Her mother studied her. “I don’t understand what could possibly be going on with Liza that you’re too ashamed to say.”

Kathy felt she was under a certain amount of pressure here, torn between her loyalty to her best friend and her longing to throw herself into her mother’s arms. “I promised I wouldn’t tell.”

“Does this have anything to do with Liza touching herself?”

“Touching herself with what?”

She saw something shift in her mother’s face. “Oh my lord. Is she letting Ty Eddings have his way with her?”

Kathy could feel a little mustache of perspiration forming on her lip.

“Answer me.”

Kathy murmured a reply, keeping it as vague as possible to keep from lying to her mom.

“Speak up.”

“She let him touch her boobs and put his hand…” She managed to mumble that last.

“Where?”

“Down there.”

Livia looked at her, aghast. “She told you that?”

Kathy shrugged one shoulder.

“Are you absolutely sure?”

Kathy said nothing, but she moved her mouth in a way that suggested she was sure. After all, she’d read about it with her very own eyes.

Her mother’s gaze was searching. “You wouldn’t lie about a thing like this to get back at her?”

“No.”

“How far have they gone?”

“Not very. Just petting.”

“Petting? Is that what you call ‘petting’-when he puts his hand on her privates? That’s disgusting. Outside of her clothing or inside?”

She hadn’t expected her mother to probe for this kind of detail. The diary hadn’t been specific and Kathy didn’t like having to commit herself. Outside, inside. Pick one. “Out.”

“How do you know?”

“Because she would have told me if he put his hand inside.”

“Well, thank heaven for small favors. You wait right here. I’m going to take care of this.”

“What are you doing?” Kathy wailed. “You can’t tell anyone. You promised.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Ty Eddings was sent here to shape up after the unfortunate situation he created in Bakersfield. If Dahlia York ever found out I knew about this and didn’t go straight to her, she’d never speak to me again, and rightly so. I’ve entertained her in my own home and I owe her that much.”

“But what if Liza finds out?”

“She’s not going to find out. Trust me. Your name won’t come into it.”

Kathy listened with something close to horror as her mother went downstairs to the phone in the lower hall. Kathy hadn’t meant to tell on Liza, but her mother just seemed to jump to the right conclusion before Kathy even said a word. She heard Livia give the operator Dahlia York’s number and then there was a silence while she waited to be connected.