Excerpt from Rust & Stardust by T Greenwood, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"Here's the thing," he said, glancing up and down the alley again. "I want to keep you out of the reformatory, so what I need for you to do is to check in with me from time to time. Sort of like a parole officer. Have you heard of that before?"

Sally nodded, though she had no idea. It must be something to do with the FBI.

"Where do you go to school, Sally?"

"Northeast School," she said. "I'm just finishing the fifth grade. It's on Vine Street."

"Okay then," he said, and finally released her, though it felt like his fingers were still digging into her arm. This was how she felt when her mother had a bad morning and clung to her as she ascended the stairs before returning to bed. Sometimes, she'd feel her mother's clutching fingers all day long.

"Can I go home now?" Sally asked, and immediately regretted being so bold.

His face darkened, he hesitated, and for a moment she worried he'd changed his mind.

"Here's the arrangement," he said, his voice low and gritty like dirt. "You don't say a word of this to nobody. I'd be in a lot of trouble with the FBI if they found out I'm taking mercy on you after what you've done. Do you understand me?"

She nodded, still crying.

"I'll be waiting for you outside school tomorrow. To check in."

"Okay," she said. "I promise. Can I please go home now?"

He gripped her arm again, and this time she noticed a crescent moon–shaped scar across his hand. His face was scarred, too. It made her think of the scar she had on her leg from falling out of her high chair when she was a baby. It made her think of accidents.

"Not a word, Sally Horner. Because I can change my mind any time. And you will wind up in the reformatory. Understand?" His mouth was close to hers now, so close she could smell the split-pea soup on his breath.

"I promise," she said, nodding.

"Now that's a good girl," he said, and smirked. Then his grip on her arm loosened, he shoved his hands in his pockets, and he left her there, walking swiftly, bowlegged across the street, toward the courthouse.

Excerpted from Rust & Stardust by T Greenwood. Copyright © 2018 by T Greenwood. Excerpted by permission of St. Martin's Press. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.