Madelyn walked ahead, with George close behind. He spoke earnestly, "Miss Jent, being a Jent means standing strong. Otherwise, people might try to take advantage of you."

George was perceptive. Madelyn agreed with a smile, "You're right."

"We just wanna make sure you're safe," he added.

George's words struck her. She wondered, 'What did he mean? Do they know everything?'

Jadie saw Madelyn get into a fancy Cayenne—a car not everyone in Ventropolis could afford—through the rearview mirror. She asked, "Madelyn ain't comin' back with us?"

"She has got some stuff to take care of. I'll drop you off at home first," Kevin said, buckling his seatbelt.

"Thank you, Kevin."

"You're welcome." Kevin's mind wandered, 'If Madelyn had Jadie's maturity and didn't cause so many problems, Mr. Jardin wouldn't need to worry as much.'

The Cayenne had been driving for almost twenty minutes. It was getting close to six-thirty, and the sky had grown dark. Streetlights were casting a soft glow on the roa