Gone for Good by Harlan Coben Page A

They see the fork in the road and while they might not readily admit they took the wrong prong, they know that it's too late for them. They can't go back. I used to argue with the Candis of the world. I used to insist that it was never too late, that there was still time. I was wrong. Here again is why we need to reach them quickly. There is a certain point that once passed, you cannot save them. The destruction is irreversible. The street consumes them. They fade away. They become part of the night, one single dark entity. They are lost to us. They will probably die here or end up in jail or insane.
    "Where's Raquel?" Squares said.
    "Working a car job," Candi said.
    "She coming back here?"
    "Yeah."
    Squares nodded and turned to the two new girls. One was already leaning into a Buick Regal. You cannot imagine the frustration. You want to step in and stop it. You want to pull the girl away and reach your hand down the John's throat and rip out his lungs. You want to at least chase him away or take a photograph or… or something. But you do none of that. If you do any of that, you lose the trust. You lose the trust, you're useless.
    It was hard to do nothing. Fortunately I'm not particularly brave or confrontational. Maybe that makes it easier.
    I watched the passenger door open. The Buick Regal seemed to devour the child. She disappeared slowly, sinking into the dark. I watched and I don't think I ever felt so helpless. Hooked at Squares. His eyes were focused on the car. The Buick pulled away. The girl was gone as though she'd never existed. If the car chooses not to return, it would forever be that way.
    Squares approached the remaining new girl. I followed, staying a few steps behind him. The girl's lower lip quivered as though holding back tears, but her eyes blazed with defiance. I wanted to pull her into the van, by force if necessary. So much of this task is restraint. It was why Squares was the master. He stopped about a yard away, careful not to invade her space. "Hi, "he said.
    She looked him over and muttered, "Hey." "I was hoping you could help me out." Squares took another step and pulled a photograph out of his pocket. "I'm wondering if you've seen her."
    The girl did not look at the picture. "I haven't seen anyone."
    "Please," Squares said with a smile damn near celestial. "I'm not a cop."
    She tried to look tough. "Figured that," she said. "You talking to Candi and all."
    Squares moved a little closer. "We, that is, my friend here and I" I waved on cue, smiled "we're trying to save this girl."
    Curious now, she narrowed her eyes. "Save her how?"
    "Some bad people are after her."
    "Who?"
    "Her pimp. See, we work for Covenant House. You heard of that?" She shrugged.
    "It's a place to hang out," Squares said, trying to downplay it. "No big deal. You can stop in and have a hot meal, a warm bed to sleep in, use the phone, get some clothes, whatever. Anyway, this girl" he held up the photograph, a school portrait of a white girl in braces "her name is Angie." Always give a name. It personalizes it. "She's been staying with us. Taking a couple of courses. She's a really funny kid. And she got a job too. Turning her life around, you know?" The girl said nothing.
    Squares held out his hand. "Everyone calls me Squares," he said.
    The girl sighed, took the hand. "I'm Jeri." "Nice to meet you."
    "Yeah. But I haven't seen this Angie. And I'm kinda busy here."
    Here was where you had to read. If you push too hard, you lose them forever. They burrow back into their hole and never come out. All you want to do now all you can do now is plant the seed. You let her know that there is a haven for her, a safe place, where she can get a meal and find shelter. You give her a way off the street for just one night. Once she gets there, you show the unconditional love. But not now. Now it scares them. Now it chases them away.
    As much as it ripped you apart inside, you could not do any more.
    Very few people could do Squares's job for