probably use his gifts of perception about people to explain to him how she knew things just from looking at the bones in front of her. But first, she wanted to sip some of this coffee and stretch to get the kinks out of her neck. Deep concentration on these small bones left her physically pained after a while.

      When she looked back at him, Josh had a thoughtful look on his face. “What?” she asked, hoping he’d tell her what he was thinking.

      “You look uncomfortable. How many more hours can you lean over that kind of close work without making yourself sore for days?”

      Kyra shrugged, still trying to get some of the kinks out. “A few. I think I’m close to a breakthrough here, so I’ll keep at it. If I can find a few more facial bones on…gurney B,” she said, unwilling to tell Josh about the names she’d given the girls, “we might have enough to start looking for medical records.”

      “Don’t you always need teeth for that?”

      “It helps,” Kyra admitted. “But I think I’m seeing a pattern of some old, healed facial injuries in this one skeleton. It’s the kind of thing that would have given her a distinctive look, and probably left a legal trail as well.”

      Josh’s expression clouded. “You said these bones probably belonged to teenagers. If the injuries you’ve found are healed, you’re thinking child abuse, aren’t you?”

      “It’s one of the top reasons for fractures in kids, unfortunately. I wish I could say it wasn’t.”

      “Yeah, me too.” He turned around, then appeared to reconsider leaving and faced her again. For a moment he stood silently. “How can you see stuff like this and still believe in God? What kind of God lets little kids get beaten up?”

      “God didn’t beat up this child. A human being is responsible for that,” Kyra said with more fervor than necessary. “If you want to see what God can do in a kid’s life, then come with me tomorrow.”

      “To church?” Josh asked, a challenge in his steely eyes.

      “No, to the mall for a movie. Bring money for popcorn and ice cream after the show.”

      “Sure.” His quick acceptance surprised Kyra. She’d expected him to put up an argument.

      “And clean out the backseat of your car if you need to,” she instructed. “My truck will only hold two besides me. You’ve got seat belts for three in the backseat, don’t you?”

      “Yes.” He raised one eyebrow, seeming to ask what he was getting himself into. “What were you going to do before I came along?”

      “I have no idea,” Kyra admitted. “I figured that if God wanted me to take all of the kids to the movies, then a way to take them all would show up.”

      “And you got me instead,” Josh said. Kyra didn’t have the heart to tell him that she thought he was exactly what God had in mind. Josh was nowhere near ready to hear something like that.